Genesis 45
Genesis Chapter 45 KJV
Verse 01. Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he
cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him,
while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.
Key Phrase: Then Joseph could not refrain himself; That he should not weep, as the Targum
of Jonathan adds. At least he could not much longer refrain from tears, such an
effect Judah's speech had on his passions.
Key Phrase: before all them that stood before him; These would have been his servants that
attended him and waited upon him. The steward of his house and other ranking
officials that worked for Joseph. On whose account he put such a demand upon
himself to keep in his passions from giving vent. That they might not discover the
inward emotions of his mind.
Note: He did not wish to pain his brethren by a public reference to their past wickedness. Also
so there would be no restraint upon himself or his brethren when he made known to
them that he was the brother whom they had so cruelly years ago condemned to be a
slave.
Key Phrase: and he cried; Or called out with a loud voice and with an air of authority.
Key Phrase: cause every man to go out from me; Out of the room which he and his brethren
were in. Perhaps this order was given to the steward of the house to depart
himself, and to remove every inferior officer and servant upon the spot. There
would have been other Egyptian people that might be come in to hear the trial of
these men and to see how they would be dealt with.
Key Phrase: and there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his
brethren; Not that Joseph was ashamed of them or informing them the relation
he was to them. But that they might not see the confusion his brethren would be
thrown into. Or have any knowledge of the sin they had been guilty of in selling
him which could not fail of being mentioned by him and confessed by them. And
besides, it was not suitable to his grandeur and dignity to be seen in such an
extreme passion he was now able to let them see.
Verse 02. And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.
Key Phrase: And he wept aloud; Or "gave forth his voice in weeping" or as he wept he cried
aloud; for having put such a violent restraint on himself, as the flood of tears was
the greater, so his voice was the stronger and louder for it. Some say it was the
release of frustration, anger, hurt or pain in his heart that he let go of that caused
him to weep out so loud. 1.
Note: To express grief, sorrow, or any overpowering emotion by shedding tears releases the
soul of the person to heal and find peace. Joseph had not had peace since he was 17
years old.
Key Phrase: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard; The Egyptians would have
been the servants outside the room or that were in the room or rooms adjoining
to where Joseph was, heard his cry and perhaps a great deal of what was said.
Which they soon reported to others and it quickly reached Pharaoh's court, which
might not be at any great distance from Josephs dwelling.
Note: Amazing how fast news travels even in the days without electronic devices.
Verse 03. And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his
brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.
Key Phrase: And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; As soon as he could compose
himself a little, and utter his words, the first thing he said was, that he was Joseph
and that was his right name, his Hebrew name. He was called by the Egyptians
Zaphnathpaaneah, and by which name Joseph's brethren only knew him.
Note: We must also consider the fact that he looked like an Egyptian. No beard of dark skin
from years in the sun. He would not look like the Joseph they remembered.
Key Phrase: doth my father yet live? This he knew before as they had told him he was alive.
This he puts the question to them not through ignorance, or as doubting but to
express his affliction for his father and his joy that he was alive.
Key Phrase: and his brethren could not answer him; They were so surprised and astonished.
They were like men thunderstruck or we say today in shock trying to wrap there
minds around this startling information. They were not able to utter a word.
Key Phrase: for they were troubled at his presence; The replay of the sin of selling him came
fresh into their minds, the guilt of it pressed their consciences. The circumstances
that they were there to see Joseph for filled them with fear that he would avenge
himself on them.
Verse 04. And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came
near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
Key Phrase: And Joseph said unto his brethren, come near to me, I pray you; Very probably
Joseph sat in a chair of state, while they were under examination. Through
reverence of him they kept at a proper distance. Jarchi remarks that they drew
back at his words. Joseph encourages them in a kind and tender manner to come
nearer to him. (continued)
2.
Key Phrase: and they came near, and he said, I am Joseph your brother; Not only his name
was Joseph, but he was that Joseph that was their brother. By this he claims and
owns the relation between them. Which must be very frightening to them, who
had used him and disposed of him so unkindly.
Key Phrase: whom ye sold into Egypt: (Here is the kicker in the verse.) Joseph added it not so
much to put them in mind of their sin, but to assure them that he was really their
brother Joseph. Which he could not have related had he not been who he was
claiming to be. Also to lead on to what he had further to say to them.
Verse 05. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for
God did send me before you to preserve life.
Key Phrase: Now therefore be not grieved; An excess, swallowed up with much sorrow;
otherwise it became them to be grieved for their sin, and to show a godly sorrow
and true repentance for it.
Key Phrase: nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither; Reflect upon themselves and
afflict themselves in an immoderate way; or break forth into anger and wrath with
one another, upbraiding and blaming each other for their conduct in that affair.
Key Phrase: for God did send me before you to preserve life; The life of thousands of persons
in Egypt, Canaan, and other countries. Particularly to preserve their lives was he
sent before them into Egypt. Where by his interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams, and
the gift of authority by Pharaoh Joseph was able to a sufficiency of corn in the time
of plenty. So to answer the urgency and demand of various countries in the time
of famine. Thus for his own family and therefore would have this attributed by
them to the wise disposing providence of God.
Verse 06. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years,
in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.
Key Phrase: For these two years hath the famine been, in the land; In the land of Egypt and in
the countries round about.
Note: Which gives us a specific time period to measure by.
Key Phrase: and yet there are five years; These are still remaining, which he knew by the
above dreams and the interpretation of them.
Key Phrase: shall neither be earing nor harvest; That is to mean no cultivating of land, neither
Ploughing. Sowing and no reaping. They will be no gathering in of the fruits of the
earth, as used to be in harvest. There would be very little ground tilled, only near
it may be on the banks of the Nile.
3.
Note: The Egyptians knew by Joseph's prediction that the Nile would not overflow so it served
no purpose to attempt to plough their land, which through seven years of drought it
would be become very difficult to sow the seed into the ground, since there was no
likelihood of its springing up again.
Verse 07. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save
your lives by a great deliverance.
Key Phrase: And God sent me before you; This he repeats to impress in their minds of his
brethren with a sense of the good providence of God in bringing him to Egypt
before them to make provision for their future welfare. Joseph sees it was a way
alleviate their grief. Trying to prevent an excessive sorrow for their selling him
into Egypt when by the overruling hand of God it proved so salutary to them.
Key Phrase: to preserve you a posterity in the earth; That they and theirs might not perish,
which otherwise would have most likely been the case. Joseph remembered that
the promise of the multiplication of Abraham's seed might not lost, but continue
to take place, from whence the Messiah was to arise from.
Key Phrase: and to save your lives by a great deliverance; From the extreme danger they
were exposed to through the terrible famine. In which deliverance were to be
observed the great wisdom, goodness, power, and providence of God.
Verse 08. 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.
Key Phrase: So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God; Which is to be understood
even they sold him to the Ishmaelites, who brought him down to Egypt and
sold him to Potiphar, being instrumental in his coming to Egypt. But Joseph sees
it was not they so much as God that sent him. God’s providence directed,
disposed, and overruled all those events, to bring Joseph to this place, and to such
an high station. The purposes and designs of God in providing for and preserving
Jacob's family in a time of distress.
Key Phrase: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh: This clarifies what we thought earlier
that Joseph was older than the Pharaoh. He would be a teacher to him, his
counsellor, to advise him well in all things, as a father his children. Some believe it
was also aligned to be his partner and patron. To have a share with him in power
and authority to be reckoned as a father to him, see Genesis 41:43. It required
Joseph to provide for him and the welfare of his kingdom, as parents do for their
children. The following phrases helps explain Joseph’s title; He a great man,
and a prince (s) in Pharaoh's court, lord of all his house, his prime minister, chief
counsellor and courtier, 4. (continued)
and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt;. To whom all the deputies of the
several provinces were subject under Pharaoh, and especially in the affair of the
corn and the buying and selling of such.
Verse 09. Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God
hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not:
Key Phrase: Haste you, and go up to my father; Go immediately into Canaan, which lay north
and east of Egypt. Joseph wanting to know as soon as possible that he was alive,
and in what circumstances he was or in need of.
Key Phrase: and say unto him, thus saith thy son Joseph; Without any title, such as the father
and counsellor of Pharaoh and or Govenor of Egypt. Only his name Joseph, his
son, which would be enough to revive the heart of Jacob.
Key Phrase: God hath made me lord over all Egypt: His exaltation to this position of authority
and dignity he ascribes, not to Pharaoh, but to God;. True civil honor and the
promotion to worldly grandeur and dignity are from God, and not from man.
Key Phrase: come down unto me, tarry not; The famine and the business on his hands would
not permitting him to go to his father and fetch him to Egypt. So he desires that
Jacob would come to him without delay. This would be a great advantage for him
and his family, and he could see to their mutual comfort.
Verse 10. And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou,
and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all
that thou hast:
Key Phrase: And thou shall dwell in the land of Goshen; Called by Artapanus pronounced
Kaisan or Kessan. The Septuagint version Gesan of Arabia, as it was that part of
Egypt which bordered on Arabia. It seems to be the same with the land of
Rameses, see Genesis 47:11; and the Heliopolitan home, which, Strabo says, was
reckoned to be in Arabia, and in which were both the city of Heliopolis and the
city Heroopolis, according to Ptolemy.
See Artapanus; See Strabo; (page 14 of handout)
Note: In the Septuagint version of Genesis 46:28, instead of Goshen it is called Heroopolis, or
the city of the Heroes in the land of Rameses.
Note: Now either before this time Joseph had got a grant of this country, of Pharaoh, to
dispose of at pleasure, or he had so much power and authority unto himself as to put his
father into it.
See Special Note # 1 5.
Key Phrase: and thou shalt be near unto me; As he would be in Goshen, if Memphis was the
royal seat at this time, as some think. Artapanus is very express for it being that
Memphis was the seat of that king of Egypt, in whose court Moses was brought
up. If Joseph dwelt at On or Heliopolis, where his father in law was priest or
prince, which was near if not in Goshen itself.
Key Phrase: thou and thy children, and thy children's children: For Jacob's sons all of them
had children, even Benjamin the youngest, as appears from the following chapter:
Key Phrase; and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast; Knowing that Goshen, being
a place of pasturage, was fit and suitable for them. Josephus says , of Heliopolis,
which he takes to be the place where Jacob was placed, that there the king's
shepherds had their pastures.
Verse 11. And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and
thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty.
Key Phrase: And there will I nourish thee; Joseph is going to provide for him Jacob and all of
his family including his brothers here in Egypt.
Key Phrase: for yet there are five years of famine; This he said to them to tell them what God
had revealed to him and what was still to come. Two of the seven only being past.
Key Phrase; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty; His being
Jacob’s who was Israel’s and Abrahams before that, the whole posterity be
consumed or dying out, as it would be in all probability, if he did not procure food
for his family during the famine.
Verse 12. And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my
mouth that speaketh unto you.
Key Phrase: And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin; They were an
eyewitnesses of his being alive, having themselves seen him, and even Benjamin.
Who could not be suspected by his father of a fraud in imposing on him this
unusual request. . There is some thought that some of them could no-doubt
remember his features. Having visible proof of his being the very person, which
they could with great evidence certainly relate unto Jacob.
Key Phrase: that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you; This verse tells us another great
proof here. Because Joseph is without an interpreter, and in the Hebrew language,
is speaking to them. Further proof to their father upon their report, that the
governor was not an Egyptian, but an Hebrew. By that and other concurrent
testimonies of all of them that he must be Joseph.
6.
Verse 13. And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and
ye shall haste and bring down my father hither.
Key Phrase: And you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt; His wealth and riches, his
grandeur and dignity, his power and authority. His favor given to him by God.
Key Phrase: and of all that you have seen; What a magnificent house he dwelt in, the vast
number of servants he had. That he rode in the second chariot to the king and
the authority he exercised over the people. Most of all the reverence they gave
him as he used that power particularly in the distribution of corn.
Key Phrase: and ye shall haste, and bring down my father hither; Again Joseph is eager in his
desire to see him, wherefore this is repeated.
Verse 14. And he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon
his neck.
Key Phrase: And he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck and wept; Benjamins first, because
he was his own brother by father and mother's side. He wept over him for joy that
he had a sight of him once more.
Note: The word for "neck" in Hebrew ”הצווא ר “ meaning neck, necks, throat, his neck is in the
plural form and being used, may signify that he fell first on one side of his neck, and
then on the other, to show his great affection for him. We see this today in a lot of
cultures still.