CRITICAL NOTES.—
Genesis 46:8-28. And these are the names of the children of Israel, etc.] “Catalogue of Jacob’s sons, grandchildren, and great-grand children who went down into Egypt. The children are ranged according to their mothers. In Genesis 46:27, the LXX make the whole number who went down to Egypt to be 75. This reckoning is followed by Stephen (Acts 7:14), who as a Hellenistic Jew naturally goes by the LXX. The list is probably neither complete nor accurate, and must be regarded rather as a formal than as an historical document.” (Alford).—“If Stephen here quoted the LXX, he was accountable only for the correctness of his quotation, and not for the error which had crept into his authority. This was immaterial to his present purpose, and it was not the manner of the sacred speakers to turn aside from their grand task to the pedantry of criticism.” (Murphy).
Genesis 46:29. And presented himself unto him.] The word is commonly used for Divine appearings. Knobel thinks that it is used here as according with the royal pomp with which Joseph was invested.—
Genesis 46:34. Thy servants’ trade hath been about cattle.] “This would be the sufficient ground on which the district of Goshen would be granted to them, as keeping them more by themselves, and out of contact with the Egyptian people.” (Jacobus.)
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Genesis 46:28-34
THE SETTLEMENT OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL IN GOSHEN
In which two things are to be noticed.
I. The wise policy of this step.
1. In the choice of a leader. Jacob sent Judah before him unto Joseph. (Genesis 46:28.) And he was qualified beyond his three brothers for this important mission. It was proper that he should receive from Joseph the necessary orders before entering the country. For Egypt was a well-ordered and organized kingdom, and it could not be permitted that a wandering tribe should pass the borders without ceremony.
2. In the choice of this particular place. They were shepherds, and Goshen was best fitted for pasture. Here they would be isolated from Egyptian society; for there were elements belonging to the two nations which rendered them mutually repulsive. The idolatries of the Egyptians would be abhorred by the worshippers of the true God, and “every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians.” Religious aversion is the strongest of antipathies. Surely it was Divine wisdom which led Joseph thus to place the house of Israel under the protection of Egyptian contempt. He caused them to accept a humble position, which while it ministered to their temporal prosperity, at the same time promoted their spiritual prosperity as a holy nation.
II. The behaviour of Joseph. In the peculiar circumstances of the case, this was most suitable and dignified.
1. He determines to announce their arrival to Pharaoh. (Genesis 46:31.) This was proper in itself, as well as a necessary formality. The rights of place and rank should be respected.
2. He gives instructions to his brethren. (Genesis 46:33-34.) They must enter upon the necessary formality of an introduction to the king. Joseph gives them instructions what to answer, and in so doing is careful to keep them clear of the snares of Egypt. Joseph was a statesman but he had learned that truth is the highest policy; an open, but dignified frankness, the highest wisdom.
SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS ON THE VERSES
Genesis 46:28. Judah had acquitted himself well in a former case of great delicacy, and this might recommend him in the present instance. He who could plead so well for his father shall have the honour of introducing him. It is fitting too that the father of the royal tribe, and of the Messiah, should not be the last in works of honour and usefulness, but rather that he should have the pre-eminence.—(Fuller.)
Genesis 46:29. The intermission of comforts hath this advantage, that it sweetens our delights more in return than was abated in the forbearance. God doth oft-times hide away our Joseph for a time, that we may be more joyous and thankful in his recovery. This was the sincerest pleasure that Jacob ever had, which therefore God reserved for his eye. And if the meeting of earthly friends be so unspeakably comfortable, how happy shall we be in the light of the glorious face of God our Heavenly Father! of that our blessed Redeemer, whom we sold to death by our sins, and which now, after all that noble triumph, hath all power given Him in heaven and earth!—(Bp. Hall).
Genesis 46:30. He feels so happy that he thinks of nothing but dying. Perhaps he thought he should die soon: having enjoyed as much as he could desire in this world, it was natural now to wish to go to another. Yet Jacob did not die for seventeen years; a proof this, that our feelings are no certain rule of what shall befal us.—(Fuller.)
Because thou art yet alive. If this were so great a matter to Jacob, what should it be to us, that Christ was dead and is alive; yea, that He ever lives to make request for us.—(Trapp.)
Genesis 46:31-32. Joseph was loved for his own sake. The greatness of his character was too well established to be affected by the knowledge of any facts connected with his family.
It is observable with what “meekness of wisdom” Joseph demeaned himself in this affair. Most men in similar circumstances would have been for introducing their relations as speedily as possible into posts of honour and profit, lest they should disgrace him. But Joseph is more concerned for their purity than for their outward dignity. He sought to secure them a place as free as possible from the evil influence to which they would be exposed in a court.—(Bush.)
Genesis 46:33-34. Joseph says in effect, “I will go before you, and will tell the king that you are shepherds, and have been so all your lives, and your fathers before you. This will prevent any proposals for raising you to any posts of honour in the state. And when you come before the king, and he shall ask you of your occupation, then do you confirm what I said of you; and as the employment of a shepherd is meanly accounted of in Egypt, and those that follow it are despised, and reckoned unfit for the higher offices of the state, this will determine the king to say nothing to you on the subject, but to grant you a place in Goshen.”—(Fuller.)
Thus began already in the house of Jacob, at its entrance into Egypt, that reproach of Christ which Moses afterwards esteemed greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. This antipathy of the Egyptians towards the shepherd-people was a fence to them, as was afterwards the law of Moses.—(Ross.)