Matthew Henry Commentary Genesis 50
Matthew Henry Commentary
Genesis 50
Matthew Henry Commentary
Genesis 50
"And Joseph fell upon his father`s face, and wept upon him, and kissed him. And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel. And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of embalming: and the Egyptians wept for him three-score and ten days. And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found favor in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again. And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear." — Genesis 50:1-6 (ASV)
Though pious relatives and friends have lived to a good old age, and we are confident they have gone to glory, yet we may regret our own loss and pay respect to their memory by lamenting them. Grace does not destroy natural affection, but purifies, moderates, and regulates it.
The departed soul is beyond the reach of any tokens of our affection. However, it is proper to show respect to the body, for which we await a glorious and joyful resurrection, regardless of what may become of its remains in this world. Thus Joseph showed his faith in God and love for his father. He ordered the body to be embalmed, or wrapped with spices, to preserve it.
See how vile our bodies are when the soul has forsaken them; they will in a very short time become foul and offensive.
"And Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, and all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father`s house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen. And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company. And they came to the threshing-floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and there they lamented with a very great and sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days. And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abel-mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan. And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them: for his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field, for a possession of a burying-place, of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre. And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father." — Genesis 50:7-14 (ASV)
Jacob's body was attended, not only by his own family, but by the great men of Egypt. Now that they were better acquainted with the Hebrews, they began to respect them.
Professors of religion should endeavor by wisdom and love to remove the prejudices many have against them. Bystanders took notice of it as a grievous mourning. The death of good men is a loss to any place, and ought to be greatly lamented.
"And when Joseph`s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, It may be that Joseph will hate us, and will fully requite us all the evil which we did unto him. And they sent a message unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the transgression of thy brethren, and their sin, for that they did unto thee evil. And now, we pray thee, forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we are thy servants. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? And as for you, ye meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them." — Genesis 50:15-21 (ASV)
Various motives might have caused the sons of Jacob to continue in Egypt, despite the prophetic vision Abraham had of their bondage there. Judging Joseph from typical human nature, they thought he would now avenge himself on those who had hated and injured him without cause. Unable to resist or flee, they attempted to soften him by humbling themselves.
They pleaded with him as the servants of Jacob's God. Joseph was deeply affected by seeing this complete fulfillment of his dreams. He directed them not to fear him, but to fear God; to humble themselves before the Lord, and to seek the Divine forgiveness. He assured them of his own kindness to them.
See what an excellent spirit Joseph had, and learn from him to render good for evil. He comforted them, and, to banish all their fears, he spoke kindly to them. Broken spirits must be bound up and encouraged.
Those we love and forgive, we must not only do well for, but speak kindly to.
"And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father`s house: and Joseph lived a hundred and ten years. And Joseph saw Ephraim`s children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were born upon Joseph`s knees. And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die; but God will surely visit you, and bring you up out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence. So Joseph died, being a hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt." — Genesis 50:22-26 (ASV)
Joseph, having honored his father, his days were long in the land which, for the present, God had given him. When he saw his death approaching, he comforted his brothers with the assurance of their return to Canaan in due time. We must comfort others with the same comforts with which we have been comforted by God, and encourage them to rest on the promises which are our support.
For a confession of his own faith, and a confirmation of theirs, he charges them to keep his remains unburied until that glorious day when they would be settled in the land of promise. Thus Joseph, by faith in the doctrine of the resurrection, and the promise of Canaan, gave commandment concerning his bones. This would keep up their expectation of a speedy departure from Egypt, and keep Canaan continually in their minds.
This would also attach Joseph's descendants to their kinsmen. The death, as well as the life of this eminent saint, was truly excellent; both provide us with strong encouragement to persevere in the service of God. How happy to set out early in the heavenly race, to continue steadfastly, and to finish the course with joy! This Joseph did, this we also may do.
Even when the pains of death are upon us, if we have trusted in Him upon whom the patriarchs, prophets, and apostles depended, we need not fear to say, “My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.”
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