GOSHEN
1. The name of the tract of country in Egypt which was inhabited by the Israelites from the time of Jacob to that of Moses. It was probably the tract lying east of the Pelusian arm of the Nile, towards Arabia. See EGYPT. It appears to have reached to the Nile, Exodus 1:22 Exodus 1:1:3, since the Jews ate fish in abundance, Numbers 11:5, and "practiced artificial irrigation", Deuteronomy 11:10. It was near Heliopolis and Rameses, and not far from the capital of Egypt, Genesis 45:10; Genesis 1:47 Exodus 1:8-12. It was a part of "the best of the land," at least for the pastoral Hebrews, Genesis 46:34, and was evidently better watered and more fertile than at present. Here they greatly multiplied and prospered, Genesis 47:27, and here they were sorely afflicted, and yet not forgotten of God, Exodus 8:22; Exodus 1:9. Many Egyptians dwelt among and around them.
2. A city and the adjacent territory in the mountains of Judah, Joshua 10:41; Joshua 1:11; Joshua 1:15.