Génesis 45

1 José no pudo ya contenerse delante de todos los que estaban junto a él, y exclamó: Haced salir a todos de mi lado. Y no había nadie con él cuando José se dio a conocer a sus hermanos.

2 Y lloró tan fuerte que lo oyeron los egipcios, y la casa de Faraón se enteró de ello.

3 José dijo a sus hermanos: Yo soy José. ¿Vive todavía mi padre? Pero sus hermanos no podían contestarle porque estaban atónitos delante de él.

4 Y José dijo a sus hermanos: Acercaos ahora a mí. Y ellos se acercaron, y él dijo: Yo soy vuestro hermano José, a quien vosotros vendisteis a Egipto.

5 Ahora pues, no os entristezcáis ni os pese por haberme vendido aquí; pues para preservar vidas me envió Dios delante de vosotros.

6 Porque en estos dos años ha habido hambre en la tierra y todavía quedan otros cinco años en los cuales no habrá ni siembra ni siega.

7 Y Dios me envió delante de vosotros para preservaros un remanente en la tierra, y para guardaros con vida mediante una gran liberación.

8 Ahora pues, no fuisteis vosotros los que me enviasteis aquí, sino Dios; y El me ha puesto por padre de Faraón y señor de toda su casa y gobernador sobre toda la tierra de Egipto.

9 Daos prisa y subid adonde mi padre, y decidle: "Así dice tu hijo José: 'Dios me ha hecho señor de todo Egipto; ven a mí, no te demores.

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

11 'Allí proveeré también para ti, pues aún quedan cinco años de hambre, para que no pases hambre tú, tu casa y todo lo que tienes.'"

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

13 Notificad, pues, a mi padre toda mi gloria en Egipto y todo lo que habéis visto; daos prisa y traed aquí a mi padre.

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

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

16 Cuando se oyó la noticia en la casa de Faraón, de que los hermanos de José habían venido, agradó a Faraón y a sus siervos.

17 Entonces Faraón dijo a José: Di a tus hermanos: "Haced esto: cargad vuestras bestias e id a la tierra de Canaán;

18 y tomad a vuestro padre y a vuestras familias y venid a mí y yo os daré lo mejor de la tierra de Egipto, y comeréis de la abundancia de la tierra."

19 Y a ti se te ordena decirles: "Haced esto: tomad carretas de la tierra de Egipto para vuestros pequeños y para vuestras mujeres, y traed a vuestro padre y venid.

20 "Y no os preocupéis por vuestras posesiones personales, pues lo mejor de toda la tierra de Egipto es vuestro."

21 Y así lo hicieron los hijos de Israel; y José les dio carretas conforme a la orden de Faraón, y les dio provisiones para el camino.

22 A todos ellos les dio mudas de ropa, pero a Benjamín le dio trescientas piezas de plata y cinco mudas de ropa.

23 Y a su padre le envió lo siguiente: diez asnos cargados de lo mejor de Egipto, y diez asnas cargadas de grano, de pan y de alimentos para su padre en el camino.

24 Luego despidió a sus hermanos, y cuando se iban les dijo: No riñáis en el camino.

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

26 Y le informaron, diciendo: José vive todavía, y es gobernante en toda la tierra de Egipto. Pero él se quedó atónito porque no los podía creer.

27 Pero cuando ellos le contaron todas las cosas que José les había dicho, y cuando vio las carretas que José había enviado para llevarlo, el espíritu de su padre Jacob revivió.

28 Entonces Israel dijo: Basta, mi hijo José vive todavía. Iré y lo 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.