Chuàngshìjì 45

1 Yūesè zaì zuǒyòu zhàn zhe de rén miànqián qíng bú zì jìn , fēnfu yī shēng shuō , rén dōu yào líkāi wǒ chū qù . Yūesè hé dìxiōng xiāng rèn de shíhou bìng méiyǒu yī rén zhàn zaì tā miànqián .

2 Tā jiù fàng shēng dà kū , Āijí rén hé fǎlǎo jiā zhōng de rén dōu tīngjian le .

3 Yūesè duì tā dìxiōng men shuō , wǒ shì Yūesè . wǒde fùqin hái zaì ma , tā dìxiōng bùnéng huídá , yīnwei zaì tā miànqián dōu jīng huáng .

4 Yūesè yòu duì tā dìxiōng men shuō , qǐng nǐmen jìn qián lái . tāmen jiù jìn qián lái . tā shuō , wǒ shì nǐmen de xiōngdi Yūesè , jiù shì nǐmen suǒ maì dào Āijí de .

5 Xiànzaì , búyào yīnwei bǎ wǒ maì dào zhèlǐ zì yōu zì hèn . zhè shì shén chāi wǒ zaì nǐmen yǐ xiān lái , wèi yào bǎoquán shēngmìng .

6 Xiànzaì zhè dì de jīhuāng yǐjing èr nián le , hái zaì wǔ nián bùnéng gēngzhòng , bùnéng shōu chéng .

7 Shén chāi wǒ zaì nǐmen yǐ xiān lái , wèi yào gĕi nǐmen cún liú yú chóng zaì shìshang , yòu yào dà shī zhĕngjiù , bǎoquán nǐmen de shēngmìng .

8 Zhèyàng kàn lái , chāi wǒ dào zhèlǐ lái de bú shì nǐmen , nǎi shì shén . tā yòu shǐ wǒ rú fǎlǎo de fǔ , zuò tā quán jiā de zhǔ , bìng Āijí quán dì de zǎixiàng .

9 Nǐmen yào gǎnjǐn shàng dào wǒ fùqin nàli . duì tā shuō , nǐ érzi Yūesè zhèyàng shuō , shén shǐ wǒ zuò quán Āijí de zhǔ , qǐng nǐ xià dào wǒ zhèlǐ lái , búyào dān yán .

10 Nǐ hé nǐ wǒ érzi sūnzi , lián niú qún yáng qún , bìng yīqiè suǒyǒude , dōu kĕyǐ zhù zaì Gēshān dì , yǔ wǒ xiàng jìn .

11 Wǒ yào zaì nàli fèng yǎng nǐ . yīnwei hái yǒu wǔ nián de jīhuāng , miǎndé nǐ hé nǐde juànshǔ , bìng yīqiè suǒyǒude , dōu baì luò le .

12 Kuàngqiĕ nǐmen de yǎn hé wǒ xiōngdi Biànyǎmǐn de yǎn dōu kànjian shì wǒ qīn kǒu duì nǐmen shuōhuà .

13 Nǐmen yĕ yào jiàng wǒ zaì Āijí yīqiè de róngyào hé nǐmen suǒ kànjian de shì dōu gàosu wǒ fùqin , yòu yào gǎnjǐn dì jiàng wǒ fùqin bān dào wǒ zhèlǐ lái .

14 Yúshì Yūesè fú zaì tā xiōngdi Biànyǎmǐn de jǐngxiàng shàng kū , Biànyǎmǐn yĕ zaì tāde jǐngxiàng shàng kū .

15 Tā yòu yǔ zhòng dìxiōng qīnzuǐ, bào zhe tāmen kū , suíhòu tā dìxiōng jiù hé tā shuōhuà .

16 Zhè fēngshēng chuán dào fǎlǎo de gōng lǐ , shuō , Yūesè de dìxiōng men lái le . fǎlǎo hé tāde chénpú dōu hĕn xǐhuan .

17 Fǎlǎo duì Yūesè shuō , nǐ fēnfu nǐde dìxiōng men shuō , nǐmen yào zhèyàng xíng , bǎ duòzi tái zaì shēngkou shàng , qǐshēn wàng Jiānán dì qù .

18 Jiàng nǐmen de fùqin hé nǐmen de juànshǔ dōu bān dào wǒ zhèlǐ lái , wǒ yào bǎ Āijí dì de mĕi wù cìgĕi nǐmen , nǐmen yĕ yào chī zhè dì féimĕi de chūchǎn .

19 Xiànzaì wǒ fēnfu nǐmen yào zhèyàng xíng , cóng Āijí dì daì zhe chēliàng qù , bǎ nǐmen de háizi hé qīzi , bìng nǐmen de fùqin dōu bān lái .

20 Nǐmen yǎn zhōng búyào aìxī nǐmen de jiāju , yīnwei Āijí quán dì de mĕi wù dōu shì nǐmen de .

21 Yǐsèliè de érzi men jiù rúcǐ xíng . Yūesè zhào zhe fǎlǎo de fēnfu gĕi tāmen chēliàng hé lù shàng yòng de shíwù ,

22 Yòu gĕi tāmen gèrén yī tào yīfu , wéidú gĕi Biànyǎmǐn sān bǎi yínzi , wǔ tào yīfu .

23 Sòng gĕi tā fùqin gōng lü shí pǐ , tuó zhe Āijí de mĕi wù , mǔ lü shí pǐ , tuó zhe liángshi yǔ bǐng hé caì , wèi tā fùqin lù shàng yòng .

24 Yúshì Yūesè dǎfa tā dìxiōng men huí qù , yòu duì tāmen shuō , nǐmen búyào zaì lù shàng xiāng zhēng .

25 Tāmen cóng Āijí shàng qù , lái dào Jiānán dì , tāmende fùqin Yǎgè nàli ,

26 Gàosu tā shuō , Yūesè hái zaì , bìngqiĕ zuò Āijí quán dì de zǎixiàng . Yǎgè xīnli bīngliáng , yīnwei bú xìn tāmen .

27 Tāmen biàn jiàng Yūesè duì tāmen shuō de yīqiè huà dōu gàosu le tā . tāmen fùqin Yǎgè yòu kànjian Yūesè dǎfa lái jiē tāde chēliàng , xīn jiù sūxǐng le .

28 Yǐsèliè shuō , ba le . ba le . wǒde érzi Yūesè hái zaì , chèn wǒ wèi sǐ yǐ xiān , wǒ yào qù jiàn tā yī miàn .

Chuàngshìjì 45 Commentary

Chapter 45

Joseph comforts his brethren, and sends for his father. (1-15) Pharaoh confirms Joseph's invitation, Joseph's gifts to his brethren. (16-24) Jacob receives the news of Joseph's being alive. (25-28)

Verses 1-15 Joseph let Judah go on, and heard all he had to say. He found his brethren humbled for their sins, mindful of himself, for Judah had mentioned him twice in his speech, respectful to their father, and very tender of their brother Benjamin. Now they were ripe for the comfort he designed, by making himself known. Joseph ordered all his attendants to withdraw. Thus Christ makes himself and his loving-kindness known to his people, out of the sight and hearing of the world. Joseph shed tears of tenderness and strong affection, and with these threw off that austerity with which he had hitherto behaved toward his brethren. This represents the Divine compassion toward returning penitents. "I am Joseph, your brother." This would humble them yet more for their sin in selling him, but would encourage them to hope for kind treatment. Thus, when Christ would convince Paul, he said, I am Jesus; and when he would comfort his disciples, he said, It is I, be not afraid. When Christ manifests himself to his people, he encourages them to draw near to him with a true heart. Joseph does so, and shows them, that whatever they thought to do against him, God had brought good out of it. Sinners must grieve and be angry with themselves for their sins, though God brings good out of it, for that is no thanks to them. The agreement between all this, and the case of a sinner, on Christ's manifesting himself to his soul, is very striking. He does not, on this account, think sin a less, but a greater evil; and yet he is so armed against despair, as even to rejoice in what God hath wrought, while he trembles in thinking of the dangers and destruction from which he has escaped. Joseph promises to take care of his father and all the family. It is the duty of children, if the necessity of their parents at any time require it, to support and supply them to the utmost of ( 1 Timothy. 5:4 ) Joseph had embraced Benjamin, he caressed them all, and then his brethren talked with him freely of all the affairs of their father's house. After the tokens of true reconciliation with the Lord Jesus, sweet communion with him follows.

Verses 16-24 Pharaoh was kind to Joseph, and to his relations for his sake. Egypt would make up the losses of their removal. Thus those for whom Christ intends his heavenly glory, ought not to regard the things of this world. The best of its enjoyments are but lumber; we cannot make sure of them while here, much less can we carry them away with us. Let us not set our eyes or hearts upon the world; there are better things for us in that blessed land, whither Christ, our Joseph, is gone to prepare a place. Joseph dismissed his brethren with a seasonable caution, "See that ye fall not out by the way." He knew they were too apt to be quarrelsome; and having forgiven them all, he lays this charge upon them, not to upbraid one another. This command our Lord Jesus has given to us, that we love one another, and that whatever happens, or has happened, we fall not out. For we are brethren, we have all one Father. We are all guilty, and instead of quarrelling with one another, have reason to fall out with ourselves. We are, or hope to be, forgiven of God, whom we have all offended, and, therefore, should be ready to forgive one another. We are "by the way," a way through the land of Egypt, where we have many eyes upon us, that seek advantage against us; a way that leads to the heavenly Canaan, where we hope to be for ever in perfect peace.

Verses 25-28 To hear that Joseph is alive, is too good news to be true; Jacob faints, for he believes it not. We faint, because we do not believe. At length, Jacob is convinced of the truth. Jacob was old, and did not expect to live long. He says, Let my eyes be refreshed with this sight before they are closed, and then I need no more to make me happy in this world. Behold Jesus manifesting himself as a Brother and a Friend to those who once were his despisers, his enemies. He assures them of his love and the riches of his grace. He commands them to lay aside envy, anger, malice, and strife, and to live in peace with each other. He teaches them to give up the world for him and his fulness. He supplies all that is needful to bring them home to himself, that where he is they may be also. And though, when he at last sends for his people, they may for a time feel some doubts and fears, yet the thought of seeing his glory and of being with him, will enable them to say, It is enough, I am willing to die; and I go to see, and to be with the Beloved of my soul.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 45

This chapter contains an account of Joseph's making himself known to his brethren, which was done when they were alone, Ge 45:1-4; when he encouraged them not to distress themselves on account of their selling him into Egypt, for God in his providence had sent him there for their good, Ge 45:5-8; and he ordered them to go forthwith to Canaan, and acquaint his father with all the honour and glory they saw him in, and to desire him to come thither to him, where he should be provided for during the five years of famine yet to come, in the best part of the land of Egypt, Ge 45:9-13; upon which he expressed the strongest affection to Benjamin, and to all his brethren, Ge 45:14,15; the fame of this was soon spread in the house of Pharaoh, which gave the king great pleasure, who immediately expressed his earnest desire that his father might come and settle in Egypt, and ordered provisions to be sent him, and carriages to bring him down, and all that belonged to him, Ge 45:16-20; and Joseph accordingly delivered to his brethren wagons and provisions for the way, and gave gifts to them, and sent a present to his father, and dismissed his brethren with an exhortation not to fall out by the way, Ge 45:21-24; and when they came to Canaan, they acquainted their father with all these things, who at first could not believe them; but when he saw the wagons, his spirit revived, and determined to go and see his son, Ge 45:25-28.