Genesis 45:22

_TO ALL OF THEM HE GAVE EACH MAN CHANGES OF RAIMENT; BUT TO BENJAMIN HE GAVE THREE HUNDRED PIECES OF SILVER, AND FIVE CHANGES OF RAIMENT._ Changes of raiment. It was and is customary with great men to bestow upon their friends dresses of distinction; and in places where they are of the same description and quality, the value of these presents consists in their number (Job 27:16; Isaiah 3:6; James 5:2). The great number given to Benjamin bespoke the warmth of his brother's attachment to him; and Joseph felt, from the amiable temper they now all displayed, he might with perfect safety indulge this fond partiality for a mother's son....

22._And to all of them he gave each man changes of raiment_. That he furnishes his brethren with supplies for their journey is not wonderful: but to what purpose was it that he loaded them with money and garments, seeing they would so soon return? I, indeed, do not doubt that he did it on account of his father and the wives of his brethren, in order that they might have less reluctance to leave the land of Canaan. For he knew that his message would scarcely be believed, unless some manifest tokens of its truth were presented. It might also be, that he not only endeavored to allure those who were absent, but that he also wished to testify, more and more, his love towards his brethren. But the former consideration has more weight with me, because he took greater care in furnishing Benjamin than the rest. Jerome has translated the expression, “changes of raiment,” by “two robes,” and other...

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 o...

Verse Genesis 45:22. _CHANGES OF RAIMENT_] It is a common custom with all the Asiatic sovereigns to give both _garments_ and _money_ to ambassadors and persons of distinction, whom they particularly wish to honour. Hence they keep in their wardrobes several hundred changes of raiment, ready made up for presents of this kind. That such were given by way of reward and honour, see Judges 14:12, Judges 14:19; Revelation 6:11. At the close of a feast the _Hindoos_, among other presents to the guests, commonly give _new_ _garments_. A _Hindoo garment_ is merely a piece of cloth, requiring no work of the...

- Joseph Made Himself Known to His Brethren 10. גשׁן _gôshen_, Goshen, Gesem (Arabias related perhaps to גשׁם _geshem_ “rain, shower”), a region on the borders of Egypt and Arabia, near the gulf of Suez. The appeal of Judah is to Joseph irresistible. The repentance of his brothers, and their attachment to Benjamin, have been demonstrated in the most satisfactory manner. This is all that Joseph sought. It is evident, throughout the whole narrative, that he never aimed at exercising any supremacy over his brothers. As soon as he has obtained an affecting proof of the right disposition of his brothers, he conceals himself no longer. And the speech of Judah, in which, no doubt, his brothers concurred, does equal credit to his head and heart....

EXPOSITION GENESIS 45:16 AND THE FAME THEREOF—literally, _the voice, _hence rumor (cf. Jeremiah 3:9)—WAS HEARD IN PHARAOH'S HOUSE (having been brought thither doubtless by some of the Court officials), SAYING, JOSEPH'S BRETHREN—it is probable that they would style him Zaphnath-paaneah (cf. Genesis 41:45) ARE COME (_i.e._ are arrived in Egypt): AND IT PLEASED PHARAOH WELL, AND HIS SERVANTS—literally, _it was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants _(cf. Genesis 41:37). The...

TO ALL OF THEM HE GAVE EACH MAN CHANGES OF RAIMENT,.... Rich apparel, two suits of clothes, to shift and change upon occasion, such as Homer k calls ιματια εξαμειβα, "changeable garments"; those he gave to everyone of his brethren, partly that they might have something to show to their father and to their wives, which would cause them to give credit to the report they should give of Joseph, and his great prosperity; and partly that they might, upon their return, be provided with suitable apparel to appear before Pharaoh, and chiefly this was intended to show his great respect and affection for them, and reconciliation to them: BUT TO BENJAMIN HE GAVE THREE HUNDRED [PIECES] OF SILVER; or shekels, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan, which amounted to between thirty and forty pounds of our money; the Septuagint very wrongly renders it three hundred "pieces of gold"; and besides these h...

Genesis 45:9. _Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt; come down unto me, tarry not:_ Joseph, having made himself known to his brethren, bids them return to their father, and bring him down to Egypt to see his long-lost son. Genesis 45:10. _And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast: and there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty._ It is just like Joseph to speak thus kindly, and to put the invitation so attractively to his father: «Thou shalt be near unto me.»

CHAPTER 45 JOSEPH REVEALS HIMSELF _ 1. He reveals himself (Genesis 45:1)_ 2. His address (Genesis 45:4) 3. He kissed his brethren (Genesis 45:14) 4. Pharaoh's command (Genesis 45:16) 5. His brethren sent away and their return to Jacob (Genesis 45:21) These three Chapter s belong together because they lead up to the great climax in the story of Joseph. The nobility of the character of Joseph is here fully brought out. Besides being a wise man, the great statesman of Egypt, he had a heart of tender

Joseph's Brethren bring the News to Jacob 16. _the fame_ Lit. "the voice." It is not the sound of Joseph's weeping, but the news of the discovery of his brethren....