Genesis45
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1Then 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.
2And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard.
3And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.
4And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
5And now be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
6For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and there are yet five years, in which there shall be neither plowing nor harvest.
7And God sent me before you to preserve you a remnant in the earth, and to save you alive by a great deliverance.
8So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
9Haste 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;
10and 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:
11and there will I nourish thee; for there are yet five years of famine; lest thou come to poverty, thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast.
12And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you.
13And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen: and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither.
14And he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck.
15And he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.
16And the report thereof was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, Joseph’s brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.
17And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye: lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan;
18and 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.
19Now 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.
20Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.
21And the sons of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.
22To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment.
23And to his father he sent after this manner: ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she-asses laden with grain and bread and provision for his father by the way.
24So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way.
25And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father.
26And they told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt. And his heart fainted, for he believed them not.
27And 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:
28and Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Genesis 45.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Joseph comforts his brethren, and sends for his father. (1–15). Pharaoh confirms Joseph's invitation, Joseph's gifts to his brethren. (16–24). Jacob receives the news of Joseph's being alive. (25–28).
vv1-15
Joseph let Judah go on, and heard all he had to say. 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, by making himself known. Joseph ordered all his attendants to withdraw. Thus Christ makes himself and his loving-kindness known to his people, out of the sight and hearing of the world. Joseph shed tears of tenderness and strong affection, and with these threw off that austerity with which he had hitherto behaved toward his brethren. This represents the Divine compassion toward returning penitents. “I am Joseph, your brother.” This would humble them yet more for their sin in selling him, but would encourage them to hope for kind treatment. Thus, when Christ would convince Paul, he said, I am Jesus; and when he would comfort his disciples, he said, It is I, be not afraid. When Christ manifests himself to his people, he encourages them to draw near to him with a true heart. Joseph does so, and shows them, that whatever they thought to do against him, God had brought good out of it. Sinners must grieve and be angry with themselves for their sins, though God brings good out of it, for that is no thanks to them. The agreement between all this, and the case of a sinner, on Christ's manifesting himself to his soul, is very striking. He does not, on this account, think sin a less, but a greater evil; and yet he is so armed against despair, as even to rejoice in what God hath wrought, while he trembles in thinking of the dangers and destruction from which he has escaped. Joseph promises to take care of his father and all the family. It is the duty of children, if the necessity of their parents at any time require it, to support and supply them to the utmost of their ability; this is showing piety at home, 1Ti 5:4. After Joseph had embraced Benjamin, he caressed them all, and then his brethren talked with him freely of all the affairs of their father's house. After the tokens of true reconciliation with the Lord Jesus, sweet communion with him follows.
vv16-24
Pharaoh was kind to Joseph, and to his relations for his sake. Egypt would make up the losses of their removal. Thus those for whom Christ intends his heavenly glory, ought not to regard the things of this world. The best of its enjoyments are but lumber; we cannot make sure of them while here, much less can we carry them away with us. Let us not set our eyes or hearts upon the world; there are better things for us in that blessed land, whither Christ, our Joseph, is gone to prepare a place. Joseph dismissed his brethren with a seasonable caution, “See that ye fall not out by the way.” He knew they were too apt to be quarrelsome; and having forgiven them all, he lays this charge upon them, not to upbraid one another. This command our Lord Jesus has given to us, that we love one another, and that whatever happens, or has happened, we fall not out. For we are brethren, we have all one Father. We are all guilty, and instead of quarrelling with one another, have reason to fall out with ourselves. We are, or hope to be, forgiven of God, whom we have all offended, and, therefore, should be ready to forgive one another. We are “by the way,” a way through the land of Egypt, where we have many eyes upon us, that seek advantage against us; a way that leads to the heavenly Canaan, where we hope to be for ever in perfect peace.
vv25-28
To hear that Joseph is alive, is too good news to be true; Jacob faints, for he believes it not. We faint, because we do not believe. At length, Jacob is convinced of the truth. Jacob was old, and did not expect to live long. He says, Let my eyes be refreshed with this sight before they are closed, and then I need no more to make me happy in this world. Behold Jesus manifesting himself as a Brother and a Friend to those who once were his despisers, his enemies. He assures them of his love and the riches of his grace. He commands them to lay aside envy, anger, malice, and strife, and to live in peace with each other. He teaches them to give up the world for him and his fulness. He supplies all that is needful to bring them home to himself, that where he is they may be also. And though, when he at last sends for his people, they may for a time feel some doubts and fears, yet the thought of seeing his glory and of being with him, will enable them to say, It is enough, I am willing to die; and I go to see, and to be with the Beloved of my soul.
Key Words
יוֹסֵף: Joseph, the name of seven Israelites
יָכֹל: to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might)
לֹא: not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
אָפַק: to contain, i.e. (reflex.) abstain
כֹּל: properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
נָצַב: to station, in various applications (literally or figuratively)
עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
קָרָא: to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
יָצָא: to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.
אִישׁ: a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
Cross References
Genesis 45Explicit parallel of God's sovereign hand overruling human evil intent for the preservation of life.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Jacob's statement 'I will go and see him before I die' directly anticipates their meeting and his words.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Stephen's inspired historical summary of Joseph making himself known to his brothers on their second visit.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The Psalmist's commentary on Joseph being sent ahead by God into Egypt as a slave.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels Jacob's inability to believe the good news due to overwhelming shock, like the disciples at the resurrection.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Jacob's disbelief of his sons' report parallels the apostles initially treating the news of Jesus' resurrection as idle tales.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The historical act of his brothers selling Joseph, which he now recalls to confirm identity.
Supported by Matthew Poole
New Testament command of showing piety by supporting parents, exemplified by Joseph's provision.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Verbal and thematic parallel to the father falling on the neck and kissing the returning penitent.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Joseph's favoritism of Benjamin with five changes of raiment recalls the fivefold portion given at the feast.
Supported by JFB
Joseph's warning not to fall out reflects their potential to blame one another for their past guilt.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Christ's self-revelation to Paul ('I am Jesus') mirroring Joseph's shocking disclosure of his identity.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The fulfillment of Joseph's elevation as lord of Pharaoh's house and ruler over Egypt.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Scriptural song celebrating Joseph's appointment as lord of Pharaoh's house and substance.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Stephen's discourse recounting Joseph sending for his father Jacob and all his family.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Christ reassuring startled disciples by inviting physical and ocular confirmation, echoing Joseph's appeal.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The direct execution of Pharaoh's command to take wagons from Egypt for their families.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Identical idiom of one's 'spirit reviving' after receiving physical or visual proof of life.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Stephen's summary of the patriarchs' envy in selling Joseph, who was yet delivered by God.
Supported by John Calvin
Paul's parallel theological framing of temporary departure being overruled for eternal preservation.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Linguistic definition of 'earing' as ploughing or tilling the ground.
Supported by JFB
Jacob's satisfaction to die after seeing Joseph parallels Simeon's Nunc Dimittis upon seeing the Savior.
Supported by Matthew Henry