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1 Then Ioseph could not refraine himselfe before all them that stood by him: and he cried, Cause euery man to goe out from me; and there stood no man with him, while Ioseph made himselfe knowen vnto his brethren.
2 And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians, and the house of Pharaoh heard.
3 And Ioseph said vnto his brethren, I am Ioseph; Doeth my father yet liue? and his brethren could not answere him: for they were troubled at his presence.
4 And Ioseph said vnto his brethren, Come neere to me, I pray you: and they came neere; and he said, I am Ioseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
5 Now therefore bee not grieued, nor angry with your selues, that yee sold me hither: for God did send me before you, to preserue life.
6 For these two yeeres hath the famine bene in the land: and yet there are fiue yeeres, in the which there shall neither be earing nor haruest.
7 And God sent me before you, to preserue you a posteritie in the earth, and to saue your liues by a great deliuerance.
8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
9 Haste you, and goe vp to my father, and say vnto him, Thus saith thy sonne Ioseph; God hath made me lord of all Egypt; come downe vnto me, tary not.
10 And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be neere vnto me, thou, and thy children, and thy childrens children, and thy flockes, and thy heards, and all that thou hast.
11 And there wil I nourish thee, (for yet there are fiue yeeres of famine) lest thou and thy houshold, and all that thou hast, come to pouertie.
12 And behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Beniamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh vnto you.
13 And you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you haue seene, and ye shall haste, and bring downe my father hither.
14 And he fel vpon his brother Beniamins necke, and wept: and Beniamin wept vpon his necke.
15 Moreouer hee kissed all his brethren, and wept vpon them: and after that, his brethren talked with him.
16 ¶ And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaohs house, saying, Iosephs brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his seruants.
17 And Pharaoh said vnto Ioseph, Say vnto thy brethren, This doe yee, lade your beasts and goe, get you vnto the land of Canaan.
18 And take your father, and your housholds, and come vnto mee: and I wil giue you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land.
19 Now thou art commanded, this doe yee; Take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wiues, and bring your father, and come.
20 Also regard not your stuffe: for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.
21 And the children of Israel did so: and Ioseph gaue them wagons, according to the commandement of Pharaoh, and gaue them prouision for the way.
22 To all of them he gaue each man changes of raiment: but to Beniamin hee gaue three hundred pieces of siluer, and fiue changes of raiment.
23 And to his father hee sent after this maner: ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten shee asses laden with corne, and bread and meat for his father by the way.
24 So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and hee said vnto them, See that yee fall not out by the way.
25 ¶ And they went vp out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan vnto Iacob their father,
26 And told him, saying, Ioseph is yet aliue, and he is gouernour ouer all the land of Egypt. And Iacobs heart fainted, for he beleeued them not.
27 And they told him all the words of Ioseph, which hee had saide vnto them: and when hee saw the wagons which Ioseph had sent to carie him, the spirit of Iacob their father reuiued.
28 And Israel said, It is enough; Ioseph my sonne is yet aliue: I will goe and see him before I die.
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Commentary for Genesis 45
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Joseph Reveals Himself to His Brothers
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.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.