Genesis 47

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 47:1-31

- Jacob in Goshen11. רעמסס ra‛mesês, Ra‘meses “son of the sun.”31. מטה mı̂ṭṭāh, “bed.” מטה maṭṭeh “staff.”Arrangements are now made for the settlement of Israel in Goshen. The administration of Joseph during the remaining years of the famine is then recorded. For the whole of this period his father and brothers are subject to him, as their political superior, according to the reading of his early dreams. We then approach to the death-bed of Jacob, and hear him binding Joseph by an oath to... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 47

A.M. 2298. B.C. 1706. In this chapter we have instances, ( 1,) Of Joseph’s kindness to his relations, presenting his brethren first, and then his father to Pharaoh, Genesis 47:1-10 ; settling them in Goshen, and providing for them there, Genesis 47:11-12 ; paying his respects to his father when he sent for him, Genesis 47:27-31 . (2,) Of Joseph’s justice between prince and people in a very critical affair; selling Pharaoh’s corn to his subjects with reasonable profit to Pharaoh, and... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 47:1

Genesis 47:1. They are in the land of Goshen Either to abide there, or to remove thence to any other place which thou shalt appoint for them. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 47:2

Genesis 47:2. He took some of his brethren The original words here, literally translated, are, He took from the end, extremity, or tail of his brethren, five men And some have thought the sense is, He took five of the meanest of them, as to their persons and appearance, as the word קצה is used, 1 Kings 12:31, lest, if he had presented the goodliest of them, Pharaoh should have required their attendance upon him either at court or in the camp. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 47:3

Genesis 47:3. What is your occupation? Pharaoh takes it for granted they had something to do. All that have a place in the world should have an employment in it according to their capacity, some occupation or other. Those that need not work for their bread, yet must have something to do to keep them from idleness. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 47:4

Genesis 47:4. To sojourn in the land are we come Not to settle there for ever; only to sojourn, while the famine prevailed so in Canaan, which lay high, that it was not habitable for shepherds, the grass being burned up much more than in Egypt, which lay low, and where the corn chiefly failed, but there was tolerably good pasture. But although Jacob and his sons intended only to sojourn in Goshen or Egypt till the famine should be over, yet first the kindness they received encouraged... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 47:6

Genesis 47:6. Any man of activity Literally, according to the Hebrew, If thou knowest, and there is among them men of strength or vigour, ( חיל ,) namely, of body or mind, fit for the employment. From which expression it seems rather probable that those five presented to Pharaoh were of the meaner sort of them. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 47:7

Genesis 47:7. Jacob blessed Pharaoh Which is repeated, Genesis 47:10, as being a circumstance very remarkable. And remarkable surely it was that the greater, for such Pharaoh was in all external things, in wealth, power and glory, should be blessed of the less, Hebrews 7:7. But before God, and in reality, Jacob was much greater than Pharaoh. It is probable, therefore, that he not only saluted him, prayed for and thanked him for all his favours to him and his, all which the original... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 47:8

Genesis 47:8. How old art thou? A question usually put to old men, for it is natural to us to admire old age, and to reverence it. Jacob’s countenance, no doubt, showed him to be old, for he had been a man of labour and sorrow. In Egypt people were not so long-lived as in Canaan, and therefore Pharaoh looks upon Jacob with wonder. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 47:9

Genesis 47:9. Observe, 1st, Jacob calls his life a pilgrimage, looking upon himself as a stranger in this world, and a traveller toward another. He reckoned himself not only a pilgrim now he was in Egypt, a strange country in which he never was before, but his life, even in the land of his nativity, was a pilgrimage. 2d, He reckoned his life by days; for even so it is soon reckoned; and we are not sure of the continuance of it for a day to an end, but may be turned out of this... read more

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