Genesis 50:15

15 And when the brethren of Joseph saw that their father was dead, they said, , lest at any time Joseph remember evil against us, and recompense to us all the evils which we have done against him.

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 So his sons carried him up into the land of Chanaan, and buried him in the double cave, which cave Abraam bought for possession of a burying place, of Ephrom the Chettite, before Mambre.

14 And Joseph returned to Egypt, he and his brethren, and those that had gone up with him to bury his father.

15 And when the brethren of Joseph saw that their father was dead, they said, , lest at any time Joseph remember evil against us, and recompense to us all the evils which we have done against him.

16 And they came to Joseph, and said, Thy father adjured before his death, saying,

17 Thus say ye to Joseph, Forgive them their injustice and their sin, forasmuch as they have done thee evil; and now pardon the injustice of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept while they spoke to him.