CHAPTER XLV _Joseph, deeply affected with the speech of Judah, could no_ _longer conceal himself, but discovers himself to his brethren_, 1-4. _Excuses their conduct towards him, and attributes the whole to_ _the providence of God_, 5-8. _Orders them to hasten to Canaan, and bring up their fath... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 45:2. _THE EGYPTIANS AND THE HOUSE OF PHARAOH HEARD._] It seems strange that Joseph should have wept so loud that his _cries_ should be heard at some considerable distance, as we may suppose his dwelling was not very nigh to the palace! "But this," says Sir John Chardin, "is exactly t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 45:3. _I_ AM _JOSEPH_] Mr. Pope supposed that the discovery of Ulysses to his son Telemachus bears some resemblance to Joseph's discovery of himself to his brethren. The passage may be seen in Homer, Odyss. l. xvi., ver. 186-218. A few lines from _Cowper's_ translation will show much... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 45:5. _BE NOT GRIEVED, NOR ANGRY WITH YOURSELVES_] This discovers a truly _noble mind_: he not only _forgives_ and _forgets_, but he wishes even those who had wronged him to forget the injury they had done, that they might not suffer distress on the account; and with deep piety he attr... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 45:6. THERE SHALL _NEITHER_ BE _EARING NOR HARVEST._] EARING has been supposed to mean collecting the _ears_ of corn, which would confound it with _harvest_: the word, however, means _ploughing_ or _seed-time_, from the Anglo-Saxon [A.S.] _erian_, probably borrowed from the Latin _aro... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 45:8. _HE HATH MADE ME A FATHER TO PHARAOH_] It has already been conjectured that _father_ was a name of _office_ in Egypt, and that _father of Pharaoh_ might among them signify the same as _prime_ _minister_ or the _king's minister_ does among us. Calmet has remarked that among the P... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 45:10. _THOU SHALT DWELL IN THE LAND OF GOSHEN_] Probably this district had been allotted to Joseph by the king of Egypt, else we can scarcely think he could have promised it so positively, without first obtaining Pharaoh's consent. Goshen was the most easterly province of _Lower Egyp... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 45:12. _THAT_ IT IS _MY MOUTH THAT SPEAKETH UNTO YOU._] The Targum of _Jonathan ben Uzziel_ renders the place thus: - "Your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my own mouth that speaketh with you, in the language of the house of the sanctuary." Undoubtedly Joseph... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 45:14. _HE FELL UPON HIS BROTHER BENJAMIN'S NECK_] Among the Asiatics _kissing_ the _beard_, the _neck_, and the _shoulders_, is in use to the present day; and probably _falling on the neck_ signifies no more than _kissing the neck_ or _shoulders_, with the arms around.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 45:20. _REGARD NOT YOUR STUFF_] Literally, _Let not your eye_ _spare your instruments_ or _vessels_. כליכם keleychem, a _general term_, in which may be included household furniture, agricultural utensils, or implements of any description. They were not to delay nor encumber themselves... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 45:21. _JOSEPH GAVE THEM WAGONS_] עגלות _agaloth_, from עגל _agal_, which, though not used as a _verb_ in the Hebrew Bible, evidently means to _turn round, roll round_, be _circular_, c., and hence very properly applied to _wheel carriages_. It appears from this that such vehicles were... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 45:22. _CHANGES OF RAIMENT_] It is a common custom with all the Asiatic sovereigns to give both _garments_ and _money_ to ambassadors and persons of distinction, whom they particularly wish to honour. Hence they keep in their wardrobes several hundred changes of raiment, ready made up... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 45:23. _MEAT FOR HIS FATHER BY THE WAY._] מזון _mazon_, from זן _zan_, to _prepare, provide_, c. Hence _prepared meat_, some made-up dish, _delicacies, confectionaries_, c. As the word is used, 2 Chronicles 16:14, for _aromatic_ preparations, it may be restrained in its meaning to som... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 45:24. _SEE THAT YE FALL NOT OUT BY THE WAY._] This prudent caution was given by Joseph, to prevent his brethren from accusing each other for having _sold_ him; and to prevent them from envying Benjamin, for the superior favour shown him by his brother. It is strange, but so it is, tha... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 45:26. _JACOB'S HEART FAINTED_] Probably the good news so overpowered him as to cast him into a swoon. _He believed them_ _not_-he thought it was _too good news to be true_; and though it occasioned his swooning, yet on his recovery he could not fully credit it. See a similar case, Luk... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 45:27. _WHEN HE SAW THE WAGONS - THE SPIRIT OF JACOB - REVIVED_] The wagons were additional evidences of the truth of what he had heard from his sons; and the consequence was, that he was restored to fresh vigour, he seemed as if he had gained _new life_, ותחי vattechi, and he lived; r... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 45:28. It is _ENOUGH; JOSEPH MY SON_ IS _YET ALIVE_] It was not the state of _dignity_ to which Joseph had arisen that particularly affected Jacob, it was the consideration that he was _still alive_. It was _this_ that caused him to exclaim רב _rab_; "_much_! _multiplied_! my son is ye... [ Continue Reading ]