Commentary on Genesis John Calvin
JOHN CALVIN
22. And to all of them he gave each man changes of raiment. That he furnishes his brethren with supplies for their journey is not wonderful: but to what purpose was it that he loaded them with money and garments, seeing they would so soon return? I, indeed, do not doubt that he did it on account of his father and the wives of his brethren, in order that they might have less reluctance to leave the land of Canaan. For he knew that his message would scarcely be believed, unless some manifest tokens of its truth were presented. It might also be, that he not only endeavored to allure those who were absent, but that he also wished to testify, more and more, his love towards his brethren. But the former consideration has more weight with me, because he took greater care in furnishing Benjamin than the rest. Jerome has translated the expression, "changes of raiment," by "two robes," and other interpreters, following him, expound it as meaning "different kinds of garments." I know not whether this be solid. I rather suppose they were elegant garments, such as were used at nuptials and on festal days; for I think that constant custom was silently opposed to this variety of dress.
24. See that ye fall not out by the way. Some explain the passage as meaning, that Joseph asks his brethren to be of tranquil mind, and not to disturb themselves with needless fear; he rather exhorts them, however, to mutual peace. For, since the word( רגזragaz) sometimes signifies to tremble or be afraid, and sometimes, to make a tumult, the latter sense is the more appropriate: for we know that the children of God are not only easily appeased, if any one has injured them, but that they also desire others should live together in concord. Joseph was pacified towards his brethren; but at the same time he admonishes them not to stir up any strife among themselves. For there was reason to fear lest each, in attempting to excuse himself, should try to lay the blame on others, and thus contention would arise. We ought to imitate this kindness of Joseph; that we may prevent, as much as possible, quarrels and strifes of words; for Christ requires of his disciples, not only that they should be lovers of peace, but also that they should be peace-makers. Wherefore, it is our duty to remove, in time, all matter and occasion of strife. Besides, we must know, that what Joseph taught his brethren, is the command of the Spirit of God to us all; namely, that we should not be angry with each other. And because it generally happens that, in faults common to different parties, one maliciously accuses another; let each of us learn to acknowledge and confess his own fault, lest altercations should end in combats.
26. And Jacob's heart fainted. We know that some persons have fainted with sudden and unexpected joy. Therefore, certain interpreters suppose that the heart of Jacob was, in a sense, suffocated, as if seized by a kind of ecstatic stupor. But Moses assigns a different cause; namely, that not having confidence in his sons, he was agitated between hope and fear. And
COMMENTARY ON GENESIS
we know, that they who are held in suspense, by hearing some incredible message, are struck with torpor, as if they were lifeless. It was not, therefore, a simple affection of joy, but a certain mingled perturbation which shook the mind of Jacob. Therefore, Moses shortly after says, that his spirit revived; when he, having returned to himself, and being composed in mind, believed that which he had heard to be true. And he shows that his love towards Joseph had not languished through length of time, inasmuch as he set no value upon his own life, except so far as it would permit him to enjoy a sight of Joseph. He had before assigned to himself continual sorrow, even to the grave; but now he declares that he shall have a joyful death.
Notes
Chapter 46
CHAPTER 46
Genesis 46:1-34
Genesis 46:1-34
1 And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.
1. Itaque profects est Israel, et quaecunque habebat, et venit in Beersebah, et sacrificavit sacrificia Deo patris sui Ishac.
2 And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.
2. Et dixit Deus ad Israel in visi onibus noctis, dixit inquam, Jahacob Jahacob. Ille respondit, Ecce, adsum.
3 And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:
3. Et dixit, Ego sum Deus, Deus patris tui: ne timeas descendere in Aegyptum: quia in gentem magnam ponam to ibi.
COMMENTARY ON GENESIS
4 I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.
4. Ego descendam tecum in Aegyptum, et ego ascendere etiam to faciam ascendendo: Joseph quoque ponet manum suam super oculos tuos.
5 And Jacob rose up from Beersheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.
5. Postea surrexit Jahacob de Beersebah, et sustulerunt filii Israel Jahacob patrem suum, et parvulos suos, et uxores super currus, quos miserat Pharao ad ferendum eum.
6 And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him:
6. Et ceperunt pecudes suas, et substantiam quam acquisierant in terra Chenaan: veneruntque in Aegyptum Jahacob, et omne semen ejus cum ipso: 7 His sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.
7. Eilii ejus, et filii filiorum ejus cum eo, filiae ejus, et filiae filiorum ejus: et omne semen suum deduxit secum in Aegyptum.
8 And these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob's firstborn.
8. Haec sunt autem nomina filiorum Israel, qui ingressi sunt in Aegyptum, Jahacob et filii ejus: primogentus Jahacob, Reuben.
9 And the sons of Reuben; Hanoch, and Phallu, and Hezron, and Carmi.
9. Et filii Reuben, Hanoeh, et Phallu, et Hesron, et Charmi.
10 And the sons of Simeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman.
10. Filii vero Simhon, Jemuel, et Jamin, et Ohad, et Jachin, et Sohar, et Saul filius Chenaanitidis.
JOHN CALVIN
11 And the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
11. Filii Levi, Gerson, Cehath, et Merari.
12 And the sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Pharez, and Zerah: but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul.
12. Filii Jehudah, Her, et Onam, et Selah, et Peres, et Zerah: et mortuus est Her et Onam in terra Chenaan. Fuerunt autem filii Peres, Hesron, et Hamul.
13 And the sons of Issachar; Tola, and Phuvah, and Job, and Shimron.
13. Et filii Issachar, Tholah, et Puvah, et Job, et Simron.
14 And the sons of Zebulun; Sered, and Elon, and Jahleel.
14. Filii vero Zebulon, Sered, et Elon, et Jahleel.
15 These be the sons of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob in Padanaram, with his daughter Dinah: all the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty and three.
15. Isti sunt filii Leah, quos peperit ipsi Jahacob in Padan Aram, et Dinah filiam ejus: emnes animae filiorum ejus, et filiarum ejus fuerunt triginta et tres.
16 And the sons of Gad; Ziphion, and Haggi, Shuni, and Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi, and Areli.
16. Filii autem Gad, Siphion et Hagghi, Suni et Esbon, Heri et Arodi, et Areli.
17 And the sons of Asher; Jimnah, and Ishuah, and Isui, and Beriah, and Serah their sister: and the sons of Beriah; Heber, and Malchiel.
17. Et filii Aser, Imnah, et Isvah, et Isvi, et Berbihah, et Serah soror eorum. Filii vero Berihah, Heber et Malchiel.
18 These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter, and these she bare unto Jacob, even sixteen souls.
18. Isti sunt filii Zilpah, quam dedit Laban Leah filiae suae, et peperit istos ipsi Jahacob, sedecim animas.
COMMENTARY ON GENESIS
19 The sons of Rachel Jacob's wife; Joseph, and Benjamin.
19. Filii Rachel uxoris Jahacob, Joseph et Benjamin.
20 And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him.
20. Nati sunt autem ipsi Joseph in terra Aegypti, quos peperit ei Asenath filia Poti — pherah principis On, Menasseh et Ephriam.
21 And the sons of Benjamin were Belah, and Becher, and Ashbel, Gera, and Naaman, Ehi, and Rosh, Muppim, and Huppim, and Ard.
21. Filii vero Benjamin, fuerunt Belah, et Becher, et Asbel, Gera et Naaman, Ehi et Ros, Muppim, et Huppim, et Arde.
22 These are the sons of Rachel, which were born to Jacob: all the souls were fourteen.
22. Isti sunt filii rachel qui nati sunt ipsi Jahacob: omnes animae, quatuordecim.
23 And the sons of Dan; Hushim. 23. Et filii Dan, Hussim.
24 And the sons of Naphtali; Jahzeel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shillem.
24. Filii Nepthali, Jahseel, et Guni, et Jeser, et Sillem.
25 These are the sons of Bilhah, which Laban gave unto Rachel his daughter, and she bare these unto Jacob: all the souls were seven.
25. Isti sunt filii Bilhah, quam dedit Laban Rachel filiae suae, et peperit istos ipsi Jahacob: omnes animae septem.
26 All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, besides Jacob's sons' wives, all the souls were threescore and six;
26. Omnes animae, quae venerunt cum Jahacob in Aegyptum, quae egressae sunt de femore ejus, praeter uxores filiorum Jahacob, omnes, inquam, animae fuerunt sexaginta et sex.
JOHN CALVIN
27 And the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, were two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten.
27. Et filii Joseph, qui nati sunt ei in Aegypto, animae duae. Omnes animae domus Jahacob, quae ingressae sunt in Aegyptum, fuerunt septuaginta.
28 And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face unto Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen.
28. Porro Jehudah misit ante se ad Joseph ad praeparandum locum ante se in Gosen, et venerunt in terram Gosen.
29 And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.
29, Et ligavit Joseph currum suum, et ascendit in occursum Israel patris sui in Gosen: et conspectus est ei, et jactavit se ad collum ejus, flevitque super collum ejus adhuc.
30 And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive.
30. Et dixit Israel ad Joseph, Moriar hac vice, postquam vidi faciem tuam: adhuc enim tu vivis.
31 And Joseph said unto his brethren, and unto his father's house, I will go up, and shew Pharaoh, and say unto him, My brethren, and my father's house, which were in the land of Canaan, are come unto me;
31. Et dixit Joseph fratribus suis, et domui patris svi, Ascendam, et nuntiabo Pharaoni: et dicam ei. Fratres mei, et domus patris mei, qui erant in terram Chenaan, venerunt ad me.
32 And the men are shepherds, for their trade hath been to feed cattle; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.
32. Atque viri pastores pecudum sunt, quia viri pecuarii sunt: et pecudes corum, et boves corum, et omnia quae erant eis, adduxerunt.