Chapter 47:
| Calvin
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
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| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Revelation Exodus
Genesis 47
Concise Complete
Joseph presents his brethren to Pharaoh. (1-6) Jacob
blesses Pharaoh. (7-12) Joseph's dealings with the Egyptians during the famine.
(13-26) Jacob's age. His desire to be buried in Canaan. (27--31)
Verses 1-6 Though
Joseph was a great man, especially in Egypt, yet he owned his brethren. Let the
rich and great in the world not overlook or despise poor relations. Our Lord
Jesus is not ashamed to call us brethren. In answer to Pharaoh's inquiry, What
is your calling? they told him that they were shepherds, adding that they were
come to sojourn in the land for a time, while the famine prevailed in Canaan.
Pharaoh offered to employ them as shepherds, provided they were active men.
Whatever our business or employment is, we should aim to excel in it, and to
prove ourselves clever and industrious.
Verses 7-12 With
the gravity of old age, the piety of a true believer, and the authority of a
patriarch and a prophet, Jacob besought the Lord to bestow a blessing upon
Pharaoh. He acted as a man not ashamed of his religion; and who would express
gratitude to the benefactor of himself and his family. We have here a very
uncommon answer given to a very common question. Jacob calls his life a
pilgrimage; the sojourning of a stranger in a foreign country, or his journey
home to his own country. He was not at home upon earth; his habitation, his
inheritance, his treasures were in heaven. He reckons his life by days; even by
days life is soon reckoned, and we are not sure of the continuance of it for a
day. Let us therefore number our days. His days were few. Though he had now
lived one hundred and thirty years, they seemed but a few days, in comparison
with the days of eternity, and the eternal state. They were evil; this is true
concerning man. He is of few days and full of trouble; since his days are evil,
it is well they are few. Jacob's life had been made up of evil days. Old age
came sooner upon him than it had done upon some of his fathers. As the young man
should not be proud of his strength or beauty, so the old man should not be
proud of his age, and his hoary hairs, though others justly reverence them; for
those who are accounted very old, attain not to the years of the patriarchs. The
hoary head is only a crown of glory, when found in the way of righteousness.
Such an answer could not fail to impress the heart of Pharaoh, by reminding him
that worldly prosperity and happiness could not last long, and was not enough to
satisfy. After a life of vanity and vexation, man goes down into the grave,
equally from the throne as the cottage. Nothing can make us happy, but the
prospect of an everlasting home in heaven, after our short and weary pilgrimage
on earth.
Verses 13-26
Care being taken of Jacob and his family, which mercy was especially designed by
Providence in Joseph's advancement, an account is given of the saving the
kingdom of Egypt from ruin. There was no bread, and the people were ready to
die. See how we depend upon God's providence. All our wealth would not keep us
from starving, if rain were withheld for two or three years. See how much we are
at God's mercy, and let us keep ourselves always in his love. Also see how much
we smart by our own want of care. If all the Egyptians had laid up corn for
themselves in the seven years of plenty, they had not been in these straits; but
they regarded not the warning. Silver and gold would not feed them: they must
have corn. All that a man hath will he give for his life. We cannot judge this
matter by modern rules. It is plain that the Egyptians regarded Joseph as a
public benefactor. The whole is consistent with Joseph's character, acting
between Pharaoh and his subjects, in the fear of God. The Egyptians confessed
concerning Joseph, Thou hast saved our lives. What multitudes will gratefully
say to Jesus, at the last day, Thou hast saved our souls from the most
tremendous destruction, and in the season of uttermost distress! The Egyptians
parted with all their property, and even their liberty, for the saving of their
lives: can it then be too much for us to count all but loss, and part with all,
at His command, and for His sake, who will both save our souls, and give us an
hundredfold, even here, in this present world? Surely if saved by Christ, we
shall be willing to become his servants.
Verses 27-31 At
last the time drew nigh that Israel must die. Israel, a prince with God, had
power over the Angel, and prevailed, yet must die. Joseph supplied him with
bread, that he might not die by famine, but that did not secure him from dying
by age or sickness. He died by degrees; his candle gradually burnt down to the
socket, so that he saw the time drawing nigh. It is an advantage to see the
approach of death, before we feel it, that we may be quickened to do, with all
our might, what our hands find to do. However, death is not far from any of us.
Jacob's care, as he saw the day approach, was about his burial; not the pomp of
it, but he would be buried in Canaan, because it was the land of promise. It was
a type of heaven, that better country, which he declared plainly he expected,
hebrews 11:14. Nothing
will better help to make a death-bed easy, than the certain prospect of rest in
the heavenly Canaan after death. When this was done, Israel bowed himself upon
the bed's head, worshipping God, as it is explained, see
hebrews 11:21, giving
God thanks for all his favours; in feebleness thus supporting himself,
expressing his willingness to leave the world. Even those who lived on Joseph's
provision, and Jacob who was so dear to him, must die. But Christ Jesus gives us
the true bread, that we may eat and live for ever. To Him let us come and yield
ourselves, and when we draw near to death, he who supported us through life,
will meet us and assure us of everlasting salvation.
Chapter 47:
| Calvin
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Revelation Exodus
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
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Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
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Ezra
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Job
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Habakkuk
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Acts
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1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
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Philippians
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1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
