Genesischapter 45

28 verses · ASV

This chapter sends 199 cross-references outward and receives 155 — heaviest partner: Genesis.

Chapter summary

‘I am Joseph; doth my father yet live?’ The Egyptians are sent out; the brothers stand terrified; Joseph weeps aloud. The theology of providence is preached from the throne: ‘be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves … God did send me before you to preserve life’. He sends them back with wagons and provisions and this one instruction: ‘see that ye fall not out by the way’. Pharaoh ratifies it: bring your father and your households; the good of all the land of Egypt is yours. Jacob's spirit revives when he sees the wagons. Calvin: the chapter is a theological sermon in narrative form — God meant for good what man meant for evil.

Drafted from Matthew Henry, Calvin, Gill, Clarke, JFB, and Barnes.

Context

Law · Moses — see the Genesis overview for the book's full setting.

1 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.

2 And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard.

3 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.

4 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.

5 And now be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.

6 For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and there are yet five years, in which there shall be neither plowing nor harvest.

7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a remnant in the earth, and to save you alive by a great deliverance.

8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

9 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;