He sent a man before them, even Joseph. This is the real sense, though it is not fully expressed in the Hebrew. On the providential sending of Joseph into Egypt, see his own words, "God did send me before you, to preserve life" ( Genesis 45:5 ). Who was sold for a servant (comp. Genesis 33:1-20 :28, 36; Genesis 39:1 ). read more
The mission of Joseph. "He had sent a man before them" (Prayer book Version). The point is, that God had been beforehand, foreknowing how the famine would affect Jacob's tribe, and getting preparations made for affording necessary relief when the testing time came. Joseph, relative to his family, was a forerunner; one sent on first in order to prepare the way. But herein is a remarkable thing—the providences that brought round to him the power to save his family, involved his own personal... read more
Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron; rather, his soul entered into iron. In Genesis nothing more is said than that Joseph "was bound" in the prison ( Genesis 40:3 ). But the psalmist knows what imprisonment was in those early times. read more
Until the time that his word came ; i.e. "came true," "came to pass" (comp. Deuteronomy 18:22 ; Jeremiah 17:15 ). Joseph's "word came," when the chief butler was restored to favour, and the chief baker hanged ( Genesis 40:20-22 ). The word of the Lord tried him. It is difficult to decide what "word of the Lord" is meant. Hengstenberg suggests "the promise of the possession of Canaan." But this had not been made to him. Dean Johnson thinks that there is an "implied promise" to... read more
Joseph's trial. It has been remarked that in every loaf the whole tree is mirrored—root, trunk, branches, leaves (Macmillan). And so each member of Christ's mystical body resembles him in the way by which he is led. This especially true of Joseph. "Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?" These words, supremely true of our Lord, are true also of his servants. They must descend ere they ascend. The text teaches us— I. THAT ... read more
He sent a man before them - That is, He so ordered it by his providence that a man - Joseph - was sent before the family of Jacob into Egypt, that he might make arrangements for their reception and preservation. The whole matter was as God had sent him, or had commanded him to go. And yet it was brought about as the result of a series of acts of the most wicked character; by the envy and the hatred of his brethren; by their guilt and hardness of heart in proposing at first to put him to death,... read more
Whose feet they hurt with fetters - In Genesis 40:3; it is said of Joseph that he was “bound” in prison. It is not improbable that his “feet” were bound, as this is the usual way of confining prisoners.He was laid in iron - In the prison. The margin is, “his soul came into iron.” The version in the Prayer-Book of the Episcopal Church is, the iron entered into his soul. This is a more striking and beautiful rendering, though it may be doubted whether the Hebrew will permit it. DeWette renders... read more
Until the time that his word came - The word, or the communication from God.The word of the Lord tried him - That is, tested his skill in interpreting dreams, and his power to disclose the future. Genesis 41:0. This furnished a “trial” of his ability, and showed that he was truly the favorite of God, and was endowed with wisdom from on high. The word rendered “tried” is that which is commonly applied to metals in testing their genuineness and purity. Compare the notes at Psalms 12:6. read more
Psalms 105:16-18. He called for a famine That is, he brought a famine upon the land. He brake the whole staff of bread Bread, which is the staff or support of men’s lives. He sent a man before them Who was to nourish them in the famine: sent him, by the direction of his secret providence, many years before the famine began. Such are the foresight and timely care of Divine Providence. Whose feet they hurt with fetters Being unjustly charged with a most heinous crime. He was laid in... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 105:1-45
He watching over Israel slumbers not nor sleeps. I. A BLESSED RETROSPECT . 1 . He knows it is blessed, because, ere the psalmist sets it down, he summons, in intensely earnest, varied, and emphatic wag, all people to give thanks unto the Lord. 2 . And he tells them wherefore they should hearken to his Word— because the Lord "hath remembered his covenant forever," etc. ( Psalms 105:8 ). 3 . Then comes the covenant history. He tells what the covenant was ( Psalms... read more