Genesis 45:24

24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, "Do not quarrel on the way."

Genesis 45:24 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 45:24

So he sent his brethren away, and they departed
From Egypt to Canaan with the wagons, asses, and rich presents: and he said unto them, see that ye fall not out by the way;
the Targum of Jonathan adds, about the affair of selling me; which he had reason to fear they would, from what they, and particularly Reuben, had said in his presence, ( Genesis 42:21 Genesis 42:22 ) ; he was jealous this would be the subject of their discourse by the way, and that they would be blaming one another about it, and so fall into contentions and quarrels; that one would say it was owing to the reports of such an one concerning him, that they entertained hatred against him; that it was such an one that advised to kill him, and such an one that stripped him of his clothes, and such an one that put him into the pit, and such an one that was the cause of his being sold; and thus shifting of things from one to another, and aggravating each other's concern in this matter, they might stir up and provoke one another to wrath and anger, as the word used signifies, which might have a bad issue; to prevent which Joseph gives them this kind and good advice; and especially there was the more reason to attend to it, since he was reconciled unto them, and was desirous the whole should be buried in oblivion.

Genesis 45:24 In-Context

22 To each and all of them he gave festal garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five festal garments.
23 To his father he sent as follows: ten asses loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten she-asses loaded with grain, bread, and provision for his father on the journey.
24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, "Do not quarrel on the way."
25 So they went up out of Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob.
26 And they told him, "Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt." And his heart fainted, for he did not believe them.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.