Providence. "Now therefore be not grieved," &c.; I. THE END IS GOODNESS AND MERCY . 1. To preserve life. 2. To set the seed of the better society in the midst of the corruptions and imperfections of the old. 3. To prepare the way for the higher revelations of the future. II. GOD 'S METHOD OF INSTRUMENTALITIES HIS GLORY . 1. The history of his people, their persecutions, their apparent humiliations, their marvelous victories. 2. The... read more
- Joseph Made Himself Known to His Brethren10. גשׁן gôshen, Goshen, Gesem (Arabias related perhaps to גשׁם geshem “rain, shower”), a region on the borders of Egypt and Arabia, near the gulf of Suez.The appeal of Judah is to Joseph irresistible. The repentance of his brothers, and their attachment to Benjamin, have been demonstrated in the most satisfactory manner. This is all that Joseph sought. It is evident, throughout the whole narrative, that he never aimed at exercising any supremacy over... read more
Genesis 45:5. Be not grieved nor angry with yourselves Namely, immoderately, for the injury you did to me; or for the danger you have brought upon yourselves. Otherwise, he does not mean to dissuade them from a godly sorrow and displeasure at themselves for their offence against God, their father, and himself, to produce which sorrow and displeasure was the principal end he had in view in his strange and rough conduct toward them. Sinners must grieve and be angry with themselves for their... read more
Genesis 45:6-7 . Five years there shall be neither earing (an old English word for ploughing, which is the meaning of the Hebrew) nor harvest That is, except in a few places near the river Nile; for, understanding from Joseph that the famine would be of long continuance, and that their labour and seed, which they could ill spare, would be lost, people would neither plough nor sow, and, of course, could not reap. To preserve you a posterity in the earth That you and your children might... read more
Joseph and his brothers (42:1-45:28)When Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt to buy grain, Joseph recognized them but they did not recognize him (42:1-8). Rather than make himself known to them immediately, Joseph decided to test them to see if they had experienced any change of heart over the years. Joseph was not looking for revenge. His apparently harsh treatment of them, mixed with kindness, was designed to stir their consciences. They realized they were being punished for their unjust... read more
whom ye sold. Words adopted by Stephen (Acts 7:9 ). read more
be not grieved, &c. Compare Acts 3:17 . nor angry, &c. Hebrew "let not anger kindle in your eyes". Figure of speech Prosopopoeia. God did send. So, Genesis 45:7 ; Genesis 50:20 . Psalms 105:17 . Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 . preserve life. i.e. to preserve you a posterity in the earth (Genesis 45:7 ), and hence, to ensure the birth of the true Joseph, and all who have life eternal in Him. read more
earing = ploughing (Anglo-Saxon). read more
"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. And now be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and there are yet five years, in which there shall be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a remnant in the earth, and to save you alive... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 45:4-13
And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. It is probable they had instinctively shrunk from his presence on learning the astounding fact that he was Joseph, but felt reassured by the kindly tone of Joseph's words. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt . It was impossible to evade allusion to their early wickedness, and this Joseph does in a spirit not of angry upbraiding, but of elevated piety and tender charity. Now... read more