27 And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived: 28 And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die. CHAPTER XLVI. a Wherefore he called that place Beer-sheba; because there they sware both of them. Genesis, 21, 31. b And the LORD apsame night, and said, I am the God of Abranot, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and my servant Abraham's sake. Genesis, 23, 24. peared unto him, the ham thy father: fear multiply thy seed for After these things Abram the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, I am thy shield, and thy exceed ing great reward. Gen. 15, 1. ing great reward. Gen. d See chapter 28, 13. e And, behold, I am thee in all places whi with thee, and will keep ther thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have 3 And he said, I am God, d the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for will there make ƒ of thee a great nation. I and and spoken to thee of Gen. unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again into the land sis, 48, 21. of your fathers. Gene And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; thou shalt be a Genesis, 12, And thou shalt speak and say before the LORD thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was my father; and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous. Deuteronomy, 26, 5. neration they shall 9 But in the fourth ge come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet For his sons carried 4 I will go down with thee into Egypt; I will also surely bring thee up again: Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes. 5 And Jacob rose up from Beer-sheba: and full Genesis, 15, 16. resentments. Thus Joseph does here; his brethren needed not to fear that he would avenge upon them an injury which God's providence had made to turn so much to his advantage, and that of his family. Now he tells them how long the famine was likely to last, five years; yet, v. 6, what a capacity he was in of being kind to his relations and friends, which is the greatest satisfaction that || wealth and power can give to a good man, v. 8. See what a favourable colour he puts upon the injury they had done him, God sent me before you, v. 5, 7. Note, 1. God's Israel is the particular care of God's providence. Joseph reckoned that his advancement was designed, not so much to save a whole kingdom of Egyptians, as to preserve a small family of Israelites: for the Lord's portion is his people; whatever goes with others, they shall be secured. 2 Providence looks a great way forward, and has a long reach; even long before the years of plenty, Providence was preparing for the supply of Jacob's house in the years of famine. The Psalmist praises God for this, Ps. 105, 17, He sent a man before them, even Joseph. God sees his work from the beginning to the end, but we do not, Eccl. 3, 11. How admirable are the projects of Providence! How remote its tendencies! What wheels are there within wheels, and yet all directed by the eyes in the wheels, and the spirit of the living creature! Let us therefore judge nothing before the time. 3. God often works by contraries; the envy and contention of brethren threaten the ruin of families, yet, in this instance, they prove the occasion of preserving Jacob's family. Joseph had never been the shepherd and stone of Israel, if his brethren had not shot at him, and hated him; even those that had wickedly sold Joseph into Egypt, yet themselves reaped the benefit of the good God brought out of it; as those that put Christ to death, were many of them saved by his death. 4. God must have all the glory of the seasonable preservations of his people, by what way soever they are effected, v. 8. It was not you that sent me hither, but God. As, on the one hand, they must not fret at it, because it ended so well; so, on the other hand, they must not be proud of it, because it was God's doing, and not theirs. They designed, by selling him into Egypt, to defeat his dreams, but God thereby designed to accomplish them, Isa. 10, 7. Howbeit he meaneth not so. CHAP. XLVI.---A FATHER'S GRATITUDE.-Observe, How Jacob ackowledged God in this way. He came to Beersheba, from Hebron, where he now dwelt; and there he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac, v. 1. He chose that place, in remembrance of the communion which his father and grandfather had with God in that place. Abraham called on God there, (ch. 21, 33.) So did Isaac; (ch. 26,25,) and therefore Jacob made it the place of his devotion, the rather because it lay in his way. In his devotion, 1. He had an eye to God as the God of his father Isaac, that is, a God in covenant with him; for by Isaac the covenant was entailed upon him. God had forbidden Isaac to go down to Egypt, when there was a famine in GOD, My people went down aforetime into the Assyrian oppressed them without cause. Isaiah, 52, 4. k Now these are the of Israel, which came names of the children into Egypt; every man with Jacob. Exod 1,1. ben the first-born of Is- much as he defiled his after the nealogy is not to be birth-right.) 1 Chron. 5, 1. m The sons of Simeon were, Nemuel, and JaShaul. 1 Chron. 4, 24. 1 Or, Nemuel 2 Or, Jarib. 3 Or, Zerah. 4 Or, Gershom. min, Jarib, Zerah, and And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er. Genesis, 38, 3. 13 And the sons of Issachar; Tola, and 5 Phuvah, and Job, and Shimron. 14 And the sons of Zebulun; Sered, and Elon, and Jahleel. 15 These be the sons of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob in Padan-aram, with his daughter Dinah: all the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty and three. 16 And the sons of Gad; P Ziphion, and Haggi, Shuni, and 6 Ezbon, Eri, and 7Arodi, and Areli. 17 And the sons of Asher; Jimnah, and Ishuah, and Isui, and Beriah, and Serah their sister: and the sons of Beriah; Heber, and The children of Gad Malchiel. 20 And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asc Canaan, (ch. 26, 2,) which, perhaps, Jacob calls to mind, when he consults God, as the God of his father Isaac, with this thought, "Lord, though I am very desirous to see Joseph, yet, if thou forbid me to go down to Egypt, as thou didst my father Isaac, I will submit, and very contentedly stay where I am." 2. He offered sacrifices, extraordinary sacrifices, beside those at his stated times; these sacrifices were offered, (1.) By way of thanksgiving for the late blessed change of the face of his family, for the good news he had received concerning Joseph, and for the hopes he had of seeing him. Note, We should give God thanks for the beginnings of mercy, though they are not yet perfected; and this is a decent way of begging further mercy. (2.) By way of petition for the presence of God with him in his intended journey; he desired by these sacrifices to make his peace with God, to obtain the forgiveness of sin, that he might take no guilt along with him in this journey, for that is a bad companion. By Christ, the great Sacrifice, we must reconcile ourselves to God, and offer up our requests to him. (3.) By way of consultation; the heathen consulted their oracles by sacrifice. Jacob would not go till he had asked God's leave; "Shall I go down to Egypt, or back to Hebron?"" Such must be our inquiries in doubtful cases; and though we cannot expect immediate answers from Heaven, yet if we diligently attend to the directions of the word, conscience, and providence, we shall find it is not in vain to ask counsel of God.-H. AN ANCIENT FLITTING.-Old Jacob is here flitting; little did he think of ever leaving Canaan; he expected, no doubt, to die in his nest, and to leave his seed in actual possession of the promised land: but Providence orders it otherwise. Note, Those that think themselves well-settled, may yet be unsettled in a little time; even old people, who think of no other remove than that to the grave, (which Jacob had much upon his heart, ch. 37, 35; 42, 38,) sometimes live to see great changes in their family. It is good to be ready, not only for the grave, but for whatever may happen betwixt us and the grave. Observe, I. How Jacob was conveyed; not in a chariot, though chariots were then used, but in a waggon, v. 5. Jacob had the character of a plain man, who did not affect anything stately or magnificent; his son rode in a chariot, (ch. 41, 43,) but a waggon would serve him. II. The removal of what he had with him; 1. His effects, v. 6, cattle and goods; these he took with him, that he might not wholly be beholden to Pharaoh for a livelihood, and that it might not afterward be said of them, "that they came beggars to Egypt." 2. His family, all his seed, v. 7. It is probable that they had continued to live together in common with their father; and therefore, when he went, they all went; which perhaps they were the more willing to do, because, though they had heard that the land of Canaan was promised them, yet, to this day, they had none of it in possession.-H. A REUNION.-I. We have here the joyful meeting between Jacob and his son Joseph; in which observe, 28 And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face unto Goshen, they came into the land of Goshen. 29 And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. 30 And Israel said unto Joseph, & Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive. show 31 And Joseph said unto his brethren, and unto his father's house, I will go up, and Pharaoh, and say unto him, My brethren, and my father's house, which were in the land of Canaan, are come unto me; 32 And the men are shepherds, for 12 their trade hath been to feed cattle, and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have. 33 And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, "What is your occupation? powers. a And all the souls oins of Jacob seventy souls; for Jo that came out of the ready. Exodus, 1, 5. were down into Egypt with b Thy fathers went threescore and ten per- made thee as the stars of heaven for multi- seph, and called his fa- ther Jacob to him, and e So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up and passed over d Lord, now lettest have seen thy salvation. 12 they are men of Egypt; and Jacob so Ham. Psalm 105, 23. For thus saith the Lord Gon, My people went pressed them without g And the famine was sore in the land. Gene 1. came a dearth over all 2 And he took some of his brethren, even five men, and presented them unto Pharaoh. 3 And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, d What e sis, 43, 1 Now there 18 your occupation? And they said unto Phathe land of Egypt and raoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and also our fathers. Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fa thers found no susten- h See chapter 46, 34. And Abimelech said, fore thee: dwell where Behold, my land is be it pleaseth thee. Gene- j See verse 4. And the man Jeroman of valour; and So boam was a mighty lomon seeing the young ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph. 1 How many are the Hear my prayer, o my ery: hold not thy am a stranger with thee, LORD, and give earunto i peace at my tears: for I and a sojourner, as all promise, as in a strange thy word: for mine eyes journed in the land of cattle. e See chapter 47, 2, 3. went to feed their father's flock in Shechem. Genesis, 37, 12 And Moses said, It we shall sacrifice the 7 And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and with him of the same set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed promise..... These all died in faith, not hav ing received the pro- Pharaoh. 8 And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, 1 How old persuaded of them, and art thou? confessed that they were strangers and pil Hebrews, 11, 9, 13. is not meet so to do; for embraced them, and 9 And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, 'The days of frims on the earth. the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and God's providence can with perfect ease support them: and be repenting sinners never so numerous, the unsearchable riches of Christ are sufficient, and in heaven there is room enough for them all. However generous our friends may be, it is prudent to be modest, and not to give them any ground to suspect us of encroaching, or to complain that we are burdensome. In general, the further from courts, the nearer to Canaan; and however obscure and despised our lot be, if it prove advantageous to our souls, and favourable to communion with God, we ought to be thankful for it. Our lives are in the Lord's hands, whatever we wish and desire; and though we should be willing to die, yet we should be also willing to wait his time. In the mean while, if even the abhorrence of the world keep us separate from it, we have cause to rejoice and be glad on that account.-S. CHAP. XLVII. FORGIVENESS.-1. Though Joseph was a great man, and his owned them. Let those that are rich and great in the world, learn hence not to overlook or despise their poor relations. Every branch of the tree is not a top branch; but, because it is a lower branch, is it therefore not of the tree? Our Lord Jesus, like Joseph here, is not ashamed to call us brethren. 2. They being strangers and no courtiers, he introduced some of them to Pharaoh, to kiss his hand, as we say, intending thereby to put an honour upon them among the Egyptians. Thus Christ presents his brethren in the court of heaven, and improves his interest for them, though in themselves unworthy, and an abomination to the Egyptians.-H. 1. Jacob's prudence in sending Judah before him to Joseph, to give him notice of his arrival in Goshen. This was a piece of respect owing to the government, under the protection of which these strangers were come to put themselves, v. 28. We should be very careful not to give offence to any, especially not to the higher 2. Joseph's filial respect to him. He went in his chariot to meet him, and, in the interview, shewed, (1.) How much he honoured him; he presented himself unto him. Note, It is the duty of children to reverence their parents, yea, though Providence, as to outward condition, has advanced them above their parents. (2.) How much he loved him; time did not wear out the sense of his obligations, but his tears, which he shed abundantly upon his father's neck, for joy to see him, were real indications of the sincere and strong affection he had for him. See how near sorrow and joy are to each other in this world, when tears serve for the ex-brethren were comparatively mean and despicable, especially in Egypt, yet he pressions of both: in the other world, weeping will be restrained to sorrow only; in heaven, there is perfect joy, but no tears of joy; all tears, even those, shall there be wiped away, because the joys there are, as no joys here are, without any allay. It was observed, when Joseph embraced Benjamin, that he wept upon his neck, but, when he embraced his father, he wept upon his neck a good while: his brother Benjamin was dear, but his father Jacob must be dearer. 3. Jacob's great satisfaction in this meeting; (v. 30,) Now let me die. Not but that it was further desirable to live with Joseph, and to see his honour and usefulness; but he had so much pleasure and satisfaction in this first meeting, that he thought it too much to desire or expect any more in this world, where our com- A PRESENTATION at Court.-1. Joseph presented Jacob to Pharaoh, v. 7. forts must always be imperfect. Jacob wished to die immediately, and yet lived And here, (1.) Pharaoh asks Jacob a common question; How old art thou? v. 8. seventeen years longer, which, as our lives go now, is a considerable part of a A question usually put to old men, for it is natural to us to admire old age, and man's age. Note, Death will not always come just when we call for it, whether in to reverence it, (Lev. 19, 33,) as it is very unnatural and unbecoming to despise it, a passion of sorrow, or in a passion of joy. Our times are in God's hand, and not Isa. 3, 5. Jacob's countenance, no doubt, shewed him to be very old; for he had in our own; we must die just when God pleases, and not either just when we are sur- been a man of labour and sorrow: in Egypt, people were not so long-lived as feited with the pleasures of life, or just when we are overwhelmed with its griefs.-H. in Canaan, and therefore Pharaoh looks upon Jacob with wonder; he was as a PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.-In those events and undertakings, which appear show in his court. When we are reflecting upon ourselves, this should come into most joyful, there are probable consequences involved, which may remind us to the account; "How old are we?" (2.) Jacob gives Pharaoh an uncommon answer, "rejoice with trembling;" and warn us not to proceed without seeking counsel, v. 9. He speaks as became a patriarch, with an air of seriousness, for the inassistance, and a blessing from the Lord. Attending on his ordinances, and re-struction of Pharaoh. Though our speech be not always of grace, yet it must thus ceiving the pledges of his covenant-love, we may expect his presence, and that be always with grace. Observe here, [1.] He calls his life a pilgrimage, looking peace which it confers: and when we are satisfied that we are his people, and in upon himself as a stranger in this world, and a traveller towards another world: the path which he marks out to us, being assured of his supports and consolations, this earth his inn, not his home. To this the apostle refers; (Heb. 11, 13.) They we may not only enter into the iron furnace of bondage and oppression, but into confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims. He not only reckoned himself a the fiery furnace of persecution.-In all our removals, we need to be reminded of pilgrim, now that he was in Egypt, a strange country in which he never was beour removal out of this world; and, though it is desirable to be surrounded at the fore; but his life, even in the land of his nativity, was a pilgrimage, and those eve of life with our beloved friends and children; yet, nothing can encourage us who so reckon it, can the better bear the inconvenience of banishment from their to fear no evil, when "passing through the valley of the shadow of death," but native soil; they are but pilgrims still, and so they were always. [2] He reckons the presence of Jesus Christ to receive our souls.-Be our families never so large, his life by days; for even so, it is soon reckoned, and we are not sure of the con 13 T And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore, so that the land of Egypt, and all the land of Canaan, fainted by reason of the famine. land 22 Only" the land of the 4 priests bought he not: for the priests had a portion assigned them to And Esau said. Let of Pharaoh, and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them, wherefore they sold not their lands. me now leave with thee days of the yearch, were an hundred and sis, 35, 28. See verse 7. set over them taskmas- treasure cities, Pithom q See verse 6. and thy mother: that upon the land which 14 And 'Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house. 15 And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyp-foolish son is the heavi tians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for "why should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth. 16 And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail. 17 And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses; and he 3 fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year. 18 When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle: there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies and our lands: 19 Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh; and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate. 20 And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for the Egyptians sold every man a glad father: but a Proverbs, 10, 1. to the little ones.-Now your little ones. And 8 of And there shall arise them seven plenty shall be forgot- shall consume the land. Genesis, 41, 30. Now Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: no sustenance. Acts, 7, 11. t And the famine was are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord. Gen. x See verse 22. z See chapter 46, 3. a And the LORD said days approach that thou in 23 Then Joseph said unto the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land. 24 And it shall come to pass in the increase, unto Moses, Behold, thy that ye shall give the fifth part unto Pharaoh; must die: call Joshua, and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the tabernacle of the the field, and for your food, and for them of your households, and for food for your little ones. 25 And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: et " us find grace in the sight of my lord, and We will be Pharaoh's servants. 31, 14 unto his eldest servant b And Abraham said of over all that he had, hand under my thigh. Genesis, 24, 2 c And now if ye will deal truly and kindly with my master, tell that I may turn to the left. Genesis, 24, 49. 20 26 And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have me: and if not, tell me the fifth part; "except the land of the 5 priests right hand, or to the only, which became not Pharaoh's. 27 ¶ And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly. d And Joseph took an Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye from hence. Genesis, 50, 25. e Let thy servant. I mine own city, and be buried by the grave of mother. 2 Sam. 19, 37. have digged for me in 28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so 6 the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years. 29 And the time "drew nigh that Israel must in my grave which die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto the land of Cannan, him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, there shalt thou bury over all the face of the me. Now therefore my me go up, I pray thee, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, end, and sold into I will come again. For and deal kindly and truly with me; dbury me into the land of Canaan, not, I pray thee, in Egypt: houses, the Egyptians: and the 41, 56. u See verse 19. 3 led them. Also we certify you. that, touching any of the priests and Levites, inims, or ministers of shall not be lawful to Ezra, 7, 24 singers, porters, Neth this house of God, it impose toll, tribute, or his sons carried him buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Ab raham bought with the field for a possession of burying place of Eph ron the Hittite, before Mamre. Genesis, 50, 5, 13. By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, lean ing upon the top of his staff. Heb. 11, 21. 30 But I will lie with my fathers; and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and ƒ bury me in their burying-place. And he said, I will do as thou hast said. 31 And he said, Swear unto me. And he sware unto him. 9 And Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head. tinuance of it for a day to an end, but may be turned out of this tabernacle at no way solicitous about that,) but the place of it. 1. He would be buried in less than an hour's warning. Let us therefore number our days, (Ps. 90, 12,) and Canaan; this he resolved on, not from mere humour, because Canaan was the measure them, Ps. 39, 4. [3.] The character he gives of them was, First, That||land of his nativity, but in faith, because it was the land of promise, (which he they were few. Though he had now lived one hundred and thirty years, they desired thus, as it were, to keep possession of, till the time should come when his seemed to him but a few days, in comparison with the days of eternity, the posterity should be masters of it, (and because it was a type of heaven, that better eternal God, and the eternal state, in which a thousand years (longer than ever country, which he that said these things declared plainly that he was in expectaany man lived) are but as one day. Secondly, That they were evil; this is true||tion of, Heb. 11, 14. He aimed at a good land, which would be his rest and bliss concerning man in general; (Job, 14, 1,) he is of few days, and full of trouble; since on the other side death. 2. He would have Joseph sworn to bring him thither to his days are evil, it is well they are few; Jacob's life, particularly, had been made be buried, v. 29, 31, that Joseph, being under such a solemn obligation to do it, up of evil days; and the pleasantest days of his life were yet before him. Thirdly, might have that to answer to the objections which otherwise might have been That they were short of the days of his fathers; not so many, not so pleasant, as made against it, and for the greater satisfaction of Jacob now in his dying their days. Old age came sooner upon him than it had done upon some of his minutes. Nothing will better help to make a death-bed easy, than the certain ancestors. As the young man should not be proud of his strength or beauty, so prospect of a rest in Canaan after death. 3. When this was done, Israel bowed the old man should not be proud of his age, and the crown of his hoary hairs, himself upon the bed's head, yielding himself, as it were, to the stroke of death; though others justly reverence it; for those who are accounted very old, attain not|| ("Now let it come, and it shall be welcome;") or worshipping God, as it is exto the years of the patriarchs. The hoary head is then only a crown of glory, plained, Heb. 11, 21, giving God thanks for all his favours, and particularly for when it is found in the way of righteousness. (3.) Jacob both addresses himself this, that Joseph was ready, not only to put his hand upon his eyes to close them, to Pharaoh, and takes leave of him with a blessing, v. 7. Jacob blessed Pharaoh, but under his thigh, to give him the satisfaction he desired concerning his burial. and again, v. 10, which was not only an act of civility, (he payed him respect, and Thus they that go down to the dust, should, with humble thankfulness, bow bereturned him thanks for his kindness,) but an act of piety, he prayed for him, as fore God, the God of their mercies, Ps. 22, 29.-H. one having the authority of a prophet and a patriarch. Though in worldly wealth, Pharaoh was the greater, yet in interest with God, Jacob was the greater; he was God's anointed, Ps. 105, 15. And a patriarch's blessing was not a thing to be despised, no, not by a potent prince. Darius valued the prayers of the church for himself and for his sons, Ezra, 6, 10. Pharaoh kindly received Jacob, and, whether in the name of a prophet or no, thus he had a prophet's reward, which sufficiently recompensed him, not only for his courteous converse with him, but for all the other kindnesses he showed to him and his.-H. PREPARING TO DIE.--At last, v. 29, the time drew nigh that Israel must die. Israel, a prince with God, that had power over the angel, and prevailed, yet must yield to death. There is no remedy, he must die; it is appointed for all men, therefore for him; and there is no discharge in that war. Joseph supplied him with bread, that he might not die by famine; but that did not secure him from dying by age or sickness. He died by degrees; his candle was not blown out, but gradually burnt down to the socket, so that he saw, at some distance, the time drawing nigh. Note, It is an improveable advantage, to see the approach of death, before we feel its arrests, that we may be quickened to do what our hand finds to do, with all our might: however, it is not far from any of us. Now Jacob's care, as he saw the day approaching, was about his burial, not the pomp of it, (he was PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.-Ver. 1-10. The kindness of liberal benefactors. so far from encouraging us to encroach upon them, should remind us to shew them all proper attention and deference; and in attending to some peculiar relative duties, we should look round upon the whole circle, and so proportion them as not to entrench upon others.-When Joseph selected five from his eleven brethren to present before Pharaoh, he doubtless had good reasons for his conduct, though not made known to us, nor probably to them. Thus the Lord Jesus, in dispensing his special benefits as he sees good, acts in perfect wisdom, though we are not acquainted with the grounds of his distinguishing grace; and thus, neither despising our meanness, nor ashamed even in his highest exaltation "to call us brethren," nor resenting our past misconduct, however base, he presents us, when we submit and believe in him, for acceptance before his father's throne.-Industry in any honest enployment is always creditable; and indeed all, who are not in some way diligent, are worthless incumbrances on the community. Nor ought a man, in compliance with fashion or prevalent notions, to be ashamed of the lowest useful occupations: for nothing that is not sinful is disgraceful, in the sight of God, or of wise and good men.-It is generally best to abide with God in our own calling; for, what the world calls mending ourselves, is frequently little better than renouncing peace, content, and a situation favourable to the prosperity of our 6 And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, 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, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Beth-lehem. 8 And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who are these? 9 And Joseph said unto his father, "They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them. 10 Now the eyes of Israel were 1 dim for age, so that he could not see. near unto him; and he braced them. And he brought them kissed them, and em GENESIS, XLVIII. CHAP. 48-B. C. 1689. a And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed. And he the name of that place Beth-el: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. Gen. 28, 13, 19. b And I will give unto after her thee, the land stranger, all the land of wherein thou art a Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. Gen. 17,8 c For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. Joshua, 14, 4. d And Rachel died, way to Ephrath, which 35, 19. and was buried in the Bethlehem. Genesis, And he lifted up his men and the children; with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given eyes, and saw the wo and said, Who are those thy servant. Genesis, Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath are for signs and for are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion. Isaiah, 8, 18. And make me sa I love, and bring it to me soul may bless thee before I die. Genesis, 27, 4. By faith Jacob, when both the sons of Joseph; upon the top of his staff. that I may eat; that my he was a-dying, blessed and worshipped, leaning Hebrews, 11, 21. g And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Be27, 1. hold, here am I. Gen. heavy. and kissed him: and h And he came near he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as which the LORD hath blessed. Gen. 27, 27. i And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath dewithout doubt rent in der him, live voured him: Joseph is pieces. Genesis, 37, 33. ing, Joseph is yet and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. souls, for gilded cares, encumbrances, and manifold temptations.-Indeed, our life is but a pilgrimage; few and evil are the days of it; and provided they be spent with God, and to his glory, the rest is of very little consequence. If we have a prospect that, when we go hence and are no more seen, we shall go home to our Father's house, we shall not want, and ought not to desire, the paltry interests of the world; why, then, should we burden ourselves with unavailing cares and sorrows? Why covet riches, shortly to be left behind? Why engage in projects to be left unfinished, or aspire at distinctions which death will terminate? We do not act thus on a journey, when our heart is at home: the conveniences or inconveniences which we meet with, but little affect us to retard our progress; we do not want to erect stately mansions, or to lay up wealth, in a country which we are leaving, and to which we shall return no more; nor do we encumber ourselves with those things which we are not in need of, and which must be left behind when we embark for our native country.-"Godliness with contentment is great gain; for we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out; and having food and raiment, let us be therewith content." But, oh! how miserable are they, who have all their good things during the few and evil days of this present life, and whose last comfort is likely to expire with their dying breath! Let us then "give diligence to make our calling and election sure;" and, as our days are likely to be so much fewer than Jacob's, let us often ask ourselves seriously, how old we are: that our life may not vanish, nor death approach unobserved or unprepared for.-"A hoary head is a crown of glory," only "when it is found in the way of righteousness; and they whose consistency of character will bear them out, need neither be ashamed nor afraid to bear testimony for God before the greatest princes, who, if wise, will highly value their pious prayers.-S. CHAP. XLVIII. VISITING THE SICK.-I. Joseph, upon notice of his father's illness, goes to see him; though a man of honour and business, yet he will not fail to shew this due respect to his aged father, v. 1. Visiting the sick, to whom we lie under obligations, or may have opportunity of doing good, either for body or soul, is our duty. The sick bed is a proper place both for giving comfort and counsel to others, and receiving instruction ourselves. Joseph took his two sons with him, that they might receive their dying grandfather's blessing, and that what they might see in him, and hear from him, might make an abiding impression upon them. Note, 1. It is good to acquaint young people, that are coming into the world, with the aged servants of God, that are going out of it, whose dying testimony to the goodness of God, and the pleasantness of wisdom's ways, may be a great encouragement to the rising generation. Manasseh and Ephraim (I dare say) would never forget what passed at this time. 2. Pious parents are desirous of a blessing, not only for themselves, but for their children. "Oh that they may live before God!" Joseph had been, above all his brethren, kind to his father, and therefore had reason to expect particular favour from him. CHAP. 48-B. C. 1689. And Jacob's heart faint ed, for he believed them not. Genesis, 45, 26. By faith Jacob, when he was a-dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, lean ing upon the top of his kAnd, behold, I am staff. Hebrews, 11, 21. with thee, and will keep thee in all places whi ther thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not done that which I have spoken to thee of. Gen. 22, 15. He blesseth Joseph's sons. 12 And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. 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 unto him. 14 And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was Yea, he had the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the first-born. power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him spake with us. Hosea, in Beth-el, and there he 12, 4. That they may posEdom, and of all the sess the remnant of heathen, which are call ed by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this. Amos, 9, 12 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon ed, saith the Lord, who whom my name is call doeth all these things. Acts, 15, 17. 2 as fishes do increase. 3 was evil in his eyes. is like the nrstling of m His (Joseph's] glory horns are like the 16 The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them 2 grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. 17 And when Joseph saw that his father laid his bullock, and his his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it what push the core displeased him. and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto he shall people together to the ends of the earth; and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they Manasseh's head. are the thousands of Manasseh. Deut. 33, 17. 18 And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the first-born; put thy right hand upon his head. 19 And his father refused, 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, and his seed shall become a 4 multitude of nations. 20 And he blessed them that day, saying, " In famous in Beth thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee And the children of as Ephraim, and as Manasseh: and he set EphJoseph, ng, Why raim before Manasseh. II. Jacob, upon notice of his son's visit, prepared himself as well as he could to entertain him, v. 2. He did what he could to rouse his spirits, and to stir up the gift that was in him; what little was left of bodily strength he put forth to the utmost, and sat upon the bed. Note, It is very good for sick and aged people to be as lively and cheerful as they can, that they may not faint in the day of adversity. Strengthen thyself, as Jacob here, and God will strengthen thee; hearten thyself and help thyself, and God will help and hearten thee. Let the Spirit sustain the infirmity.-H. A DEATH-BED TESTIMONY.-Before Jacob entails his blessing, he recounts his experiences of God's goodness to him. He had spoken, v. 3, of God's appearing to him. The particular visits of his grace, and the special communion we have sometimes had with him, ought never to be forgotten. But, v. 15, 16, he mentions the constant care which the Divine Providence had taken of him all his days. 1. He had fed him all his life long unto this day, v. 15. Note, As long as we have lived in this world, we have had continual experience of God's goodness to us, in providing for the support of our natural life. Our bodies have called for daily food, and no little has gone to feed us, yet we have never wanted food convenient. He that has fed us all our life long, surely will not fail us at last. 2. He had by his angel redeemed him from all evil, v. 16. A great deal of hardship he had known in his time, but God had graciously kept him from the evil of his troubles. Now that he was dying, he looked upon himself as redeemed from all evil, and bidding an everlasting farewell to sin and sorrow. Christ, the Angel of the covenant, is he that redeems us from all evil, 2 Tim. 4, 18. Note, (1.) It becomes the servants of God, when they are old and dying, to witness for our God that they have found him gracious. (2) Our experiences of God's goodness to us are improvable, both for the encouragement of others to serve God, and for encouragement to us in blessing them, and praying for them.-H. THE CROSSED HANDS.-In blessing Joseph's sons, Jacob crossed hands. Joseph placed them so as that Jacob's right hand should be put on the head of Manasseh the eldest, v. 12, 13. But Jacob would put it on the head of Ephraim the youngest, v. 14. This displeased Joseph, who was willing to support the reputation of his first-born, and would therefore have removed his father's hands, v. 17, 18. But Jacob gave him to understand that he knew what he did, and that he did it neither by mistake, nor in a humour, nor from a partial affection to one more than the other, but from a spirit of prophecy, and in compliance with the divine counsels. Manasseh should be great, but truly Ephraim should be greater. When the tribes were mustered in the wilderness, Ephraim was more numerous than Manasseh, had the standard of that squadron, Numb. 1, 32, 33, 35; 2, 18, 20, and is named first, Ps. 80, 2. Joshua was of that tribe, so was Jeroboam. The tribe of Manasseh was divided, one half on one side Jordan, the other half on the other side, which made it the less powerful and considerable. In the foresight of this, Jacob crossed hands. Note, 1. God, in bestowing his blessings upon his ND Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I tell you that which shall befall you 'in the days. a may 2 Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father. 3 Reuben, thou art my first-born, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: 4 Unstable as water, 1 thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: 2he went up to my couch. 5 ¶ Simeon and Levi are brethren; 3 instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. i e 60 my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united! for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self-will they digged down a wall. 7 Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel. 8 Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee. my 9 Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? m 10 The 'sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, "until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. 11 Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: 12 His eyes shall be red with wine, and teeth white with milk. his 13 ¶ Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships: and his border shall be unto Zidon. before his death. Deut. And now, behold, I go unto my people: do what this people shall to thy people in the 24, 14 m Gilead is mine, and Ephraim also is the n See Matthew, 21, 9. And in that day there shall be a root of stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek, and ous. Isaiah, 11, 10. Issachar in thy tents. Danite] judged Israel listines, twenty years r And they [the children of Dan] took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, with the edge of the city with fire. Judges, 5 an arrow snake. a LORD, I have hoped ments. I have long ed for thy salvation, O t And of Gad he said, Blessed be he that en largeth Gad: he dwell eth as a lion, and tear- u See Genesis, 37, 4, 24, blood. Proverbs, 1, 15, Job, 29, 20. How he sware unto the LORD, and vowed jAnd the children of leadest Joseph like a 18 I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD. 19¶ Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last. 20 T Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties. 21 ¶ Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words. 22 Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well, whose 6 branches run over the wall. 23 The archers have "sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: 24 But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the "mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the Shepherd, the stone of Israel:) 25 Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, "who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts and of the womb: 26 The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his Therefore thus saith brethren. suburbs, etc. Joshua, the Lord Gop, Behold, I lay in Zion for a of Israel, thou that Bock; thou that dwell in-bim, shine forth. Ps. heritance, at the these cities and their 21, 3, etc. k He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall and cursed is he that curseth thee. Numbers, II shall see him, but not now: I shall be hold him, but not nigh: people, gives more to some than to others, more gifts, graces, and comforts, and more of the good things of this life. 2 He often gives most to those that are least likely. He chooses the weak things of the world; raises the poor out of the dust. Grace observes not the order of nature, nor does God prefer those whom we think fittest to be preferred, but as it pleases him. It is observable, how often God, by the distinguishing favours of his covenant, advanced the younger above the elder; Abel above Cain, Shem above Japheth, Abraham above Nahor and Haran, Isaac above Ishmael, Jacob above Esau; Judah and Joseph were preferred before Reuben; Moses before Aaron; David and Solomon before their elder brethren. See 1 Sam. 14, 7. He tied the Jews to observe the birth-right, Deut. 21, 17, but he never tied himself to observe it. Some make this typical of the preference given to the Gentiles above the Jews; the Gentile converts were much more numerous than those of the Jews. See Gal. 4, 27. Thus free grace becomes more illustrious.-H. CHAP. XLIX-INSTABILITY.—Instability is the ruin of men's excellency. Men do not thrive, because they do not fix. Reuben's honour consequently was unstable; it departed from him, vanished into smoke, and became as water spilt upon the ground. Note, Those that throw away their virtue, must not expect to save their reputation. Jacob charges him particularly with the sin for which he was thus disgraced; Thou wentest up to thy father's bed. It was forty years ago that he had been guilty of this sin, yet now it is remembered against him. Note, As time will not of itself wear off the guilt of any sin from the conscience, so there| are some sins whose stains it will not wipe off from the good name, especially seventh-commandment-sins. Reuben's sin left an indelible mark of infamy upon his family; a dishonour that was a wound not to be healed without a scar, Prov. 6, 32, 33. Let us never do evil, and then we need not fear being told of it.-H. THE TRIBE OF JUDAH.-Glorious things are here said of Judah. 1. That the tribe of Judah should be victorious and successful in war! Thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies. This was fulfilled in David, Psalm 18, 40. 2 That it should be superior to the rest of the tribes; not only in itself more numerous and illustrious, but having a dominion over them; Thy father's children shall bow down before thee; Judah was the lawgiver, Psalm 60, 7. That tribe led the van through the wilderness, and in the conquest of Canaan, Judges, 1, 2. The prerogatives of the birth-right which Reuben had forfeited, the excellency of dignity and power were thus conferred upon Judah. Observe, "Thy brethren shall bow down before thee, and yet shall praise thee, reckoning themselves happy in having so wise and bold a commander." Note, Honour and power are then a blessing to those that have them, when they are not grudged and envied, but praised and applauded, and cheerfully submitted to. est between cheru 80, 1. 29 And he charged them, and said unto them, 3. That it should be a strong and courageous tribe, and so qualified for command and conquest; v. 9, Judah is a lion's whelp. The lion is the king of beasts, the terror of the forest when he roars; when he seizes his prey, none can resist him; when he goes up from the prey, none dare pursue him to revenge it. By this it is foretold that the tribe of Judah should become very formidable, and should not only obtain great victories, but should peaceably and quietly enjoy what was got by those victories; that they should make war, not for the sake of war, but for the sake of peace. Judah is compared, not to a lion rampant, always tearing, always raging, always ranging; but to a lion couchant, enjoying the satisfaction of his power and success, without creating vexation to others: this is to be truly great. 4. That it should be the royal tribe, and the tribe from which Messiah the Prince should come; v. 10, The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, till Shiloh come. Jacob here foresees and foretells, (1.) That the sceptre should come out of the tribe of Judah, which was fulfilled in David, on whose family the crown was entailed. (2.) That Shiloh should be of this tribe; his Seed, that promised Seed, in whom the earth should be blessed; that peaceable and prosperous one, or the Saviour, so others translate it, he shall come of Judah. Thus dying Jacob, at a great distance, saw Christ's day, and it was his comfort and support on his deathbed. (3.) That after the coming of the sceptre into the tribe of Judah, it should continue in that tribe, at least, a government of their own, till the coming of the Messiah, in whom, as the King of the church, and the great High-Priest, it was fit that both the Priesthood and the royalty should determine. Till the captivity, all along from David's time, the sceptre was in Judah, and from thence governors of that tribe, or of the Levites that adhered to it, (which was equivalent,) till Judea became a province of the Roman Empire, just at the time of our Saviour's birth, and was at that time taxed as one of the provinces, Luke, 2, 1. And at the time of his death the Jews expressly owned, We have no king but Cæsar. Hence, it is undeniably inferred against the Jews, that our Lord Jesus is he that should come, and that we are to look for no other; for he came exactly at the time appointed. Many excellent pens have been admirably well employed in explaining and illustrating this famous prophecy of Christ. 5. That it should be a very fruitful tribe, especially that it should abound with milk for babes, and wine to make glad the heart of strong men, v. 11, 12. Vines, so common in the hedge-rows, and so strong, that they should tie their asses to them, and so fruitful, that they should load their asses from them. Wine, as plentiful as water, so that the men of that tribe should be very healthful and lively, their eyes brisk and sparkling, their teeth white. Much of that which is here said concerning Judah, is to be applied to our Lord Jesus. (1.) He is the |