Genesis 45:1
וְלֹֽא־יָכֹ֨ל יוֹסֵ֜ף לְהִתְאַפֵּ֗ק לְכֹ֤ל הַנִּצָּבִים֙ עָלָ֔יו וַיִּקְרָ֕א הוֹצִ֥יאוּ כָל־אִ֖ישׁ מֵעָלָ֑י וְלֹא־עָ֤מַד אִישׁ֙ אִתּ֔וֹ בְּהִתְוַדַּ֥ע יוֹסֵ֖ף אֶל־אֶחָֽיו׃
and Joseph was not able to restrain himself before all who stood by him, and he called, “Cause every man to go out from me!” And a man did not stand with him when Joseph caused himself to be known to his brothers.
Paraphrase: Now when Joseph heard the lament of Judah and saw the sincerity of his repentance, he could constrain himself no longer. In great anguish, he motioned to his house steward to have everyone removed from the room. When the room was empty, Joseph stood before his brothers and told them very plainly who he was.
Comments:
Note the substantival participle הַנִּצָּבִים.
See chapter 20q for בְּהִתְוַדַּע.
Genesis 45:2
וַיִּתֵּ֥ן אֶת־קֹל֖וֹ בִּבְכִ֑י וַיִּשְׁמְע֣וּ מִצְרַ֔יִם וַיִּשְׁמַ֖ע בֵּ֥ית פַּרְעֹֽה׃
and he gave his voice to weeping, and Egypt heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard.
Paraphrase: Joseph was so overwhelmed with what was happening that he dissolved into a flood of tears. He wept so loudly that the attendants whom he had dismissed heard his weeping. Even members of Pharaoh’s family were wondering what was taking place in Joseph’s hall.
Comments:
Genesis 45:3
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יוֹסֵ֤ף אֶל־אֶחָיו֙ אֲנִ֣י יוֹסֵ֔ף הַע֥וֹד אָבִ֖י חָ֑י וְלֹֽא־יָכְל֤וּ אֶחָיו֙ לַעֲנ֣וֹת אֹת֔וֹ כִּ֥י נִבְהֲל֖וּ מִפָּנָֽיו׃
and Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; still is my father living?” And his brothers were not able to answer him because they were alarmed before his face.
Paraphrase: Joseph said it over and over again. “I am Joseph; it really is me. Don’t you recognize me now? Tell me about my father; I trust he is still living?” Joseph’s brothers reeled back in alarm when they heard it. Judah, who had been speaking, now stood transfixed in utter bewilderment. Could it possibly be true? There was no denying it; it really was Joseph there long lost brother. With their eyes, they saw Joseph; with their mind, they simply could not believe it. As the the truth of Joseph’s identity dawned on them, they did not know where to turn; they began falling back at the sight of his majestic presence. What could they do now? Where could they go?
Comments:
Genesis 45:4
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יוֹסֵ֧ף אֶל־אֶחָ֛יו גְּשׁוּ־נָ֥א אֵלַ֖י וַיִּגָּ֑שׁוּ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֲנִי֙ יוֹסֵ֣ף אֲחִיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־מְכַרְתֶּ֥ם אֹתִ֖י מִצְרָֽיְמָה׃
and Joseph said to his brothers, “Draw near, please, to me.” And they drew near, and he said, “I am Joseph, your brother whom you sold me to Egypt.
Paraphrase: When Joseph noticed their alarm, he stretched out his hand to them and beckoned for them to come closer. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said, “It’s really me, Joseph, the brother whom you sold to the Ishmaelites so many years ago. They took me to Egypt, and that is how I ended up here.”
Comments:
Genesis 45:5
וְעַתָּ֣ה׀ אַל־תֵּעָ֣צְב֗וּ וְאַל־יִ֙חַר֙ בְּעֵ֣ינֵיכֶ֔ם כִּֽי־מְכַרְתֶּ֥ם אֹתִ֖י הֵ֑נָּה כִּ֣י לְמִֽחְיָ֔ה שְׁלָחַ֥נִי אֱלֹהִ֖ים לִפְנֵיכֶֽם׃
and now do not be distressed and do not be angry in your eyes because you sold me here because for preservation of life, God sent me before you.
Paraphrase: Now don’t beat yourself up for what you did. Yes, what you did was reprehensible; but now, look and see what God has done. God sent me to Egypt so that I could understand Pharaoh’s dream and save thousands of lives from the ravages of this famine including your own life.
Comments:
See c(b) for יִחַר.
Genesis 45:6
כִּי־זֶ֛ה שְׁנָתַ֥יִם הָרָעָ֖ב בְּקֶ֣רֶב הָאָ֑רֶץ וְעוֹד֙ חָמֵ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֵין־חָרִ֖ישׁ וְקָצִּֽיר׃
because this, years of the famine in the midst of the land and still five years which there is no plowing or harvest.
Paraphrase: Now note this. Only the first couple of years of this famine have passed. According to Pharoah’s dream, there are still five more years in which we will see neither planting or harvesting in this country.
Comments:
Genesis 45:7
וַיִּשְׁלָחֵ֤נִי אֱלֹהִים֙ לִפְנֵיכֶ֔ם לָשׂ֥וּם לָכֶ֛ם שְׁאֵרִ֖ית בָּאָ֑רֶץ וּלְהַחֲי֣וֹת לָכֶ֔ם לִפְלֵיטָ֖ה גְּדֹלָֽה׃
and God sent me before your faces to establish for you a remnant in the land and to cause you to live, for a great deliverance.
Paraphrase: Now this is the reason that God has brought me into Egypt and given me supervision over all that takes place here. God in His love and kind providence has given me the opportunity to preserve the lives of thousands of Egyptians and to preserve your life and the lives of your families. Let’s not dwell on the wicked thing you did; let’s celebrate this great deliverance which God has given us. Truly, this is YHWH’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes. (Psalm 118:23)
Comments:
Genesis 45:8
וְעַתָּ֗ה לֹֽא־אַתֶּ֞ם שְׁלַחְתֶּ֤ם אֹתִי֙ הֵ֔נָּה כִּ֖י הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיְשִׂימֵ֨נִֽי לְאָ֜ב לְפַרְעֹ֗ה וּלְאָדוֹן֙ לְכָל־בֵּית֔וֹ וּמֹשֵׁ֖ל בְּכָל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
and now, you did not send me here, but God, and He sent me for a father to Pharoah and for a lord over all his house and a ruler over all the land of Egypt.
Paraphrase: So I hope you can see what God is teaching us today. It wasn’t you who sent me to Egypt; it was God. God sent me to Egypt to be Pharoah’s counselor and to direct both the collection and storage of grain during the plentiful years and now to direct the grain distribution office in this time of famine. This is the real reason why I was made ruler over all of Egypt and the manager of all of Pharoah’s affairs.
Comments:
Study the doctrine of God’s providence, especially the idea of concursus, and the role of first and second causes; see here or here.
Genesis 45:9
מַהֲרוּ֮ וַעֲל֣וּ אֶל־אָבִי֒ וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֣ם אֵלָ֗יו כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ בִּנְךָ֣ יוֹסֵ֔ף שָׂמַ֧נִי אֱלֹהִ֛ים לְאָד֖וֹן לְכָל־מִצְרָ֑יִם רְדָ֥ה אֵלַ֖י אַֽל־תַּעֲמֹֽד׃
be quick and go up to my father and say to him, “Thus says your son, Joseph. God has made me to be lord over all Egypt; come down to me; do not stand.
Paraphrase: Now listen to me. Here is what you are to do. Make all possible speed and return to Canaan. Do not stop along the way. Do not even look to the left or to the right. If you meet anyone, do not greet him; and if anyone greets you, do not answer him. (2 Kings 4:29) Just get to my father as fast as you can and place this summons in his hand. “Thus says the Grand Vizier of Egypt. I am Joseph, your son. Our God, the great creator of heaven and earth, has made me ruler over all the land of Egypt. Now I summon you to come and to stand in my presence. Do not delay.”
Comments:
Note the messenger formula. This is “a term used by form critics to label the words “thus says the LORD,” which repeatedly occur in prophetic speech to introduce prophetic oracles. The words “thus says” were used of messengers generally in the ancient Near East for oral communication and were adapted by the prophets to indicate the authority and divine origin of the message.” Pocket Dictionary of Biblical Studies 79.
Genesis 45:10
וְיָשַׁבְתָּ֣ בְאֶֽרֶץ־גֹּ֗שֶׁן וְהָיִ֤יתָ קָרוֹב֙ אֵלַ֔י אַתָּ֕ה וּבָנֶ֖יךָ וּבְנֵ֣י בָנֶ֑יךָ וְצֹאנְךָ֥ וּבְקָרְךָ֖ וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר־לָֽךְ׃
and you will settle in the land of Goshen and you will be near to me, you and your sons and your son’s sons and your flocks and your cattle and all what is to you.
Paraphrase: I have a plot of land set aside for you and your families. Your flocks and herds will flourish in this region since its pastures are the best in all the country. (Genesis 47:6, 11) This land is called Goshen, and I am giving it to you and to all your sons and their families. Then you will be near to me, and we can rejoice in each other’s love and in God’s goodness in bringing us together.
Comments:
See p287 for Goshen.
Genesis 45:11
וְכִלְכַּלְתִּ֤י אֹֽתְךָ֙ שָׁ֔ם כִּי־ע֛וֹד חָמֵ֥שׁ שָׁנִ֖ים רָעָ֑ב פֶּן־תִּוָּרֵ֛שׁ אַתָּ֥ה וּבֵֽיתְךָ֖ וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר־לָֽךְ׃
and I will sustain you there for still five years of famine lest you be impoverished, you and your houses and all what is to you.
Paraphrase: There I will ensure your safety and prosperity for there are still five years of famine left. Times are going to get increasingly difficult, but I will not allow any of you to come to any distress, not you or any of your families. You can trust me for that.
Comments:
See §55(4) or here for וְכִלְכַּלְתִּי.
Genesis 45:12
וְהִנֵּ֤ה עֵֽינֵיכֶם֙ רֹא֔וֹת וְעֵינֵ֖י אָחִ֣י בִנְיָמִ֑ין כִּי־פִ֖י הַֽמְדַבֵּ֥ר אֲלֵיכֶֽם׃
and behold your are eyes seeing and the eyes of my brother Benjamin that [it is] my mouth which is speaking to you.
Paraphrase: Now I know this is all so very difficult to take in, but look carefully. You can see with your own eyes that it is me. Even Benjamin, who was so young when I saw him last, can see that it really is me.
Comments:
הַמְדַבֵּר cannot be a predicate use of the participle because it is articular.
Genesis 45:13
וְהִגַּדְתֶּ֣ם לְאָבִ֗י אֶת־כָּל־כְּבוֹדִי֙ בְּמִצְרַ֔יִם וְאֵ֖ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר רְאִיתֶ֑ם וּמִֽהַרְתֶּ֛ם וְהוֹרַדְתֶּ֥ם אֶת־אָבִ֖י הֵֽנָּה׃
and tell to my father all my glory in Egypt and all what you saw and hurry and cause my father to come down here.
Paraphrase: Now enough talking. Please hurry back to Canaan and get my father. Tell him that his son Joseph is alive and is ruler over all Egypt. Tell him about all the work that I am trying to accomplish here. Tell him that I am anxious to meet him. Now hurry, be on your way, get my father, and bring him back to me here with all possible speed.
Comments:
Genesis 45:14
וַיִּפֹּ֛ל עַל־צַוְּארֵ֥י בִנְיָמִֽן־אָחִ֖יו וַיֵּ֑בְךְּ וּבִנְיָמִ֔ן בָּכָ֖ה עַל־צַוָּארָֽיו׃
and he fell on the neck of Benjamin, his brother and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck.
Paraphrase: Then Joseph embraced Benjamin one more time, and both of them wept freely for joy.
Comments:
Genesis 45:15
וַיְנַשֵּׁ֥ק לְכָל־אֶחָ֖יו וַיֵּ֣בְךְּ עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם וְאַ֣חֲרֵי כֵ֔ן דִּבְּר֥וּ אֶחָ֖יו אִתּֽוֹ׃
Genesis 45:16
וְהַקֹּ֣ל נִשְׁמַ֗ע בֵּ֤ית פַּרְעֹה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בָּ֖אוּ אֲחֵ֣י יוֹסֵ֑ף וַיִּיטַב֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔ה וּבְעֵינֵ֖י עֲבָדָֽיו׃
Genesis 45:17
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר פַּרְעֹה֙ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֔ף אֱמֹ֥ר אֶל־אַחֶ֖יךָ זֹ֣את עֲשׂ֑וּ טַֽעֲנוּ֙ אֶת־בְּעִ֣ירְכֶ֔ם וּלְכוּ־בֹ֖אוּ אַ֥רְצָה כְּנָֽעַן׃
Genesis 45:18
וּקְח֧וּ אֶת־אֲבִיכֶ֛ם וְאֶת־בָּתֵּיכֶ֖ם וּבֹ֣אוּ אֵלָ֑י וְאֶתְּנָ֣ה לָכֶ֗ם אֶת־טוּב֙ אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם וְאִכְל֖וּ אֶת־חֵ֥לֶב הָאָֽרֶץ׃
Genesis 45:19
וְאַתָּ֥ה צֻוֵּ֖יתָה זֹ֣את עֲשׂ֑וּ קְחוּ־לָכֶם֩ מֵאֶ֨רֶץ מִצְרַ֜יִם עֲגָל֗וֹת לְטַפְּכֶם֙ וְלִנְשֵׁיכֶ֔ם וּנְשָׂאתֶ֥ם אֶת־אֲבִיכֶ֖ם וּבָאתֶֽם׃
Genesis 45:20
וְעֵ֣ינְכֶ֔ם אַל־תָּחֹ֖ס עַל־כְּלֵיכֶ֑ם כִּי־ט֛וּב כָּל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם לָכֶ֥ם הֽוּא׃
Genesis 45:21
וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־כֵן֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּתֵּ֨ן לָהֶ֥ם יוֹסֵ֛ף עֲגָל֖וֹת עַל־פִּ֣י פַרְעֹ֑ה וַיִּתֵּ֥ן לָהֶ֛ם צֵדָ֖ה לַדָּֽרֶךְ׃
Genesis 45:22
לְכֻלָּ֥ם נָתַ֛ן לָאִ֖ישׁ חֲלִפ֣וֹת שְׂמָלֹ֑ת וּלְבִנְיָמִ֤ן נָתַן֙ שְׁלֹ֣שׁ מֵא֣וֹת כֶּ֔סֶף וְחָמֵ֖שׁ חֲלִפֹ֥ת שְׂמָלֹֽת׃
Genesis 45:23
וּלְאָבִ֞יו שָׁלַ֤ח כְּזֹאת֙ עֲשָׂרָ֣ה חֲמֹרִ֔ים נֹשְׂאִ֖ים מִטּ֣וּב מִצְרָ֑יִם וְעֶ֣שֶׂר אֲתֹנֹ֡ת נֹֽ֠שְׂאֹת בָּ֣ר וָלֶ֧חֶם וּמָז֛וֹן לְאָבִ֖יו לַדָּֽרֶךְ׃
Genesis 45:24
וַיְשַׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־אֶחָ֖יו וַיֵּלֵ֑כוּ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם אַֽל־תִּרְגְּז֖וּ בַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃
and he sent his brothers, and they went, and he said to them, “Do not be agitated on the way.”
Paraphrase: Then Joseph sent his brothers on their way. “Now promise me,” he said, “that you won’t start arguing and blaming each other for what happened. You too, Reuben (Genesis 42:22); don’t revisit all what took place. Don’t dredge up all your past sins; all of us have a share in what happened. I have forgiven you and that’s all that matters right now. Let the past go and get back to father Jacob and tell him the good news. Now be off on your way, and may God provide for you every need.”
Comments:
Does רגז mean in this verse to be afraid or to quarrel amongst themselves? Support for the latter comes from the fact that the word here is more associated with being stirred up to anger rather than being stirred up to fear. Driver points (p364) to the LXX which translates רגז witη μη ὀργίζεσθε ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ. Calvin writes (p382):
Some explain the passage as meaning, that Joseph asks his brethren to be of tranquil mind, and not to disturb themselves with needless fear; he rather exhorts them, however, to mutual peace. For, since the word רגז, (ragaz) sometimes signifies to tremble or be afraid, and sometimes, to make a tumult, the latter sense is the more appropriate: for we know that the children of God are not only easily appeased, if any one has injured them, but that they also desire others should live together in concord. Joseph was pacified towards his brethren; but at the same time he admonishes them not to stir up any strife among themselves. For there was reason to fear lest each, in attempting to excuse himself, should try to lay the blame on others, and thus contention would arise.
Note that the brothers had plenty of time to think about how they would break the news to their father that they had lied about Joseph being torn by a wild animal (Genesis 37:32-33) and had instead sold him into slavery. Recall that Reuben had previously rebuked the brothers for their wickedness. (Genesis 42:22) Luther suggests that the younger brothers may not have played a role in selling Joseph off into slavery and would therefore be more inclined to chastise the older brothers for their wickedness. Works, 8.69–70.
Genesis 45:25
וַֽיַּעֲל֖וּ מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ אֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן אֶֽל־יַעֲקֹ֖ב אֲבִיהֶֽם׃
and they went up from Egypt and came to the land of Canaan, to Jacob, their father.
Paraphrase: After several weeks of travel, they left Egypt behind and entered their homeland again. When they arrived back home, they rushed into their father’s presence.
Comments:
Genesis 45:26
וַיַּגִּ֨דוּ ל֜וֹ לֵאמֹ֗ר ע֚וֹד יוֹסֵ֣ף חַ֔י וְכִֽי־ה֥וּא מֹשֵׁ֖ל בְּכָל־אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וַיָּ֣פָג לִבּ֔וֹ כִּ֥י לֹא־הֶאֱמִ֖ין לָהֶֽם׃
And they told him saying, “Still Joseph is living and that he is ruler over all the land of Egypt, and his heart grew numb because he did not believe them.
Paraphrase: “Joseph is still living!” they shouted. “He isn’t dead like we said. The truth is that Joseph is alive and well and, in fact, he is ruler over all the land of Egypt!” Upon hearing this, Jacob sat motionless, unable to believe what he was hearing.
Comments:
Genesis 45:27
וַיְדַבְּר֣וּ אֵלָ֗יו אֵ֣ת כָּל־דִּבְרֵ֤י יוֹסֵף֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֶּ֣ר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם וַיַּרְא֙ אֶת־הָ֣עֲגָל֔וֹת אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַ֥ח יוֹסֵ֖ף לָשֵׂ֣את אֹת֑וֹ וַתְּחִ֕י ר֖וּחַ יַעֲקֹ֥ב אֲבִיהֶֽם׃
And they spoke to him all the words of Joseph, which he spoke to them, and he saw the carts which Joseph sent to carry him and the spirit of Jacob, their father, lived.
Paraphrase: Then they related to their father all what they had seen in Egypt and all what Joseph had told them. They told the entire story to Jacob; they left nothing out. Jacob, however, was overwhelmed with the news and just couldn’t bring himself to believe all what they were telling him. Then they took him outside and showed him all the donkeys laden with the best Egyptian foods. They showed him the carts which Joseph had sent to bring them and their little ones back to Egypt. Then Jacob cried out,
O LORD, the God of my salvation, I have cried out by day and in the night before You. Let my prayer come before You; Incline Your ear to my cry! For my soul has had enough troubles, and my life has drawn near to Sheol. I am reckoned among those who go down to the pit; I have become like a man without strength, forsaken among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, Whom You remember no more, And they are cut off from Your hand. You have put me in the lowest pit, in dark places, in the depths. Your wrath has rested upon me, and You have afflicted me with all Your waves. Selah. You have removed my acquaintances far from me; You have made me an object of loathing to them; I am shut up and cannot go out. My eye has wasted away because of affliction; I have called upon You every day, O LORD; I have spread out my hands to You. Will You perform wonders for the dead? Will the departed spirits rise and praise You? Selah. Will Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave, Your faithfulness in Abaddon? Will Your wonders be made known in the darkness? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? (Psalm 88:1-12)
Then, Jacob could no longer deny the truth of what was being told him, and he began to revive.
Comments:
Genesis 45:28
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל רַ֛ב עוֹד־יוֹסֵ֥ף בְּנִ֖י חָ֑י אֵֽלְכָ֥ה וְאֶרְאֶ֖נּוּ בְּטֶ֥רֶם אָמֽוּת׃
and Israel said, “It is great! Still Joseph, my son, is living. I will go and I will see him before I die.”
Paraphrase: Then Jacob cried out in anguish, “Enough, enough, I now believe it! Joseph, my dear son, is still living.” Then the old man broke out into song,
I waited patiently for the LORD, and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear and will trust in the LORD. How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, and has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood. Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done, and Your thoughts toward us; there is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, they would be too numerous to count. (Psalm 40:1-5)
Then Jacob said, “Come, boys, let’s get to Egypt so that I might see and speak with my son before I die.” So the brothers gathered up what belongings they would need in Egypt, organized their herds, packed Jacob and their families into the carts, and began the long trek back to Egypt.
Comments: