Genesis 45:24

24 And he sendeth his brethren away, and they go; and he saith unto them, `Be not angry in 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 all of them hath he given -- to each changes of garments, and to Benjamin he hath given three hundred silverlings, and five changes of garments;
23 and to his father he hath sent thus: ten asses bearing of the good things of Egypt, and ten she-asses bearing corn and bread, even food for his father for the way.
24 And he sendeth his brethren away, and they go; and he saith unto them, `Be not angry in the way.'
25 And they go up out of Egypt, and come in to the land of Canaan, unto Jacob their father,
26 and they declare to him, saying, `Joseph [is] yet alive,' and that he [is] ruler over all the land of Egypt; and his heart ceaseth, for he hath not given credence to them.
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.