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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 50:15-21

We have here the settling of a good correspondence between Joseph and his brethren, now that their father was dead. Joseph was at court, in the royal city; his brethren were in Goshen, remote in the country; yet the keeping up of a good understanding, and a good affection, between them, would be both his honour and their interest. Note, When Providence has removed the parents by death, the best methods ought to be taken, not only for the preventing of quarrels among the children (which often... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 50:17

So shall ye say unto Joseph, forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin ,.... Their very great sin, and therefore more words than one are used to express it: unless this repetition should be intended, and signifies that their crime was a trespass against God, and a sin against their brother; and however they are directed to ask forgiveness for it, and urge the relation they stood in to Joseph, in order to obtain it, which they were ready to acknowledge as a very... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 50:18

And his brethren also went ,.... The messengers being returned to them, and acquainting them with what Joseph had said, they took courage and went from Goshen to Joseph's house or palace, be it where it may: and fell down before his face ; in an humble suppliant manner: and they said, behold, we be thy servants ; they were content to be so, would he but forgive their sin, and not resent their ill behaviour to him; thus they further fulfilled his dream of the eleven stars making... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 50:19

And Joseph said unto them, fear not ,.... That any hurt would be done by him to them, or that he would use them ill for their treatment of him: for am I in the place of God ? to receive such homage from you, that you should be my servants, as Saadiah Gaon gives the sense; or rather to take vengeance for injury done, which belongs to God alone: or, "am I not under God" F21 התחת אלהים אני "annon enim sub Deo sum?" Vatablus. ? subject to him, a servant of his, and why should you... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 50:20

But as for you, ye thought evil against me ,.... That must be said and owned, that their intentions were bad; they thought to have contradicted his dreams, and made them of none effect, to have token away his life, or however to have made him a slave all his days: but God meant it unto good ; he designed good should come by it, and he brought good out of it: this shows that this action, which was sinful in itself, fell under the decree of God, or was the object of it, and that there... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 50:21

Now therefore, fear ye not ,.... Which, is repeated to dispossess them of every fear they might entertain of him on any account whatever: I will nourish you, and your little ones ; provide food for them, and their families, not only for themselves and their sons, now grown up, but their grandchildren and even the youngest and latest of their families should share in his favours: and he comforted them, and spake kindly to them ; even "to their heart" F23 על לבם "ad cor eorum",... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 50:17

The servants of the God of thy father - These words were wonderfully well chosen, and spoken in the most forcible manner to Joseph's piety and filial affection. No wonder then that he wept when they spake to him. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 50:19

Am I in the place of God? - These words may be understood either as a question, or an affirmative proposition. How should I take any farther notice of your transgression? I have passed it by, the matter lies now between God and you. Or, in the order of Divine providence I am now in God's place; he has furnished me with means, and made me a distributor of his bounty; I will therefore not only nourish you, but also your little ones, Genesis 50:21 ; : and therefore he spake comfortably unto... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 50:17

Verse 17 17.Forgive, I pray thee now. They do not dissemble the fact that they had grievously sinned; and they are so far from extenuating their fault, that they freely heap up words in charging themselves with guilt. They do not, therefore, ask that pardon should be granted them as if the offense were light: but they place in opposition to the atrocity of their crime, first, the authority of their father, and then the sacred name of God. Their confession would have been worthy of commendation,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 50:19

Verse 19 19.Am I in the place of God? Some think that, in these words, he was rejecting the honor paid him: as if he would say, that it was unjustly offered to him, because it was due to God alone. But this interpretation is destitute of probability, since he often permitted himself to be addressed in this manner, and knew that the minds of his brethren were utterly averse to transfer the worship of God to mortal man. And I equally disapprove another meaning given to the passage, which makes... read more

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