Genesis 45:23

_AND TO HIS FATHER HE SENT AFTER THIS MANNER; TEN ASSES LADEN WITH THE GOOD THINGS OF EGYPT, AND TEN SHE ASSES LADEN WITH CORN AND BREAD AND MEAT FOR HIS FATHER BY THE WAY._ To his father he sent - a supply of everything that could contribute to his support and comfort-the large and liberal scale on which that supply was given being intended, like the five portions of Benjamin, as a token of his filial love....

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 45:23. _MEAT FOR HIS FATHER BY THE WAY._] מזון _mazon_, from זן _zan_, to _prepare, provide_, c. Hence _prepared meat_, some made-up dish, _delicacies, confectionaries_, c. As the word is used, 2 Chronicles 16:14, for _aromatic_ preparations, it may be restrained in its meaning to something of that kind here. In Asiatic countries they have several curious methods of preserving flesh by _potting_, by which it may be kept for any reasonable length of time sweet and wholesome. Some delicacy, similar to the savoury food which Isaac loved, may be here intended and this was sent to Jacob in consideration of his age, and to testify the respect of his son. Of other kinds of meat he could need none, as he had large herds, and could kill a lamb...

- 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...

AND TO HIS FATHER HE SENT AFTER THIS [MANNER],.... Or "according to" this l; either in like manner, as he gave his brethren change of raiment, c. so he sent the like to him, as Aben Ezra and Ben Melech interpret it, referring it to what goes before or rather as Jarchi, according to this account or number, even which follows: namely, TEN ASSES LADEN WITH THE GOOD THINGS OF EGYPT: the best things the land afforded; the Targum of Jonathan says with wine, but that Egypt did not abound with; and so Jarchi, out of the Talmud, observes, that it was old wine that was sent, such as is agreeable to ancient men: AND TEN SHE ASSES LADEN WITH CORN; not made up into bread, next mentioned, and so distinguished from it: AND BREAD: ready made and baked: AND MEAT FOR HIS FATHER BY THE WAY; food and fruit of various sorts; Aben Ezra reckons many, peas, beans, lentils, millet, fetches, figs, currants, a...

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....

BREAD AND MEAT FOR HIS FATHER— The flesh which travellers in the east frequently carry with their other provisions, is usually _potted,_ in order to preserve it fit for use. Dr. Shaw* mentions it as part of the provision he made for his journey to Mount Sinai, which commonly is not completed under two months; nor does he speak of any other sort of meat which he carried with him. In some such way, doubtless, was the meat prepared, which Joseph sent to his father for his _viaticum_ when he was to come into AEgypt, _ten asses laden with the good things of AEgypt, and ten she-asses laden with corn,_ and bread and meat, for his father by the _way._ But _meat_ is by no means _necessary_ for an _eastern_ traveller; and especially for so _short_ a journey as Jacob had to take; and still less for one who was to travel with considerable quantities of cattle, as we know Jacob did; see ch....