Which I took out of the hand of the Amorite— Where are many particulars in the lives of the patriarchs, and of others, which are not related at all in Scripture; and there are some instances of a transient reference to facts of this kind, to things which have been said and done, but are never related. See ch. Genesis 36:24.Deuteronomy 2:9. Joshua 24:11.Acts 20:35. Of this sort, I apprehend, is the present passage; at least, we have no mention in Scripture of any portion of land taken from the Amorite by the sword and bow of Jacob. All, therefore, which can be said upon the subject, must be mere conjectures; of which the most probable is, that the parcel of ground near Shechem, which Jacob purchased of Hamor, is here meant; and which, probably, he took or recovered, by force of arms, from the Amorites, who, it seems, had seized on it after his removal to another part of Canaan, ch. Genesis 35:1. for this place was the inheritance of Joseph's sons, Joshua 17:1; Joshua 17:18; Joshua 20:7. It is mentioned as the parcel of ground which Jacob gave to Joseph, John 4:5 and thither Joseph's bones were carried out of AEgypt and buried, Joshua 24:32.
REFLECTIONS.—The good old Israel was sinking fast under the infirmities of age; the eyes of his body were dim, but the eye of his faith bright and piercing. The sons of Joseph are brought near to him, and they are embraced with tenderest affection, and with deep acknowledgment of God's goodness. Note; God often exceeds all his people's hopes, and therefore deserves all their praises. We have here,
1. The blessing pronounced: that God, whose tender mercies he and his fathers had experienced, who had delivered them out of every affliction, and before whom they had walked, should bless the lads, and make them, according to the covenant of promise, a great people. Note; (1.) It becomes us to bear testimony for God in a dying hour, for the encouragement of others, as well as to testify our thankful acknowledgment to him. (2.) They who are redeemed from the evil of sin have no evil to fear in death. (3.) If we desire the blessing of our pious parents upon us, we must be careful to follow their steps.
2. The comfortable parting with Joseph. Note; (1.) When creature-comforts fail, still God is with us; and though the desire of our eyes is by death taken from us, we are encouraged to hope we shall shortly go to them, to this land of our fathers, though they cannot return to us. (2.) Every father may make distinctions in the portions of his children, if all be done with equity and without partiality: peculiar desert should have peculiar reward.