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Selected Verse: Genesis 45:1 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ge 45:1 |
Strong Concordance |
Then Joseph [03130] could [03201] not refrain [0662] himself before all them that stood [05324] by him; and he cried [07121], Cause [03318] every man [0376] to go out [03318] from me. And there stood [05975] no man [0376] with him, while Joseph [03130] made himself known [03045] unto his brethren [0251]. |
| |
King James |
Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
JOSEPH MAKING HIMSELF KNOWN. (Gen. 45:1-28)
Then Joseph could not refrain himself--The severity of the inflexible magistrate here gives way to the natural feelings of the man and the brother. However well he had disciplined his mind, he felt it impossible to resist the artless eloquence of Judah. He saw a satisfactory proof, in the return of all his brethren on such an occasion, that they were affectionately united to one another; he had heard enough to convince him that time, reflection, or grace had made a happy improvement on their characters; and he would probably have proceeded in a calm and leisurely manner to reveal himself as prudence might have dictated. But when he heard the heroic self-sacrifice of Judah [Gen 44:33] and realized all the affection of that proposal--a proposal for which he was totally unprepared--he was completely unmanned; he felt himself forced to bring this painful trial to an end.
he cried, Cause every man to go out from me--In ordering the departure of witnesses of this last scene, he acted as a warm-hearted and real friend to his brothers--his conduct was dictated by motives of the highest prudence--that of preventing their early iniquities from becoming known either to the members of his household, or among the people of Egypt. |
| Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
The Recognition. - Gen 45:1. After this appeal, in which Judah, speaking for his brethren, had shown the tenderest affection for the old man who had been bowed down by their sin, and the most devoted fraternal love and fidelity to the only remaining son of his beloved Rachel, and had given a sufficient proof of the change of mind, the true conversion, that had taken place in themselves, Joseph could not restrain himself any longer in relation to all those who stood round him. He was obliged to relinquish the part which he had hitherto acted for the purpose of testing his brothers' hearts, and to give full vent to his feelings. "He called out: Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man (of his Egyptian attendants) with him, while Joseph made himself known to his brethren," quia effusio illa affectuum et στοργῆς erga fratres et parentem tanta fuit, ut non posset ferre alienorum praesentiam et aspectum (Luther).
Gen 45:2-3
As soon as all the rest were gone, he broke out into such loud weeping, that the Egyptians outside could hear it; and the house of Pharaoh, i.e., the royal family, was told of it (cf. Gen 45:2 and Gen 45:16). He then said to his brethren: "I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?" That his father was still living, he had not only been informed before (Gen 43:27), but had just been told again; but his filial heart impels him to make sure of it once more. "But his brethren could not answer him, for they were terrified before him:" they were so smitten in their consciences, that from astonishment and terror they could not utter a word.
Gen 45:4-7
Joseph then bade his brethren approach nearer, and said: "I am Joseph, your brother, whom he sold into Egypt. But now be not grieved nor angry with yourselves (בּעיניכם אל־חר as in Gen 31:35) that ye sold me hither; for God hath sent me before you to preserve life." Sic enim Joseph interpretatur venditionem. Vos quidem me vendidistis, sed Deus emit, asseruit et vindicavit me sibi pastorem, principem et salvatorem populorum eodem consilio, quo videbar amissus et perditus (Luther). "For," he continues in explanation, "now there are two years of famine in the land, and there are five years more, in which there will be no ploughing and reaping. And God hath sent me before you to establish you a remnant (cf. Sa2 14:7) upon the earth (i.e., to secure to you the preservation of the tribe and of posterity during this famine), and to preserve your lives to a great deliverance," i.e., to a great nation delivered from destruction, cf. Gen 50:20. פּליטה that which has escaped, the band of men or multitude escaped from death and destruction (Kg2 19:30-31). Joseph announced prophetically here, that God had brought him into Egypt to preserve through him the family which He had chosen for His own nation, and to deliver them out of the danger of starvation which threatened them now, as a very great nation.
Gen 45:8
"And now (this was truly the case) it was not you that sent me hither; but God (Ha-Elohim, the personal God, on contrast with his brethren) hath made me a father to Pharaoh (i.e., his most confidential counsellor and friend; cf. 1 Macc. 11:32, Ges. thes. 7), and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt;" cf. Gen 41:40-41.
Gen 45:9-11
Joseph then directed his brethren to go up to their father with all speed, and invite him in his name to come without delay, with all his family and possessions, into Egypt, where he would keep him near himself, in the land of Goshen (see Gen 47:11), that he might not perish in the still remaining five years of famine. הוּרשׁ: Gen 45:11, lit., to be robbed of one's possessions, to be taken possession of by another, from ירשׁ to take possession.
Gen 45:12-13
But the brethren were so taken by surprise and overpowered by this unexpected discovery, that to convince them of the reality of the whole affair, Joseph was obliged to add, "Behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you.
And tell my father all my glory in Egypt, and all that ye have seen, and bring my father quickly hither."
Gen 45:14-15
He then fell upon Benjamin's neck and wept, and kissed all his brethren and wept on them, i.e., whilst embracing them; "and after that, his brethren talked with him." כּן אחרי: after Joseph by a triple assurance, that what they had done was the leading of God for their own good, had dispelled their fear of retribution, and, by embracing and kissing them with tears, had sealed the truth and sincerity of his words. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
Judah and his brethren were waiting for an answer, and could not but be amazed to discover, instead of the gravity of a judge, the natural affection of a father or brother.
[1.] Cause every man to go out - The private conversations of friends are the most free. When Joseph would put on love, he puts off state, which it was not fit his servants should be witnesses of. Thus Christ graciously manifests himself and his loving kindness to his people, out of the sight and hearing of the world.
[2.] V. 2. Tears were the introduction to his discourse. He had dammed up this stream a great while, and with much ado, but now it swelled so high that he could no longer contain, but he wept aloud, so that those whom he had forbid to see him could not but hear him. These were tears of tenderness and strong affection, and with these he threw off that austerity, with which he had hitherto carried himself towards his brethren; for he could bear it no longer. This represents the Divine compassion towards returning penitents, as much as that of the father of the prodigal, Luk 15:20; Hos 11:8-9.
[3.] V. 3. He abruptly tells them; I am Joseph - They knew him only by his Egyptian name, Zaphnath - paaneah, his Hebrew name being lost and forgot in Egypt; but now he teaches them to call him by that, I am Joseph: nay, that they might not suspect it was another of the same name, he explains himself. I am Joseph your brother. This would both humble them yet more for their sin in selling him, and encourage them to hope for kind treatment. This word, at first, startled Joseph's brethren, they started back through fear, or at least stood still astonished: but Joseph called kindly and familiarly to them. Come near, I pray you. Thus, when Christ manifests himself to his people he encourages them to draw near to him with a true heart. Perhaps being about to speak of their selling of him, he would not speak aloud, lest the Egyptians should overhear, and it should make the Hebrews to be yet more an abomination to them; therefore he would have them come near, that he might whisper with them, which, now the tide of his passion was a little over, he was able to do, whereas, at first, he could not but cry out.
[4.] He endeavours to sweep their grief for the injuries they had done him, by shewing them, that, whatever they designed, God meant it for good, and had brought much good out of it. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| Joseph could not refrain himself - The word התאפק hithappek is very emphatic; it signifies to force one's self, to do something against nature, to do violence to one's self. Joseph could no longer constrain himself to act a feigned part - all the brother and the son rose up in him at once, and overpowered all his resolutions; he felt for his father, he realized his disappointment and agony; and he felt for his brethren, "now at his feet submissive in distress;" and, that he' might give free and full scope to his feelings, and the most ample play of the workings of his affectionate heart, he ordered all his attendants to go out, while he made himself known to his brethren. "The beauties of this chapter," says Dr. Dodd, "are so striking, that it would be an indignity to the reader's judgment to point them out; all who can read and feel must be sensible of them, as there is perhaps nothing in sacred or profane history more highly wrought up, more interesting or affecting." |
33 Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant [05650] abide [03427] instead of the lad [05288] a bondman [05650] to my lord [0113]; and let the lad [05288] go up [05927] with his brethren [0251].
14 And he fell [05307] upon his brother [0251] Benjamin's [01144] neck [06677], and wept [01058]; and Benjamin [01144] wept [01058] upon his neck [06677].
15 Moreover he kissed [05401] all his brethren [0251], and wept [01058] upon them: and after [0310] that his brethren [0251] talked [01696] with him.
12 And, behold, your eyes [05869] see [07200], and the eyes [05869] of my brother [0251] Benjamin [01144], that it is my mouth [06310] that speaketh [01696] unto you.
13 And ye shall tell [05046] my father [01] of all my glory [03519] in Egypt [04714], and of all that ye have seen [07200]; and ye shall haste [04116] and bring down [03381] my father [01] hither.
11 And there will I nourish [03557] thee; for yet there are five [02568] years [08141] of famine [07458]; lest thou, and thy household [01004], and all that thou hast, come to poverty [03423].
11 And Joseph [03130] placed [03427] his father [01] and his brethren [0251], and gave [05414] them a possession [0272] in the land [0776] of Egypt [04714], in the best [04315] of the land [0776], in the land [0776] of Rameses [07486], as Pharaoh [06547] had commanded [06680].
9 Haste [04116] ye, and go up [05927] to my father [01], and say [0559] unto him, Thus saith [0559] thy son [01121] Joseph [03130], God [0430] hath made [07760] me lord [0113] of all Egypt [04714]: come down [03381] unto me, tarry [05975] not:
10 And thou shalt dwell [03427] in the land [0776] of Goshen [01657], and thou shalt be near [07138] unto me, thou, and thy children [01121], and thy children's [01121] children [01121], and thy flocks [06629], and thy herds [01241], and all that thou hast:
11 And there will I nourish [03557] thee; for yet there are five [02568] years [08141] of famine [07458]; lest thou, and thy household [01004], and all that thou hast, come to poverty [03423].
40 Thou shalt be [01961] over my house [01004], and according unto thy word [06310] shall all my people [05971] be ruled [05401]: only in the throne [03678] will I be greater [01431] than thou.
41 And Pharaoh [06547] said [0559] unto Joseph [03130], See [07200], I have set [05414] thee over all the land [0776] of Egypt [04714].
8 So now it was not you that sent [07971] me hither, but God [0430]: and he hath made [07760] me a father [01] to Pharaoh [06547], and lord [0113] of all his house [01004], and a ruler [04910] throughout all the land [0776] of Egypt [04714].
30 And the remnant [07604] that is escaped [06413] of the house [01004] of Judah [03063] shall yet again [03254] take root [08328] downward [04295], and bear [06213] fruit [06529] upward [04605].
31 For out of Jerusalem [03389] shall go forth [03318] a remnant [07611], and they that escape [06413] out of mount [02022] Zion [06726]: the zeal [07068] of the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635] shall do [06213] this.
20 But as for you, ye thought [02803] evil [07451] against me; but God [0430] meant it [02803] unto good [02896], to [04616] bring to pass [06213], as it is this day [03117], to save [02421] much [07227] people [05971] alive [02421].
7 And, behold, the whole family [04940] is risen [06965] against thine handmaid [08198], and they said [0559], Deliver [05414] him that smote [05221] his brother [0251], that we may kill [04191] him, for the life [05315] of his brother [0251] whom he slew [02026]; and we will destroy [08045] the heir [03423] also: and so they shall quench [03518] my coal [01513] which is left [07760], and shall not leave [07604] to my husband [0376] neither name [08034] nor remainder [07611] upon [06440] the earth [0127].
35 And she said [0559] to her father [01], Let it not displease [02734] [05869] my lord [0113] that I cannot [03201] rise up [06965] before thee [06440]; for the custom [01870] of women [0802] is upon me. And he searched [02664], but found [04672] not the images [08655].
4 And Joseph [03130] said [0559] unto his brethren [0251], Come near [05066] to me, I pray you. And they came near [05066]. And he said [0559], I am Joseph [03130] your brother [0251], whom ye sold [04376] into Egypt [04714].
5 Now therefore be not grieved [06087], nor angry [02734] with yourselves [05869], that ye sold [04376] me hither: for God [0430] did send [07971] me before you [06440] to preserve life [04241].
6 For these two years [08141] hath the famine [07458] been in [07130] the land [0776]: and yet there are five [02568] years [08141], in the which there shall neither [0369] be earing [02758] nor harvest [07105].
7 And God [0430] sent [07971] me before you [06440] to preserve [07760] you a posterity [07611] in the earth [0776], and to save your lives [02421] by a great [01419] deliverance [06413].
27 And he asked [07592] them of their welfare [07965], and said [0559], Is your father [01] well [07965], the old man [02205] of whom ye spake [0559]? Is he yet alive [02416]?
16 And the fame [06963] thereof was heard [08085] in Pharaoh's [06547] house [01004], saying [0559], Joseph's [03130] brethren [0251] are come [0935]: and it pleased [03190] [05869] Pharaoh [06547] well [03190] [05869], and [05869] his servants [05650].
2 And he wept [06963] [01065] aloud [05414]: and the Egyptians [04714] and the house [01004] of Pharaoh [06547] heard [08085] [08085].
2 And he wept [06963] [01065] aloud [05414]: and the Egyptians [04714] and the house [01004] of Pharaoh [06547] heard [08085] [08085].
3 And Joseph [03130] said [0559] unto his brethren [0251], I am Joseph [03130]; doth my father [01] yet live [02416]? And his brethren [0251] could [03201] not answer [06030] him; for they were troubled [0926] at his presence [06440].
1 Then Joseph [03130] could [03201] not refrain [0662] himself before all them that stood [05324] by him; and he cried [07121], Cause [03318] every man [0376] to go out [03318] from me. And there stood [05975] no man [0376] with him, while Joseph [03130] made himself known [03045] unto his brethren [0251].
8 How shall I give thee up [05414], Ephraim [0669]? how shall I deliver [04042] thee, Israel [03478]? how shall I make [05414] thee as Admah [0126]? how shall I set [07760] thee as Zeboim [06636]? mine heart [03820] is turned [02015] within me, my repentings [05150] are kindled [03648] together [03162].
9 I will not execute [06213] the fierceness [02740] of mine anger [0639], I will not return [07725] to destroy [07843] Ephraim [0669]: for I am God [0410], and not man [0376]; the Holy One [06918] in the midst [07130] of thee: and I will not enter [0935] into the city [05892].
20 And [2532] he arose [450], and came [2064] to [4314] his [1438] father [3962]. But [1161] when he [846] was yet [2089] a great way [3112] off [568], his [846] father [3962] saw [1492] him [846], and [2532] had compassion [4697], and [2532] ran [5143], and fell [1968] on [1909] his [846] neck [5137], and [2532] kissed [2705] him [846].