Genesis 45:5-8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 45:1-15

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. I. Joseph ordered all his attendants to withdraw, Gen. 45:1. The private conversations of friends are the most free. When Joseph would put on love he puts off state, and it was not fit his servants should be witnesses of this. Thus Christ graciously manifests himself and his loving-kindness to his people, out of the sight... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 45:5

Now therefore be not grieved ,.... To an excess, so as to be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow; otherwise it became them to be grieved for their sin, and to show a godly sorrow and true repentance for it: nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither ; reflect upon themselves, and afflict themselves in an immoderate way; or break forth into anger and wrath with one another, upbraiding and blaming each other for their conduct in that affair, and so foment contentions and quarrels... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 45:6

For these two years hath the famine been , in the land ,.... In the land of Egypt and in the countries round about: and yet there are five years ; still remaining, which he knew by the above dreams and the interpretation of them: in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest ; that is, no tillage of land, neither ploughing nor sowing, and so no reaping, or gathering in of the fruits of the earth, as used to be in harvest; at least, there would be very little ground... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 45:7

And God sent me before you ,.... This he repeats to impress the minds of his brethren with a sense of the good providence of God in bringing him to Egypt before them, to make provision for their future welfare, and to alleviate their grief, and prevent an excessive sorrow for their selling him into Egypt, when by the overruling hand of God it proved so salutary to them: to preserve you a posterity in the earth ; that they and theirs might not perish, which otherwise, in all human... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 45:8

So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God ,.... Which is to be understood not absolutely, as if they had no concern at all in sending him thither; they sold him to the Ishmaelites, who brought him down to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, and so were instrumental in his coming to Egypt; but comparatively, it was not they so much as God that sent him; whose providence directed, disposed, and overruled all those events, to bring Joseph to this place, and to such an high station, to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 45:5

Be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves - This discovers a truly noble mind: he not only forgives and forgets, but he wishes even those who had wronged him to forget the injury they had done, that they might not suffer distress on the account; and with deep piety he attributes the whole to the providence of God; for, says he, God did send me before you to preserve life. On every word here a strong emphasis may be laid. It is not you, but God; it is not you that sold me, but God who sent... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 45:6

There shall neither be earing nor harvest - Earing has been supposed to mean collecting the ears of corn, which would confound it with harvest: the word, however, means ploughing or seed-time, from the Anglo-Saxon erian , probably borrowed from the Latin aro , to plough, and plainly means that there should be no seed-time, and consequently no harvest; and why? Because there should be a total want of rain in other countries, and the Nile should not rise above twelve cubits in Egypt; See... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 45:8

He hath made me a father to Pharaoh - It has already been conjectured that father was a name of office in Egypt, and that father of Pharaoh might among them signify the same as prime minister or the king's minister does among us. Calmet has remarked that among the Phoenicians, Persians, Arabians, and Romans, the title of father was given to certain officers of state. The Roman emperors gave the name of father to the prefects of the Praetorium, as appears by the letters of Constantine to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 45:8

Verse 8 8.So now, it was not you that sent me hither. This is a remarkable passage, in which we are taught that the right course of events is never so disturbed by the depravity and wickedness of men, but that God can direct them to a good end. We are also instructed in what manner and for what purpose we must consider the providence of God. When men of inquisitive minds dispute concerning it, they not only mingle and pervert all things without regard to the end designed, but invent every... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 45:1-15

Joseph's discovery of himself to his brethren. I. THE ANNOUNCEMENT . " I am Joseph, whom ye sold into Egypt." 1. How it was made . 2. How it was received . II. THE COMMISSION . 1. To carry an invitation . "Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, and tarry not." 2. To deliver a promise . "And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen," and "there will I nourish... read more

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