10 And thou shalt dwell H3427 in the land H776 of Goshen, H1657 and thou shalt be near H7138 unto me, thou, and thy children, H1121 and thy children's H1121 children, H1121 and thy flocks, H6629 and thy herds, H1241 and all that thou hast:
And I will sever H6395 in that day H3117 the land H776 of Goshen, H1657 in which my people H5971 dwell, H5975 that no H1115 swarms H6157 of flies shall be H1961 there; to the end H4616 thou mayest know H3045 that I am the LORD H3068 in the midst H7130 of the earth. H776
And he sent H7971 Judah H3063 before him H6440 unto Joseph, H3130 to direct H3384 his face H6440 unto Goshen; H1657 and they came H935 into the land H776 of Goshen. H1657 And Joseph H3130 made ready H631 his chariot, H4818 and went up H5927 to meet H7125 Israel H3478 his father, H1 to Goshen, H1657 and presented H7200 himself unto him; and he fell H5307 on his neck, H6677 and wept H1058 on his neck H6677 a good while. H5750
In G1722 my G3450 Father's G3962 house G3614 are G1526 many G4183 mansions: G3438 if it were not G1490 so, I would have told G302 G2036 you. G5213 I go G4198 to prepare G2090 a place G5117 for you. G5213 And G2532 if G1437 I go G4198 and G2532 prepare G2090 a place G5117 for you, G5213 I will come G2064 again, G3825 and G2532 receive G3880 you G5209 unto G4314 myself; G1683 that G2443 where G3699 I G1473 am, G1510 there ye G5210 may be G5600 also. G2532
Father, G3962 I will G2309 that G2443 they also, G2548 whom G3739 thou hast given G1325 me, G3427 be G5600 with G3326 me G1700 where G3699 I G1473 am; G1510 that G2443 they may behold G2334 my G1699 glory, G1391 which G3739 thou hast given G1325 me: G3427 for G3754 thou lovedst G25 me G3165 before G4253 the foundation G2602 of the world. G2889
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Genesis 45
Commentary on Genesis 45 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 45
Ge 45:1-28. Joseph Making Himself Known.
1. Then Joseph could not refrain himself—The severity of the inflexible magistrate here gives way to the natural feelings of the man and the brother. However well he had disciplined his mind, he felt it impossible to resist the artless eloquence of Judah. He saw a satisfactory proof, in the return of all his brethren on such an occasion, that they were affectionately united to one another; he had heard enough to convince him that time, reflection, or grace had made a happy improvement on their characters; and he would probably have proceeded in a calm and leisurely manner to reveal himself as prudence might have dictated. But when he heard the heroic self-sacrifice of Judah [Ge 44:33] and realized all the affection of that proposal—a proposal for which he was totally unprepared—he was completely unmanned; he felt himself forced to bring this painful trial to an end.
he cried, Cause every man to go out from me—In ordering the departure of witnesses of this last scene, he acted as a warm-hearted and real friend to his brothers—his conduct was dictated by motives of the highest prudence—that of preventing their early iniquities from becoming known either to the members of his household, or among the people of Egypt.
2. he wept aloud—No doubt, from the fulness of highly excited feelings; but to indulge in vehement and long-continued transports of sobbing is the usual way in which the Orientals express their grief.
3. I am Joseph—or, "terrified at his presence." The emotions that now rose in his breast as well as that of his brethren—and chased each other in rapid succession—were many and violent. He was agitated by sympathy and joy; they were astonished, confounded, terrified; and betrayed their terror, by shrinking as far as they could from his presence. So "troubled" were they, that he had to repeat his announcement of himself; and what kind, affectionate terms he did use. He spoke of their having sold him—not to wound their feelings, but to convince them of his identity; and then, to reassure their minds, he traced the agency of an overruling Providence, in his exile and present honor [Ge 35:5-7]. Not that he wished them to roll the responsibility of their crime on God; no, his only object was to encourage their confidence and induce them to trust in the plans he had formed for the future comfort of their father and themselves.
6. and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest—"Ear" is an old English word, meaning "to plough" (compare 1Sa 8:12; Isa 30:24). This seems to confirm the view given (Ge 41:57) that the famine was caused by an extraordinary drought, which prevented the annual overflowing of the Nile; and of course made the land unfit to receive the seed of Egypt.
14, 15. And he fell upon … Benjamin's neck—The sudden transition from a condemned criminal to a fondled brother, might have occasioned fainting or even death, had not his tumultuous feelings been relieved by a torrent of tears. But Joseph's attentions were not confined to Benjamin. He affectionately embraced every one of his brothers in succession; and by those actions, his forgiveness was demonstrated more fully than it could be by words.
17-20. Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren—As Joseph might have been prevented by delicacy, the king himself invited the patriarch and all his family to migrate into Egypt; and he made most liberal arrangements for their removal and their subsequent settlement. It displays the character of this Pharaoh to advantage, that he was so kind to the relatives of Joseph; but indeed the greatest liberality he could show could never recompense the services of so great a benefactor of his kingdom.
21. Joseph gave them wagons—which must have been novelties in Palestine; for wheeled carriages were almost unknown there.
22. changes of raiment—It was and is customary, with great men, to bestow on their friends dresses of distinction, and in places where they are of the same description and quality, the value of these presents consists in their number. The great number given to Benjamin bespoke the warmth of his brother's attachment to him; and Joseph felt, from the amiable temper they now all displayed, he might, with perfect safety, indulge this fond partiality for his mother's son.
23. to his father he sent—a supply of everything that could contribute to his support and comfort—the large and liberal scale on which that supply was given being intended, like the five messes of Benjamin, as a token of his filial love [see on Ge 43:34].
24. so he sent his brethren away—In dismissing them on their homeward journey, he gave them this particular admonition:
See that ye fall not out by the way—a caution that would be greatly needed; for not only during the journey would they be occupied in recalling the parts they had respectively acted in the events that led to Joseph's being sold into Egypt, but their wickedness would soon have to come to the knowledge of their venerable father.