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Gen_46:32 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.
Ver. 32. The men are shepherds.] The truly virtuous or valorous are no whit ashamed of their lowly parentage, but rather glory in themselves, that their merit hath advanced them above so many thousands far better descended. Dr Cox, almoner, and Sir John Cheek, tutor, to King Edward VI, were men of lowly birth, but so well esteemed, saith the historian, {a} for virtue and learning, that they might well be said to be born of themselves. So were Iphicrates, that brave Athenian, the son of a cobbler; Eumenes, one of Alexander’s best captains, the son of a carter; Agathocles king of Sicily, of a potter, &c. And these would many times freely discourse of their beginning, and plainly relate their bringing up, and what their parents were.
And they have brought their flocks.] As choosing rather a poor shepherd’s life in God’s service, than to ruffle it as courtiers, out of the Church. So did Moses afterwards; and David; {Psa_84:10} and the poor prophet that died so deep in debt; and Micaiah; and those that "wandered about in sheep skins and goat skins," {Heb_11:37} who haply might have rustled in silks and velvets, if they would have strained their consciences. Origen was contented to be a poor catechist at Alexandria, every day in fear of death, when he might have been with his fellow pupil Plotinus, in great authority and favour, if not a Christian. Luther was offered a cardinalship, to have held his tongue; Galeacius Caracciohs, a great sum of gold, to have returned to his marquesdom in Italy, &c. God takes it kindly when men will go "after him in the wilderness, in a land not sown"; {Jer_2:2} that is, choose him and his ways in affliction, and with self-denial.
{a} Sir John Heywood in his Edward VI