Chapter 45:
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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 45
Joseph let Judah go on without interruption, heard all he had
to say, and then answered it all in one word, I am Joseph. Now he
found his brethren humbled for their sins, mindful of himself (for
Judah had mentioned him twice in his speech) respectful to their
father, and very tender of their brother Benjamin: now they were
ripe for the comfort he designed them, by making himself known
to them. This was to Joseph's brethren as clear shining after rain;
nay, it was to them as life from the dead. Here is,
I. Joseph's discovery of himself to his brethren, and his discourse
with them upon that occasion, ver. 1-15.
II. The orders Pharaoh gave to fetch Jacob and his family down to
Egypt, and Joseph's dispatch of his brethren back to his father
with these orders, ver. 16-24.
III. The joyful tidings of this brought to Jacob, ver. 25-28.
Verse 1. Judah and his brethren were waiting for an answer, and could
not but be amazed to discover, instead of the gravity of a judge,
the natural affection of a father or brother. Cause every man to go
out - The private conversations of friends are the most free. When
Joseph would put on love, he puts off state, which it was not fit
his servants should be witnesses of. Thus Christ graciously
manifests himself and his loving kindness to his people, out of the
sight and hearing of the world. See note at "ver. 2" for
continuation to item
Verse
2. Tears were the introduction to his discourse. He had dammed
up this stream a great while, and with much ado, but now it
swelled so high that he could no longer contain, but he wept
aloud, so that those whom he had forbid to see him could not but
hear him. These were tears of tenderness and strong affection, and
with these he threw off that austerity, with which he had hitherto
carried himself towards his brethren; for he could bear it no
longer. This represents the Divine compassion towards returning
penitents, as much as that of the father of the prodigal, Luke xv,
20 Hosea xi, 8, 9. See note at "ver. 3" for continuation to item No.
3
Verse
3. He abruptly tells them; I am Joseph - They knew him only by
his Egyptian name, Zaphnath-paaneah, his Hebrew name being
lost and forgot in Egypt; but now he teaches them to call him by
that, I am Joseph: nay, that they might not suspect it was another
of the same name, he explains himself. I am Joseph your brother.
This would both humble them yet more for their sin in selling
him, and encourage them to hope for kind treatment. This word, at
first, startled Joseph's brethren, they started back through fear, or
at least stood still astonished: but Joseph called kindly and
familiarly to them. Come near, I pray you. Thus, when Christ
manifests himself to his people he encourages them to draw near
to him with a true heart. Perhaps being about to speak of their
selling of him, he would not speak aloud, lest the Egyptians
should overhear, and it should make the Hebrews to be yet more
an abomination to them; therefore he would have them come near,
that he might whisper with them, which, now the tide of his
passion was a little over, he was able to do, whereas, at first, he
could not but cry out.
Verse
4. He endeavours to sweep their grief for the injuries they had
done him, by shewing them, that, whatever they designed, God
meant it for good, and had brought much good out of it. See note
at "ver. 1" for start of item, ie. No. 1
Verse
5. Be not grieved or angry with yourselves - Sinners must grieve,
and be angry with themselves for their sins; yea, though God, by
his power, bring good out of them, for that is no thanks to the
sinner: but true penitents should be greatly affected with it, when
they see God bringing good out of evil. Though we must not with
this consideration extenuate our own sins, and so take off the edge
of our repentance; yet it may do well thus to extenuate the sins of
others, and so take off the edge of our angry resentments. Thus
Joseph doth here. His brethren needed not to fear that he would
revenge upon them an injury which God's providence had made to
turn so much to his advantage, and that of his family. Now he tells
them how long the famine was likely to last, five years yet, ver. 6,
and what a capacity he was in of being kind to his relations, which
is the greatest satisfaction that wealth and power can give to a
good man.
Verse
8. See what a favourable colour he puts upon the injury they had
done him, God sent me before you - God's Israel is the particular
care of God's providence. Joseph reckoned that his advancement
was not so much designed to save a whole kingdom of Egyptians,
as to preserve a small family of Israelites; for the Lord's portion is
his people: whatever goes with others, they shall be secured. How
admirable are the projects of Providence! How remote its
tendencies! What wheels are there within wheels; and yet all
directed by the eyes in the wheels, and the Spirit of the living
Creature! See note at "ver. 1" for start of item, ie. No. [1.] [5.] He
promises to take care of his father and all his family, during the
rest of the years of famine.
(1.) He desires that his father might speedily be made glad with
the tidings of his life and honour. His brethren must hasten to
Canaan, and acquaint Jacob that his son Joseph was Lord of all
Egypt - He knew it would be a refreshing oil to his hoary head,
and a sovereign cordial to his spirits. He desires them to give
themselves, and take with them to their father, all possible
satisfaction of the truth of these surprising tidings.
Verse
12. Your eyes see that it is my mouth - If they could recollect
themselves, they might remember something of his features and
speech, and be satisfied. See note at "ver. 1" for (2.) He is very earnest that his father and all his family should come to him to Egypt. Come down unto me, tarry not - He allots
his dwelling in Goshen, that part of Egypt which lay towards
Canaan, that they might be mindful of the country from which
they were to come out. He promiseth to provide for him, I will
nourish - Our Lord Jesus being, like Joseph, exalted to the highest
honours and powers of the upper world, it is his will that all that
are his should be with him where he is. This is his commandment,
that we be with him now in faith and hope, and a heavenly
conversation; and this is his promise, that we shall be for ever
with him.
Verse
24. See that ye fall not out by the way - He knew they were but
too apt to be quarrelsome; and what had lately passed, which
revived the remembrance of what they had done formerly against
their brother, might give them occasion to quarrel. Now Joseph
having forgiven them all, lays this obligation upon them, not to
upbraid one another. This charge our Lord Jesus has given to us,
that we love one another, that we live in peace, that whatever
occurs, or whatever former occurrences are remembered, we fall
not out. For,
1. We are brethren, we have all one father.
2. We are his brethren; and we shame, our relation to him, who is
our peace, if we fall out.
3. We are all guilty, verily guilty, and instead of quarrelling with
one another, have a great deal of reason to fall out with ourselves.
4. We are forgiven of God, whom we have all offended, and
therefore should be ready to forgive one another.
5. We are by the way, a way that lies through the land of Egypt,
where we have many eyes upon us, that seek occasion and
advantage against us; a way that leads to Canaan, where we hope
to be for ever in perfect peace.
Verse
26. We have here the good news brought to Jacob. When, without
any preamble, his sons came in crying Joseph is yet alive. The
very mention of Joseph's name revived his sorrow, so that his
heart fainted. It was a good while before he came to himself. He
was in such care and fear about the rest of them, that at this time it
would have been joy enough to him to hear that Simeon is
released, and Benjamin is come safe home; for he had been ready
to despair concerning both these; but to bear that Joseph is alive,
is too good news to be true; he faints, for he believes it not.
Verse
27. When he saw the waggons his spirit revived - Now Jacob is
called Israel, for he begins to recover his wonted vigour. It pleases
him to think that Joseph is alive. He saith nothing of Joseph's
glory, which they had told him of; it was enough to him that
Joseph was alive: it pleases him to think of going to see him.
Though he was old, and the journey long, yet he would go to see
Joseph, because Joseph's business would not permit him to come
to him. Observe, He will go see him, not I will go live with him;
Jacob was old, and did not expect to live long: but I will go see
him before I die, and then let me depart in peace; let my eyes be
refreshed with this sight before they are closed, and then it is
enough, I need no more to make me happy in this world.
Chapter 45:
| 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
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
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