Genesis 45:1-28 - Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

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Genesis 45:5. Be not grieved; that is, not with any farther grief and trouble; for ye have wept and suffered enough. It was God, who taking advantage of your fault, sent me before you to preserve life.

Genesis 45:8. It was not you that sent me hither, but God. The Lord takes occasion from the errors and crimes of men to unfold his counsel, and his righteousness. Let it then be noted that Joseph says here, “God sent me to save your lives,” but not the least extenuation of their guilt by saying, as Mr. Calvin, who presses in more than a folio page, that God wrought admirably by them. Deus Mirabiliter per illos operatur, ut ex impuris fæcibus liquidam justitiam eliciat. St. Paul has said, “Oh the depth!” Notwithstanding the astonishment and displeasure of this Commentator, that we cannot see as he sees, we feel awed at the conclusion that the Just and Holy One in any sense, however disguised, employed these men to commit this complication of crimes against the best of brothers. While Zeno sat on the bench, a thief was put to the bar, who knowing the high stoical sentiments of the judge, pleaded fate and necessity; he could not help doing what he had done. Zeno felt the force of this defence, and colouring up with anger, replied, “yes, rogue, I know thou wast fated to be a thief, and I was fated to see thee whipped.” See on Jeremiah 36:3.

Genesis 45:10. Goshen. A rich district of pasturage, lying between the Nile and the Red sea. A happy soil for Israel to prosper in and increase.

Genesis 45:12. It is my mouth that speaketh. He had spoken by an interpreter before: but now his rough and judicial aspect was changed into tears of tenderness and love. Now they heard his voice in the Hebrew tongue, saying, I am JOSEPH! Doth your father yet live?

REFLECTIONS.

What a pathetic and endearing scene is here presented to our view. All the passions are moved, and all the soul is softened at once. Fear, shame, sorrow, gratitude and love, succeed one another as reflection strikes the mind. Seeing them covered with confusion, and silent with astonishment, he said come near. Just so does Jesus Christ view the abased and trembling soul, and invites it to kiss his sceptre, and embrace his mercy; just so does he invite those who have betrayed and crucified him, to dwell in his kingdom and share in all his glory. Oh what a day when the prodigal returns; what joy to angels, what overwhelming consolations inundate the soul!

Does he exhort them not to grieve, and does he comfort them with the idea, that God had sent him? Does he tenderly embrace them, and load them with every princely favour? Let us learn of him the noble temper of forgiveness and brotherly kindness. Let us learn of him, or rather of Jesus Christ, to overcome evil with good; and to show every becoming mark of affection and love to such as are contrite for their faults. These brothers no more hated Joseph, but revered his memory for ever.

Was Israel invited to dwell in Goshen, while a terrific famine pervaded the surrounding nations? Just so while sickness and troubles embarrass the wicked; while their peace is disturbed, and their joys are withered, Israel can say, The lines are fallen to me in pleasant places, I have a goodly heritage. The Lord has invited me to buy wine and milk without money and without price. Who is like unto thee, oh people, saved of the Lord. Meanwhile let us rejoice with trembling, for while in this world, however happy may be our circumstances, it is not Canaan; we have not yet arrived at home; we must expect vicissitudes and troubles till heaven shall become our permanent abode.

But what a day of astonishment and joy was this to Jacob after all his afflictions. He had almost died of grief, and now he almost dies with exultation. Be encouraged then ye fathers, ye mothers, who have long mourned for the loss of children; they are not dead, for God hath sent them before. You shall find your Josephs again, not consumed in the tomb, but elevated in power and glory at the Father's right hand. Though now, you see them not; though you are not acquainted with their prosperity, yet they all await your arrival in the happy abodes of everlasting repose. Rejoice in hope; the chariots shall soon arrive, that you may ascend, embrace, and dwell with them for ever. What a motive to piety; what an argument to resignation, that afflictions and death shall hasten our union with those we once so dearly loved.

Related Commentaries of Genesis 45:1

Genesis 45:1-28

1 Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.

2 And he wepta aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.

3 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubledb at his presence.

4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.

5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.

6 For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.

7 And God sent me before you to preservec you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

9 Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not:

10 And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast:

11 And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty.

12 And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you.

13 And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither.

14 And he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck.

15 Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.

16 And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying, Joseph's brethren are come: and it pleasedd Pharaoh well, and his servants.

17 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan;

18 And take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land.

19 Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.

20 Also regarde not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.

21 And the children of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandmentf of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.

22 To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment.

23 And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses ladeng with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way.

24 So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way.

25 And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father,

26 And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob's heart fainted, for he believed them not.

27 And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived:

28 And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.