2: And he took some of his brethren, even five men (#5=grace), and presented them to Pharaoh.
3: And Pharaoh said to his brethren, "What is your occupation?" And they said to Pharaoh, "your servants are shepherds, both we, and also our fathers."
4: They said moreover to Pharaoh, "For to sojourn in the land are we come; for your servants have no pasture for their flocks; for the famine is sore in the land of Canaan: now therefore, we pray you, let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen."
5: And Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, "Your father and your brethren are come to you:
6: The land of Egypt is before you; in the best of the land make your father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if you know any men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle."
7: And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.
8: And Pharaoh said to Jacob, "How old are you?" (=how many are the days? First question asked in the East even today)
9: And Jacob said to Pharaoh, "The days of the years of my sojornings are an hundred and thirty years (Joseph being 39, Reuben 46, Simeon 45, Levi 44, Judah 42. 215 years from Abraham's call from Chaldea): few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojournings."
10: And Jacob blessed Pharaoh ("The less is blessed of the better"-Heb.7:7-cp.v.2), and went out from before Pharaoh.
11: And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses (later name of Goshen), as Pharaoh had commanded.
12: And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father's household, with bread, according to their families.
P Q U 47:27. Jacob's dwelling in Egypt. V 47:28. Years of life (147); and dwelling (17). W 47:29-49:32. Charges. Q U 49:33-50:2. Jacob's death in Egypt. V 50:3-14. Days of mourning.
27: And Israel (used here, for the first time, of the Nation) dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly. (Fulfilling 46:3, and preparing for Ex.1:7)
28: And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years.
29: And the time drew near that Israel must die (here used of the man Jacob. See v.27; 43:8; 45:26,28): and he called his son Joseph, and said to him,
W X 47:29-31. Charge to Joseph, re: burial. Y 48:1-20. Blessing of Joseph and his sons. Z 48:21,22. Assurance of return. Y 49:1-28. Blessing of all his sons. X 49:29-32. Charge to all his sons, re: burial.
"If now I have found grace in your sight, put, I pray you, your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray you, in Egypt:
30: But I will lie with my fathers, and you shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their buryingplace." And he said, "I will do as you have said."
31: And he said, "Swear to me." And he swore to him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head. (Much confussion caused by supposing Heb.11:21 refers to this. Mistake made by Ancient versions and modern cmmentators. Heb.11:21 refers to his blessing of Joseph's sons. This refers to the charge concerning his burial. It may or may not be bed, or staff.)
Y q 1,2. Joseph's sons brought. r 3,4. Blessing of Jacob. s 5-7. United preference. q 8-12. Joseph's sons presented. r 13-16. Blessing by Jacob. s 17-20. Inverted preference.
3: And Jacob said to Joseph, "GOD ALMIGHTY (El Shaddai) appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, (Cp. 28:13,19; 35:6)
4: And He said to me, 'Behold, I will make you fruitful, and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people; and will give this land to your seed after you for an everlasting possession.'
5: And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you into Egypt, are mine (the united prference of Joseph's two sons); as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.
6: And your issue, which you beget after them, shall be yours, and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance.
7: And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way (cp. 35:19), when yet there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem."
8: And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, "Who are these?"
9: And Joseph said to his father, "They are my sons, whom God (Elohim) has given me in this place." And he said, "Bring them, I pray you, to me, and I will bless them."
10: Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near to him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.
11: And Israel said to Joseph, "I had not thought to see your face: and, lo, Elohim has showed me also your seed."
12: And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. (Jacob worshipped; and, as we know from the Divine addition in Heb.11:21, he leaned on his staff=sitting on the Egyptian bed-v.2)
13: And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near to him.
14: And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly (=knowingly, making his hands to understand); for Manasseh was the firstborn.
15: And he blessed Joseph, and said, "God (Elohim) Himself, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk habitually, the God (Elohim) Himself Which fed me all my life long to this day,
16: The Angel (note the 3 titles vv.15,16. The creature form of the second person as messenger of Yahaveh, Elohim as consecrated by oath. This form not aaumed for the occaion, but for permanent communion with his creatures-Gen.3:8; 15:1; 17:1; 18:1,2; 28:13; 32:24,30. Ex.23:20,21. Num.22:21. Josh.5:13-15. Prov.8:22-31. Mal.3:1. Col.1:15. Rev.3:14) Which redeemed me from all evil (by payment of charge. See Ex.6:6), bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow (swarm as fishes) into a multitude in the midst of the earth."
17: And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him (it was evil in his eyes): and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head.
18: And Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put your right hand upon his head." (This was Joseph's "will", which Jacob's faith overcame )
19: And his father refused (this was Jacob's faith overcomming "the will of man"-Heb.11:21, as Isaac's faith overcame "the will of the flesh"-Gen.27. Heb.11:20), and said, "I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he (Fulfilled. Cp. Num.1:32-35; 2:18-20. Deut.33:17), and his seed shall become a multitude (=an assembly) of nations."
20: And he blessed them that day, saying, "In you shall Israel bless, saying, 'Elohim make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh:' " and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.
21: And Israel said to Joseph, "Behold, I die: but God (Elohim) shall be with you, and bring you again to the land of your fathers.
22: Moreover I have given to you one portion (Heb. Shechem. Both Abraham and Jacob bought property at Shechem. 28:18,19; 33:18,19; an here supplemental history tells how Jacob recvered it out of the hand of the Amorites who must have seized it) above your brethren (i.e. the double portion of the firstborn, which Reuben forfieted. Cp. Deut.21:17. Cp.1 Chron.5:2. Ezek.47:13), which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow."
Y t 1,2. Collectively. u 3-27. Seperately. The order of the names. t 28. Collectively.
u v 3-15. Leah's 6 sons. Wife's offspring. w 16-18. Bilhah's son (Dan). x 19,20. Zilphah's 2 sons. w 21. Bilhah's son (Naphtali). v 22-27. Rachel's 2 sons. Wife's offspring.
3: Reuben (see v.28, cp. 46:8-25), you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:
4: Unstable as water, you shall not excel (Fig. Resemblence, and Omission. The word "unstable"=to flow down, and requires the Fig. to be filled thus: Flowing down as water passes away, so you shall not excell. What thus would pass away is set forth in v.3, and so it came to pass 1 Chron.5:1); because you went up to your father's bed; then you defiled it: he went up to my couch.
5: Simeon and Levi are brothers; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations.
6: Oh my soul (=myself), come not you into their secret (=council); to their assembly, my honour, be not you united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. (Sept. reads-"they hamstrung an ox". Cp.34:26)
7: Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide (Fulfilled, Josh.19:1, 1 Chron.4:39-43, Lev.25:32-34. Levi's turned to blessing later, Ex.32:26-29, Deut.10:8,9) them in Jacob (First occ. as used of the whole Nation), and scatter them in Israel. (See 34:7. Cp. 47:27)
8: Judah, you ar he whom your brethren shall praise: your hand shall be in the neck of your enemies; your father's children shall bow down before you. (=To Christ through Judah. Cp. 2 Sam.5:1-8 and Ps.72:11, Phil.2:10)
9: Judah is a lion's whelp (=strength): from the prey, my son, you are gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion (see Num.2:32), and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?
10: The sceptre (=ruler, see Num.24:17, Ps.45:6, Zech.10:11) shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver (First occ. Cp. Num.21:18, Deut.33:21, Ps.60:7; 108:8, Isa.33:22) from between his feet (=from his thighs, i.e. "his seed"), until He, Shiloh comes (=Peace, or rest = Christ, the mystery of Melchazedeck. Note the 6 Pentateuch titles: "Seed"-3:5, "Shiloh"-49:10, "Sceptre"-49:10=Ruler, "Shepherd" and "Stone"-49:24, "Star"-Num.24:17); and to Him shall the gathering (=obedience) of the people be.
11: Binding his foal (in the sense of raising) to the vine (so plentiful in Judah, that people were without care in such matters, wanting nothing), and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine (there was more than enough to lavish), and his clothes in the blood of grapes: (These are all idioms for plenty)
12: His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.
13: Zebulun shall dwell at the haven (port) of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be toward Zidon (=fishery).
14: Issachar (=hireling) is a strong ass (or saddle bearer of strangers) couching down between two burdens (foals): (He doesn't mind work)
15: And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant to tribute. (He prefered to pay tribute to Canaanites rather than engage in the struggle to expell them. He would rather pay than fight, i.e. try to buy friends. That my friends in not real friendship!)
16: Dan shall judge his people (cp. 30:6. Fulfilled in Judg.15:20), as one of the tribes (=Heb. sceptre, put for ruler) of Israel.
17: Dan shall be a serpent by the way (beguiling to idolatry. The first tribe to do so. See Judg.18:30. Hence omitted in Rev.7:4, cp. Deut.29:18-21, Lev.24:10-16, 1 Kings 12:30, 2 Kings 10:29), an adder in the path, that bites the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.
18: {I have waited for Your salvation (put for Him Who brings deliverance from all the works of the old serpent-Isa.25:8,9. Matt.24:13), O the Lord (Yahaveh).}
19: Gad, a troop shall overcome him (=shall troop [or press] upon him, but he shall press upon their heel): but he shall overcome at the last. (Our people always have the victory)
20 Out of Asher his bread (=food) shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties. (Very prosperous)
21: Naphtali is a hind let loose (emphasis on freedom): he is it that gives goodly words (=song of Debrah-Judg.5:18). (God will always provide a leader)
22: Joseph is a fruitful bough (cp. Deut.33:13-17), even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall (=branches it has each has overclimed a wall): (From nourishment from God)
23: The archers have sorely grieved him (cp. Amos 6:6), and shot at him, and hated him: (People that are blessed are hated)
24: But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty One of Jacob; {from that place is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel (cp. the "stone of Scone"-Jacob's pillar):}
25: Even by the GOD (El) of your father, Who shall help you; and by GOD ALMIGHTY (El Shaddai), Who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:
26: The blessings of your father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they (=Ephraim and Manasseh) shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was set apart (=consecrated) from his brothers.
27: Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf (cp. the Benjamites, Judg.3:15, 1Sam.11:6-11; 14:13-48, Acts 7:58; 8:1; 9:13,14,21; 22:4-8; 1 Tim.1:13 and cp. Rom.11:1): in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil."
28: All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spoke to them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them. (All positive)
33: And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost (To God, the spirit going to God Who gave it-Ecc.12:7, Num.16:22; 27:16), and was gathered to his people. (Refers to body, as the previous gathering refers to his feet. See v.29. He was 147.)
1: And Joseph fell upon his father's face (see 42:24), and wept upon him, and kissed him.
2: And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father (these were Egyptians and they were good at): and the physicians embalmed Israel.
3: And forty days were fulfilled for him; {for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed} (Israelites never enbalmed. Hence the need for this parenthetical explanation): and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days. (And why not? Joseph had saved every living Egyptian)
4: And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spoke to the house of Pharaoh (he could not speak before, for, in mourning, Egyptians never shaved, and Joseph, therefore, was not pesentable. See 41:14), saying, "If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, (Pharaoh loved him)
5: 'My father made me swear, saying, 'Lo, I die: in my grave which I have dug (hence, probably rock-hewn) for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt you bury me.' Now therefore let me go up, I pray you, and bury my father, and I will come again.' "
6: And Pharaoh (he was one of the shepherd kings) said, "Go up, and bury your father, according as he made you swear."
7: And (vv.7-10 emphasising each party) Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,
8: And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father's house: {only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen.}
9: And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company. (he did not spare anything)
10: And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad (=thorn), which is beyond Jordan (=the descender), and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days. (11 "and". #11=disorder, disorganization)
11: And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad (probably named after the owner, as 2 Sam.6:6 "Nachor's", 2 Sam.24:16 "Araunah's"), they said, "This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians:" wherefore the name of it was called Abelmizraim (=the mourning of the Egyptans), which is beyond Jordan.
12: And his sons did to him according as he commanded them:
13: For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried (see Acts 7:16) him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought (cp. 23:16) with the field for a possession of a buryingplace of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre. (God doesn't lose anyone, see Amos 9:9-15)
14: And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brothers, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.
B³ A 15-21. Brethren after Jacob's death. B 22,23. Joseph's living in Egypt, and age. C 24,25. Charges. B 26-. Joseph's death in Egypt, and age. A -26. Brethren after Joseph's death.
15: And when Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "Joseph will perhaps hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did to him." (they were on a guilt trip. They haven't learned yet about forgiveness)
16: And they sent a messenger to Joseph, saying, "Your father did command before he died, saying, (Did Jacob say this?)
17: 'So shall you all say to Joseph, 'Forgive, I pray you now, the trespass of your brethren, and their sin; for they did to you evil:' ' and now, we pray you, forgive the trespass of the servants of the Elohim of your father." And Joseph wept (because they didn't get the picture, see 42:24) when they spoke to him.
18: And his brethren also went and fell down before his face (cp. 37:7-10); and they said, "Behold, we be your servants." (be carefull, don't try to worship man)
19: And Joseph said to them, "Fear not: for I revere (love) God (Elohim). (Type of Christ)
20: But as for you, you all thought evil against me; but God (Elohim) meant it to good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. (see 45:5)
21: Now therefore fear you all not: I will nourish you, and your little ones." And he comforted them, and spoke kindly to them (=spoke to their hearts).
22: And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father's house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years. (#100=children of promise, #10=ordinal perfection)
23 And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third [generation]: the children also of Machir (=sold. Cp. Num.26:29; 32:29. Josh.17:1) the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees. (i.e. were adopted by him as soon as they were born. See 30:3)
C D 24-. Death approaching. E y -24. Assurance of return to Canaan. z 25-. Oath. E y -25-. Assurance of return to Canaan. D 26. Death experienced.
24: And Joseph said to his brothers, "I die: and God (Elohim) will surely visit you (Ex.3"16. Used for gret emphasis. See 26:28. This was the faith Joseph referred to in Heb.11:22. He had "heard". Rom.10:17 and believed what God had said to Abraham, Gen.12:7; 15:18; 13:14,15. Isaac-26:3,5. Jacob-28:13; 35:12; 48:1-4. All 3 names united and discriminated in Ex.2:24; 3:6; Ps.105:9,10. And cp. Ex.6:3,4. Deut.11:21. Luke 1:72,73 &c.), and bring you out of this land to the land which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob." (Promise of Abrahamic covenant still being fulfilled to this day.)
25: And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, "God (Elohim) will surely visit you, and you all shall carry up my bones from this place with you". (Which they did. See Ex.13:19. Josh.24:32. So Jacob had charged them, Gen.49:29,30, and so they had done, 50:7-13)
1635 B.C.
26: So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old:
and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. (Thus the Book of Genesis begins with God, and ends with man. It begins with the creation of the heavens above, and ends with "a coffin in Egypt".)