“Who came to Egypt,”8A more literal translation of the verse is “who were coming to Egypt.” – was it today that they came? Hadn’t many years passed since they came to Egypt? Rather, as long as Joseph was alive, they did not have the burden of Egypt. Joseph died, and they placed the burden upon them.
Therefore, “who came” is written, as though they entered Egypt on that day. “With Jacob,” all these were under the patronage of Jacob, who amassed mitzvot and good deeds and was privileged to produce twelve tribes. “Each came with his household.”9Some commentaries suggest that the midrash should include here the following passage, which appears in Tanḥuma (Shemot 3): “Rabbi Huna said: This is to teach that he did not descend to Egypt until he arranged wives for Ḥetzron and Ḥamul, who were two years old and one year old respectively; “each came with his household.” See Etz Yosef.