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Genesis Chapter
Forty-five
Genesis 45
Outlines
New King James Version
(NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO
GENESIS 45
This chapter contains an
account of Joseph's making himself known to his brethren
which was done when
they were alone
Genesis 45:1; when
he encouraged them not to distress themselves on account of their selling him
into Egypt
for God in his providence had sent him there for their good
Genesis 45:5; and
he ordered them to go forthwith to Canaan
and acquaint his father with all the
honour and glory they saw him in
and to desire him to come thither to him
where he should be provided for during the five years of famine yet to come
in
the best part of the land of Egypt
Genesis 45:9; upon
which he expressed the strongest affection to Benjamin
and to all his
brethren
Genesis 45:14; the
fame of this was soon spread in the house of Pharaoh
which gave the king great
pleasure
who immediately expressed his earnest desire that his father might
come and settle in Egypt
and ordered provisions to be sent him
and carriages
to bring him down
and all that belonged to him
Genesis 45:16; and
Joseph accordingly delivered to his brethren wagons and provisions for the way
and gave gifts to them
and sent a present to his father
and dismissed his
brethren with an exhortation not to fall out by the way
Genesis 45:21; and
when they came to Canaan
they acquainted their father with all these things
who at first could not believe them; but when he saw the wagons
his spirit
revived
and determined to go and see his son
Genesis 45:25.
Genesis 45:1. Then Joseph
could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him
and he cried out
“Make everyone go out from me!” So no one stood with him while Joseph made
himself known to his brothers.
YLT 1And Joseph hath not been
able to refrain himself before all those standing by him
and he calleth
`Put
out every man from me;' and no man hath stood with him when Joseph maketh
himself known unto his brethren
Then Joseph
could not refrain himself
....
That he should not weep
as the Targum of Jonathan adds; at least he could not much longer refrain from
tears
such an effect Judah's speech had on his passions:
before all them
that stood before him;
his servants that attended
him and waited upon him
the steward of his house
and others
upon whose
account he put such a force upon himself
to keep in his passions from giving
vent
that they might not discover the inward motions of his mind; but not
being able to conceal them any longer:
and he cried;
or called out with a loud
voice
and an air of authority:
cause every man
to go out from me;
out of the room in which
he and his brethren were; perhaps this order was given to the steward of the
house to depart himself
and to remove every inferior officer and servant upon
the spot; or other people that might be come in to hear the trial of those men
and to see how they would be dealt with:
and there stood
no man with him
while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren;
not that Joseph was
ashamed of them
and of owning before them the relation he stood in to them;
but that they might not see the confusion his brethren would be thrown into
and have knowledge of the sin they had been guilty of in selling him which
could not fail of being mentioned by him
and confessed by them; and besides
it was not suitable to his grandeur and dignity to be seen in such an extreme
passion he was now going into.
Genesis 45:2. 2 And
he wept aloud
and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it.
YLT 2and he giveth forth his
voice in weeping
and the Egyptians hear
and the house of Pharaoh heareth.
And he wept
aloud
....;
Or "gave forth his
voice in weeping"F18ויתן את קלו בבכי
"et dedit vocem suam in fletu"
Montanus; so Junius & Tremellius
Piscator
Schmidt. ; as he wept he cried aloud; for having put such a violent
restraint on himself
as the flood of tears was the greater
so his voice was
the stronger and louder for it:
and the
Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard;
the Egyptians
that were
in the room or rooms adjoining to that where Joseph was
heard his cry
and
perhaps a great deal of what was said; which they soon reported to others
and
it quickly reached Pharaoh's court
which might not be at any great distance.
Genesis 45:3. 3 Then
Joseph said to his brothers
“I am Joseph; does my father still live?”
But his brothers could not answer him
for they were dismayed in his presence.
YLT 3And Joseph saith unto his
brethren
`I [am] Joseph
is my father yet alive?' and his brethren have not
been able to answer him
for they have been troubled at his presence.
And Joseph said
unto his brethren
I am Joseph
....
As soon as he could
compose himself a little
and utter his words
the first thing he said was
that he was Joseph; that was his right name
his Hebrew name; though he was
called by the Egyptians Zaphnathpaaneah
and by which name Joseph's brethren
only knew him
if they knew his name at all; and it must be very startling to
them to bear this sound
and to be told by himself that that was his name; and
which was not all he meant and they understood
but that he was Joseph their
brother as afterwards expressed:
doth my father
yet live?
this he knew before
for
they had told him he was alive; wherefore he puts this question not through
ignorance
or as doubting but to express his affliction for his father
and his
joy that he was alive:
and his
brethren could not answer him;
they were so surprised and
astonished; they were like men thunderstruck
they were not able to utter a
word for awhile:
for they were
troubled at his presence;
the sin of selling him
came fresh into their minds
the guilt of it pressed their consciences
and the
circumstances that Joseph was in filled them with fear that he would avenge
himself on them.
Genesis 45:4. 4 And
Joseph said to his brothers
“Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then
he said: “I am Joseph your brother
whom you sold into Egypt.
YLT 4And Joseph saith unto his
brethren
`Come nigh unto me
I pray you
' and they come nigh; and he saith
`I
[am] Joseph
your brother
whom ye sold into Egypt;
And Joseph said
unto his brethren
come near to me
I pray you
....
Very probably Joseph sat
in a chair of state while they were under examination
and through reverence of
him they kept at a proper distance; or being frightened at what he had said
he
might observe them drawing back
as Jarchi remarks
and so encourages them in a
kind and tender manner to return and come nearer to him
and the rather
that
they might more privately converse together without being overheard; as also
that they might
by approaching him discern and call to mind some of his
features still remaining
by which they might be assured he was Joseph indeed:
and they came
near
and he said
I am Joseph your brother;
not only his name was
Joseph
but he was that Joseph that was their brother; he claims and owns the
relation between them
which must be very affecting to them
who had used him
so unkindly:
whom ye sold
into Egypt:
which is added
not so
much to put them in mind of and upbraid them with their sin
but to assure them
that he was really their brother Joseph; which he could not have related had he
not been he
as well as to lead on to what he had further to say to them for
their comfort.
Genesis 45:5. 5 But
now
do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me
here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.
YLT 5and now
be not grieved
nor let it be displeasing in your eyes that ye sold me hither
for to preserve
life hath God sent me before you.
Now therefore
be not grieved
....
To an excess
so as to be
swallowed up with overmuch sorrow; otherwise it became them to be grieved for
their sin
and to show a godly sorrow and true repentance for it:
nor angry with
yourselves
that ye sold me hither;
reflect upon themselves
and afflict themselves in an immoderate way; or break forth into anger and
wrath with one another
upbraiding and blaming each other for their conduct in
that affair
and so foment contentions and quarrels among themselves:
for God did
send me before you to preserve life;
the life of thousands of
persons in Egypt
Canaan
and other countries; and particularly to preserve
their lives was he sent before them into Egypt; where
by interpretation
Pharaoh's dreams
by which he understood and did foretell the seven years of
plenty and seven years of famine
he was to great honour and trust
and laid up
a sufficiency of corn in the time of plenty to answer the exigencies of various
countries in the time of famine
and
among the rest
of his own family; and
therefore would have this attributed by them to the wise disposing providence
of God.
Genesis 45:6. 6 For
these two years the famine has been in the land
and there are
still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.
YLT 6`Because these two years
the famine [is] in the heart of the land
and yet [are] five years
[in] which
there is neither ploughing nor harvest;
For these two
years hath the famine been
in the land
....
In the land of Egypt and
in the countries round about:
and yet there
are five years;
still remaining
which he
knew by the above dreams and the interpretation of them:
in the which there
shall neither be earing nor harvest;
that is
no tillage of
land
neither ploughing nor sowing
and so no reaping
or gathering in of the
fruits of the earth
as used to be in harvest; at least
there would be very
little ground tilled
only it may be on the banks of the Nile
since they had
no corn to spare for seed; and besides
as the Egyptians knew by Joseph's
prediction that the Nile would not overflow
it was to no purpose to attempt to
plough their land
which through seven years of drought was become very
difficult
or to sow
could they get the seed into the ground
since there was
no likelihood of its springing up again.
Genesis 45:7. 7 And
God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth
and to
save your lives by a great deliverance.
YLT 7and God sendeth me before
you
to place of you a remnant in the land
and to give life to you by a great
escape;
And God sent me
before you
....
This he repeats to impress
the minds of his brethren with a sense of the good providence of God in
bringing him to Egypt before them
to make provision for their future welfare
and to alleviate their grief
and prevent an excessive sorrow for their selling
him into Egypt
when by the overruling hand of God it proved so salutary to
them:
to preserve you
a posterity in the earth;
that they and theirs might
not perish
which otherwise
in all human probability
must have been the case;
and that the promise of the multiplication of Abraham's seed might not be made
of none effect
but continue to take place
from whence the Messiah was to
spring:
and to save
your lives by a great deliverance;
from the extreme danger
they were exposed unto
through the terrible famine
and in which deliverance
were to be observed the great wisdom
goodness
power
and providence of God.
Genesis 45:8. 8 So
now it was not you who sent me here
but God; and He has made me
a father to Pharaoh
and lord of all his house
and a ruler throughout all the
land of Egypt.
YLT 8and now
ye -- ye have not
sent me hither
but God
and He doth set me for a father to Pharaoh
and for lord
to all his house
and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
So now it
was not you that sent me hither
but God
....
Which is to be understood
not absolutely
as if they had no concern at all in sending him thither; they
sold him to the Ishmaelites
who brought him down to Egypt and sold him to
Potiphar
and so were instrumental in his coming to Egypt; but comparatively
it was not they so much as God that sent him; whose providence directed
disposed
and overruled all those events
to bring Joseph to this place
and to
such an high station
to answer the purposes and designs of God in providing
for and preserving Jacob's family in a time of distress:
and he hath
made me a father to Pharaoh:
to be a teacher to him
as
Aben Ezra
that is
to be his counsellor
to advise him well in all things
as
a father his children; or to be his partner and patron
as Jarchi
to have a
share with him in power and authority
and to be reckoned as a father to him
see Genesis 41:43; and
to provide for him and the welfare of his kingdom
as parents do for their
children: the following phrases explain it of rule and government; and the
meaning is
that he was a great man
and a princeF19So it is
interpreted by R. Sol. Urbin. Ohel Moed
fol. 50. 1. in Pharaoh's court:
and lord of all
his house; his prime minister
chief counsellor and courtier:
and a ruler
throughout all the land of Egypt;
to whom all the deputies
of the several provinces were subject under Pharaoh
and especially in the
affair of the corn.
Genesis 45:9. 9 “Hurry
and go up to my father
and say to him
‘Thus says your son Joseph: “God has
made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me
do not tarry.
YLT 9`Haste
and go up unto my
father
then ye have said to him
Thus said Joseph thy son
God hath set me for
lord to all Egypt; come down unto me
stay not
Haste you
and
go up to my father
....
In Canaan
which lay
higher than Egypt; being desirous he should know as soon as possible that he
was alive
and in what circumstances he was:
and say unto
him
thus saith thy son Joseph;
without any title
such as
the father and counsellor of Pharaoh and governor of Egypt
only Joseph his
son
which would be enough to revive the heart of Jacob:
God hath made
me lord over all Egypt:
his exaltation to this
dignity he ascribes
not to Pharaoh
but to God; civil honour and promotion to
worldly grandeur and dignity are from God
and not from man:
come down unto
me
tarry not; the great business on his hands not permitting him to go to his
father and fetch him to Egypt
he desires that he would come to him without
delay
which would be greatly to the advantage of him and his family
and to
their mutual comfort.
Genesis 45:10. 10 You
shall dwell in the land of Goshen
and you shall be near to me
you and your
children
your children’s children
your flocks and your herds
and all that
you have.
YLT 10and thou hast dwelt in the
land of Goshen
and been near unto me
thou and thy sons
and thy son's sons
and thy flock
and thy herd
and all that thou hast
And thou shall
dwell in the land of Goshen
....
Called by ArtapanusF20Apud
Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 23. p. 27. Kaisan or Kessan; the Septuagint
version Gesan of Arabia
as it was that part of Egypt which bordered on Arabia:
it seems to be the same with the land of Rameses
see Genesis 47:11; and
the Heliopolitan home
which
StraboF21Geograph. l. 17. p. 555.
says
was reckoned to be in Arabia
and in which were both the city of
Heliopolis and the city Heroopolis
according to PtolemyF23Geograph.
l. 4. c. 5. ; for in the Septuagint version of Genesis 46:28
instead of Goshen is Heroopolis
or the city of the Heroes in the land of
Rameses
with which agrees JosephusF24Antiqu. l. 2. c. 7. sect. 5. :
wherefore Dr. ShawF25Travels
305
306. Ed. 2. observes
the land of
Rameses or Goshen could be no other than the Heliopolitan home
taking in that
part of Arabia which lay bounded near Heliopolis by the Nile
and near
Heroopolis by the correspondent part of the Red Sea. Now either before this
time Joseph had got a grant of this country
of Pharaoh
to dispose of at
pleasure
or he had so much power and authority of himself as to put his father
into it: or it may be
it was the domains of his father in law the priest of
On
since On or Onii
according to PtolemyF26
was the metropolis of
the Heliopolitan home
and by some thought to be Heliopolis itself
and perhaps
might be Joseph's own country
which he had with the daughter of the priest of
On: indeed if what the Jewish writers sayF1Pirke Eliezer
c. 26.
that Pharaoh
king of Egypt in Abraham's time
gave to Sarah the land of Goshen
for an inheritance
and therefore the Israelites dwelt in it
because it was
Sarah their "mother's"; it would account for Joseph's proposing to
put them into the possession of it without the leave of Pharaoh; but Goshen seems
to have been in the grant of Pharaoh
who agreed and confirmed what Joseph
proposed
Genesis 47:6
and thou shalt
be near unto me;
as he would be in Goshen
if Memphis was the royal seat at this time
as some thinkF2
and not
Tanis or Zoan; or Heliopolis
or both
in their turn; and ArtapanusF3Apud
Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 23
27. is express for it
that Memphis was
the seat of that king of Egypt
in whose court Moses was brought up; and
especially Heliopolis
nay be thought to be so
if Joseph dwelt at On or
Heliopolis
where his father in law was priest or prince
which was near if not
in Goshen itself: and according to BuntingF4Travels
&c. p. 76.
On or Oni was the metropolis of Goshen; and Leo Africanus saysF5Descriptio
Africae
l. 8. p. 669.
that the sahidic province
in which was Fium
where
the Israelites dwelt
see Genesis 47:11
was
the seat of the nobility of the ancient Egyptians:
thou and thy
children
and thy children's children:
for Jacob's sons had all
of them children
even Benjamin the youngest
as appears from the following
chapter:
and thy flocks
and thy herds
and all that thou hast;
and Goshen
being a place
of pasturage
was fit and suitable for them; and so Josephus saysF6
of Heliopolis
which he takes to be the place where Jacob was placed
that
there the king's shepherds had their pastures.
Genesis 45:11. 11 There I will provide for
you
lest you and your household
and all that you have
come to poverty; for there
are still five years of famine.”’
YLT 11and I have nourished thee
there -- for yet [are] five years of famine -- lest thou become poor
thou and
thy household
and all that thou hast.
And there will
I nourish thee
....
Provide for him and his
family:
for yet there
are five years of famine;
still to come
two of the
seven only being past:
lest thou
and
thy household
and all that thou hast
come to poverty;
his whole posterity be
consumed
as it would be in all probability
if he did not procure food for his
family during the famine.
Genesis 45:12. 12 “And
behold
your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my
mouth that speaks to you.
YLT 12`And lo
your eyes are
seeing
and the eyes of my brother Benjamin
that [it is] my mouth which is
speaking unto you;
And
behold
your eyes see
and the eyes of my brother Benjamin
....
They were eyewitnesses of
his being alive
having themselves seen him
and even Benjamin
who could not
be suspected by his father of a fraud in imposing on him; and some of them
could doubtless remember his features
and had an ocular proof of his being the
very person
which they could with great evidence relate unto Jacob; as also
his voice in speaking:
that it is
my mouth that speaketh unto you;
without an interpreter
as
Aben Ezra
and in the Hebrew language
as the Targum and Jarchi; which might
confirm them
and likewise their father upon their report
that the governor was
not an Egyptian
but an Hebrew; and by that and other concurrent testimonies
that he must be Joseph.
Genesis 45:13. 13 So
you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt
and of all that you have
seen; and you shall hurry and bring my father down here.”
YLT 13and ye have declared to my
father all my honour in Egypt
and all that ye have seen
and ye have hasted
and have brought down my father hither.'
And you shall
tell my father of all my glory in Egypt
....
His wealth and riches
his
grandeur and dignity
his power and authority:
and of all that
you have seen;
what a magnificent house
he dwelt in; what a numerous train of servants he had; in what majesty he rode
in the second chariot to the king; and what authority he exercised over the
people
and what reverence they gave him
and what power he had
particularly
in the distribution of corn:
and ye shall
haste
and bring down my father hither;
for Joseph had an eager
desire to see him
wherefore this is repeated.
Genesis 45:14. 14 Then
he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept
and Benjamin wept on his neck.
YLT 14And he falleth on the neck
of Benjamin his brother
and weepeth
and Benjamin hath wept on his neck;
And he fell
upon his brother Benjamin's neck and wept
....
On his neck first
because
he was his own brother by father and mother's side; and he wept over him for
joy that he had a sight of him once more: the word for "neck" is in
the plural number
and being used
may signify that he fell first on one side
of his neck
and then on the other
to show his great affection for him:
and Benjamin
wept upon his neck;
their love and the tokens
of it were reciprocal.
Genesis 45:15. 15 Moreover
he kissed all his brothers and wept over them
and after that his brothers
talked with him.
YLT 15and he kisseth all his
brethren
and weepeth over them; and afterwards have his brethren spoken with
him.
Moreover
he
kissed all his brethren
....
In their turns
to testify
his real affection for them
and hearty reconciliation to them:
and wept upon
them;
that is
upon their necks
as he had on Benjamin's:
and after that
his brethren talked with him:
being emboldened by this
carriage of his to them
and encouraged to believe that he really forgave them their
sin against him
and was truly reconciled unto them
and had a real affection
for them
and had no reason to fear he would avenge himself on them: they
entered into a free conversation
and talked of their father and their family
and the concerns of it
and of what passed since the time he was separated from
them.
Genesis 45:16. 16 Now
the report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house
saying
“Joseph’s brothers have
come.” So it pleased Pharaoh and his servants well.
YLT 16And the sound hath been
heard in the house of Pharaoh
saying
`Come have the brethren of Joseph;' and
it is good in the eyes of Pharaoh
and in the eyes of his servants
And the fame thereof
was heard in Pharaoh's house
....
The report was carried to
court
and there it was told by some from Joseph's house
who had overheard
what had passed
at least somewhat of it:
saying
Joseph's brethren are come;
perhaps they might call
him by his Egyptian name
though the historian gives him his Hebrew name
and
which was his right name
and by which he was best known to the Hebrews
for
whose sake chiefly he wrote:
and it pleased
Pharaoh well
and his servants;
for Joseph being greatly
beloved both by the king and his courtiers
who are meant by his servants
they
were glad of an opportunity of showing their further regard to him
by their
respect and civilities to his relations and friends
who had been the means of
providing for the welfare of the whole kingdom
and of saving all their lives;
Pharaoh's expressions of pleasure on this occasion were
no doubt sincere
whatever were those of his courtiers; who might not so well affect a stranger
and one that had been in a very low estate of life
to be raised above them
and have so much trust reposed is him
and honour conferred upon him
and might
dissemble in their respect to Joseph before their sovereign; though such might
be the prudence and affability of Joseph
and such the sense they had of their
obligations to him in point of gratitude
that they might be really pleased to
hear that his brethren were come; and the rather Pharaoh and his court might be
the more delighted
because that it appeared that he came of a good family in
Canaan; whereas they knew no more of him than of his having been a slave in
Potiphar's house
and then cast into a prison for a crime charged upon him
out
of which he was taken
and made the great man he was.
Genesis 45:17. 17 And
Pharaoh said to Joseph
“Say to your brothers
‘Do this: Load your animals and
depart; go to the land of Canaan.
YLT 17and Pharaoh saith unto
Joseph
`Say unto thy brethren
This do ye: lade your beasts
and go
enter ye
the land of Canaan
And Pharaoh
said unto Joseph
....
Who
it is highly
probable
waited upon Pharaoh to acquaint him with the coming of his brethren;
for it cannot be imagined that Pharaoh should say what follows upon a bare
report
without having a further account of things from Joseph
or that he
would neglect giving it
but take the first opportunity to inform him
whereupon he gave him the following order:
say unto thy
brethren
this do ye;
give them directions and instructions
to do as follows:
lade your asses:
with provisions for the
present necessity of their father's household in Canaan
and for their journey
back to Egypt:
and go
get you
into the land of Canaan;
with all the haste they
could make.
Genesis 45:18. 18 Bring
your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the
land of Egypt
and you will eat the fat of the land.
YLT 18and take your father
and
your households
and come unto me
and I give to you the good of the land of
Egypt
and eat ye the fat of the land.
And take your
father
and your households
....
Or families
for they were
all married persons
and had children
and no doubt servants also: all were to
be brought with them:
and come unto
me;
into his kingdom
to his
metropolis
and to his palace
and into his presence:
and I will give
you the good of the land of Egypt;
the best things which it
affords
and the best and most fruitful part of it
as he afterwards did
which
was the land of Goshen:
and ye shall
eat the fat of the land;
the choicest fruits of the
earth
such as were produced in fields and gardens; meaning that they should
have the finest of the wheat for themselves
and the fattest pastures for their
flocks.
Genesis 45:19. 19 Now
you are commanded—do this: Take carts out of the land of Egypt for your little
ones and your wives; bring your father and come.
YLT 19`Yea
thou -- thou hast
been commanded: this do ye
take for yourselves out of the land of Egypt
waggons for your infants
and for your wives
and ye have brought your father
and come;
Now thou art
commanded
this do ye
....
Had his orders from
Pharaoh; had full power and authority to do the above things
and what follows:
the sense Joseph Kimchi gives of this clause is
that Joseph was ordered by
Pharaoh not to let any wagons go out of Egypt with corn
lest the Egyptians
should want; but now Pharaoh said to him
though thou wert thus ordered
yet
bid thy brethren do as follows:
take you wagons
out of the land of Egypt:
and lade them with corn
as the same writer observes; the Targum of Jonathan adds
which were drawn by
oxen:
for your little
ones
and for your wives:
the wagons were to carry
the women and children in when they returned:
and bring your
father
and come;
in one of the carriages
or in what way was most agreeable to him in his old age.
Genesis 45:20. 20 Also
do not be concerned about your goods
for the best of all the land of Egypt is
yours.’”
YLT 20and your eye hath no pity on
your vessels
for the good of all the land of Egypt [is] yours.'
Also regard not
your stuff
....
Or "your
vessels"F7על כליכם
"vasis vestris"
Fagius
Drusius
"supellectilibus
vestris"
Pagninus
Schmidt; "propter vestra supellectilia"
Junius & Tremellius
Piscator.
utensils
household goods; he would not
have them to be concerned if they could not bring all their goods with them
but were obliged to leave some behind
and which
because of the distance of
the way and difficulty of the road
lying through sandy deserts
could not well
be brought
since there was enough to be had in the land of Egypt; therefore
as it may be rendered
"let not your eye spare"F8עינכם אל תחס
"oculus vester non parcat"
Pagninus
Montanus
Munster
Drusius
Schmidt.
or "pity": do not be grieved at it
or say it is a pity to
leave these good things behind. Some render and explain the words just the
reverse
"leave nothing of your household goods"F9"Nee
dimittatis quicquam de supellectili vestra"
V. L. so Mercerus. ; bring
all away with you
as if he would not have them think of returning again
but
of settling and continuing in Egypt; but this does not so well agree with what
follows as the former sense does:
for the good of
all the land of Egypt is yours:
whatever good things were
in it
whether for food or use for themselves
their houses
or their flocks
all were at their service
and they were welcome to them; or the best or most
fruitful part of the country was designed for them
and would be given to them
or was at their option.
Genesis 45:21. 21 Then the sons of Israel
did so; and Joseph gave them carts
according to the command of Pharaoh
and he
gave them provisions for the journey.
YLT 21And the sons of Israel do
so
and Joseph giveth waggons to them by the command of Pharaoh
and he giveth
to them provision for the way;
And the
children of Israel did so
....
As Pharaoh commanded
and
Joseph from him directed them to do:
and Joseph gave
them wagons
according to the commandment of Pharaoh:
and beasts
either horses
or oxen to draw them
and these not empty
though the principal use of them was
to fetch his father and his family
and their goods:
and gave them
provision for the way:
both going and returning
as much as would suffice for both.
Genesis 45:22. 22 He
gave to all of them
to each man
changes of garments; but to Benjamin he gave
three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of garments.
YLT 22to all of them hath he
given -- to each changes of garments
and to Benjamin he hath given three
hundred silverlings
and five changes of garments;
To all of them
he gave each man changes of raiment
....
Rich apparel
two suits of
clothes
to shift and change upon occasion
such as HomerF11Odyss.
8. calls ιματια εξαμειβα
"changeable garments"; those he gave to everyone of his brethren
partly that they might have something to show to their father and to their
wives
which would cause them to give credit to the report they should give of
Joseph
and his great prosperity; and partly that they might
upon their
return
be provided with suitable apparel to appear before Pharaoh
and chiefly
this was intended to show his great respect and affection for them
and
reconciliation to them:
but to Benjamin
he gave three hundred pieces of silver;
or shekels
as the Targums
of Onkelos and Jonathan
which amounted to between thirty and forty pounds of
our money; the Septuagint very wrongly renders it three hundred "pieces of
gold"; and besides these he gave him also
five changes of
raiment;
because of his greater
love and affection for him.
Genesis 45:23. 23 And
he sent to his father these things: ten donkeys loaded with the good
things of Egypt
and ten female donkeys loaded with grain
bread
and food for
his father for the journey.
YLT 23and to his father he hath
sent thus: ten asses bearing of the good things of Egypt
and ten she-asses
bearing corn and bread
even food for his father for the way.
And to his
father he sent after this manner
....
Or "according
to" thisF12כזאת "sicut
hoc"
Pagninus
Montanus; "in hunc modum"
Tigurine version. ;
either in like manner
as he gave his brethren change of raiment
&c. so he
sent the like to him
as Aben Ezra and Ben Melech interpret it
referring it to
what goes before; or rather as Jarchi
according to this account or number
even which follows: namely:
ten asses laden
with the good things of Egypt:
the best things the land
afforded; the Targum of Jonathan says with wine
but that Egypt did not abound
with; and so Jarchi
out of the Talmud
observes
that it was old wine that was
sent
such as is agreeable to ancient men:
and ten she
asses laden with corn;
not made up into bread
next mentioned
and so distinguished from it:
and bread: ready made
and baked:
and meat for
his father by the way;
food and fruit of various
sorts; Aben Ezra reckons many
peas
beans
lentils
millet
fetches
figs
currants
and dates.
Genesis 45:24. 24 So
he sent his brothers away
and they departed; and he said to them
“See that
you do not become troubled along the way.”
YLT 24And he sendeth his brethren
away
and they go; and he saith unto them
`Be not angry in the way.'
So he sent his
brethren away
and they departed
....
From Egypt to Canaan with
the wagons
asses
and rich presents:
and he said
unto them
see that ye fall not out by the way;
the Targum of Jonathan
adds
about the affair of selling me; which he had reason to fear they would
from what they
and particularly Reuben
had said in his presence
Genesis 42:21; he
was jealous this would be the subject of their discourse by the way
and that
they would be blaming one another about it
and so fall into contentions and
quarrels; that one would say it was owing to the reports of such an one
concerning him
that they entertained hatred against him; that it was such an
one that advised to kill him
and such an one that stripped him of his clothes
and such an one that put him into the pit
and such an one that was the cause
of his being sold; and thus shifting of things from one to another
and
aggravating each other's concern in this matter
they might stir up and provoke
one another to wrath and anger
as the word used signifies
which might have a
bad issue; to prevent which Joseph gives them this kind and good advice; and
especially there was the more reason to attend to it
since he was reconciled
unto them
and was desirous the whole should be buried in oblivion.
Genesis 45:25. 25 Then
they went up out of Egypt
and came to the land of Canaan to Jacob their
father.
YLT 25And they go up out of
Egypt
and come in to the land of Canaan
unto Jacob their father
And they went
up out of Egypt
....
That lying lower than the
land of Canaan:
and came into
the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father;
they found him alive and
well.
Genesis 45:26. 26 And
they told him
saying
“Joseph is still alive
and he is governor
over all the land of Egypt.” And Jacob’s heart stood still
because he did not
believe them.
YLT 26and they declare to him
saying
`Joseph [is] yet alive
' and that he [is] ruler over all the land of
Egypt; and his heart ceaseth
for he hath not given credence to them.
And told him
....
What had happened to them
in Egypt:
saying
Joseph is
yet alive;
who was thought by him and
them to have been dead long ago:
and he is
governor over all the land of Egypt;
deputy governor
and had
such power and authority that nothing was done without his order; the executive
power or administration of government was put into his hands
and all the
officers of the kingdom were under him
he was next to Pharaoh:
and Jacob's
heart fainted
for he believed them not;
it was too great and too
good news to be true; though it was desirable
it was unexpected; it amazed
him
he knew not what to think
or say or believe about it; there was such a
conflict of the passions in him
that he could not compose himself
or reason
with himself about it; and what might serve the more to hinder his belief of it
was
that this report of theirs was contrary to what they themselves had before
related of his death; and very likely upon the mention of the thing he fell
into a swoon
and was not himself for a while; and when he came a little to
himself
they went on with their account
as follows.
Genesis 45:27. 27 But
when they told him all the words which Joseph had said to them
and when he saw
the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him
the spirit of Jacob their father
revived.
YLT 27And they speak unto him all
the words of Joseph
which he hath spoken unto them
and he seeth the waggons
which Joseph hath sent to bear him away
and live doth the spirit of Jacob
their father;
And they told
him all the words of Joseph
which he had said unto them
....
Not concerning their
selling of him
and his forgiveness of them
and reconciliation to them
which
perhaps Jacob never heard of to his dying day
since he makes no mention of it
nor hints at it in his dying words to them; but of his great advancement in the
court of Pharaoh
and how desirous he was to have his father and family with
him
and provide for them
since there were five years of famine yet to come:
and when he saw
the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him
and his sons wives and
children
down to Egypt in; and which were so grand and magnificent
that he
was easily persuaded could never have been provided by his sons
if what they
had said concerning Joseph was not true: and then
the spirit of
Jacob their father revived:
not the Holy Spirit
or
spirit of prophecy
as the Targums
which the Jews say departed from him
and
had not been with him since the loss of Joseph
but now returned; but his own
natural spirit
he became lively and cheerful
giving credit to the report of
his sons.
Genesis 45:28. 28 Then
Israel said
“It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will
go and see him before I die.”
YLT 28and Israel saith
`Enough!
Joseph my son [is] yet alive; I go and see him before I die.'
And Israel
said
it is enough
Joseph my son is yet alive
....
Or it is "much"
or "great"F13רב
"multum"
Montanus
Munster
Drusius
Schmidt; μεγα μοι εστιν Sept. ; he had much joy
as the Targums;
this was the greatest blessing of all
and more to him than all the glory and
splendour that Joseph was in; that he was alive
that was enough for Jacob
which gave him content and pleasure; not so much the news of his grandeur in
Egypt
as of his being in the land of the living:
I will go and
see him before I die;
though his age was great
the journey long and difficult
so great was his desire of seeing Joseph
that
he determines at once upon going
expecting death shortly: no doubt but this
was said in submission to the will of God
and in seeking him by prayer and
supplication
and in the exercise of faith
believing that God would grant him
his desire
than which nothing in life could be more desirable to him
and he
only wished to live to enjoy this favour. In Joseph's making himself known unto
his brethren
he was a type of Christ
who manifests himself to his people
alone
and as he does not unto the world
saying unto them
that he is Jesus
the Saviour
their friend and brother
and whom they crucified
whose sins were
the cause of his sufferings; and yet encourages them to draw nigh unto him with
an humble and holy boldness
giving them abundant reason to believe that he
will receive them kindly
seeing that all that were done to him were by the
determined counsel and foreknowledge of God
and for their good
even for their
eternal salvation; and that they might not perish
but have everlasting life;
and to whom he now gives change of raiment
riches and honour
yea
durable
riches and righteousness; and declares it to be his will
that where he is
they may be also
and behold his glory: and this is sufficient to engage them
to reckon all their worldly enjoyments as mere stuff
contemptible things in
comparison of the good and glories of another world they are hastening to
where there will be fulness of joy
and pleasures for evermore; and therefore
should not fall out by the way
as they too often do.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》