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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Genesis 50:15 - 50:21
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Joseph Reassures his Brothers
v. 15. And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. They thought that it had been only for the sake of his aged father that Joseph had refrained from taking revenge upon them for the wrong which they had done, that the enmity which he had concealed for so long a time would now cause him to pay them back in kind.
v. 16. And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, they commanded or instructed some one to bring him a message, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,
v. 17. So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren and their sin, for they did unto thee evil. So the sons' fear of Joseph's revenge had caused them to make a full confession to their father and to ask his advice in this difficult matter. Their repentance, their conversion, was now an accomplished fact: they had made a full and free confession. And now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. Thus the brothers received perfect assurance of the forgiveness of their sin, for it is by confessing and forsaking sins that mercy is obtained. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him, it grieved him to think that they believed him capable of such meanness, but he wept also tears of joy over this evidence of complete repentance.
v. 18. And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. They freely offered what they had formerly resented with indignation.
v. 19. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not; for am I in the place of God, to judge, to condemn, and to punish? God had brought matters to pass in this manner, and it was not for Joseph to change God's purposes.
v. 20. But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Their evil intentions the Lord had not only frustrated, but had turned them for the best, as they plainly saw before their eyes, their own lives being saved as a consequence of the Lord's providence.
v. 21. Now, therefore, fear ye not; I will nourish you and your little ones. His kind favor would be with them as heretofore. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them, thus giving an example of true forgiveness for all times; for this is the disposition which all Christians should foster most diligently.