And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day ( i.e. the day of the narrator), that Pharaoh should have the fifth part; except the land of the priests only, which became not Pharaoh's. The account here given of the land tenure in Egypt, viz., read more
And Israel ( i.e. the people) dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein ( i.e. acquired holdings in it), and grew (or became fruitful), and multiplied exceedingly —or became very numerous. This was the commencement of the promise ( Genesis 46:3 ). read more
The sunset of a long life. There is a touching beauty in this scene between the veteran Israel and the prosperous Joseph. I. An illustration of HUMAN INFIRMITY . The supplanter, the prince of God, must succumb at last to the King of Terrors. " Israel must die ." Yet he is not afraid of death. II. STRENGTH IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS . Grace appears brightest at the end. His gray hairs have not been "brought with sorrow to the grave," although he feared they... read more
And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was (literally, the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were ) an hundred forty and seven years . He had lived seventy-seven years in Canaan, twenty years in Padanaram, thirty-three in Canaan again, and seventeen in Egypt, in all 147 years. read more
Jacob's residence in Egypt. I. JACOB 'S PEACEFUL OLD AGE . "And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years." After an eventful and checkered pilgrimage of 130 years, during which Jacob had made largo experience of the ills of life, having encountered adversity in forms both more numerous and severe than are allotted to most, he had at length reached a happy harbor of rest in the calm contemplative evening of old age, exchanging the anxieties and toils of his previously... read more
Jacob's apprehension. I. WHAT IT WAS . 1. It was not anxiety about temporal support, for that had been generously made sure to him by his son Joseph. 2. It was not concern about the future fortunes of his family, for these had been graciously taken under God's protection. 3. It was not uncertainty as to his own personal acceptance with Jehovah, for of that he had long ago been assured. 4. It was scarcely even fear of his approaching death, for besides being... read more
And the time drew nigh that Israel (i.e. Jacob) must die (literally, and the days of Israel to die drew near ): and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight (not as if Jacob doubted Joseph's affection, but simply as desiring a last token of his love, perhaps also as unconsciously recognizing his son's greatness), put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh ,—an ancient form of adjuration (cf. Genesis 24:2 )— and deal kindly and truly with... read more
But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their burying-place. The request of the venerable patriarch, while due in some respect to the deeply-seated instinct of human nature which makes men, almost universally, long to be buried in ancestral graves, was inspired by the clear faith that Canaan was the true inheritance of Israel, and that, though now obtaining a temporary refuge in Egypt, his descendants would eventually return to the land of promise... read more
And he ( i.e. Jacob) said, Swear unto me (in the manner indicated in Genesis 47:29 ). And he ( i.e. Joseph) sware unto him. And (having concluded this touching and impressive ceremonial) Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head. Though supported by many eminent authorities (Chaldee Pard. phrase, Symmachus, Vulgate, Calvin, Willet, Rosenmüller, Delitzsch, Keil, Kalisch, &c; &c.;), the present rendering is not entirely free from difficulty, since not until the next chapter... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 47:25
And they said, Thou hast saved our lives (literally, thou hast kept us alive ): let us find grace in the sight of my lord ( i.e. let us have the land on these favorable terms), and we will be Pharaoh's servants . "That a sort of feudal service is here intended—the service of free laborers, not bondmen—we may learn from the relationship of the Israelites to God, which was formed after the plan of this Egyptian model" (Gerlach). read more