Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
Genesis
Book: Genesis
Chapter: 46
Overview:
God's promises to
Jacob.
(1-4) Jacob and his family go to
Egypt.
(5-27) Joseph meets his
Father and his brethren.
(28-34)
1-4 Even as to those events and undertakings which appear most
joyful, we should seek counsel, assistance, and a blessing from
the
Lord. Attending
On his ordinances, and receiving the pledges
of his
Covenant Love, we expect his presence, and that peace
which it confers. In all removals we should be reminded of our
removal out of this world. Nothing can encourage us to fear
No
evil when passing through the
Valley of the
Shadow of
Death, but
the presence of
Christ.
5-27 We have here a particular account of
Jacob's family.
Though the fulfilling of promises is always sure, yet it is
often slow. It was now 215 years since
God had promised
Abraham
to make of him a great nation, ch. 12:2; yet that
Branch of
his seed, to which the promise was made sure, had only increased
to seventy, of whom this particular account is kept, to show the
power of
God in making these seventy become a vast multitude.
28-34 It was
Justice to
Pharaoh to let him know that such a
family was come to settle in his dominions. If others
Put
confidence in us, we must not be
So base as to abuse it
By
imposing upon them. But how shall
Joseph dispose of his
brethren? Time was, when they were contriving to be rid of him;
now he is contriving to settle them to their advantage; this is
rendering good for evil. He would have them live
By themselves,
in the land of
Goshen, which lay nearest to
Canaan. Shepherds
were an
Abomination to the Egyptians. Yet
Joseph would have them
not ashamed to own this as their occupation before
Pharaoh. He
might have procured places for them at
Court or in the
Army. But
such preferments would have exposed them to the envy of the
Egyptians, and might have tempted them to forget
Canaan and the
promise made unto their fathers. An honest
Calling is
No
disgrace, nor ought we to account it
So, but rather reckon it a
shame to be idle, or to have nothing to do. It is generally best
for people to abide in the callings they have been bred to and
used to. Whatever employment and condition
God in his
Providence
has allotted for us, let us suit ourselves to it, satisfy
ourselves with it, and not mind high things. It is better to be
the credit of a mean
Post, than the shame of a high one. If we
wish to destroy our souls, or the souls of our children, then
let us seek for ourselves, and for them, great things; but if
not, it becomes us, having
Food and raiment, therewith to be
content.