Jacob moved to Egypt

The other day when I wrote about the story of Isaac, I came across a curious reading in Genesis about Keturah, the concubine of Abraham. It is a genealogy of the sons and grandchildren born to Abraham through Keturah. However, it finishes in a curious way.
All these were the children of Keturah (Genesis 25:3b).
Reading more Genesis today, I found that it was a matter of style.
Today, we read of the conclusion of the story of Joseph. He sent for his father Jacob and the whole household to move to Egypt to survive the famine. He had not seen his father Jacob for many years.
So Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.
And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night, and said, "Jacob, Jacob." And he said, "Here am I."
Then he said, "I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt; for I will there make of you a great nation.
I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again; and Joseph's hand shall close your eyes." (Genesis 46:1-4)

God was going to fulfil His promise to Abraham --- viz. to make of him a great nation (Genesis 12:2). He would go down with the household to Egypt and bring them back some 400 years later.
Then, Genesis listed the names of the sons and daughters and grandchildren of Jacob, a total of 70.
Now these are the names of the descendants of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons. Reuben, Jacob's first-born, (Genesis 46:8).
Then it continues with Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun who were sons born of Leah. The names of the sons of these sons are also listed. Then it concludes in this manner.
these are the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Paddanaram, together with his daughter Dinah; altogether his sons and his daughters numbered thirty-three (Genesis 46:15).
these are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter; and these she bore to Jacob -- sixteen persons (Genesis 46:18).
these are the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob -- fourteen persons in all (Genesis 46:22).
these are the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob -- seven persons in all (Genesis 46:25).
Therefore, Genesis counts sons and sons of sons as "the sons of so-and-so". It is a matter of customs and/or writing style. Incest is out of the question.
However, reading Genesis is challenging in more than one way. Its writing style is probably designed to guarantee that the readers will not misunderstand the intended meaning of the author. Here is an elementary arithmetics puzzle for you to crack. I hope you will enjoy it.
All the persons belonging to Jacob who came into Egypt, who were his own offspring, not including Jacob's sons' wives, were sixty-six persons in all;
and the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two; all the persons of the house of Jacob, that came into Egypt, were seventy (Genesis 46:26-27).
Now, let us add up the number of sons and daughters mentioned in verses 26:15, 18, 22 and 25. The sum is 70 (33+16+14+7). Notice that 70 includes Dinah; Judah's two sons Er and Onan who had died in Canaan (Genesis 26:12); Joseph and his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim who were born in Egypt (Genesis 26:20).
What does sixty-six mean? All the persons who came into Egypt and were Jacob's own offspring. So, which 4 of the 6 mentioned above were not counted in the sixty-six?
Moreover, what does seventy mean? All the persons of the house of Jacob that came into Egypt, of course, including Jacob. Which one had been excluded? I hope you will enjoy it.
Then Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen; and he presented himself to him, and fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.
Israel said to Joseph, "Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive." (Genesis 46:29-30)

Jacob had not seen Joseph for a long time. He wept on Joseph's neck and said he could not die assured.
Then Joseph gave a very curious instruction. They should admit frankly that they were shepherds in front of Pharaoh but to the Egyptians, they should only say that they were keepers of cattle because Egyptians hated shepherds. Was Pharaoh not an Egyptian?
Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's household, "I will go up and tell Pharaoh, and will say to him, `My brothers and my father's household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me;
and the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of cattle; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.'
When Pharaoh calls you, and says, `What is your occupation?'
you shall say, `Your servants have been keepers of cattle from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,' in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians." (Genesis 46:31-34)
I think this particular Pharaoh might not be a native Egyptian. That explains why he would make Joseph a Hebrew his vizier and was willing to admit aliens into the soil of Egypt. 400 years later, another Pharaoh would take drastic actions to reduce the number of Israelites in Egypt. God is really the Lord of human history.

Dear Lord, Your wisdom is beyond our comprehension. We will never fathom Your mystery. May we enjoy the protection You offer us and lead a life of sanctification. Amen.