A Help for the Understanding of the Holy Scriptures, Genesis · Chapter 50
CHAP. L.
Verſ. 3. ANd fourty dayes were fulfilled for him.]
That is, fourty dayes were ſpent in embalming him, according to the cuſtome of the countrey.
And the Egyptians mourned for him threeſcore and ten dayes.]
That is, thirty dayes after they had done embalming him did the Court, and the Egyptians mourn for him, ere he was carried to be buried.
Verſ. 4. Joſeph ſpake unto the houſe of Pharaoh, ſaying.]
Though Joſeph was ſtill in as high eſteem with Pharaoh as ever before, yet he made uſe of the mediation of the Egyptian courtiers, to procure the kings conſent that he might go into Canaan, to bury his father, partly thereby to endear himſelf the better to them, and to teſtifie his own modeſtie, who in a buſineſſe that concerned himſelf would do nothing, but what ſhould be approved of all; partly to prevent all ſuſpicion of any purpoſe that he ſhould have to get quite away out of Egypt upon this occaſion; and partly alſo perhaps, becauſe mourners uſed not to come into the preſence of Princes. Eſther. 4. 2. For none might enter into the kings gate clothed with ſackcloth.
Verſ. 5. In my grave which I have digged for me, &c.]
Thereby implying, that it was not in any contempt of Egypt, to decline the envy of the Egyptians, who might be ready enough to ſurmiſe that he deſpiſed their land, as not worthy to be the grave of his father, he makes known that he deſired this onelyonly becauſe his father had long ſince, before he came into Egypt, digged a grave for himſelf there where his anceſtours and wife were buried, and made him ſwear that he would bury him there.
Verſ. 10. And they came into the threſhing floore of Atad, &c.]
This threſhing floore of Atad I conceive to have been not farre from Hebron, the place intended for the ſepulchre of Jacob, choſen happely by Joſeph and the reſt, as the moſt convenient place to perform the ſolemnities of his funerall rites by ſo great a multitude. And it is ſaid to be beyond Jordan, with reſpect unto Moſes, who was on the outſide of Jordan in the wilderneſſe where he wrote theſe things, Deut. 1. 1. Theſe be the words which Moſes ſpake unto all Iſrael, on this ſide Jordan, in the wilderneſſe, &c. Deut. 3. 25. I pray thee let me go over, and ſee the good land that is beyond Jordan.
Verſ. 18. And they ſaid, Behold we be thy ſervants.]
This is ſpoken by way of ſubmitting themſelves to Joſeph, becauſe of the wrong that they had formerly done him; as if they ſhould have ſaid, We ſold thee for a ſervant into Egypt, and behold we now yield up our ſelves to be thy ſervants.
Verſ. 19. For am I in the place of God?]
Can I, or dare I (think you) be offended with that which I know was Gods work, or ſeek to revenge my ſelf on you whom God hath forgiven? or turn that to your deſtruction, which God did for your preſervation? this were to make my ſelf equall with God, yea to challenge to my ſelf a power to croſſe and overturn the will and purpoſe of God.