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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Genesis 45:16 - 45:28
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Jacob invited to Egypt
v. 16. And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying, Joseph's brethren are come. The news reached the royal palace very soon. And it pleased Pharaoh well and his servants, which shows the high regard that Joseph enjoyed; for all nomadic tribes, including the Hebrews, were despised by the Egyptians. The latter fact was forgotten in the universal joy.
v. 17. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts and go; get you unto the land of Canaan;
v. 18. and 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. The best, the richest products of the country should be at their disposal, just as if they were truly the relatives of royalty.
v. 19. Now thou art commanded, this do ye, the language of authoritative courtesy: take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. They were to be provided with all the conveniences of travel, especially with the two-wheeled wagons of Egypt, which could very well be used even in the trackless desert.
v. 20. Also regard not your stuff, they should not mind the loss of some articles of furniture which could not well be transported for such a long distance; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.
v. 21. And the children of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way; he took care of all their needs for the journey.
v. 22. To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; every one of the brothers was fitted out with a new suit of clothes; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of raiment, holiday clothing, as a change for the usual dress.
v. 23. And to his father he sent after this manner: ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, presents to indicate what Jacob might expect in the land whose king had invited him, and ten she-asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way. The grain, the bread, and the other food was to serve as provisions for Jacob and his household on their way to Egypt.
v. 24. So he sent his brethren away, and they departed; and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way. They should not be tempted to hark back to the old crime, as to who had really instigated the wrong, and thus sin again. It is a warning which has its value even today, in similar circumstances.
v. 25. And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob, their father,
v. 26. and told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. Their extreme joy makes them almost too abrupt in the announcement of their news. And Jacob's heart fainted, it stopped in chill and amazement, for he believed them not. The news was too wonderful to be true, after all these years of mourning.
v. 27. And 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, concrete evidence of Joseph's love and of the truth of the account concerning him, the spirit of Jacob, their father, revived; he was filled with new life and vigor.
v. 28. And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph, my son, is yet alive; I will go and see him before I die. He no longer doubted; he was convinced; and he had only one great desire, namely, to see his son as soon as possible. The Lord may cause His children to bear many heavy crosses for many years, but eventually He always brings joy and happiness into their hearts.