But his bow, &c.— In pursuance of the metaphor, which considers his enemies as archers, Joseph himself is represented as armed with a bow, which is said to have abode in strength, to have proved firm; signifying that he sustained all their shocks with unbroken fortitude and resolution, like a tough bow, which, though long employed in battle, neither breaks nor becomes more flexible. The next words seem to justify this exposition: And the arms of his hands were made strong, by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; i.e.. his firm trust in the Divine Providence was rewarded with support and deliverance from that God, who is here emphatically called the God of Jacob, for his distinguished mercies to that patriarch. Our translation of made strong is very just, as the learned reader will see, by referring to Parkhurst on the word פז paz.
From thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel— That is, Joseph, from that Divine Providence, that mighty God of Jacob, just mentioned, is become the shepherd, who nourishes us as his sheep, ch. Genesis 47:12. and the stone, or up-holder of me Israel, and my family. In the same sense Christ is called the stone, Isaiah 28:16 and God a rock, Psalms 18:2.