19 And Joseph H3130 said H559 unto them, Fear H3372 not: for am I in the place of God? H430
How much less to him that accepteth H5375 not the persons H6440 of princes, H8269 nor regardeth H5234 the rich H7771 more than H6440 the poor? H1800 for they all are the work H4639 of his hands. H3027 In a moment H7281 shall they die, H4191 and the people H5971 shall be troubled H1607 at midnight, H2676 H3915 and pass away: H5674 and the mighty H47 shall be taken away H5493 without hand. H3027 For his eyes H5869 are upon the ways H1870 of man, H376 and he seeth H7200 all his goings. H6806 There is no darkness, H2822 nor shadow of death, H6757 where the workers H6466 of iniquity H205 may hide H5641 themselves. For he will not lay H7760 upon man H376 more than right; that he should enter H1980 into judgment H4941 with God. H410 He shall break in pieces H7489 mighty men H3524 without number, H2714 and set H5975 others H312 in their stead. Therefore he knoweth H5234 their works, H4566 and he overturneth H2015 them in the night, H3915 so that they are destroyed. H1792 He striketh H5606 them as H8478 wicked men H7563 in the open H4725 sight H7200 of others; Because they turned back H5493 from him, H310 and would not consider H7919 any of his ways: H1870 So that they cause the cry H6818 of the poor H1800 to come H935 unto him, and he heareth H8085 the cry H6818 of the afflicted. H6041 When he giveth quietness, H8252 who then can make trouble? H7561 and when he hideth H5641 his face, H6440 who then can behold H7789 him? whether it be done against a nation, H1471 or against a man H120 only: H3162
But G1161 they were terrified G4422 and G2532 affrighted, G1719 G1096 and supposed G1380 that they had seen G2334 a spirit. G4151 And G2532 he said G2036 unto them, G846 Why G5101 are ye G2075 troubled? G5015 and G2532 why G1302 do thoughts G1261 arise G305 in G1722 your G5216 hearts? G2588
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Genesis 50
Commentary on Genesis 50 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 50
Ge 50:1-26. Mourning for Jacob.
1. Joseph fell upon his father's face, &c.—On him, as the principal member of the family, devolved the duty of closing the eyes of his venerable parent (compare Ge 46:4) and imprinting the farewell kiss.
2. Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father, &c.—In ancient Egypt the embalmers were a class by themselves. The process of embalmment consisted in infusing a great quantity of resinous substances into the cavities of the body, after the intestines had been removed, and then a regulated degree of heat was applied to dry up the humors, as well as decompose the tarry materials which had been previously introduced. Thirty days were alloted for the completion of this process; forty more were spent in anointing it with spices; the body, tanned from this operation, being then washed, was wrapped in numerous folds of linen cloth—the joinings of which were fastened with gum, and then it was deposited in a wooden chest made in the form of a human figure.
3. the Egyptians mourned, &c. It was made a period of public mourning, as on the death of a royal personage.
4, 5. Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, &c.—Care was taken to let it be known that the family sepulchre was provided before leaving Canaan and that an oath bound his family to convey the remains thither. Besides, Joseph deemed it right to apply for a special leave of absence; and being unfit, as a mourner, to appear in the royal presence, he made the request through the medium of others.
7-9. Joseph went up to bury his father—a journey of three hundred miles. The funeral cavalcade, composed of the nobility and military, with their equipages, would exhibit an imposing appearance.
10. they came to the threshing-floor of Atad, &c.—"Atad" may be taken as a common noun, signifying "the plain of the thorn bushes." It was on the border between Egypt and Canaan; and as the last opportunity of indulging grief was always the most violent, the Egyptians made a prolonged halt at this spot, while the family of Jacob probably proceeded by themselves to the place of sepulture.
15-21. When Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, &c.—Joseph was deeply affected by this communication. He gave them the strongest assurances of his forgiveness and thereby gave both a beautiful trait of his own pious character, as well as appeared an eminent type of the Saviour.
22, 23. Joseph dwelt in Egypt—He lived eighty years after his elevation to the chief power [see on Ge 41:46] witnessing a great increase in the prosperity of the kingdom, and also of his own family and kindred—the infant Church of God.
24. Joseph said unto his brethren, I die—The national feelings of the Egyptians would have been opposed to his burial in Canaan; but he gave the strongest proof of the strength of his faith and full assurance of the promises, by "the commandment concerning his bones" [Heb 11:22].
26. and they embalmed him—[See on Ge 50:2]. His funeral would be conducted in the highest style of Egyptian magnificence and his mummied corpse carefully preserved till the Exodus.