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Genesis Chapter
Forty-six
Genesis 46
Chapter Contents
God's promises to Jacob. (1-4) Jacob and his family go to
Egypt. (5-27) Joseph meets his father and his brethren. (28-34)
Commentary on Genesis 46:1-4
Even as to those events and undertakings which appear
most joyful
we should seek counsel
assistance
and a blessing from the Lord.
Attending on his ordinances
and receiving the pledges of his covenant love
we
expect his presence
and that peace which it confers. In all removals we should
be reminded of our removal out of this world. Nothing can encourage us to fear
no evil when passing through the valley of the shadow of death
but the
presence of Christ.
Commentary on Genesis 46:5-27
We have here a particular account of Jacob's family.
Though the fulfilling of promises is always sure
yet it is often slow. It was
now 215 years since God had promised Abraham to make of him a great nation
2; yet that branch of his seed
to which the
promise was made sure
had only increased to seventy
of whom this particular
account is kept
to show the power of God in making these seventy become a vast
multitude.
Commentary on Genesis 46:28-34
It was justice to Pharaoh to let him know that such a
family was come to settle in his dominions. If others put confidence in us
we
must not be so base as to abuse it by imposing upon them. But how shall Joseph
dispose of his brethren? Time was
when they were contriving to be rid of him;
now he is contriving to settle them to their advantage; this is rendering good
for evil. He would have them live by themselves
in the land of Goshen
which
lay nearest to Canaan. Shepherds were an abomination to the Egyptians. Yet
Joseph would have them not ashamed to own this as their occupation before
Pharaoh. He might have procured places for them at court or in the army. But
such preferments would have exposed them to the envy of the Egyptians
and
might have tempted them to forget Canaan and the promise made unto their
fathers. An honest calling is no disgrace
nor ought we to account it so
but
rather reckon it a shame to be idle
or to have nothing to do. It is generally
best for people to abide in the callings they have been bred to and used to.
Whatever employment and condition God in his providence has allotted for us
let us suit ourselves to it
satisfy ourselves with it
and not mind high
things. It is better to be the credit of a mean post
than the shame of a high
one. If we wish to destroy our souls
or the souls of our children
then let us
seek for ourselves
and for them
great things; but if not
it becomes us
having food and raiment
therewith to be content.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Genesis》
Genesis 46
Verse 1
[1] And
Israel took his journey with all that he had
and came to Beersheba
and
offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.
And Israel came to Beer-sheba
and offered
sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac - He chose that place in remembrance
of the communion which his father and grandfather had with God in that place.
In his devotion he had an eye to God as the God of his father Isaac
that is
a
God in covenant with him
for by Isaac the covenant was entailed upon him. He
offered sacrifices
extraordinary sacrifices
besides those at his stated
times. These sacrifices were offered
1. By way of thanksgiving for the late
blessed change of the face of his family
for the good news he had received
concerning Joseph
and the hopes he had of seeing him. 2. By way of petition
for the presence of God with him in his intended journey. 3. By way of
consultation. Jacob would not go on 'till he had asked God's leave.
Verse 2
[2] And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night
and said
Jacob
Jacob. And he said
Here am I.
And God spake unto Israel in the visions of
the night — (Probably the next night after he had
offered his sacrifices.) Those who desire to keep up communion with God
shall
find that it never fails on his side. If we speak to him as we ought
he will
not fail to speak to us. God called him by his name
by his old name
Jacob
Jacob
to mind him of his low estate. Jacob
like one well acquainted with the
visions of the Almighty
answers
Here am I - Ready to receive orders. And what
has God to say to him?
Verse 3
[3] And
he said
I am God
the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I
will there make of thee a great nation:
I am God
the God of thy father — That is
I am what thou ownest me to be: thou shalt find me a God of
divine wisdom and power engaged for thee: and thou shalt find me the God of thy
father
true to the covenant made with him.
Fear not to go down into Egypt — It seems though Jacob
upon the first intelligence of Joseph's life and
glory in Egypt
resolved without any hesitation I will go and see him
yet upon
second thoughts he saw difficulties in it. 1. He was old
130 years old; it was
a long journey
and he was unfit to travel. 2. He feared lest his sons should
be tainted with the idolatry of Egypt
and forget the God of their fathers. 3.
Probably he thought of what God had said to Abraham concerning the bondage and
affliction of his seed. 4. He could not think of laying his bones in Egypt. But
whatever his discouragements were
this was enough to answer them all
Fear not
to go down into Egypt.
Verse 4
[4] I
will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again:
and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.
I will go down with thee into Egypt — Those that go where God sends them shall certainly have God with them.
And I will surely bring thee up again — Tho' Jacob died in Egypt
yet this promise was fulfilled
1. In the
bringing up of his body to be buried in Canaan. 2. In the bringing up of his
seed to be settled in Canaan. Whatever low and darksome valley we are called
into
we may be confident if God go down with us
he will surely bring us up
again. If he go with us down to death
he will surely bring us up again to
glory.
And Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes — That is a promise that Joseph should live as long as he lived
that he
should be with him at his death
and close his eyes with all possible
tenderness. Probably Jacob
in the multitude of his thoughts within him
had
been wishing that Joseph might do this last office of love for him; and God
thus answered him in the letter of his desire. Thus God sometimes gratifies the
innocent wishes of his people
and makes not only their death happy
but the
very circumstances of it agreeable.
Verse 7
[7] His sons
and his sons' sons with him
his daughters
and his sons'
daughters
and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.
All his seed —
'Tis probable they continued to live together in common with their father
and
therefore when he went they all went; which perhaps they were the more willing
to do
because
tho' they had heard that the land of Canaan was promised them
yet to this day they had none of it in possession. We have here a particular
account of the names of Jacob's family; his sons sons
most of which are
afterwards mentioned
as heads of houses in the several tribes. See Numbers 26:5
etc. Issachar called his eldest
son Tola
which signifies a worm
probably because when he was born he was a
little weak child
not likely to live
and yet there sprang from him a very
numerous off-spring
1 Chronicles 7:2. The whole number that went
down into Egypt were sixty-six
to which add Joseph and his two sons
who were
there before
and Jacob himself
the head of the family
and you have the
number of seventy. 'Twas now 215 years since God had promised Abraham to make
of him a great nation
Genesis 12:2
and yet that branch of his seed
on which the promise was entailed
was as yet increased but to seventy
of
which this particular account is kept
that the power of God in multiplying
these seventy to so vast a multitude
even in Egypt
may be the more
illustrious. When he pleases
A little one shall become a thousand.
Verse 30
[30] And
Israel said unto Joseph
Now let me die
since I have seen thy face
because
thou art yet alive.
Now let me die —
Not but that it was farther desirable to live with Joseph
and to see his
honour and usefulness; but he had so much satisfaction in this first meeting
that he thought it too much to desire or expect any more in this world.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on
Genesis》
46 Chapter 46
Verses 1-7
And Israel took his Journey with all that he had
Israel’s journey into Egypt
I.
A
JOURNEY WHICH THE PATRIARCH HAD NEVER EXPECTED TO TAKE
AND WHICH WAS FRAUGHT
WITH CONSEQUENCES WHICH HE HAD NEVER HOPED TO SEE.
II. THE RELIGIOUS
SPIRIT IN WHICH THE PATRIARCH ENTERED UPON THIS JOURNEY.
III. WHEN THE
PATRIARCH SOUGHT THE LORD AT BEER-SHEBA
HE APPEARED TO HIM AND BLESSED HIM.
1. The Lord appeared to His servant
when he had offered up his
sacrifices to Him.
2. The very gracious manner in which the Lord addressed His servant
in this vision.
3. The Lord gave to His servant words of wise and kindly counsel
just what was suitable in the circumstances in which he was placed.
IV. THE FULFILMENT
OF THE PROMISE WHICH THE LORD GAVE TO ISRAEL IN THIS VISION CONCERNING HIS
JOURNEY INTO EGYPT. (H. T. Holmes.)
The migration of Jacob’s house to Egypt
I. IT WAS THE
SECOND STAGE IN THE COVENANT HISTORY.
II. IT WAS THE
FULFILMENT OF THE DIVINE PLAN.
III. IT WAS ENTERED
UPON WITH DUE SOLEMNITY.
IV. IT HAD THE
APPROVAL OF GOD. God has always appeared in some special act or word in every
great crisis of His people’s history. As to Jacob--
1. He found God as he had sought Him. “I am God
the God of thy
father.” The Name used reveals the Omnipotent God
the Mighty One who is able
to fulfil His covenant engagements
and who could bring Jacob safely through
all his difficulties
present and future. Israel had found his God faithful in
all His gracious dealings
and he believed that he should still see the same
loving kindness and truth for the time to come.
2. The will of God is clearly made known. “Fear not to go down to
Egypt.” He was distinctly assured that it was God’s will that he should go
there.
3. The protection of God is promised. “Fear not--I will go down with
thee into Egypt.”
4. The purpose of God is declared. “I will there make of thee a
great nation.” “I will surely bring thee up again.” (T. H. Leale.)
The family migration
I. THE DEPARTURE
FROM CANAAN.
1. Jacob offers sacrifice.
2. God renews the promise.
II. THE REUNION IN
EGYPT.
III. THE ABODE IN
GOSHEN. Why was Joseph so anxious to establish his father’s family in Goshen?
Joseph felt that there were many dangers incident to the sojourn of the
“Hebrews
” his kinsfolk
in Egypt.
1. The danger of quarrels. The Egyptians might become jealous of the
foreigners in their land. The Hebrews might
perhaps
presume too much on the
favour shown by Pharaoh to Joseph and Jacob.
2. The danger from heathenism. There was much idolatry and animal
worship in Egypt. The “ magicians” and their arts might corrupt the minds of
the children of Israel
and prevent them from the worship of the one true God.
3. The danger of his kin kinsmen forgetting Canaan as the land where
their lot as a nation was fixed by God. He did not want them to be
Egyptianized. They must
as far as possible
be kept a “separate” people. (W.
S. Smith
B. D.)
Emigrate
but not without God
History repeats itself
and this old story fits into multitudinous
modern instances. But not always is sufficient heed given to the sacrificing at
Beer-sheba; and the point I make now is
that in all such changes we should
seek
above all things else
the companionship of God. Nothing will harm us
anywhere if God is with us
and we cannot have the highest good if we go even
into the fairest Goshen on the continent without Him. Horace Greely
long ago
set the fashion of saying
“Go West
young man
go West”; and there is wisdom
in the advice
provided it be conjoined with the admonition
“But don’t go
without your God.” Perhaps some here are meditating on the propriety of their
pushing away into the places where the labour market is not overstocked
and
the opportunities are far better than they are in a comparatively crowded city
such as this. Nor do we say a word against the project. Go
by all means
if you
are not afraid to work; but remember the sacrifice at Beer-sheba
and don’t go
without your God. Too many have done that
and have gone to ruin. But take Him
with you
and He will be “your shield and your exceeding great reward.” (W.
M. Taylor
D. D.)
Verse 3-4
And He said
I am God
the God of thy father
fear not to go down
into Egypt
Divine assurance vouchsafed to Jacob
Not the invitation of Pharaoh
not the urgent message of Joseph
not even the warmth of his own love alone
carried Jacob out of Canaan.
These furnished the occasion and the impulse
but the head of the covenant
people did not leave the Land of Promise without the warrant of his covenant
God. There were four promises.
1. “I will make of thee a great nation
” a promise which ran far
into the future. A people great in numbers
greater in their influence on all
the earth to the end of time
should be formed of his seed
and formed in
Egypt.
2. “I will go down with thee.” Over every circumstance of the
future
nearer and more remote
the Living and Almighty. God would watch.
3. “I will also surely bring thee up again.” The old promise of the
land would not be changed. For the purpose of forming the nation which should
possess the land
were they now being taken into Egypt; when the nation had
been formed according to God’s promise
He would bring them back.
4. “And Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.” Long before the
nation was formed
Jacob’s time to die should come; but when it came it would
be accompanied with this tender consolation
the loving touch of Joseph’s hand
on the eyelids he could no longer move. That was to be his last sensation. And
it would convey to him far more than the joy of his son’s love; it would be the
pledge that his soul was passing into the hands of the faithful Redeemer who
had given this promise so long before. Thus it was by faith that Israel went
into Egypt
consciously led by the hand of God. (A. M.Symington
D. D.)
Verses 8-27
And these are the names of the children of Israel
which came into
Egypt
The catalogue of the children of Israel
I.
IT
MARKS THE COMMENCEMENT
AND GIVES THE OUTLINE OF
THE NATION’S HISTORY.
II. IT MARKS THE
TRIBE OF THE MESSIAH.
III. THE NAMES ARE
SIGNIFICANT. Thus the names of Reuben’s sons signify: “teacher
”
“distinguished
” “beautiful one
” “noble one.” These express a sanguine hope.
Also the names of Levi’s sons signify: “expulsion of the profane
”
“congregation of the consecrated
” “practiser of discipline.” These are the
leading principles and proper characteristics of priestly rule. We hasten
rapidly over Biblical names
but much instruction may be gathered from them.
IV. THE FACTS
CONNECTED WITH SOME OF THE NAMES ARE SUGGESTIVE. Thus Dinah
though condemned
to a single life
is yet reckoned among the founders of the house of Israel in
Egypt. This points to the elevation of woman
and to the idea of female
inheritance. Again
Judah was the father’s minister to Joseph. By his
faithfulness
strength
and wisdom he rises in the opinion of his father. His
distinguished place in the annals of the nation comes out
at length
in the
grandeur of that prophetic word which declares God’s loving purpose in this
great history (Genesis 49:10).
V. THE NUMBER OF
THE NAMES IS ALSO SUGGESTIVE. “It is remarkable that it is the product of
seven
the number of holiness; and ten
the number of completeness. It is still
more remarkable that it is the number of the names of those who were the heads
of the primitive nations. The Church is the counterpart of the world
and it is
to be the instrument by which the kingdom of the world is to become the kingdom
of Christ. When the Most High bestowed the inheritance on the nations
“when He
separated the sons of Adam
He set the bounds of the people according to the
number of the sons of Israel” (Deuteronomy 32:8). This curious sentence
may have an immediate reference to the providential distribution of the human
family over the habitable parts of the earth
according to the number of His
church and of His dispensation of grace: but
at all events
it conveys the
great and obvious principle
that all things whatsoever
in the affairs of men
are antecedently adapted with the most perfect exactitude to the benign reign
of grace already realized in the children of God
and yet to be extended to all
the sons and daughters of Adam. (T. H. Leale.)
Verses 28-34
They came into the land of Goshen
The settlement of the children of Israel in Goshen
I.
THE
WISE POLICY OF THIS STEP.
II. THE BEHAVIOUR
OF JOSEPH.
1. He determines to announce their arrival to Pharaoh (Genesis 46:31).
2. He gives instructions to his brethren (Genesis 46:32; Genesis 46:34). (T. H. Leale.)
Jacob and Joseph
I. A DIVINE
PROMISE.
1. The occasion on which it was given. Jacob having heard that
Joseph was alive
was anxious to see his son once more. Felt he could hardly
leave the promised land except he had Divine permission. He went as far as he
dared--to Beer-sheba
in the extreme south
and there offered sacrifice unto
the God of his father. Then it was
in a vision
that the promise was spoken.
Divine mercy and condescension
responding to the father’s desire. “Like as a
father pitieth his children
” &c.
2. The nature of it.
3. Practical effect of it. In the strength of the encouragement it
imparted
Jacob
130 years old
sets out for Egypt.
II. A FATHER’S
MESSENGER. Judah. He had taken a chief part in the separating of father and
son
and we now see him most active in bringing about the meeting. Those who
have done wrong may not be able to undo the wrong they have done
but should
if possible
make reparation. Recall the activity of Judah all through the
history. His intercession for Benjamin
&c. There seems to have been a
radical change in him.
III. A HAPPY
MEETING. Jacob and Joseph. Some twenty-two years had passed since they had seen
each other. It was no prodigal’s return. Jacob would have been glad to see
Joseph under any circumstances
but how great his pride at finding him thus
exalted. Jacob
as a God-fearing man
had no need to be ashamed of the progress
of his son.
IV. AN HONEST
COUNCILLOR. Joseph to his brethren. They were not to disguise their calling;
although the Egyptians abandoned it. They were to begin in their new home on
the right principles
were to be true and honest. How many resort to unmanly
concealments of humble extraction and lowly avocations when away from home.
Honesty always right
and therefore the best policy. In this case the effect is
evident. The Israelites were located by themselves. Their exodus the more easy
and practicable when the time came. Had they been spread through the country
their collection and departure had been most difficult. Learn:
1. To seek God’s guidance in all our movements.
2. To look for the fulfilment of promise in an honest obedience.
3. Endeavour to repair results of past sins. Restitution and
reparation.
4. Let conduct in absence of parents be such as to render the
meeting happy.
5. Begin life on right principles. Honour
truth
honesty. (J. G.
Gray.)
Duty and filial piety combined
A beautiful combination of official duty and filial piety! The
whole land of Egypt is suffering from famine. Joseph is the controller and
administrator of the resources of the land. He does not abandon his position
and go away to Canaan; but he gets the chariot out and he must go part of the
road. “I know I am father to Pharaoh and all his great people. I shall not be
away long; I shall soon be back again to my duties. I must go a little way to
meet the old man from home.” Yes
I don’t care what our duties are
we can add
a little pathos to them if we like; whatever we be in life
we can add a little
sentiment to our life. And what is life without sentiment? What are the flowers
without an occasional sprinkling of dew? It may be a grand thing to sit on high
stool and wait till the old man comes upstairs. But it is an infinitely grander
thing
a “lordlier chivalry
” to come off the stool and go away to meet him a
mile or two on the road. Your home will be a better home--I don’t care how poor
the cot--if you will have a little sentiment in you
a little tenderness and
nice feeling. These are things that sweeten life. I don’t want a man to wait
until there is an earthquake in order that he may call and say
“How do you
do?” I don’t want a man to do earthquakes for me. Sometimes I want a chair
handed
and a door opened
and a kind pressure of the hand
and a gentle word.
And as for the earthquakes
why--wait until they come. (J. Parker
D. D.)
Kindness to parents
The biographers of Abraham Lincoln
say: “He never
in all his
prosperity lost sight of his parents. He continued to aid and befriend them in
every way
even when he could ill-afford it
and when his benefactions were
imprudently used.” (One Thousand New Illustrations.)
Not ashamed of parentage
Joseph
a prince
was no whir ashamed of the poor old shepherd
before so many of his compeers and other courtiers
that accompanied him
and
abominated such kind of persons. Colonel Edwards is much commended for his
ingenuous reply to a countryman of his
newly come to him
into the low
countries
out of Scotland. This fellow
desiring entertainment of him
told
him
my lord his father and such knights and gentlemen
his cousins and
kinsmen
were in good health. “Gentlemen
” quoth Colonel Edwards to his friends
by
“believe not one word he says; my father is but a poor banker
whom this
knave would make a lord
to curry favour with me
and make you believe I am a great
man born.” The truly virtuous and valorous are no whir ashamed of their mean
parentage. (J. Trapp.)
──《The Biblical Illustrator》