He told it to his father, &c.— The old man, it is evident, was struck with the dream, and doubted not of its bearing an important meaning; he observed the saying; but fearing, perhaps, lest the young man might be too much elevated by the idea of superiority over his brethren, and thus incur their higher resentment, he thought fit to rebuke him, and to insinuate an impossibility in the completion, as the mother was dead, whom the moon was understood to signify; shall I and thy mother, &c. But the dream received a sufficient accomplishment in the submission of all the family to Joseph: and literally the other wives of Jacob, Bilhah especially, might be called his mother. St. Chrysostom, in his homily on the place, agrees with what has been advanced: Jacob, says he, might think it convenient to give this calm check to a spirit so elated as this young man's must have been by those great and certain expectations which God was pleased in so extraordinary a manner to set before him. The foreknowledge of all that glory and greatness which was one day to be his portion, might have put him on a wrong bias of behaviour, might have tempted him to antedate his superiority, and fail, or waver, more or less, in his duty to his elder brethren, if not to his father himself: and this seems to be the meaning of Jacob's mentioning his mother, who was dead, and did not well comport with his dream: but, at the same time, that in prudence he was willing to prevent any vain aspiring conceits or tumours in his son, in faith he was persuaded that the fact would prove such as it was foretold.
REFLECTIONS.—Joseph begins to enjoy Divine communications.
1. We have two prophetical dreams, signifying that advancement for which God designed him. His brethren and his father must become his supplicants. These dreams he in simplicity relates, little suspecting the consequence. Note; Many young people, setting out in life, dream of nothing but prosperity, and overlook the trouble they should expect to encounter in the way to it.
2. His brethren are highly exasperated, and give his dreams an interpretation which was true in its issue, when at the same time they both despised and feared him in their hearts. Note; They who now despise the government of Jesus, must one day bow to it either as obedient servants, or as condemned criminals.
3. His father is not pleased. Possibly he might blame himself for having put high thoughts in the young man's head. Note; It is right for those parents, who are most fond, never to spare the needful rebuke, especially when their partiality may have given occasion to pride. But he observes the saying, being no stranger to the Divine notices frequently conveyed in visions of the night.