Matthew Poole and continuators on Genesis 50

1 AND Joseph fell upon his fathers face , and wept upon him, and kissed him.

And doubtless closed his eyes, as God had promised, Gen. 46. 4. which may be implyed in this generall phrase.

2 And Joseph commanded his servants the Physitians to imbalm his father : and the Physitians imbalmed Israel.

The dead Corps of his Father with Spices and Oyntments and other things necessary for the preservation of the body from putrefaction as long as might be. This Ioseph did partly because he would comply as far as he could with the Egyptians, whose custom this was, from whom also the Jews took it, 2 Chron. 16. 14. Iohn 19. 39, 40. Partly to do honour and shew his affections to his worthy Father; and partly because this was necessary for the keeping of the body so long as the times of mourning and the journey to Canaan required.

3 And forty dayes were fulfilled for him , (for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed) and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten dayes .

(i. e.) For his embalming; that so the Drugs or Spices which were applied might more effectually reach to all the parts of the dead body, and keep it from corruption. And the effect of their diligence and so long continuance in this work was that bodies have been preserved uncorrupt for some thousands of years.

(i. e.) Thirty days, according to the custom of the Hebrews, Numb. 20. 29. Deut. 34. 8. to which doubtless the Egyptians in this case did accommodate themselves, besides the forty days spent in embalming him, which also was a time of mourning. And thus I suppose, the Egyptians reckoned those seventy two dayes which Diodorus Siculus saith they spent in mourning for their deceased Kings.

Marginal references: Heb. wept.

4 And when the dayes of his mourning were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, if now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh , saying,

The Houshold or Family, namely those of them which were chief in place and favour with the King.

Ioseph makes use of their intercession, either, 1. Lest he might seem to despise them or to presume too much upon his own single interest. Or, 2. By engaging them in this matter to stop their mouths, who otherwise might have been ready enough to censure this action, which they would have a fair opportunity to do in Iosephs absence. Or, 3. Because it was the custom here, as it was elsewhere, Est. 4. 2. that persons in mourning habit might not come into the Kings presence, partly because they would not give them any occasion of sadness, and partly because according to their superstitious conceits the sight of such a person was judged ominous.

5 My father made me swear , saying, Lo, I die: in my grave, which I have digged for me , in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again.

Here is triple obligation upon Ioseph, 1. His duty to fulfil the will of the dead. 2. The obedience which he owed to his Fathers command. 3. The tye of a solemn Oath. All which had weight even with the Heathens, and were so many arguments to Pharaoh and his Courtiers,

According to the manner of those antient and succeeding times. See 2 Chron. 16. 14. Isa. 22. 16. Matth. 27. 60. In that large cave which Abraham bought for a burying place for his Family, Iacob had digged a particular and small cell or repository for himself, as others did after him upon the like occasion. And this reason is prudently added, to shew that this desire proceeded not from any contempt of Pharaoh or his Land, but from that common and customary desire of persons of all ages and Nations, to be buried in their Fathers Sepulchres.

Marginal references: chap. 47. 29.

6 And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear .

The Heathens by the light of nature discovered the sacredness of an Oath and the wickedness of perjury.

7 And 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.

(i. e.) A great number of them, as that word is understood, Matth. 3. 5. and oft elsewhere. For many of them were aged and infirm, and many could not be spared from their attendance at Court, or upon their employments, &c.

Courtiers of an inferiour rank.

The chief Officers and under him Governours of his Family and Counsels, who used to reside at or near the Court.

The great Officers Civil and Military, whose places of habitation and command were dispersed in the several parts of the Land.

8 And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his fathers house: onely their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds , they left in the land of Goshen.

And such as were necessary to take care of them, which must needs be understood.

9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen and it was a very great company.

For their defence, in case of any opposition.

10 And they came to the threshing-floor of Atad which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very [illegible: 1+ letters]ore lamentation : and he made a mourning for his father seven dayes .

A man so called, or, of thorn, or thorns, as the word signifies, Iudg. 9. 14. Psal. 58. 9. So it might be a place either abounding or encompassed with thorns.

Or, on this side: for the word signifies both, and it may be taken either way here, the one in respect of Egypt, the other, in regard of the place in which Moses wrote. It is certain they fetched a great compass, whether for the commodiousness of the way for their charets, and for conveniencies for so great a company, or to prevent all jealousies in the people as if they came thither with ill design, is not material.

Because there was the entrance into that Countrey or Territory where he was to be buried.

The Egyptians though they were not much grieved nor concerned for Iacobs death, yet they used bitter cryes and lamentations, which possibly were made or aggravated by persons hired and used upon such occasions. See Ier. 9. 17.

According to the custom. see 1 Sam. 31. 13.

16 And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died , saying,

This looks like a lye; for Iacob either did not know this fact, or rather, was so well assured of Iosephs clemency and goodness, that he never feared his revenge. But guilt doth so awaken fear, that it makes a man never to think himself secure.

Marginal references: Heb. charged.

17 So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin: for they did unto thee evil: And now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father . And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.

For whose sake pardon those that joyn with thee in his worship.

Partly in Compassion to their fear and trouble: And partly because they still retained a diffidence in his kindness after all his great and real demonstrations of it.

18 And his brethren also, went and fell down before his face, and they said, Behold, we be thy servants .

Ready and willing to undergo that servitude, into which we so wickedly sold thee.

19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God ?

It is Gods prerogative to take vengeance, which I dare not usurp. See Deut. 32. 35. Or, [illegible: 1+ letters]an I do what I please with you, without Gods leave? Therefore fear him rather than me, and upon your experience of his wonderful care and kindness to you believe that God will not, and therefore that I neither can nor will, do you any hurt. But it is not unusual to put the Hebrew he for halo, as it is Gen. 27. 36. 1 Sam. 2. 28. 2 Sam. 23. 19. 1 Kings 16. 31. &c. and so the words may be very well rendred▪ A[illegible: 1+ letters] not I [illegible: 1 word] God? i. e. Subject to his will, a minister of his Providence? Dare I destroy those whom God so eminently designed to save? Dare I punish those whom God hath pardoned!

Marginal references: chap. 45. [illegible: 1+ letters].

20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me : but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Therefore I do not excuse your guilt, though I comfort you against despondency.

21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you and your little ones : And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

Expect not onely a free pardon from me, but all the kindness of a loving brother.

Marginal references: Heb. to their hearts.

23 And Joseph saw Ephraims children, of the third generation : the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh, were brought up upon Josephs knees .

Reckoning from and after Ephraim, i. e. Ephraims Grandchildrens children. So early did Ephraims priviledge above Manasseh appear, and Iacobs blessing, Gen. 48. 19. take place.

Heb. Sons. For though he had but one Son, viz. Giiead by his first wife, yet he married a second Wife, and by her had two other Sons, 1 Chron. 7. 16. which Ioseph lived long enough to [illegible: 1+ letters]ee. Or under the name of children his grandchildren also might be comprehended. So there is no need of that Enallage of Sons for one Son, which we meet with in other places.

Laid upon Iosephs lap or knees, where Parents use ofttimes to take up and repose their Infants, to express their love to them and delight in them. And some observe, that it was an antient custom, in divers Nations that the Infant as soon as it was born was laid upon the Grandfathers knees. So it is an Ellipsis whereby one word is put for two, or under one Verb. See more of this phrase on Gen. 30. 3. and 48. 12.

Marginal references: Numb. 32. 39; Heb. born.

24 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you , and bring you out of this land, unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

(i. e.) Deliver you out of this place, where I foresee you will be hardly used after my decease; or, fulfill his promised kindness to you, as that word is used, Gen. 21. 1. Exod. 4. 31. There is a double visitation oft mentioned in Scripture, the one of Grace and Mercy, which is here meant, the other of Justice or Anger, as elsewhere.

Marginal references: Heb. 11. 22. Exod. 3. 16.; chap. 15. 14. and 26. 3. and 35. 1[illegible: 1+ letters]. and 46. 4.

25 And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel , saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones hence.

For the same reason which moved Iacob to require an Oath from him, Gen. 47. 30, 31.

He saith not, of his brethren, but of Israels children, under which his Grandchildren are comprehended and seem principally intended here; either because his brethren were most of them dead, or rather because he knew that they were not to go out of Egypt in his brethrens time, but in their second or third Generation.

(i. e.) My dead body: but he mentions onely his bones, because part of his body was corrupted, and the other part, though preserved from corruption by the embalming, yet was so changed and adulterated with the Spices and other materials which they used, that it looked like another thing: Onely his bones remained intire and unchanged. Quest. Why did he not desire to be presently carried thither and buried there as his father did! Answ. 1. Lest he should disoblige the Egyptians, and provoke them against his brethren and children. The removal of his Father thither was necessary and forced from him by an Oath, but the order for the removal of himself would have been voluntary and designed, and therefore could not have escaped the censure of an ungrateful contempt of the Land of Egypt, which as it was thought good enough for him and his to live in, should have been judged so too for his burial. 2. That by these his remains his memory might be the longer and better preserved both with the Egyptians, who for his sake might shew kindness to his near Relations, and with the Israelites, to whom this was a visible pledge of their deliverance and an help to their Faith, and an obligation to them to persist in the true Religion.

Marginal references: Exod. 13. 19. Josh. 24. 32. Acts 7. 16.

26 So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old : [illegible: 1+ letters]nd they imbalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

So for about Thirteen years of affliction he enjoyed Eighty years of Honour, and as much Happiness as Earth could afford him.