Genesis 45

Joseph at length discovers himself to his brethren, and comforts them with God’s wonderful Providence; chargeth them to acquaint his Father with all the occurrences, and to bring him into Egypt, v. 1, etc. the like Pharao also himself doth, 16. Joseph dispacheth them with Charets, Provision, and Presents, especially for his Father, and gives them good instructions, 21. Coming home, they relate all to their Father, who at last believes it, and prepares himself with joyfulness for the journey, 25.

1. Then Joseph was not able to constrain himself [viz. from weeping, as formerly he had done, chapter 43. 31.] before all those that stood by him; and he cried, Cause all men [This he doth to preserve his own and his brethren’s honour, and credit, lest they should hear by him, that he was sold, and by his brethren, that they sold him] go forth from me; [Heb. from with, or, beside me, i.e. out of my presence.] and there stood none by him [but only his brethren] when Joseph made himself known to his brethren.

2. And he did lift up [Heb. give] his voice with weeping; so that the Egyptians heard it, [those, viz. which but newly withdrew themselves, and were not far off yet from the place.] and that Pharao’s house heard it. [i.e. his Courtiers, who presently had the news imparted to them, as below verse 16.]

3. And Joseph said to his brethren; I am Joseph: doth my Father live yet? And his brothers were not able to answer him; [by reason of the consciousness of their trespass against Joseph, and his present power, and authority, to be avenged upon them, if he pleased.] for they were terrified before his face.

4. And Joseph said to his brethren; Draw near unto me, I pray; and they drew near: then said he; I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold for Egypt. [See above chapter 37. 28.]

5. But now, be not dismaid, and let not (anger) [or, sadness, or, spitefulness, or any other evil passion: Compare above chapter 31. 35.] kindle in your eyes, [or, let it vex, nor trouble, nor perplex or displease you. Or, do not show your selves dis-affected in your carriage and behavior.] that ye sold me hither: for God hath sent me before your face [viz. by his wife, good, and Almighty Providence, turning your evil intent to a good end; as he did likewise in after-times, with the proceedings and practices of Saul, 1 Samuel 19:9. Of Absalom, 2 Sam. 17. 14. Of the enemies of Job, chapter 1. 21. Of the Jews, Acts 2:23. & c. See 2 Sam. 12. On verse 12.] for the preservation of life [viz. of your own. Oth. For livelihood; as Judges 6:4. And 17. 10.]

6. For there are now two years of famine (past) in the midst of the land; [i.e. throughout the whole land] and there are five years yet (to come), in which there shall be no ploughing, nor reaping, (or, harvest.)

7. Yet God hath sent me before your face, [Compare above chapter 32. The Annot. On verse 3.] to set you a remainder upon the earth, [i.e. that ye may be preserved in this general calamity, and your posterity may remain after you. Oth. That there might remain somewhat, whereby to sustain ourselves.] and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. [Oth. To, or, for a great deliverance, or escaping, which is called great, in regard of the extraordinary and wonderful work of divine Providence, so clearly showed forth, in compassing the same; as also by reason of the great mercy exhibited hereby to the Israelites, that should be preserved in great number.]

8. Now then, Ye have not sent me hitherward, but God himself, [i.e. it was not your intent, nor purpose, to make me a Gorvenor of Egypt; but God hath done it, directing your work to your own good] who set me to (be) a Father to Pharao [i.e. his principal Counsellor of State, who should steer and guide his affairs with a Fatherly care, and whom he should regard as a Father.] and a Lord over all his house, and Ruler in all the land of Egypt:

9. Make haste, and go up to my Father, and say to him, Thus saith thy son Joseph: God hath set (or settled) me a Lord to all the Land of Egypt; come down to me, and delay not. [Heb. stand not, or, do not abide standing.]

10. And thou shalt dwell in the land of Gosen, [a Country, situated in Egypt, near the land of Canaan, very fruitful, and abounding with pastures, and therefore very commodious for such as abounded and dealt in cattle] thou, and thy sons, and thy sons sons, and thy sheep, and thy oxen, and all that thou hast.

11. And I will entertain thee there shall be five years of famine yet, that he impoverish not [i.e. perish not through poverty.] thou, and thy house, and all that thou hast.

12. And behold, your eyes see it, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin; that my mouth speaks to you. [i.e. that I speak unto you now myself, not by an Interpreter, in a strange tongue, but by own tongue in your own language.]

13. And relate unto my Father all my glory in Egypt, and all what ye have seen, and make haste, and bring my Father down hither.

14. And he fell upon Benjamin his brother’s neck [Heb. necks. Compare above chapter 33. Verse 4.] and wept: and Benjamin wept on his neck.

15. And he kissed [See above chapter 29. 11. And 31. 28.] all his brethren, and he wept over them: [viz. while he lay on their necks and kissed them] and after that, his brethren spoke with him. [Seeing now Joseph’s upright and hearty affection, they cheer up, and begin to speak somewhat more freely and familiarly with him.]

16. When this report [Heb. voice. Thus the same word is taken likewise, Jeremiah 10:22. Acts 2:6. & c.] was heard in Pharao’s house, that they said; Joseph’s brethren are come; it was good in the eyes of Pharao, and in the eyes of his servants. [i.e. they were well pleased with it.]

17. And Pharao said to Joseph; Tell your brethren; Do this; lad your beasts, and go your way, get you to the land of Canaan:

18. And take your father, and your households, [Heb. houses, as verse 11.] and come to me; and I will give you to the best of the land of Egypt, [Heb. the good, i.e. the best and most fruitful part of it.] and ye shall eat the fat of this land. [i.e. the most pleasant, and most excellent things, which God produceth out of and upon the earth for the sustenance and comfort of man’s life. Compare Numbers 18:12, 29, 30. Deuteronomy 32:14. Psalms 147:14.]

19. Thou hast indeed the charge [thou, viz. Joseph, i.e. thou hast commission & sufficient authority for it, to see all this performed, in my name.] do this, [this is again in the plural number, and hath respect to Joseph’s brethren.] take you charets out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.

20. And let not your eye spare your household-stuff; [i.e. let it not be grievous to you, to leave somewhat of your household-stuff and implements behind; or, that it may spoil by the way; or, that ye may not be able to put it off, in this time of death, according to its worth and value.] for the best of all the land of Egypt, that shall be yours.

21. And the sons of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them charets, according to Pharao’s command [Heb. mouth] also, he gave them provision for the way.

22. He gave to all of them, to each [man] changing garments: [Heb. change, or exchange of garments; i.e. such as were not for daily and ordinary use; such as great Lords and Princes were wont to give and present to them, whom they meant to honour or reward, Judges 19 verse 12, 19. 2 Kings 5:5. (as is still in use in the Oriental Countries, giving vests, on all such occasions)] but unto Benjamin he gave three hundred silverlings, [see above chapter 20. On verse 16. (about sixteen pound seventeen shillings six pence)] and five changing garments.

23. And to his father likewise [Heb. as this, i.e. likewise, or in like manner, or, thus, i.e. as followeth] he sent ten asses, carrying the best of Egypt, and ten she-asses, carrying corn, and bread, and food, (or, meat) [Oth. Opsonium (i.e. all manner of meat besides bread.)] for his father upon the way.

24. And he dismissed his brethren, and they went their way: and he said to them; do not disturb your selves by the way. [viz. by falling out and quarelling one with another about your former trespass against me.]

25. And they went up out of Egypt: and they came into the land of Canaan, to their father Jacob.

26. Then they related unto him, saying; Joseph lives yet, yea he is Ruler likewise in all the land of Egypt: Then Jacob fainted in his heart; [by a transport of joy and excessive wonderment, seeing he had not heard of him for two or three and twenty years together.] for he believed them not.

27. But when they had spoken unto him all the words of Joseph, which he had spoken to them, and that he saw the charets, which Joseph had sent to carry him, than their father Jacob’s spirit revived. [i.e. he was so cherished and revived with the singular joy he conceived of all this strange and unexpected relation and reality, that thereby he recovered new vigour and strength of spirit and body.]

28. And Israel said; it is enough [or, it is much, or, a great matter.] my son Joseph lives yet: I will go and see him ere I die.