L. BURIAL OF JACOB, AND HAPPY OLD AGE OF JOSEPH. (2) THE PHYSICIANS EMBALMED ISRAEL. — The command given first by Jacob to Joseph (Genesis 47:29), and then urged earnestly upon all his sons, and with the reminder that the cave of Machpelah had been purchased and belonged to him by right (Genesis 49:... [ Continue Reading ]
FORTY DAYS. — Herodotus (ii. 86) describes the process of embalming as occupying seventy days, but he was speaking of what he saw at Thebes, whereas Memphis was the Egyptian capital in Joseph’s time; and the mummies of Thebes are, we are told, far more perfectly preserved than those of Memphis. Diod... [ Continue Reading ]
JOSEPH SPAKE UNTO THE HOUSE OF PHARAOH. — It may seem at first sight strange that Joseph should make his request through mediators, but probably no one in the attire of mourning might enter the royal presence. (Comp. Esther 4:2.) The dress of a mourner was squalid, his beard unshorn, his hair in dis... [ Continue Reading ]
A VERY GREAT COMPANY. — Heb., _camp,_ the word following immediately upon the mention of the chariots and horsemen which went as the escort of the elders. These were the chief officers of Pharaoh’s household, and also of the districts into which Egypt was divided, of which each had its separate gove... [ Continue Reading ]
THRESHINGFLOOR OF ATAD. — Atad means “a thorn-bush,” the _rhamnus paliurus_ of Linnaeus, translated “bramble” in Judges 9:14. As agriculture was only beginning to be practised in Canaan, this threshing. floor would be common property, situated in some place easy of access, and probably a village wou... [ Continue Reading ]
ABEL-MIZRAIM. — There is here an example of that play upon words that is always dear to Orientals. The word for “mourning” is _êbel,_ while _abel_ means a meadow, and is often found prefixed to the names of towns. When the Versions were made no vowel points were as yet affixed to the Hebrew consonan... [ Continue Reading ]
JOSEPH WILL PERADVENTURE... — Heb., _What if Joseph should hate us,_ &c. They had not seen any change in his treatment of him, but if it were the case that he cherished feelings of revenge, they felt that they were now in his power.... [ Continue Reading ]
THY FATHER DID COMMAND... — Many Jewish expositors consider that this was untrue, and that Jacob was never made aware of the fact that his brethren had sold Joseph into slavery. It is, however, probable, from Genesis 49:6, that Jacob not only knew of it, but saw in Simeon and Levi the chief offender... [ Continue Reading ]
AM I IN THE PLACE OF GOD? — That is, _am I to act as judge, and punish?_ Judges are sometimes in Hebrew even called God (as in Exodus 21:6; Exodus 22:8; 1 Samuel 2:25), as exercising His authority.... [ Continue Reading ]
YE THOUGHT... GOD MEANT. — The verb in the Heb. is the same, and contrasts man’s purpose with God’s purpose. In Genesis 45:7 Joseph had already pointed out that the Divine providence had overruled the evil intentions of his brethren for good. At the end of the verse “much people,” or _a great people... [ Continue Reading ]
YOUR LITTLE ONES. — Heb., _your_ “_tafs_” rendered in the LXX., “your households,” and in the Syriac, “your families,” your dependents — its usual translation in that Version.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE THIRD GENERATION. — These would be Joseph’s great-grandchildren. Thus Eran, son of Shuthelah, son of Ephraim, was to be born in Joseph’s lifetime (Numbers 26:35). WERE BROUGHT UP... — Heb., _were born upon Joseph’s knees,_ that is, were adopted by him. (See Note on Genesis 30:3.) They would not... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD WILL... BRING YOU OUT OF THIS LAND. — This is, first, a proof of Joseph’s faith, commended in Hebrews 11:22; and, secondly, it is a preparation for the next book (Exodus). Joseph’s faith thus unites the two books together.... [ Continue Reading ]
A COFFIN. — The word means a case or chest of wood. The mummy-cases were generally of sycamore-wood. As it would not be possible for the Israelites, now that their great protector was no more, to go with a military escort to Hebron to bury him, Joseph orders that his embalmed body should be placed i... [ Continue Reading ]