JOSEPH AND HIS FATHER. -- Genesis 47:1-12. GOLDEN TEXT. --_ Honor thy father and thy mother, which is the first commandment with promise._ -- Ephesians 6:2. TIME. --About B. C. 1803. PLACE. --Egypt. HELPFUL READINGS. -- Genesis 45:16-28; Genesis 46:1-34; Genesis 47:13-31; Genesis 48:1-22; Genesis 50... [ Continue Reading ]
HE TOOK SOME OF HIS BRETHREN, EVEN FIVE MEN. He probably selected the five brethren in order that their appearance might make. favorable impression upon Pharaoh. The rest were left to guard the household and tend the flocks and herds. This delegation seems to have had. sort of official character, t... [ Continue Reading ]
PHARAOH SAID UNTO HIS BRETHREN. The interest the king manifests gives us. very favorable idea of his character. Oriental monarchs have generally secluded themselves from the public eye and been very difficult of access. Pharaoh, however, seems to be easily approached, to act like an ordinary mortal... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR TO SOJOURN IN THE LAND ARE WE COME. They do not ask for. permanent settlement in Egypt, but wish to sojourn for. time. They, no doubt, had heard of the prophecies made concerning their race, that it should possess Canaan as its permanent home, but that it should sojourn for. season in Egypt. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
PHARAOH. This Pharaoh is thought to have been identified, Mipra Thoutmosis, who reigned about twenty-five years, the name of whom often occurs on the monumental inscriptions. He now addresses Joseph, his prime minister, and thus the negotiation takes. formal shape, and the formal request made by th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LAND OF EGYPT IS BEFORE THEE. A truly royal liberality breathes through the reply to their request in his answer through his prime minister. All that they had sought was liberty to dwell in the land of Goshen. The king ordered Joseph to assign them. dwelling place in the best part of that provi... [ Continue Reading ]
II. THE PATRIARCH AND THE KING. 7. JOSEPH BROUGHT IN JACOB HIS FATHER AND SET HIM BEFORE PHARAOH. It was only after this formal transaction and the settlement of the question of. temporary home in Egypt that the aged patriarch was introduced to the king. It will be noted, (1) that Joseph was not as... [ Continue Reading ]
PHARAOH SAID,.. HOW OLD ART THOU? The venerable appearance of Jacob seems to have aroused the king's interest, and he inquires his age, not only as. matter of curiosity, but of courtesy. Respect for age was more felt and more praised in the ancient world than in the modern, although it still exists... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DAYS OF THE YEARS OF MY PILGRIMAGE ARE AN HUNDRED AND THIRTY YEARS. Jacob speaks of his life as. pilgrimage. It had been in the literal sense. He had left his father's house, long sojourned in Padan Aram, then returned after many years, and had been. sojourner in the land of Canaan, dwelling in... [ Continue Reading ]
JACOB BLESSED PHARAOH AND WENT OUT. He blessed the king at the beginning of their interview. He blesses him again when he departs. The blessing was his salutation. The salutations of many lands are, in their origin,. blessing. The Spaniard says to. friend when he meets him, "God be with you." We sa... [ Continue Reading ]
III.. SRAEL IN GOSHEN. 11. AND JOSEPH PLACED HIS FATHER AND HIS BRETHREN. Joseph, as prime minister, carried out the royal grant, and placed the Hebrew tribe in the land of Goshen. It was given to them as. possession while they sojourned in Egypt.. state again, what has been stated in preceding le... [ Continue Reading ]
JOSEPH NOURISHED HIS FATHER, ETC. He supported them, during this time of famine, out of the royal granaries. ACCORDING TO THEIR FAMILIES. A better rendering is, "According to their little ones." That is, all were numbered, little ones also, and food was distributed according to their number. PRA... [ Continue Reading ]