Commentary for Genesis 47:6

אנשי חיל MEN OF ACTIVITY — skilled in their occupation of tending sheep.

אנשי חיל, men capable of being major commandants or political ministers. The word חיל here means something as in Ruth 3,11 a combination of ability and integrity. The author claims to have found that the expression אנשי חיל can be used directly to apply to cattle breeders.

במיטב הארץ…ישבו בארץ גשן, "they shall dwell in the land of Goshen in the best part of the country." Pharaoh was careful not to say only: "in the best part of the land," seeing that Joseph had indicated that he preferred that the brothers should live in the province of Goshen. If Pharaoh were not to confirm this specifically, Joseph might think that he did not want them to reside in Goshen. If, on the other hand, he were to say only that the brothers should reside in Goshen without adding the words "in the best part of the land," Joseph might feel that Pharaoh only assigned the inferior part of the province of Goshen to them. To avoid any misunderstanding, Pharaoh spelled out that the brothers should reside in the best part of the land of Goshen. Verse eleven then confirms that this is indeed what happened, that the land around Ramses was considered the best part of Goshen.