Commentary on Genesis, Chapter 45
CHAP. XLV.
Ver. 1. COuld not refrain himſelf.] Tears began to run down his Cheeks; or, were ready to burſt out with ſuch Violence that he could not hinder them.
Cauſe every Man to go out from me.] He would not have the Egyptians, to be Witneſſes of his Brethrens Guilt; nor did it become his Dignity to be ſeen by them in ſuch a Paſſion: And therefore he commanded thoſe that attended him, to leave him alone with his Brethren.
Ver. 2. He wept aloud.] Which we expreſs very properly in our Language, he cried. For Tears having been long ſuppreſſed, are wont, when they break out, to be accompanied with ſome Noiſe.
And the Egyptians, and the houſe of Pharaoh heard.] They whom he ſent forth, being in the next Room, heard him cry: And reported, what a Paſſion he was in, to the whole Court.
Ver. 3. I am Joſeph.] This word made them ſtart; as appears by the next Verſe.
Doth my Father yet live?] May I believe what you have told me? XLIII. 28. He ſaith not this, becauſe he doubted of it: But to expreſs his Joy at that good News.
And they could not anſwer him.] Being aſtoniſh'd, as it follows, at his Preſence. For they could not but reflect upon their cruel uſage of him; and now ſaw him in full Power to puniſh them.
Ver. 4. Come near to me, I pray you.] This, I think, ſignifies, that they had ſtarted back, as Men affrighted: And therefore he invites them kindly to approach him.
I am Joſeph your Brother.] This word Brother, added to what he ſaid before, verſe 3. was a Comfort to them. For it ſhowed that his Greatneſs did not make him forget his Relation.
Whom you ſold into Egypt.] Nor their Unkindneſs alienated his Affection from them.
Ver. 5. Now therefore be not grieved, &c.] Do not afflict your ſelves too much for your Sin: Becauſe God hath turned it into Good.
God ſent me before you, &c.] When you thought only to be rid of me, God intended another thing: Which is now come to paſs. For he hath made me an Inſtrument of preſerving all your Lives. A moſt happy Event of a moſt wicked Deed.
Ver. 6. Neither earing, nor harveſt.] Or, no Ploughing, Sowing, or Harveſt. For to what purpoſe ſhould they ſow, when they knew (if they believed Joſeph) that nothing would come of it.
Ver. 7. And God ſent me before you, &c.] He repeats what he had ſaid, verſe 5. concerning the Hand of God in this buſineſs: That by fixing their Thoughts upon his Providence, they might be the leſs oppreſſed with the weight of their own Guilt.
To ſave your lives by a great deliverance.] In a wonderful manner.
Ver. 8. It was not you, but God, &c.] He mentions this a third time, that they might ſee he did not think ſo much on their Unkindneſs, as on God's great Goodneſs: And therefore be confident, he would not remember what they had done to him; but what God had done for them all.
Hath made a Father unto Pharaoh.] Given me the Authority of a Father with him: So that he Honours me, and doth nothing without my Advice and Counſel. And there was very good Reaſon for it, his Wiſdom being ſo great and experienced, Ʋt non ab homine ſed a Deo reſponſa dari viderentur, (as Trogus, an ancient Hiſtorian among the Heathen, obſerves) that his Anſwers ſeemed not to be given by a Man, but by God. Which made him Regi percharum, very dear to the King, as the ſame Author relates: Who tells alſo the Story of his being ſold by his Brethren, who envied his excellent Wit. See Juſtin, Lib. XXXVI. cap. 2.
Lord of all his Houſe.] The principal Perſon in his Court.
And Ruler throughout all the Land of Egypt.] Chief Governor of the whole Country: In which were ſeveral Provinces, which had diſtinct Governors; who were all under the Government of Joſeph.
Ver. 10. Thou ſhalt dwell in the Land of Goſhen.] This was that part of the lower Egypt, which lay next to Arabia and Paleſtine; abounding with fair Paſtures: Being watred by many Streams from the Nile. Certain it is, it lay next to Canaan; for Jacob went directly thither, when he came into Egypt; and ſtaid there till Joſeph came to him, XLVI. 28.
And thou ſhalt be near unto me.] Therefore the Royal City (where Joſeph reſided, that he might be always near to Pharaoh) was at this time in the lower Egypt, at Zoan, Pſalm LXXVIII. 43. which other Authors call Tanis. Which was ſituated, not far from that Mouth of Nile which Plutarch calls foreign. For that part of Egypt is called the higher, where Nile runs only in one Stream: That the lower, where it divides into many; and from its triangular Form is called by the Greeks foreign. In the Eaſtern Part of which, or very near it, toward the Red Sea, was this Country, called the Land of Goſhen.
This argues the great Authority of Joſeph, that he makes ſuch Promiſes as theſe, before he had askt the Conſent of Pharaoh.
Ver. 12. And behold, your Eyes ſee, &c.] You cannot but be convinced, by the Lineaments you ſee in my Face, and by the Language which I ſpeak, and by all the things which I have related concerning the ſtate of our Family; that indeed it is your Brother Joſeph, who ſpeaks to you. Or, more ſimply; you have it not by Hear-ſay, which might deceive you; but are Eye-witneſſes that I am alive, and ſay theſe things to you.
Ver. 13. Tell my Father of all my glory.] Of the great Honour which is done me in Egypt.
Ver. 15. His Brethren talked with him.] After their fright was over, and he had ſo affectionately embraced them; they converſed freely and familiarly with him: Acknowledging, it's likely, their Crime; and acquainting him with what had paſſed in their Family ſince they committed it.
Ver. 16. And the fame thereof, &c.] All the Court rang (as we ſpeak) with the News of Joſeph's Brethren being come; and that they were to fetch their Father and ſettle in Egypt. For Joſeph (it appears by the next Verſe) went and acquainted Pharaoh with his Deſire.
And it pleaſed Pharaoh well, and his Servants.] No wonder that Pharaoh, who had raiſed Joſeph ſo high, was pleaſed to be kind to his Father and Family: And the Court follows the Pleaſure of the King.
Ver. 17. Pharaoh ſaid unto Joſeph, &c.] This, no doubt, was the Anſwer Pharaoh made to Joſeph's Petition: Wherein he grants him not only what he askt; but all conducing to it.
Ver. 18. I will give you the good of the Land, &c.] The richeſt Part of the Country, which produces the nobleſt Fruits.
Ver. 19. Now thou art commanded.] Now that thou haſt my Warrant for it, go about it preſently.
Ver. 20. Regard not your ſtuff.] If there be not Waggons enough, to bring all your Stuff, do not matter it; you ſhall have better here. But the Vulgar ſeems to take it in a quite contrary Sence, as if he had ſaid, Leave nothing behind you; but bring all you have with you, if you think good: Though whatſoever the Land of Egypt affords, is all yours.
All the good of the Land of Egypt, &c.] You ſhall not want when you come hither, if it be to be had in Egypt.
Ver. 21. Gave them Waggons.] And Horſes, no doubt, to draw them; with which Egypt abounded.
Ver. 22. To each Man changes of Raiment.] Two Veſts, or Robes, as St. Hierom tranſlates it: Otherwiſe there would not have been a change. Theſe were part of the ancient Riches, as much as Money.
Ver. 23. After this manner.] The Hebrew word Cezoth ſignifies, according to that which he had given to Benjamin, i. e. Money, and ſeveral changes of Raiment: Beſides what follows, ten Aſſes laden with the good things of Egypt, &c.
Bread and Meat.] i. e. All manner of Proviſion.
Ver. 24. See that ye fall not out, &c.] About what you have formerly done to me; or, any thing elſe, that I have ſaid to you. But when you reflect upon your ſelling me, adore the Providence of God; which by that means brought about your Happineſs and mine.
Ver. 26. His Heart fainted.] At the mention of Joſeph's Name, he fell into a ſwoon: Being fully perſuaded he was dead, and giving no Credit to what they ſaid of his being alive.
Ver. 27. And they told him all the words of Joſeph.] When he was come to himſelf, they related all that had paſſed between them and Joſeph: How great a Man he was, and how deſirous to ſee him, &c. verſe 13.
And when he ſaw the Waggons.] Had not only heard their Relation, but ſaw alſo thoſe Carriages (which, no doubt, were ſplendid, and ſuitable to Joſeph's Quality) that were come to bring him into Egypt, he lookt upon them as a ſufficient confirmation of the good News.
The Spirit of Jacob revived.] Which Bochart tranſlates, Priſtino vigori reſtutus eſt, he was reſtored to his former Vigor. Not only recovered perfectly from his fainting Fit; but raiſed to a greater Livelineſs than he had felt ſince the loſs of Joſeph.
Ver. 28. It is enough, &c.] I wiſh for no more, but to live to ſee him; and then I ſhall be content to die.