CHAPTER L _Joseph bewails the death of his father, and commands the_ _physicians to embalm him_, 1, 2. _The Egyptians mourn for him seventy days_, 3. _Joseph begs permission from Pharaoh to accompany his father's_ _corpse to Canaan_, 4, 5. _Pharaoh consents_, 6. _Pharaoh's domestics and elder... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 50:2. _THE PHYSICIANS_] רפאים _ropheim_, the _healers_, those whose business it was to _heal_ or restore the body from sickness by the administration of proper _medicines_; and when death took place, to _heal_ or preserve it from dissolution by _embalming_, and thus give it a sort of... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 50:3. _FORTY DAYS_] The body it appears required this number of days to complete the process of embalming; afterwards it lay in _natron_ thirty days more, making in the whole seventy days, according to the preceding accounts, during which the mourning was continued.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 50:4. _SPEAK, I PRAY YOU, IN THE EARS OF PHARAOH_.] But why did not Joseph apply himself? Because he was now in his _mourning_ _habits_, and in such none must appear in the presence of the eastern monarchs. See Esther 4:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 50:7. _THE ELDERS OF HIS HOUSE_] Persons who, by reason of their age, had acquired _much experience_; and who on this account were deemed the best qualified to conduct the affairs of the king's household. Similar to these were the [Anglo-Saxon] _Eldermen_, or _Aldermen_, among our Saxo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 50:10. _THE THRESHING-FLOOR OF ATAD_] As אטד _atad_ signifies a _bramble_ or _thorn_, it has been understood by the Arabic, not as a _man's_ name, but as the name of a _place_; but all the other _versions_ and the _Targums_ consider it as the name of a _man_. Threshing-floors were alw... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 50:12. _AND HIS SONS DID UNTO HIM_] This and the thirteenth verse have been supposed by Mr. _Locke_ and others to belong to the conclusion of the preceding chapter, in which connection they certainly read more consistently than they do here.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 50:15. _SAW THAT THEIR FATHER WAS DEAD_] This at once argues both a _sense of guilt_ in their own consciences, and a _want of_ _confidence_ in their brother. They might have supposed that hitherto he had forborne to punish them merely on their father's account; but now that he was dead... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 50:16. _THY FATHER DID COMMAND_] Whether he did or not we cannot tell. Some think they had feigned this story, but that is not so likely. Jacob might have had suspicions too, and might have thought that the best way to prevent evil was to humble themselves before their brother, and get... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 50:17. _THE SERVANTS OF THE GOD OF THY FATHER._] These words were wonderfully well chosen, and spoken in the most forcible manner to Joseph's _piety_ and _filial_ affection. No wonder then that _he wept when they spake to him_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 50:19. AM _I IN THE PLACE OF GOD?_] These words may be understood either as a question, or an _affirmative proposition_. How should I take any farther notice of your transgression? I have passed it by, the matter lies now between God and you. Or, in the order of Divine providence I am... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 50:22. _JOSEPH DWELT IN EGYPT_] Continued in Egypt after his return from Canaan till his death; _he, and his father's house_-all the _descendants_ of Israel, till the _exodus_ or departure under the direction of Moses and Aaron, which was one hundred and forty-four years after.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 50:23. _WERE BROUGHT UP UPON JOSEPH'S KNEES._] They were educated by him, or under his direction; his sons and their children continuing to acknowledge him as _patriarch_, or head of the family, as long as he lived.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 50:24. _JOSEPH SAID - I DIE_] That is, I am dying; _and God will_ _surely visit you _- he will yet again give you, in the time when it shall be essentially necessary, the most signal proof of his unbounded love towards the seed of Jacob. _AND BRING YOU OUT OF THIS LAND_] Though ye hav... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 50:25. _YE SHALL CARRY UP MY BONES_] That I may finally rest with my ancestors in the land which God gave to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and which is a _pledge_ as it is a _type_ of the _kingdom_ _of Heaven_. Thus says the author of the Epistle to the _Hebrews_, Hebrews 11:22: "_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 50:26. _JOSEPH DIED, BEING A HUNDRED AND TEN YEARS OLD_] בן מאה ועשר שנים _ben meah vaeser shanim_; literally, _the son of a_ _hundred and ten years_. Here the _period_ of time he lived is _personified_, all the years of which it was composed being represented as a _nurse_ or _father_,... [ Continue Reading ]