Genesis 46:2

God spake unto Israel. This was apparently the first vision accorded Jacob for many years. Several of the previous revelations had come during the night, mostly in the form of dreams (chs. 28:12; 31:11; 32:30). This one is not called a dream, which would have come during sleep, but a vision.

Jacob, Jacob. That God called him Jacob instead of Israel may have been to remind him of what he had been, since he had seen his own former character clearly reflected in that of his sons. Once he had deceived his father and cheated his brother; his own sons had deceived him concerning Joseph for 22 years ere the truth came out. Many times he no doubt wished he might see nobler traits in his sons, only to think of the unregenerate character he himself had possessed for so many years.