Génesis 45

1 Entonces José no pudo contenerse delante de todos los que estaban al lado suyo, y clamó: Haced salir de mi presencia a todos. Y no quedó nadie con él, para darse a conocer José a sus hermanos

2 Entonces dio su voz con lloro; y oyeron los egipcios, y oyó también la casa del Faraón

3 Y dijo José a sus hermanos: Yo soy José: ¿vive aún mi padre? Y sus hermanos no pudieron responderle, porque estaban turbados delante de él

4 Entonces dijo José a sus hermanos: Acercaos ahora a mí. Y ellos se acercaron. Y él dijo: Yo soy José vuestro hermano, el que vendisteis a Egipto

5 Ahora pues, no os entristezcáis, ni os pese de haberme vendido acá; que para vida me envió Dios delante de vosotros

6 que ya han sido dos años de hambre en medio de la tierra, y aún quedan cinco años en que ni habrá arada ni siega

7 Y Dios me envió delante de vosotros, para que vosotros quedaseis en la tierra, y para daros vida por grande libertad

8 Así pues, no me enviasteis vosotros acá, sino Dios, que me ha puesto por padre del Faraón, y por señor de toda su casa, y por enseñoreador en toda la tierra de Egipto

9 Daos prisa, id a mi padre y decidle: Así dice tu hijo José: Dios me ha puesto por señor de todo Egipto; ven a mí, no te detengas

10 Y habitarás en la tierra de Gosén, y estarás cerca de mí, tú y tus hijos, y los hijos de tus hijos, tus ganados y tus vacas, y todo lo que tienes

11 Y allí te alimentaré, pues aún quedan cinco años de hambre, para que no perezcas de pobreza tú y tu casa, y todo lo que tienes

12 Y he aquí, vuestros ojos ven, y los ojos de mi hermano Benjamín, que mi boca os habla

13 Haréis pues saber a mi padre toda mi gloria en Egipto, y todo lo que habéis visto; y daos prisa, y traed a mi padre acá

14 Y se echó sobre el cuello de Benjamín su hermano, y lloró; y también Benjamín lloró sobre su cuello

15 Y besó a todos sus hermanos, y lloró sobre ellos; y después sus hermanos hablaron con él

16 Y se oyó la noticia en la casa del Faraón, diciendo: Los hermanos de José han venido. Y agradó a los ojos del Faraón y de sus siervos

17 Y dijo el Faraón a José: Di a tus hermanos: Haced esto: cargad vuestras bestias, e id, volved a la tierra de Canaán

18 y tomad a vuestro padre y vuestras familias, y venid a mí, que yo os daré lo bueno de la tierra de Egipto y comeréis la grosura de la tierra

19 Y tú manda: Haced esto: tomaos de la tierra de Egipto carros para vuestros niños y vuestras mujeres; y tomad a vuestro padre, y venid

20 Y no se os preocupe por vuestras alhajas, porque el bien de la tierra de Egipto será vuestro

21 Y lo hicieron así los hijos de Israel; y les dio José carros conforme a la orden del Faraón, y les suministró mantenimiento para el camino

22 A cada uno de todos ellos dio mudas de vestidos, y a Benjamín dio trescientas piezas de plata, y cinco mudas de vestidos

23 Y a su padre envió esto: diez asnos cargados de lo mejor de Egipto, y diez asnas cargadas de trigo, y pan, y comida para su padre para el camino

24 Y despidió a sus hermanos, y se fueron. Y él les dijo: No riñáis por el camino

25 Y subieron de Egipto, y llegaron a la tierra de Canaán a Jacob su padre

26 Y le dieron las nuevas, diciendo: José vive aún; y él es señor en toda la tierra de Egipto. Y su corazón desmayó; pues no les creía

27 Y ellos le contaron todas las palabras de José, que él les había hablado; y viendo él los carros que José enviaba para llevarlo, el espíritu de Jacob su padre revivió

28 Entonces dijo Israel: Basta; José mi hijo vive todavía; iré, y le veré antes que yo muera

Génesis 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.