Genesis 50:15

15 Toen Jozefs broeders zagen, dat hun vader dood was, zo zeiden zij: Misschien zal ons Jozef haten, en hij zal ons gewisselijk vergelden al het kwaad, dat wij hem aangedaan hebben.

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 Want zijn zonen voerden hem in het land Kanaan, en begroeven hem in de spelonk des akkers van Machpela, welke Abraham met den akker gekocht had tot een erfbegrafenis van Efron, den Hethiet, tegenover Mamre.

14 Daarna keerde Jozef weder in Egypte, hij en zijn broeders, en allen, die met hem opgetogen waren, om zijn vader te begraven, nadat hij zijn vader begraven had.

15 Toen Jozefs broeders zagen, dat hun vader dood was, zo zeiden zij: Misschien zal ons Jozef haten, en hij zal ons gewisselijk vergelden al het kwaad, dat wij hem aangedaan hebben.

16 Daarom ontboden zij aan Jozef, zeggende: Uw vader heeft bevolen voor zijn dood, zeggende:

17 Zo zult gij tot Jozef zeggen: Ei, vergeef toch de overtreding uwer broederen, en hun zonde; want zij hebben u kwaad aangedaan; maar nu vergeef toch de overtreding der dienaren van den God uws vaders! En Jozef weende, als zij tot hem spraken.