Genesis 50:15

15 Die Brüder aber Josephs fürchteten sich, da ihr Vater gestorben war, und sprachen: Joseph möchte uns Gram sein und vergelten alle Bosheit, die wir an ihm getan haben. {~}

Genesis 50:15 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 50:15

And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead,
&c.] And buried; for this and what follows were after their return to Egypt, from the burial of their father; though some think it was before, and as soon as they saw their father was dead, when they thought it a proper time, while Joseph's heart was tender and affected with his father's death, to compromise matters with him: but there is no reason to invert the order of the narration, for this "seeing" is not to be understood of their bodily sight, but of the contemplation of their minds; they considered with themselves that their father was now dead and buried, they had lost an affectionate parent, who was concerned for the welfare and peace of all his family, but what a turn things would now take they knew not: they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite
us all the evil which we did unto him;
their sin came fresh to their remembrance, guilt arose in their consciences and flew in their faces, and this caused fear and distrust where there was no reason for it, and led them to treat Joseph's character very ill; who was far from being of such a temper and disposition suggested by them, as if he retained hatred in his breast, and was of a revengeful spirit, only hid it during his father's life, because he would not grieve him.

Genesis 50:15 In-Context

13 und führten ihn ins Land Kanaan und begruben ihn in der zwiefachen Höhle des Ackers, die Abraham erkauft hatte mit dem Acker zum Erbbegräbnis von Ephron, dem Hethiter, gegenüber Mamre.

14 Als sie ihn nun begraben hatten, zog Joseph wieder nach Ägypten mit seinen Brüdern und mit allen, die mit ihm hinaufgezogen waren, seinen Vater zu begraben.

15 Die Brüder aber Josephs fürchteten sich, da ihr Vater gestorben war, und sprachen: Joseph möchte uns Gram sein und vergelten alle Bosheit, die wir an ihm getan haben. {~}

16 Darum ließen sie ihm sagen: Dein Vater befahl vor seinem Tod und sprach: {~}

17 Also sollt ihr Joseph sagen: Vergib doch deinen Brüdern die Missetat und ihre Sünde, daß sie so übel an dir getan haben. So vergib doch nun diese Missetat uns, den Dienern des Gottes deines Vaters. Aber Joseph weinte, da sie solches mit ihm redeten.