Observations Upon the Old Testament, Genesis · Chapter 47
CHAP. XLVII.
Verse 1. GOshen] See Annotat. on chap. 45. 10. 46. 28.
V. 2. Five men] Not set down which five, and therefore guesses here are but idle and curious.
V. 3. Occupation] Ch. 46. 33. Jonah 1. 8. 2 Thes. 3. 10. Good Magistrates inquisitive against idlen…sse, as the bane of a Common-wealth.
shepherds] Every one a shepherd, v 6. ch. 46. 34.
V. 4. To sojourne] For a time, duri…g the famine. This likely their intent at first, and not to leave Canaan. Though afterwards for Josephs sake, and his great accommodations afforded them, they continued their abode there. And afterwards the following Kings against the Lawes of Hospitality, kept them as bond slaves.
no pasture] It failed sooner in Canaan, then in Egypt and Goshen, Canaan being an higher land.
let thy servants dwell] Pharaoh made a frank offer, ch. 45. 18, 20. Joseph intended this place for them, ch. 45. 10. His brethren here requested it, and no doubt by Josephs direction, ch. 46 34. Thus by this meanes, Joseph in his modesty, would gaine Pharaohs …onsent to this particular place.
V. 6. Of Activity] Men of fit and able parts are to be chosen to places and offices.
Jacob blessed Pharaoh] Saluted him with prayer for his welfare; and thanks, and praise for his bounty to Joseph, to him and his children, 2 Kings 4. 29. Numb. 6. 23, 24. Mat. 26. 26. with Luke 22. 19. so again, when Jacob left Pharaoh, v. 10.
V. 9. Of my pilgrimage] Pilgrims here, seeking after a better countrey, an heavely, Heb. 11. 9, 13. 13. 14. 1 Chron. 29. 15. Psal. 39. 12. 119. 19. Jacobs flittings from Labai roi to Gerar, to the valley of Gerar, to Rehoboth, to Beersheba to Bethel, to Haran in Mesopotamia, to Gilead, to Mahanaim, to Succoth, to Shalem in Sechem, to Bethel, to Ephrath, to Mamre, to Beersheba, to Egypt, to Pharaohs Court.
one hundred and thirty yeares] Therefore Jacob was ninety when Joseph was borne, and seventy six when he came to Laban, v 28.
and have not attained] Abraham lived to one hundred seventy five. Isaac to one hundred and eighty.
V. 11. Ramases] Exod. 12. 37. The City built after by the Israelites, Exod. 1. 11. After the Israelites multiplied and spread further, and had Egyptian families among them, and about them, whence their doores were distinguished by the blood, Exod. 12 7, 23. and, v. 35, 37. they soon borrowed jewels of them.
V. 12. According] As a child is nourished by the nurse, ch. 45. 11. 49. 24. 50. 21. lovingly, tenderly, carefully.
V. 13. Fainted] Yet now among strangers God satisfies his Church with fulnesse.
V. 14. All the money into Pharaohs house] His treasury. Josephs fidelity.
V. 15. Money failed] Generally, for the most part, …almost totally.
give us bread] Yet ask it in an humble manner, v. 17. 18, 19, 25.
V. 18. The second yeare] Namely after their cattel was sold, which seemes to have been the sixth yeare of the famine, the second of their extremity.
V. 19. And our land] Die, become desolate. As trees while they bear fruit are said to live; when not, to die, so may the ground.
and give us seed] This is the seventh year of the famine,
V. 21. He removed them] So to gain the right of propriety and possession, from the people to Pharaoh. The people mutinie not in all these extremities, nor break open the granaries of Pharaoh: but by Josephs prudence, and Gods over-ruling Providence keep their loyalty and obedience. Thus Chams posterity was brought into bondage, ch. 9. 25.
V. 22. Only the land of the Priests] Or Princes, Pharaohs chief Officers and Lords, as, ch 41. 45. See Annos. on that place, ch. 14. 18. if it be here understood of Priests, as the Chaldee and LXX. translate it. This shews Pharaohs care, (not Josephs, for he favoured not idolatrous Priests) to preserve their rights and revenues, to save their lands from alienation, to maintain them; so Jezabel, 1 King. 18. 19. These shall rise up in judgement against many Christian Kings and people, who neglect the maintenance of the Ministers of the Gospel.
V. 24. The fifth part] He might have required the halfe, or have allowed them but the fifth part. Here then he deales not with them injuriously, or uncharitably, making his best advantage of their necessity: But mercifully, as themselves confesse, v. 25. and yet faithfully, as became the steward of Pharaoh, whose corne he sold. This fifth part was no more then was laid up in the yeares of plenty, ch. 41. 44.
V. 25. Pharaohs servants] His Farmers and Tenants.
V. 27. Multiplied exceedingly] So God fulfilled his Promise, ch. 46. 3.
V. 28. Seventeen yeares] So long Joseph nourished his father in Egypt, as his father had nourished him at home.
V. 29. Thy hand under my thigh] See Annot: on ch. 24 2. Jacob requires this oath, not so much doubting Josephs obedience herein, but that he might alledge it to Pharaoh, ch. 50. 5. and so decline the envy of the Egyptians, and their surmising of his scorning their land, and that it might be a testimony of his faith in Gods Promises for possessing the land of Canaan, & that as a type of Heaven, Heb. 11. 9, 10, 14, 15, 16. and for a strengthening of the faith of his seed, that they should return thither. And for this also Joseph layes his bones, as it were at stake, ch. 50. 25. Heb. 11. 22. Thus being dead they teach and preach faith to them.
V. 30. But I will lie] Lie down and sleep. Such is death, lie in burial.
with my fathers] Abraham and Isaac. See, v. 29.
V. 31. Bowed himself] Unto God with thankfulnesse, Heb. 11. 21. His religious thoughts, now near his end, took up his minde with matter of praying to God, and praising of God. And though weak and bed…id, yet he would not do it without some outward expression of devout reverence. This bowing then was not to Joseph, (ch. 48. 12.) nor yet towards the East or Canaan, but to God, so David, 1 Kings 14.
upon the beds head] The LXX. read it leaning upon the top of his staffe. The Hebrew word without pricks or vowels serves both. Mittch is a bed, Matteh is a staffe. The LXX. sure had a copy without pricks. The Apostle follows the LXX. in Heb. 11. 21. See Annot. on ch. 46. 27. and on ch. 11. 12. Jacob turning his face to the bed, and so rearing himself upon the boulster at his beds head, he then bowed himself and worshipped the Lord, ch. 48. 2. 1 Kings 1. 47, 48. And it well may be, that to help himselfe herein in his great weaknesse, he might leane upon the top of his staffe which he had in his hand, being an old man; and the Apostle knowing this also to be true, did not therefore stick to alledge the place, according to the Translation of the LXX.