Chapter 45

1 Joseph maketh himself known to his brethren. 5 He comforteth them in God’s providence. 9 He sendeth for his father. 16 Pharaoh confirmeth it. 21 Joseph furnisheth them for their journey, and exhorteth them to concord. 25 Jacob is revived with the news.

1. Then Joseph could not refrain. Judah’s appeal did not fail to impress Joseph. His speech had shown the most tender affection for their aged father, the most devoted brotherly love and faithfulness to the only remaining son of Rachel, and had given ample evidence of the change of heart that had taken place in all of them. Recognizing this, Joseph could not restrain himself longer. Wishing to be alone with his brothers while he revealed his identity to them, and feeling that he could not keep back his tears, he ordered all his attendants to leave the room.

2. He wept aloud. This, Joseph’s entourage heard and reported to Pharaoh. It is not necessary to suppose that Joseph’s residence was so close to the palace that his voice was heard by the king’s household itself.

3. I am Joseph. The effect of this announcement is easier to imagine than to describe. Hitherto Joseph had been known to his brothers as Zaphnath-paaneah, a man who spoke to them through an interpreter (ch. 42:23). Now this august lord of Egypt suddenly spoke to them in their own language. The voice and the likeness of their long-lost brother rushed upon their minds at the sound of the familiar name and filled them with amazement and apprehension.

Doth my father yet live? Perhaps Joseph was impelled to ask this question so abruptly upon seeing alarm in their faces. Now he no longer refers to Jacob as the “old man of whom ye spake” (ch. 43:27), but as his own beloved and revered father. That he was still living, Joseph had not only been informed previously (ch. 43:27, 28), but had just been told again (ch. 44:34). His heart yearned to hear more of his father.

They were troubled. This new turn in events was too much; the men were speechless. They were terrified, not only because of Joseph’s greatness, but by the recollection of their former crime against him. So far, they had been conscious only of divine retribution for that act, and had not feared human punishment, inasmuch as their crime was not known to anyone outside of their own small circle. Now, however, they stood in the presence of the one whom they had so deeply wronged. Little wonder that they cringed in alarm before him, thinking that now the hour of recompense for the deeds of Dothan had arrived.

5. Be not grieved. Instinctively they shrank from Joseph’s presence, at the alarming truth that the mighty lord of Egypt was their brother. He assured them in the kindest of words that he had no intention of taking revenge on them. He could not avoid allusion to their former wickedness, but this was done in a spirit of charity and forgiveness.

God did send me. Joseph’s great-mindedness is clearly reflected here. God’s hand was evident in the strange experience that had made him, a favorite son, first a slave, then a prisoner, and finally ruler of Egypt. He might have justly rebuked his brothers, but instead he manifested sympathy and consideration toward them.

6. Neither be earing nor harvest. “Earing” does not refer to the collection of ears of corn, which would make the word a synonym for harvest. It means, literally, “plowing,” from the Anglo-Saxon erian, probably borrowed from the Latin aro, “to plow.” This is also the meaning of the Hebrew word so translated. In other countries the failure to plant and to harvest would be due to a lack of rain; in Egypt, to a marked deficiency in the rise of the Nile (see on ch. 41:34). That Joseph spoke of there being neither sowing nor reaping in a general, rather than in an absolute, sense is evident from ch. 47:19, which states that the Egyptians came to Joseph to buy seed. It is probable that even during this famine they sowed some of the ground, particularly near the banks of the river, from which a crop, though small, might be reaped.

7. To preserve. Joseph repeated his former assertion, that it was God who had sent him to Egypt for a definite purpose. He spoke prophetically here, to the effect that God had brought him to Egypt in order to preserve through him the family destined to become God’s chosen people, by delivering them from starvation.

8. A father to Pharaoh. Joseph spoke to them concerning his authority, giving God the honor for his appointment to the high position he held. He used three expressions to describe his office, of which the first was “father to Pharaoh.” Some commentators have seen in it a specific Egyptian title, one clearly attested for high dignitaries of the Eighteenth Dynasty. But this interpretation is questionable, inasmuch as the title was borne by men who fulfilled priestly duties, and there is not the slightest evidence that Joseph performed any such duties. It is probably better to explain the word as a Hebrew expression, since Joseph spoke to his brothers as a Hebrew to Hebrews, and not as an Egyptian. He may have meant that he was a trusted counselor of the king and a sustainer of the dynasty (see Isa. 22:21; Job 29:16).

Lord of all his house. The second term had already been used by the king himself, at the time of Joseph’s appointment (Gen. 41:40). It indicates that Joseph stood at the head of the royal household.

Ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. The third designation, also bestowed upon Joseph by Pharaoh, was certainly not new to Joseph’s brothers, who had heard of and experienced his authority. They already knew that his power was not limited to the distribution of food or to dealings with foreigners, but that he was actually viceroy of Egypt (see ch. 42:30).

10. The land of Goshen. Although the name Goshen has not yet been found outside of the Bible, it is generally agreed that the area around the Wadi Tumilat, in the eastern part of the Nile Delta, is meant. It is a valley some 40 mi. in length, whose river, usually dry except in the rainy season, connects the Nile with Lake Timsah. This area has been one of the richest sections of Egypt, in both ancient and modern times.

Near unto me. Avaris, the capital of the Hyksos, was only 20 to 30 mi. from this area, much closer than any other capital in all of Egypt’s history. This is one of the many arguments supporting the view that Joseph was ruler over Egypt in the time of the Hyksos.

12. Your eyes see. Although Joseph had now spoken for several minutes, his brothers were so overwhelmed that to convince them of the reality of the whole affair, Joseph was obliged to point out that they could see for themselves that what he said was true. Only when Joseph embraced his brothers and kissed them was the spell broken. Now they regained control over their emotions and were able to converse with him. When he had revealed himself in the role of a loving brother and not of an offended judge, and by his kisses and tears had given them assurance of complete forgiveness, a truth that words could not have expressed so well, only then did they dare to speak.

16. It pleased Pharaoh. The report of the arrival of Joseph’s brothers soon reached the ear of the king and made so favorable an impression on him and on the other courtiers, that the king was happy to confirm Joseph’s invitation to his brothers to come with their father and their families to Egypt. Though Joseph had the authority to invite his family, he apparently felt it right and proper to seek and receive Pharaoh’s personal approval, lest his conduct in office be open to question. No one could say that Joseph had in any way taken personal advantage of the power and authority entrusted to him. It is evident also that Joseph’s administrative ability, demonstrated now for nine years, had so pleased the king and the other statesmen of Egypt that they were delighted to have Joseph’s relatives make their home in Egypt. To Pharaoh it was an opportunity to show his gratitude.

19. Take you wagons. Since the Hyksos had introduced the first horses and the first chariots into Egypt, neither of which had previously been known in the Nile valley, light two-wheeled vehicles were in use by the Egyptians, especially in warfare, but also for transportation outside of Egypt. In Egypt itself all transportation of people and goods was carried on by boats on the Nile, and carriages were of little use.

20. Regard not your stuff. Joseph had asked his brothers to come to Egypt with all their possessions. Pharaoh, in contrast, manifested his good will by inviting them to leave all their household furniture behind and accept the bounties of Egypt in token of his gratitude for what Joseph, one of them, had done for the country of his adoption.

22. Changes of raiment. Joseph not only sent carriages, according to Pharaoh’s directions, and food for the journey, but also gave presents to his brothers. The phrase “changes of raiment” probably means “festal garments,” as in the RSV, that is, clothing to be worn on special occasions. Thus upon arrival in Egypt they would not be unduly conspicuous. Inasmuch as Benjamin is specifically mentioned as receiving five such “changes,” it is probable that the others received less than five each, though certainly more than one. The 300 shekels of silver, given to Benjamin, as Joseph’s favorite brother, would weigh approximately 71/2 lbs. (3.42 kg.).

24. Fall not out. Literally, “be not moved,” or “be not disturbed,” that is, with violent emotion, particularly anger. This is generally understood as an admonition against quarreling, particularly over their relative responsibility for the course events had taken. This advice gives evidence of Joseph’s deep insight into human nature. He had already overheard Reuben denounce his brothers severely (ch. 42:22). He might well suppose that Reuben and others would repeat these things, even more vehemently, when alone. Reuben might have argued how different the result would have been had they taken his advice. After that each would have added his own comments, and a serious quarrel might have been the result. The unexpected prosperity into which they had fallen might also serve to arouse old feelings of enmity, particularly with respect to Benjamin. All this was now restrained by Joseph’s sober and timely advice.

26. He believed them not. When they reached their home at Hebron, bringing word that Joseph was not only alive but ruler of all Egypt, the shock was so great that Jacob’s heart nearly stopped. When his sons had come to Hebron with the tidings of Joseph’s supposed death, Jacob had readily believed their lies. Now that they came telling the truth, Jacob would not believe them at all. Only the costly gifts and the Egyptian carriages finally convinced him of the truth of their story.

28. Israel said. The change of name here is significant. In spirit, Jacob rose once more to the stature of a “prince” of God. The realization that his long-lost son was still living and the anticipation of the imminent reunion with him invigorated the aged patriarch. His vitality revived, as is apparent from the immediate decision to go down to Egypt. The sight of Joseph would be rich compensation for all the long years of sorrow and anguish, and would crown his life with joy.

Ellen G. White comments

1-28PP 230-232

5-8SR 103