Genesis 47:1-31

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 47:1-12

Here is, I. The respect which Joseph, as a subject, showed to his prince. Though he was his favourite, and prime-minister of state, and had had particular orders from him to send for his father down to Egypt, yet he would not suffer him to settle till he had given notice of it to Pharaoh, Gen. 47:1. Christ, our Joseph, disposes of his followers in his kingdom as it is prepared of his Father, saying, It is not mine to give, Matt. 20:23. II. The respect which Joseph, as a brother, showed to his... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 47:13-26

Care being taken of Jacob and his family, the preservation of which was especially designed by Providence in Joseph's advancement, an account is now given of the saving of the kingdom of Egypt too from ruin; for God is King of nations as well as King of saints, and provideth food for all flesh. Joseph now returns to the management of that great trust which Pharaoh had lodged in his hand. It would have been pleasing enough to him to have gone and lived with his father and brethren in Goshen;... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 47:27-31

Observe, 1. The comfort Jacob lived in (Gen. 47:27, 28); while the Egyptians were impoverished in their own land, Jacob was replenished in a strange land. He lived seventeen years after he came into Egypt, far beyond his own expectation. Seventeen years he had nourished Joseph (for so old he was when he was sold from him, Gen. 37:2), and now, by way of requital, seventeen years Joseph nourished him. Observe how kindly Providence ordered Jacob's affairs, that when he was old, and least able to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 47:1

Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh ,.... After he had been with his father, had had an interview with him, and had took his leave of him for a time, he came to Pharaoh's court: and said, my father, and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan ; Pharaoh had desired they might come, and Joseph now acquaints him they were come; not being willing it should be said that they were come in a private manner, and without his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 47:2

And he took some of his brethren ,.... Along with him, when he left his father in Goshen; the word for "some" signifies the extremity of a thing: hence some have fancied that he took some of the meanest and most abject, so Jarchi, lest if they had appeared to Pharaoh strong and robust, he should have made soldiers of them; others on the contrary think he took those that excelled most in strength of body, and endowments of mind, to make the better figure; others, that he took of both sorts,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 47:3

And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, what is your occupation ?.... Which is the question he had told his brethren beforehand would be asked them, and prepared them to give an answer to it, Genesis 46:33 ; which was perhaps an usual question Pharaoh asked of persons that came to settle in his dominions, that he might have no idle vagrants there, and that he might know of what advantage they were like to be of in his kingdom, and might dispose of them accordingly: and they said unto... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 47:4

They said moreover unto Pharaoh, for to sojourn in the land are we come ,.... Not to obtain possessions and inheritances, as if natives, and to abide there always, but to continue for a little time; for they kept in mind that the land of Canaan was given to them as an inheritance, and would be possessed by then, in due time, and therefore had no thought for the present of continuing here long: for thy servants have no pasture for their flocks, for the famine is sore in the land of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 47:5

And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph ,.... Who was present at the conversation that passed between him and his brethren: saying, thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee ; which is observed, not for Joseph's information, but to lead on to what he had to say further. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 47:6

The land of Egypt is before thee ,.... To choose what part of it he should judge most suitable and agreeable to his father and brethren: in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell, in the land of Goshen let them dwell ; as is requested; and which was, as Pharaoh here suggests, the best part of the land, the most fertile and fruitful, and the fittest for cattle, being full of pastures through the river Nile and the canals of it, and Goshen being the most fertile... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 47:7

And Joseph brought in Jacob his father ,.... That is, some time after he had introduced his five brethren, and had gotten the grant of Goshen for them, when he sent, for his father from thence, or he came quickly after to Tanis or Memphis, where Pharaoh's court was: and set him before Pharaoh ; presented Jacob to him, and placed his father right before Pharaoh, perhaps in a chair, or on a seat, by Pharaoh's order, because of his age, and in honour to him: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh ;... read more

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