mh_parser/vol_split/1 - Genesis/Chapter 45.xml

<div2 id="Gen.xlvi" n="xlvi" next="Gen.xlvii" prev="Gen.xlv" progress="28.11%" title="Chapter XLV">
<pb id="Gen.xlvi-Page_243" n="243"/>
<h2 id="Gen.xlvi-p0.1">G E N E S I S</h2>
<h3 id="Gen.xlvi-p0.2">CHAP. XLV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Gen.xlvi-p1">It is a pity that this chapter and the foregoing
should be parted, and read asunder. There we had Judah's
intercession for Benjamin, with which, we may suppose, the rest of
his brethren signified their concurrence; Joseph let him go on
without interruption, heard all he had to say, and then answered it
all in one word, "I am Joseph." Now he found his brethren humbled
for their sins, mindful of himself (for Judah had mentioned him
twice in his speech), respectful to their father, and very tender
of their brother Benjamin; now they were ripe for the comfort he
designed them, by making himself known to them, the story of which
we have in this chapter. It was to Joseph's brethren as clear
shining after rain, nay, it was to them as life from the dead. Here
is, I. Joseph's discovery of himself to his brethren, and his
discourse with them upon that occasion, <scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45.1-Gen.45.15" parsed="|Gen|45|1|45|15" passage="Ge 45:1-15">ver. 1-15</scripRef>. II. The orders Pharaoh,
hereupon, gave to fetch Jacob and his family down to Egypt, and
Joseph's despatch of his brethren, accordingly, back to his father
with those orders, <scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45.16-Gen.45.24" parsed="|Gen|45|16|45|24" passage="Ge 45:16-24">ver.
16-24</scripRef>. III. The joyful tidings of this brought to Jacob,
<scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45.25-Gen.45.28" parsed="|Gen|45|25|45|28" passage="Ge 45:25-28">ver. 25</scripRef>, &amp;c.</p>
<scripCom id="Gen.xlvi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45" parsed="|Gen|45|0|0|0" passage="Ge 45" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Gen.xlvi-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45.1-Gen.45.15" parsed="|Gen|45|1|45|15" passage="Ge 45:1-15" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.45.1-Gen.45.15">
<h4 id="Gen.xlvi-p1.6">Joseph Discovers Himself to His
Brethren. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xlvi-p1.7">b. c.</span> 1707.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xlvi-p2">1 Then Joseph could not refrain himself before
all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out
from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself
known unto his brethren.   2 And he wept aloud: and the
Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.   3 And Joseph said
unto his brethren, I <i>am</i> Joseph; doth my father yet live? And
his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his
presence.   4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to
me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I <i>am</i> Joseph
your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.   5 Now therefore be
not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for
God did send me before you to preserve life.   6 For these two
years <i>hath</i> the famine <i>been</i> in the land: and yet
<i>there are</i> five years, in the which <i>there shall</i>
neither <i>be</i> earing nor harvest.   7 And God sent me
before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save
your lives by a great deliverance.   8 So now <i>it was</i>
not you <i>that</i> sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a
father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler
throughout all the land of Egypt.   9 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, tarry not:   10
And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near
unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and
thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast:   11 And
there will I nourish thee; for yet <i>there are</i> five years of
famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come
to poverty.   12 And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of
my brother Benjamin, that <i>it is</i> my mouth that speaketh unto
you.   13 And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in
Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bring

<pb id="Gen.xlvi-Page_244" n="244"/>

down my father hither.   14 And he fell
upon his brother Benjamin's neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon
his neck.   15 Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept
upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xlvi-p3">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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xlvi-p4">I. Joseph ordered all his attendants to
withdraw, <scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45.1" parsed="|Gen|45|1|0|0" passage="Ge 45:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. 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 and hearing of the world.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xlvi-p5">II. Tears were the preface or introduction
to his discourse, <scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45.2" parsed="|Gen|45|2|0|0" passage="Ge 45:2"><i>v.</i>
2</scripRef>. He had dammed up this stream a great while, and with
much ado: but now it swelled so high that he could no longer
contain, but <i>he wept aloud,</i> so that those whom he had
forbidden to see him could not but hear him. These were tears of
tenderness and strong affection, and with these he threw off that
austerity with which he had hitherto carried himself towards his
brethren; for he could bear it no longer. This represents the
divine compassion towards returning penitents, as much as that of
the father of the prodigal, <scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.15.20 Bible:Hos.14.8-Hos.14.9" parsed="|Luke|15|20|0|0;|Hos|14|8|14|9" passage="Lu 15:20,Ho 14:8,9">Luke xv. 20; Hos. xiv. 8, 9</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xlvi-p6">III. He very abruptly (as one uneasy till
it was out) tells them who he was: <i>I am Joseph.</i> They knew
him only by his Egyptian name, <i>Zaphnath-paaneah,</i> his Hebrew
name being lost and forgotten in Egypt; but now he teaches them to
call him by that: <i>I am Joseph;</i> nay, that they might not
suspect it was another of the same name, he explains himself
(<scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45.4" parsed="|Gen|45|4|0|0" passage="Ge 45:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>): <i>I am
Joseph, your brother.</i> This would both humble them yet more for
their sin in selling him, and would encourage them to hope for kind
treatment. Thus when Christ would convince Paul he said, <i>I am
Jesus;</i> and when he would comfort his disciples he said, <i>It
is I, be not afraid.</i> This word, at first, startled Joseph's
brethren; they started back through fear, or at least stood still
astonished; but Joseph called kindly and familiarly to them:
<i>Come near, I pray you.</i> Thus when Christ manifests himself to
his people he encourages them to draw near to him with a true
heart. Perhaps, being about to speak of their selling him, he would
not speak aloud, lest the Egyptians should overhear, and it should
make the Hebrews to be yet more an abomination to them; therefore
he would have them come near, that he might whisper with them,
which, now that the tide of his passion was a little over, he was
able to do, whereas at first he could not but cry out.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xlvi-p7">IV. He endeavours to assuage their grief
for the injuries they had done him, by showing them that whatever
they designed God meant it for good, and had brought much good out
of it (<scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45.5" parsed="|Gen|45|5|0|0" passage="Ge 45:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>): <i>Be
not grieved, nor angry with yourselves.</i> Sinners must grieve,
and be angry with themselves, for their sins; yea, though God by
his power brings good out of them, for no thanks are due to the
sinner for this: but true penitents should be greatly affected when
they see God thus bringing good out of evil, <i>meat out of the
eater.</i> Though we must not with this consideration extenuate our
own sins and so take off the edge of our repentance, yet it may be
well thus to extenuate the sins of others and so take off the edge
of our angry resentments. Thus Joseph does here; his brethren
needed not to fear that he would avenge upon them an injury which
God's providence had made to turn so much to his advantage and that
of his family. Now he tells them how long the famine was likely to
last—<i>five years;</i> yet (<scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45.6" parsed="|Gen|45|6|0|0" passage="Ge 45:6"><i>v.</i>
6</scripRef>) what a capacity he was in of being kind to his
relations and friends, which is the greatest satisfaction that
wealth and power can give to a good man, <scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45.8" parsed="|Gen|45|8|0|0" passage="Ge 45:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>. See what a favourable colour he
puts upon the injury they had done him: <i>God sent me before
you,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45.5 Bible:Gen.45.7" parsed="|Gen|45|5|0|0;|Gen|45|7|0|0" passage="Ge 45:5,7"><i>v.</i> 5, 7</scripRef>.
Note, 1. God's Israel is the particular care of God's providence.
Joseph reckoned that his advancement was not so much designed to
save a whole kingdom of Egyptians as to preserve a small family of
Israelites: <i>for the Lord's portion is his people;</i> whatever
becomes of others, they shall be secured. 2. Providence looks a
great way forward, and has a long reach. Even long before the years
of plenty, Providence was preparing for the supply of Jacob's house
in the years of famine. The psalmist praises God for this
(<scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.105.17" parsed="|Ps|105|17|0|0" passage="Ps 105:17">Ps. cv. 17</scripRef>): <i>He sent a
man before them, even Joseph.</i> God sees his work from the
beginning to the end, but we do not, <scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p7.6" osisRef="Bible:Eccl.3.11" parsed="|Eccl|3|11|0|0" passage="Ec 3:11">Eccl. iii. 11</scripRef>. How admirable are the projects
of providence! How remote its tendencies! What wheels are there
within wheels, and yet all directed by the eyes in the wheels, and
the spirit of the living creature! Let us therefore judge nothing
before the time. 3. God often works by contraries. The envy and
contention of brethren threaten the ruin of families, yet, in this
instance, they prove the occasion of preserving Jacob's family.
Joseph could never have been <i>the shepherd and stone of
Israel</i> if his brethren had not shot at him, and hated him; even
those that had wickedly sold Joseph into Egypt yet themselves
reaped the benefit of the good God brought out of it; as those that
put Christ to death were many of them saved by his death. 4. God
must have all the glory of the seasonable preservations of his
people, by what way soever they are effected. <i>It was not you
that sent me hither, but God,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p7.7" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45.8" parsed="|Gen|45|8|0|0" passage="Ge 45:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>. As, on the one hand, they must
not fret at it, because it ended so well, so on the other hand they
must not be proud

<pb id="Gen.xlvi-Page_245" n="245"/>

of it, because it was
God's doing, and not theirs. They designed, by selling him into
Egypt, to defeat his dreams, but God thereby designed to accomplish
them. <scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p7.8" osisRef="Bible:Isa.10.7" parsed="|Isa|10|7|0|0" passage="Isa 10:7">Isa. x. 7</scripRef>, <i>Howbeit
he meaneth not so.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xlvi-p8">V. He promises to take care of his father
and all the family during the rest of the years of famine. 1. He
desires that his father may speedily be made glad with the tidings
of his life and dignity. His brethren must hasten to Canaan, and
must inform Jacob that his son Joseph was <i>lord of all Egypt;</i>
(<scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45.9" parsed="|Gen|45|9|0|0" passage="Ge 45:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>): they must
tell him of all his glory there, <scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45.13" parsed="|Gen|45|13|0|0" passage="Ge 45:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>. He knew it would be a
refreshing oil to his hoary head and a sovereign cordial to his
spirits. If any thing would make him young again, this would. He
desires them to give themselves, and take with them to their
father, all possible satisfaction of the truth of these surprising
tidings: <i>Your eyes see that it is my mouth,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45.12" parsed="|Gen|45|12|0|0" passage="Ge 45:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>. If they would recollect
themselves, they might remember something of his features, speech,
&amp;c., and be satisfied. 2. He is very earnest that his father
and all his family should come to him to Egypt: <i>Come down unto
me, tarry not,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45.9" parsed="|Gen|45|9|0|0" passage="Ge 45:9"><i>v.</i>
9</scripRef>. He allots his dwelling in Goshen, that part of Egypt
which lay towards Canaan, that they might be mindful of the country
from which they were to come out, <scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p8.5" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45.10" parsed="|Gen|45|10|0|0" passage="Ge 45:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>. He promises to provide for him:
<i>I will nourish thee,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p8.6" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45.11" parsed="|Gen|45|11|0|0" passage="Ge 45:11"><i>v.</i>
11</scripRef>. Note, It is the duty of children, if the necessity
of their parents do at any time require it, to support and supply
them to the utmost of their ability; and <i>Corban</i> will never
excuse them, <scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p8.7" osisRef="Bible:Mark.7.11" parsed="|Mark|7|11|0|0" passage="Mk 7:11">Mark vii. 11</scripRef>.
This is showing piety at home, <scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p8.8" osisRef="Bible:1Tim.5.4" parsed="|1Tim|5|4|0|0" passage="1ti 5:4">1 Tim.
v. 4</scripRef>. Our Lord Jesus being, like Joseph, exalted to the
highest honours and powers of the upper world, it is his will that
all that are his should be with him where he is, <scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p8.9" osisRef="Bible:John.17.24" parsed="|John|17|24|0|0" passage="Joh 17:24">John xvii. 24</scripRef>. This is his commandment, that
we be with him now in faith and hope, and a heavenly conversation;
and this is his promise, that we shall be for ever with him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xlvi-p9">VI. Endearments were interchanged between
him and his brethren. He began with the youngest, his own brother
Benjamin, who was but about a year old when Joseph was separated
from his brethren; they wept on each other's neck (<scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45.14" parsed="|Gen|45|14|0|0" passage="Ge 45:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>), perhaps to think of
their mother Rachel, who died in travail of Benjamin. Rachel, in
her husband Jacob, had been lately weeping for her children,
because, in his apprehension, they were not—Joseph gone, and
Benjamin going; and now they were weeping for her, because she was
not. After he had embraced Benjamin, he, in like manner, caressed
them all (<scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45.15" parsed="|Gen|45|15|0|0" passage="Ge 45:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>);
and then <i>his brethren talked with him</i> freely and familiarly
of all the affairs of their father's house. After the tokens of
true reconciliation follow the instances of a sweet communion.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Gen.xlvi-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45.16-Gen.45.24" parsed="|Gen|45|16|45|24" passage="Ge 45:16-24" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.45.16-Gen.45.24">
<h4 id="Gen.xlvi-p9.4">Pharaoh's Kindness to
Joseph. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xlvi-p9.5">b. c.</span> 1707.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xlvi-p10">16 And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh's
house, saying, Joseph's brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh
well, and his servants.   17 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say
unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you
unto the land of Canaan;   18 And take your father and your
households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the
land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land.   19 Now
thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of
Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your
father, and come.   20 Also regard not your stuff; for the
good of all the land of Egypt <i>is</i> yours.   21 And the
children of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according
to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.
  22 To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but
to Benjamin he gave three hundred <i>pieces</i> of silver, and five
changes of raiment.   23 And to his father he sent after this
<i>manner;</i> ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and
ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by
the way.   24 So he sent his brethren away, and they departed:
and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xlvi-p11">Here is, 1. The kindness of Pharaoh to
Joseph, and to his relations for his sake: he bade his brethren
welcome (<scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45.16" parsed="|Gen|45|16|0|0" passage="Ge 45:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>),
though it was a time of scarcity, and they were likely to be a
charge to him. Nay, because it pleased Pharaoh, it pleased his
servants, too, at least they pretended to be pleased because Pharaoh
was. He engaged Joseph to send for his father down to Egypt, and
promised to furnish them with all conveniences both for his removal
thither and his settlement there. If the good of all the land of
Egypt (as it was not better stocked than any other land, thanks to
Joseph, under God) would suffice him, he was welcome to it all, it
was all his own, even <i>the fat of the land</i> (<scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45.18" parsed="|Gen|45|18|0|0" passage="Ge 45:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>), so that they need not
<i>regard their stuff,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45.20" parsed="|Gen|45|20|0|0" passage="Ge 45:20"><i>v.</i>
20</scripRef>. What they had in Canaan he reckoned but stuff, in
comparison with what he had for them in Egypt; and therefore if
they should be constrained to leave some of that behind them, let
them not be discontented; Egypt would afford them enough to make up
the losses of their removal. Thus those for whom Christ intends
shares in his heavenly glory ought not to regard the stuff of this
world: The best of its enjoyments are but stuff, but

<pb id="Gen.xlvi-Page_246" n="246"/>

lumber; we cannot make sure of it while we are here,
much less can we carry it away with us; let us not therefore be
solicitous about it, nor set our eyes or hearts upon it. There are
better things reserved for us in that blessed land whither our
Joseph has gone to prepare a place.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xlvi-p12">II. The kindness of Joseph to his father
and brethren. Pharaoh was respectful to Joseph, in gratitude,
because he had been an instrument of much good to him and his
kingdom, not only preserving it from the common calamity, but
helping to make it considerable among the nations; for all their
neighbours would say, "Surely the Egyptians are a wise and an
understanding people, that are so well stocked in a time of
scarcity." For this reason Pharaoh never thought any thing too much
that he could do for Joseph. Note, There is a gratitude owing even
to inferiors; and when any have shown us kindness we should study
to requite it, not only to them, but to their relations. And Joseph
likewise was respectful to his father and brethren in duty, because
they were his near relations, though his brethren had been his
enemies, and his father long a stranger. 1. He furnished them for
necessity, <scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45.21" parsed="|Gen|45|21|0|0" passage="Ge 45:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>. He
gave them wagons and provisions for the way, both going and coming;
for we never find that Jacob was very rich, and, at this time, when
the famine prevailed, we may suppose he was rather poor. 2. He
furnished them for ornament and delight. To his brethren he gave
two suits apiece of good clothes, to Benjamin five suits, and money
besides in his pocket, <scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45.22" parsed="|Gen|45|22|0|0" passage="Ge 45:22"><i>v.</i>
22</scripRef>. To his father he sent a very handsome present of the
varieties of Egypt, <scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45.23" parsed="|Gen|45|23|0|0" passage="Ge 45:23"><i>v.</i>
23</scripRef>. Note, Those that are wealthy should be generous, and
devise liberal things; what is an abundance good for, but to do
good with it? 3. He dismissed them with a seasonable caution:
<i>See that you fall not out by the way,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p12.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45.24" parsed="|Gen|45|24|0|0" passage="Ge 45:24"><i>v.</i> 24</scripRef>. He knew they were but too apt
to be quarrelsome; and what had lately passed, which revived the
remembrance of what they had done formerly against their brother,
might give them occasion to quarrel. Joseph had observed them to
contend about it, <scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p12.5" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.22" parsed="|Gen|42|22|0|0" passage="Ge 42:22"><i>ch.</i> xlii.
22</scripRef>. To one they would say, "It was you that first
upbraided him with his dreams;" to another, "It was you that said,
Let us kill him;" to another, "It was you that stripped him of his
fine coat;" to another, "It was you that threw him into the pit,"
&amp;c. Now Joseph, having forgiven them all, lays this obligation
upon them, not to upbraid one another. This charge our Lord Jesus
has given to us, <i>that we love one another,</i> that we live in
peace, that whatever occurs, or whatever former occurrences are
remembered, we fall not out. For, (1.) We are brethren, we have all
one Father. (2.) We are his brethren, and we shame our relation to
him <i>who is our peace,</i> if we fall out. (3.) We are guilty,
<i>verily guilty,</i> and, instead of quarrelling with one another,
have a great deal of reason to fall out with ourselves. (4.) We
are, or hope to be, forgiven of God whom we have all offended, and
therefore should be ready to forgive one another. (5.) We are <i>by
the way,</i> a way that lies through the land of Egypt, where we
have many eyes upon us, that seek occasion and advantage against
us, a way that leads to Canaan, where we hope to be for ever in
perfect peace.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Gen.xlvi-p12.6" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45.25-Gen.45.28" parsed="|Gen|45|25|45|28" passage="Ge 45:25-28" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.45.25-Gen.45.28">
<h4 id="Gen.xlvi-p12.7">The History of Joseph. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xlvi-p12.8">b. c.</span> 1707.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xlvi-p13">25 And they went up out of Egypt, and came into
the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father,   26 And told him,
saying, Joseph <i>is</i> yet alive, and he <i>is</i> governor over
all the land of Egypt. And Jacob's heart fainted, for he believed
them not.   27 And they told him all the words of Joseph,
which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which
Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father
revived:   28 And Israel said, <i>It is</i> enough; Joseph my
son <i>is</i> yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xlvi-p14">We have here the good news brought to
Jacob. 1. The relation of it, at first, sunk his spirits. When,
without any preamble, his sons came in, crying, <i>Joseph is yet
alive,</i> each striving which should first proclaim it, perhaps he
thought they bantered him, and the affront grieved him; or the very
mention of Joseph's name revived his sorrow, so that his heart
fainted, <scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45.26" parsed="|Gen|45|26|0|0" passage="Ge 45:26"><i>v.</i> 26</scripRef>. It
was a good while before he came to himself. He was in such care and
fear about the rest of them that at this time it would have been
joy enough to him to hear that Simeon was released, and that
Benjamin had come safely home (for he had been ready to despair
concerning both these); but to hear that <i>Joseph is alive</i> is
too good news to be true; he faints, for he believes it not. Note,
We faint, because we do not believe; David himself had fainted if
he had not believed, <scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.27.13" parsed="|Ps|27|13|0|0" passage="Ps 27:13">Ps. xxvii.
13</scripRef>. 2. The confirmation of it, by degrees, revived his
spirit. Jacob had easily believed his sons formerly when they told
him, <i>Joseph is dead;</i> but he can hardly believe them now that
they tell him, <i>Joseph is alive.</i> Weak and tender spirits are
influenced more by fear than hope, and are more apt to receive
impressions that are discouraging than those that are encouraging.
But at length Jacob is convinced of the truth of the story,
especially when he sees the waggons which were sent to carry him
(for seeing is believing), then his <i>spirit revived.</i> Death is
as the waggons which are sent to fetch us to Christ: the very sight
of it approaching should revive us. Now Jacob is called Israel
(<scripRef id="Gen.xlvi-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.45.28" parsed="|Gen|45|28|0|0" passage="Ge 45:28"><i>v.</i> 28</scripRef>), for he
begins to recover his wonted vigour. (1.) It pleases him to think
that Joseph is alive. He says nothing of Joseph's glory, of which
they told him; it

<pb id="Gen.xlvi-Page_247" n="247"/>

was enough to him that
Joseph was alive. Note, Those that would be content with less
degrees of comfort are best prepared for greater. (2.) It pleases
him to think of going to see him. Though he was old, and the
journey long, yet he would go to see Joseph, because Joseph's
business would not permit him to come to see him. Observe, He says,
"<i>I will go and see him,</i>" not, "I will go and live with him;"
Jacob was old, and did not expect to live long; "But I will go and
see him <i>before I die,</i> and then let me depart in peace; let
my eyes be refreshed with this sight before they are closed, and
then it is <i>enough,</i> I need no more to make me happy in this
world." Note, It is good for us all to make death familiar to us,
and to speak of it as near, that we may think how little we have to
do before we die, that we may do it with all our might, and may
enjoy our comforts as those that must quickly die, and leave
them.</p>
</div></div2>