1._After these things_. Moses now passes to the last act of Jacob’s life, which, as we shall see, was especially worthy of remembrance. For, since he knew that he was invested by God with no common character, in being made the father of the fathers of the Church, he fulfilled, in the immediate prosp... [ Continue Reading ]
3._And Jacob said unto Joseph_. The design of the holy man was to withdraw his son from the wealth and honors of Egypt, and to reunite him to the holy race, from which he had been, for a little while, separated. Moreover, he neither proudly boasts of his own excellence, nor of his present riches, no... [ Continue Reading ]
5._And now thy two sons_. Jacob confers on his son the special privilege, that he, being one, should constitute two chiefs; that is, that his two sons should succeed to an equal right with their uncles, as if they had been heirs in the first degree. But what is this! that a decrepit old man assigns... [ Continue Reading ]
7._And as for me, when I came from Padan_. He mentions the death and burial of his wife Rachel, in order that the name of his mother might prove a stimulus to the mind of Joseph. For since all the sons of Jacob had sprung from Syria, it was not a little to the purpose, that they should be thoroughly... [ Continue Reading ]
8._And Israel beheld Joseph’s sons_. I have no doubt that he had inquired concerning the youths, before he called them his heirs. But in the narration of Moses there is a _hysteron proteron _. And in the answer of Joseph we observe, what we have elsewhere alluded to, that the fruit of the womb is no... [ Continue Reading ]
12._And Joseph brought them out_. Moses explains more fully what he had touched upon in a single word. Joseph brings forth his sons from his own lap to his father’s knees, not only for the sake of honor, but that he may present them to receive a blessing from the prophet of God; for he was certainly... [ Continue Reading ]
14._And Israel stretched out his right hand_. Seeing his eyes were dim with age, so that he could not, by looking, discern which was the elder, he yet intentionally placed his hands across. And therefore Moses says that he _guided his hands wittingly_, because he did not rashly put them forth, nor t... [ Continue Reading ]
15._God before whom_. Although Jacob knew that a dispensation of the grace of God was committed to him, in order that he might effectually bless his grandchildren; yet he arrogates nothing to himself, but suppliantly resorts to prayer, lest he should, in the least degree, detract from the glory of G... [ Continue Reading ]
16._The Angel which redeemed me_. He so joins the Angel to God as to make him his equal. Truly he offers him divine worship, and asks the same things from him as from God. If this be understood indifferently of any angel what ever, the sentence is absurd. Nay, rather, as Jacob himself sustains the n... [ Continue Reading ]
17._And when Joseph saw_. Because by crossing his arms, Jacob had so placed his hands as to put his left hand upon the head of the first-born, Joseph wished to correct this proceeding, as if it had been a mistake. He thought that the error arose from dimness of vision; but his father followed the Sp... [ Continue Reading ]
19._He also shall become a people_. Jacob does not dispute which of the youths shall be the more worthy; but only pronounces what God had decreed with himself, concerning each, and, what would take place after a long succession of time. He seeks, therefore, no causes elsewhere; but contents himself... [ Continue Reading ]
21._And Israel said unto Joseph_. Jacob repeats what he had said. And truly all his sons, and especially Joseph and his sons, required something more than one simple confirmation, in order that they might not fix their abode in Egypt, but might dwell, in their minds, in the land of Canaan. He mentio... [ Continue Reading ]
22._I have given to thee one portion_. In order to increase the confidence of his son Joseph, Jacob here assigns him a portion beyondhis proper lot. Some expound the passage otherwise; as if he called him a double heir in his two sons, thus honoring him with one portion more than the rest. But there... [ Continue Reading ]