Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition)
Presentation at Court, GENESIS XLVIII, XLIX. Joseph's Visit to his Sick Father, previous Instructions—:nanlfesting, however, In their de-
CHAPTER XLVIII. termination to return to Canaan, a faith and piety which affords a hopeful symptom of their having become all, or most of them, religious men. 7. Joseph brought iu Jacob bis father—There Is a pathetic and most affecting interest attending this interview with royalty ; and wlien, with all the simplicity and dignified solemnity of a man of God, Jacob signalized his entrance by imploring tlie Divine blessing on the royal head, it may easily be imagined wliat a striking Impression the scene would produce (cf. Hebrews 7. 7). 8. Pharaoh said, unto Jacob, How old art thout—The question was put from t!ie deep and impressive interest which the appearance of tiie old patriarch liad created in the minds of Pliaraoli and liis court. In the low-lying land of Egypt, anil from the ar-
Ver. 1-22. Joseph's Visit TO His Sick Father. 1. one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick—Joseph was h.istily sent for, and on this occasion he took with him his two sons. 3. Israel strengthened liimself, and sat upon tlie bed—In tlie chamber where a good man lies, edifying and spiritual discourse may be expected. 3, 4. God Almiglity appeared unto me at Luz—The object of Jacob, in thus reverting to the memorable vision at Bethel—one of the great landmarks In his history—was to point out the splendid promises in reserve for his posterity—to engiige Joseph's interest and preserve his continued connection with the people of God, rather than with the Egyptians. Behold, I will make thee ftltfiil—This is a repetition of the covenant (ch. 28. 13-15; 35. 12). Whether these words are to be viewed in a limited sense, as pointing to the many centuries during which the Jews were occupiers of the Holy Land, or whether the words bear a wider meaning, and Intimate that the scattered tribes of Israel are to be reinstated In the land of promise, as their "everlasting possession," are points that have not yet been satisfactorily determined. 5. thy two sous, Kphraiin and Manasseh—It was the intention of the aged patriarch to adopt Joseph's sons as his own, thus giving him a double portion. The reasons of this procedure are stated (1 Chronicles 5. 1, 2). are mine—though their connections might have attached them to Egypt, and opened to them brilliant prospects in the land of their nativity, they willingly accepted the adoption (He brews 11. 2,')). 9. Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and tificial habits of its society, the age of man was far sliorter amongst the inhabitants of that country, tlian it had yet beconie in the pure bracing climate anii among the simple mountaineers of Canaan. The Hebrews, at least, still attained a protracted longevity. 9. The days of the years of my pilgrimage, <tc. — Though 13() years, he reckons by days (cf. Psalm 90. 12), which he calls few, as they appeared in the retrospect, and evil, because his life had been one almost unbroken series of trouble. The answer is remarkable, considering the comparative <Iarkness of the patriarchal age (cf. 2 Timothy 1. 10). 11. Joseph placed his father and his brethren ... in the best of the land—best pasture land in lower Egypt. Goslien, "the land of verdure," lay along the Telusuic or eastern branch of the Nile. It ! jcluded a part of llie district of Heliopolis, or " On," the capital, and on the esust stretched out a considerable length into tlie desert. The ground included within these boundaries was a rich an<l fertile extent of natural meadow, and admirably adapted for the purposes of the Hebrew shepherds (cf. ch. 4!l. 21; Psalm
I will bless them—The apostle (Hebrews 11. 21) selected the blessing of Joseph's son as the chief, because the most compreliensive, instance of the patriarch's faith which Ills whole history furnishes. 13. Joseph took them both —The very act of pronouncing the blessing was remark-
34. 10; 78. 72). 13-15. there was no bread in all tite land —This probably refers to the second year of tlie famine able, showing that Jacob's bosom was animated by the sill rit of prophecy. 31. Israel said unto Joseph, Behold (ch. 45. ()), when any little stores of individuals or families were exhausted, and when the people had become universally dependent on the government. At first they ol)- tiiined supplies for payment. Ere long money failed. 16. And .Joseph said, Give your cattle—" This Wiis the wisest course tliat could be adopted for the preservation both of tlie people and the cattle, whicli, being bought by Joseph, Was supported at the royal e-xpense, and very likely returned to the people at the end of the famine, to enab Uthem to resume their agricultural labours." 31. as for tile people, lie removed them to tite cities—obviously for the convenience of the country people, who were doing nothing, to the cities where the corn stores were situated. 33. Only the land of the priests, bouglkt he not—These lands were inalienable, being endowments by which the temples were supported. Tlie priests for themselves received an annual allowance of provision from the state, and it would evidently have been the helgtit of cruelty to withhold that allowance when their lands were Incapable of being tilled. 3.3-38. .Tosrplk said. Behold, Ac-The land being sold to tlie government (r.
1 die—The patriarch could speak of death with composure, but he wislied to prepare Joseph and the rest of tlie family for the shock, but God shall be with you— Jacob, ill all probability, was not authorized to speak of their bondage—he dwelt only on the certainty of their rostor.ation to Canaan. 33. moreover, I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren—this was near Shechem (ch. ,U18; John 4.5; also Joshua 16.1; 20.7). And it Is probable that the Amorltes, having seized upon it during one of his frequent absences, the patriarch, with the united forces of his tribe, recovered It from them by his sword and his bow.
CHAPTER XLIX.
Ver. l-.'!3. Patuiarchal Blessing. 1. Jacob called «n«o his sons— It Is not to the .sayings of the dying saint, so much as of the inspired prophet, that att<>ntlon Is called
111 this chapter. Under the immediate Influence of the Holy Spirit he pronounced his prophetic benediction, and described the condition of their respective dtseeud-
19, 20), seed would be distributed for the first crop after the famine; and the people occupy them as tciiants-at-wUI on the pay.nentof a produce rent, almost the same rule as obtains In Egypt In the present day. 3!»-,31. tlie time drew nigli titat Israel must die—One only of liij; dying arrangements Is recorded; but that one reveals his whole character. It was the disposal of his remains, which were to be carried to Canaan, not from a mere romantic attachment to his native soil, nor, like his modern descend.-ints, from a superstitious feeling for the soil of the Holy Lund, but from faith In H>e promises. His address to Joseph— " If I Ii.'ive found grace In thy sight," t. e., as the vizier of Egypt— his exacting a solemn oath that his wishes would be fu Hllled, and the peculiar form of that oath, all pointed slgnlllcantly to the promise, and showed the Intensity of his desire to enjoy Its blessings (cf. Numbers 10.2!)). Israel bowe<I himself upon the bed's head—Oriental beds are mere mats, having no head, and the tran Rlat loii should be " the top of his staff," a.s the apostle renders It (Hebrews 11.21). aiits in tlie last days, or future times.
3, 4. IvEUBKN forfeited by his crime the rights and honours of primogeniture. Ills posterity never made any figure-no judge, prophet, nor ruler, sprang from this tribe.
5-7. Simeon and Levi were as Boclate In wickedness, and the same prediction would be equally applicable to both their tribes. Levi ha<l cities allotted to tliem(Josliun
21.) In every tribe. On account of their zeal against Idolatry, they were honourably "divided in Jacob;" whereas the tribe of Simeon, which was guilty of the grossest idolatry, and the vices Inseparable fl-om It were Iguomlnlously " Kcatt*red."
H-ia. JuDAH.—A high pre-eminence Is destined to this tribe (Numbers 10. 14; Judges 1. 2). Besides the honour of giving name to the Promised Land—David, and a greater tliaii David—the Messiah sprang from it. Chief amongst the trilxw, " it grew up fi"om a lion's whelp," i. f., a little power, till It b<!came " an old lion "— i. e., calm and iiulei.. bird's-eye view of EGYPT.