Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Genesis
Book: Genesis
Chapter: 45
Overview:
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)
1-15 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.
16-24 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.
25-28 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.