The History of the Old Testament Methodized, Chapter 3 · Section 42
SECT. XLII.
JOſeph's heart was ſo melted with this pathetick Speech of Judah, that He was able to refrain no longer, but commanding all beſides his Brethren to withdraw, He gave vent to his paſſion, and burſting out into tears, and weeping aloud, He told them, He was Joſeph their Brother, and asked them, Whether his Father was yet alive? They were ſo aſtoniſhed and amazed at the ſtrangeneſs and unexpectedneſs of the thing, and ſo terrifi'd with the remembrance of their own guiltineſs and treſpaſs againſt him, that they could not anſwer him a word. He bids them come near him, and tells them again, He was Joſeph their Brother, whom they had ſold into Egypt. He bids them not diſquiet, or be vex'd at themſelves for what was done, but look up to the Providence of God who had turn'd their Sin to ſo much good. For (ſays he) God did ſend me hither before you, that I might be a means in this ſore Famine to preſerve your lives, and that you may be ſav'd in this general Calamity, and to preſerve your Poſterity, that they may remain after you. For there are five years more of the Famine to come, wherein there ſhall be neither Ploughing nor Sowing, Earing nor Harveſt. Therefore it was not you that ſent me hither, but God, and He hath made me a Father to Pharaoh, that is, His Principal Councellour of State, and I have the Supream guidance and direction of all his Affairs, and by my Advice Pharaoh yields himſelf to be guided as a Son does by his Fathers; having made me Ruler over all his Houſe, and over all the Land of Egypt under Himſelf. Go up therefore to my Father, and tell him, That Joſeph his Son is yet alive, and that God hath made him Lord of all Egypt, and tell him, That I deſire him to come down ſpeedily to me, both He and his Children, and his Childrens Children, with their Flocks and Herds, and all that they have, and they ſhall live in that fruitful part of Egypt call'd Goſhen, a Province abounding with Paſtures, and ſo moſt commodious for them that deal in Cattel. (t)On, that City whence he married, and where he moſt reſided was near to Goſhen.And ſo they ſhall be near me, (u)This he ſays, preſuming on Pharaoh's conſent.and there I will maintain and nouriſh them, that they periſh not in the five ſucceding years of Famine. A do not doubt but I will really perform what I ſay to you; for the eyes of you all do ſee that it is my own mouth that ſpeaketh theſe things to you in your own Language, and not by an Interpreter. And you ſhall go and tell my Father of all this Glory and Splendor you have ſeen Me to be in, that He may haſten down to me. Then He fell upon his Brother Benjamin's Neck and kiſs'd him, and wept(x)See Ch. 33.4. of Eſau and Jacob, and Ch. 46.29. Joſeph's meeting with his Father Jacob. over him, and Benjamin wept upon his Neck, through the exuberance of joy, that they ſhould ſee one another after ſo long an abſence. Then He kiſs'd all the reſt of his Brethren and wept upon them, tranſported with the affection that ſo flowed in Him. When his Brethren had a little recover'd themſelves from their amazing aſtoniſhment and fear, and were ſatisfi'd that This was indeed their Brother Joſeph, and that He had a cordial and hearty affection for them; they began to chear up and to ſpeak ſomewhat more freely and familiarly with him of all things that He ask'd them. The News of this interview and meeting quickly ſpread it ſelf in Pharaoh's Court, [ſee verſ. 2.] and Pharaoh and his Courtiers were highly pleas'd with it; his Nobles not envying but heartily honouring Joſeph. Then Pharaoh call'd for Joſeph, and commanded him to order his Brethren to lade their Beaſts with Corn, and to make haſt home to their Father, and to invite Him from Himſelf to come down ſpeedily with his Family into Egypt, and He would give them of the good things of the Land, and they ſhould eat of the fat of it. Pharaoh further ſaid unto Him, Seeing thou haſt full Authority and Commiſſion from Me to do it, Say to thy Brethren, Take ye Waggons out of the Land of Egypt for your Father, your Wives and your Children, and come and dwell here; And let it not be grievous to you to leave ſome of your Houſhold-ſtuff or lumber behind you, (which you may not be able to put off in this time of dearth to the full value and worth) for the beſt and moſt fruitful part of the Land ſhould be yours, Ch. 47.6. And Joſeph's Brethren did as He had order'd them, and He gave them Waggons (as Pharaoh had commanded) and Proviſions for their Journey. Then he gave to them all Changes of Raiment (y)Robes or upper Garments which they us'd in thoſe hot Countries oft to change.(probably two a piece) ſuch as were us'd to be given for Honour or Reward, [ſee 2 Kings 5.23. Judg. 14.12.] but unto his Brother Benjamin he gave 300 pieces of ſilver, and five Changes of Raiment. (z)Theſe, with other Gifts, he gives them not only to ſhew his love, but that they might confirm the truth of his Meſſage, and make both their Wives and others more willing to come down into Egypt.And to his Father he ſent a noble Preſent, viz. Ten Aſſes laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten She-Aſſes laden with Corn and ſuch Proviſions as would keep, for his Fathers uſe in the Journey. Then kindly diſmiſſing his Brethen, he gave them this ſolemn Charge, See that ye fall not out by the way, viz. about your ſelling of me, or any thing elſe. They return with all this Furniture to Canaan, and when they came to their Father, they tell him in a great tranſport of joy, Our Brother Joſeph is alive, and Governour of all the Land of Egypt. Jacob hearing them mention his Son Joſeph (who he thought had been dead above 20 years before) with the ſudden aſtoniſhing News of his being alive, his heart fainted, and he was ready to ſwoon away; For he could not believe it to be true, it ſeemed to him ſo incredible. But when they had related matters more particularly to Him, and the words Joſeph Himſelf had ſpoken to them, and when He ſaw the Waggons that were ſent by Joſeph to conveigh him into Egypt, His ſpirits began to revive, and He ſaid, It is enough, abundantly enough for me that my Son Joſeph is yet alive. I will go down and ſee him before I die.
Ch. 45. whole Chapter.