EXPLANATIONS. strange gods-gods of the stranger, whether stolen from Laban, or gathered with the booty obtained from the Shechemites. Les. 13. called, &c.-renewed or confirmed to him his new and honourable name. gave Abraham, &c.-to dwell and prosper in, unmolested by the Canaanites. to thee, &c.-on the same condition should Jacob also possess the land, acknowledging no authority but God's. seed-posterity. See Les. 30-33. Benjamin-'the son of the right hand'; a name given by the sorrowing Jacob; Rachel, when dying, had called the child Benoni, the son of my sorrow.' father-his mother's name is omitted, for she was dead before his return from Padan-aram. Israelites-they were divided into twelve tribes, according to the names of Jacob's sons-viz., Reuben, Simeon, &c. more than, &c.-because of his amiable and upright qualities. His brothers were of unruly dispositions and irregular habits. brothers hated him-because his unsullied character exhibited their "ungodly deeds" in a stronger light. sold, &c.-the crime of buying and selling human beings began early. Slavery had existed long before this time in Egypt. Hagar was an Egyptian bondmaid, or slave. Les. 7. a company-now called a caravan. Gilead-famed for a celebrated balm or 'balsam, called the balm of Gilead. camels-carriers,' well-known and highly useful beasts of burden, admirably adapted for traversing the sandy deserts of Eastern countries. blessed, &c.-thus was fulfilled in this instance the benediction of Isaac on the head of Jacob, "Blessed be he that blesseth thee." Les. 12. left all, &c.-he that is "faithful over a few things" stands fair for being made a "ruler over many things." falsely-we should be cautious of believing bad reports of others. cast, &c.-it is better to "suffer for well doing, than for evil doing." prison-Eastern prisons are not separate public buildings, like ours, but dungeons attached to the palaces of great men. CONTEMPORARY CHARACTER. POTIPHAR-one of the chief officers in the court of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, he bought Joseph for a slave, and committed to him the charge of his household. His wife was the cause of Joseph's imprisonment for she accused him falsely of a great sin. QUESTIONS. From what evil did Jacob cleanse his house before he came to Bethel? Tell me the particulars of the two communications made to Jacob at Bethel. Where, and how were joy and sorrow at this time united in Jacob's history? Whence did Jacob proceed from Ephrath? Who were the Edomites, and the Israelites? Describe the character of Joseph. Was he not, therefore, generally loved? By what means did God give him some intimation of his future greatness? What did Joseph's brethren do to frustrate God's design respecting him? What deceit did his brothers practise on their father? Was their plan successful? PRECEPTIVE LESSONS. ment. The authority of fathers to enforce reformation in their families is here inculcated. Jacob remembered his former mercies at Bethel. Tokens of divine mercy often precede severe afflictions; so was it with Jacob, who soon after his rejoicing had to mourn for his beloved Rachel. Though parents may love their good children more than those who are self-willed and vicious, they should not treat them with such manifest partiality as to make them be envied, and disliked by their brethren. The care of God frustrated the wicked purposes of Joseph's brethren; Man proposes, God disposes.' Moral qualifications, such as industry, integrity, and purity of character are our best recommendations if we should be cast friendless on the world. If accused of crime, may we know the happiness of a good conscience, and like Joseph, keep ourselves "unspotted from the world." 15. The Exaltation of Joseph. Genesis xxxix. 21-xlvii. 26. God was with Joseph, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.14 Pharaoh's chief butler and 'chief baker were in prison also, each of whom had a dream which Joseph interpreted. After some time Joseph was released from prison to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh. The king's dreams were to show him that there would be seven years of great plenty in Egypt'; and then seven years of grievous 'famine. And Joseph said, "Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man 'discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt." And let him appoint officers to "gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine." Pharaoh acknowledged the wisdom of Joseph, and made him 'governor over all the land of Egypt; he also gave him to wife Asenath, the daughter of Potipherah, priest of "On. During the years of plenty the earth brought forth by handfuls, and Joseph 'stored up very much corn. Joseph had two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. In the years of famine people from all countries came to Egypt to buy corn, because the famine was sore in 'all lands. Jacob sent his sons, except Benjamin, from Canaan3 to Egypt, to buy corn. When they came before Joseph they 'bowed themselves to the earth before him. Joseph knew his brothers, but they did not know him. He treated them 'roughly, said they were spies, and put them in prison. 'He heard them condemning themselves for their cruelty to their brother Joseph. He 'bound Simeon, and sent the others to Canaan with corn, commanding them when they returned to bring their youngest brother with them. Jacob was unwilling to let Benjamin go; at last he consented. They came the second time to Egypt; then Joseph made himself known to them. He forgave them, and sent waggons for his father and his brothers' families. When Jacob heard that Joseph was governor of Egypt, and when he saw the waggons which had been sent by him, he said, "It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive; I will go and see him before I die." Seventy souls of the house of Jacob came into Egypt. Pharaoh received Joseph's father and brothers very kindly. He gave them the land of Goshen to dwell in. He told Joseph to make some of his brethren rulers over his cattle. Joseph nourished his father and his brethren and their families with bread. While the famine lasted Joseph 'bought all the land of Egypt for the king, in exchange for corn, except the land of the priests. GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES. On-a city of Egypt near to the land of Goshen, noted for its idolatry. Heliopolis, one of its names, means 'the city of the Sun,' and Bethshemesh, another name of the city, means 'the house or temple of the Sun.' It was the daughter of the prince of On whom Pharaoh gave in marriage to Joseph. Goshen approaching,' the district of Egypt which Pharaoh gave to Jacob and his family, in which they settled. It was on the eastern side of the Nile, and had excellent pastures, it was preserved from the plagues with which the other parts of Egypt were afterwards afflicted. Les. 18. EXPLANATIONS. chief butler-or king's cup-bearer; an officer of importance in Eastern courts. chief baker-or pastry-cook; it was the duty of both these officers to wait personally on the king. The prison in which Joseph was confined belonged to the royal palace. plenty-the proverbial fertility of Egypt, 'the granary of the East,' is owing to the annual rise of the waters of the Nile, (Les. 17.) which begins in June, is at its maximum height in September, and ends in November. famine-as very little rain falls in Egypt, famines are attributable to an insufficient inundation of the Nile, which not only waters, but also fertilizes the soil. Joseph said, &c.-this exemplary young man seized the favourable moment, when the king's heart could be easily impressed, to recommend such a course of proceeding with the redundant harvests of the years of plenty as would secure the people against the evils of famine during the years of scarcity. discreet and wise-modest, prudent, cau tious, intelligent, judging rightly. governor, &c.-such sudden elevations are not uncommon in the East. Joseph was made vizier, or prime minister. stored up-this was to be Joseph's peculiar office. Such officers were subsequently appointed in other states, in Athens, in Rome, &c. all lands-owing to a general drought. bowed, &c.-acknowledging his superiority. Thus Joseph's dreams, (Les. 14.) were literally fulfilled. roughly-this part of Joseph's conduct produced the effect which he doubtless contemplated, it reminded them of their cruelty towards himself. He heard, &c.-they spoke to each other without reserve in his presence, not supposing that he understood them. bound Simeon-he had probably been the most forward in ridiculing Joseph's dreams, or in selling him into slavery. rulers, &c.-the Egyptians entertained a great aversion to the avocation of a shepherd. bought, &c.-thus nearly the entire country became royal property, and the original owners became crown-tenants. CONTEMPORARY CHARACTERS. PHARAOH-an Egyptian word signifying 'sun'; it was applied to eight or ten different persons mentioned in the Bible as kings of Egypt. The Pharaoh who lived in Joseph's time had a long and prosperous reign. See Les. 7. p. 17. EPHRAIM-though he was the younger of Joseph's sons, he became the greater, and Jacob's prophecy in this respect (Les. 16) was literally fulfilled. MANASSEH-the elder of Joseph's sons, the tribe of which he was the chief was greatly inferior to that of Ephraim with regard to numbers. QUESTIONS. Whose dreams did Joseph interpret while in prison? For what purpose was he released from Did his interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams prison? prove to be right? What did Joseph say were to precede the years of famine? To what natural phenomenon is the fertil ity of Egypt to be attributed? When scarcity occurred what caused it? What judicious advice did Joseph give the king? Was this famine confined to Egypt? Prove that it extended further. When Joseph's brethren bowed down what did they fulfil? Why did Joseph treat his brothers roughDid he imprison them all? [ly? When did he make himself known to them? How did Jacob express himself when he heard that Joseph was governor of How many of the house of Jacob came Egypt? Where were they placed? [into Egypt? PRECEPTIVE LESSONS. The dealings of God are far above human comprehension, he leads his people by a way they know not. Joseph's imprisonment was the link in the chain of events which led to his exaltation. "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD." God gives such wisdom to his servants as their circumstances require, and he adds his blessing in proportion to their need. They who foresee evils are generally the fittest instruments for providing against them; such was Pharaoh's opinion respecting Joseph, and it proved to be correct. Joseph's dreams are fulfilled; his brethren are brought to bow before him. His character as a dutiful son and an affectionate brother is developed in his whole history, which also shows the wonderful interpositions of Providence, and the apparently slight thread, the dreams of Joseph, of the chief butler, and the chief baker, and lastly those of Pharaoh, by which His great ends are wrought. 16. Death and Burial of Jacob. Genesis xlvii. 27-1. 26. Death of Joseph. When the time of Jacob's death drew nigh, he charged Joseph 'not to bury him in Egypt.5 He repeated the promises of God to his fathers— · to Abraham and to Isaac. He made the two sons of Joseph heads of tribes like his own sons, and blessed them, saying, "God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, the Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth." And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head. And Joseph said unto his father, "Not so, my father; for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head." And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it; he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed14 shall become a multitude of nations," and he set Ephraim before Manasseh. Jacob12 spoke of the return of his descendants to Canaan; he then called 'his own sons to him to tell them what should befal them in the last days. He spoke to them of the future condition of their children under various 'expressive figures. He predicted the coming of Christ in the tribe of Judah, saying, "The 'sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until 'Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be." 66 After Jacob had made an end of blessing his sons he charged them thus, "I am to be gathered unto my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,....in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan." All the time that Jacob lived in Goshen15 was seventeen years; he died at the age of onehundred-and-forty-seven years. Jacob's body was embalmed in Egypt before it was taken into Canaan. The Egyptians mourned for Jacob seventy days. Joseph and his brethren went from Egypt to Canaan to bury their father, and many of the Egyptians went with them to a place which was called "Abel-mizraim. When Joseph and his brethren had buried their father, they returned into Egypt. After the burial of Jacob, Joseph 'repeated his forgiveness to his brethren, and said God intended their evil for good, to save much people alive. He nourished his brethren and their families while he lived; and before he died he said unto his brethren, "God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.... and ye shall carry up my bones from hence." He died at the age of one-hundred-and-ten years. His remains were then embalmed and put in a coffin in Egypt. GEOGRAPHICAL NOTE. Abel-mizraim-a place on the west of the Jordan, about three miles from Jericho, to which the Egyptians accompanied the sons of Jacob when they conveyed their father's body to Canaan for burial. It was called Abel-mizraim, or the mourning of the Egyptians' by the Canaanites, it was previously known as the threshing-floor of Atad." EXPLANATIONS. not to bury, &c.-as a stranger dying in Egypt his remains were to be brought home. This circumstance alone would be sufficient to keep before the minds of his descendants the promise of God res pecting Canaan. Les. 6,12,14. Angel-"messenger of the covenant.' let my name, &c.-let them be reputed as my sons, and instead of the one tribe of Joseph, let them be two tribes, for I have adopted both Ephraim and Manasseh. Not so, &c.-Joseph, not being aware that Jacob was guided by divine direction, supposed that his father's age was the cause of this apparent error. he also, &c.-the division of the tribe of Joseph into two tribes, at this early period, anticipated the acceptance of the Levites instead of the firstborn of all Israel. Les. 24. a multitude of nations-some commentators understand this, not as an oriental exaggeration, but literally, believing that the nations of Europe have sprung from Ephraim and Manasseh. his own sons-Jacob was inspired to predict the future circumstances of his descendants with a minuteness which was literally fulfilled. expressive figures-the instability of Reuben was compared to water; the separation and dispersion of Simeon and Levi were shown; the courage of Judah was likened to that of a lion; the commercial and trading situation of Zebulun, the patient endurance of Issachar, the subtleness of the Danites, the oppression and final victory of the Gadites, the plentiful inheritance of Asher, the timorous character of the Naphtalites, the prosperity, dignity, and power of the descendants of Joseph, and the fierceness and cruelty of the tribe of Benjamin, were all accurately prefigured. sceptre, &c.-a sign of royalty. Christ was born in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, who was a descendant of Esau. The sceptre had then departed from the Jews, for Shiloh was come. Shiloh He who is sent.' The seed.' The Messiah was sent into the world as the promised seed. the gathering, &e.-of both Jews and Gentiles which commenced in the time of the Messiah, and is yet going on, and the still greater gathering, "when the Son of man shall come in his glory." embalmed-in this respect Joseph conformed to the customs of the Egyptians; the process was also necessary in order to preserve the body, as it was to be carried into Canaan. The Egyptians were eminent for preserving dead bodies from putrefaction by the skilful use of spices and drugs. Several of these bodies are in the British Museum and are called Egyptian mummies. They have thus been preserved thousands of years. The process of embalming occupied forty days. repeated, &c.-his brethren first sent a messenger to him, to urge his forgiveness in the dying words of Jacob, they afterwards went themselves to acknow ledge their trespasses against him. QUESTIONS. What charge did Jacob give Joseph when he felt that death was drawing nigh? What was the blessing which he gave to Joseph's sons? In what words did he adopt them as his own sons? Which of them was to be the greater? For what purpose did Jacob call all his sons to him? In what manner did he foretel the future circumstances of their children? In what words did he predict the coming of the Messiah? How did he charge them with regard to At what age did he die? [his burial? How did the Egyptians show their respect to Jacob and Joseph ? After Jacob's death how did Joseph act towards his brethren? What did he say to them previous to his death as to their return to Canaan? What were they to take with them when they left Egypt? PRECEPTIVE LESSONS. A wish to be buried among one's own kindred is natural, but Jacob's command was significant of his faith in the promise of Canaan to his posterity. We are here taught to desire and reverence the last benediction of a dying saint. When "flesh and heart faileth," the comfort which a life of dependance upon God affords will be the soul's "portion for ever." Respectful attention should be paid to the reasonable requests of dying relatives, and to their last remains. A guilty conscience exposes men to continual fears, as is illustrated in the apprehensions of Joseph's brethren; while his forgiveness of them and his continued kindness set us an example of brotherly duties, Finally, we see the power of faith in sustaining Joseph's mind above the attractions of earthly rank and riches, for though next to the throne of Pharaoh, Joseph never lost sight of" the hope of Israel." |