GENESIS, XLVI.

СНАР. 45.-В. С. 1707.

6 let not your eye spare,

Pittite, before Mamre,

Genesis, 50, 13.

h And Joseph fell upon

wept upon him, and his father's face, and kissed him.

given thee. Numbers, 50, 1. 18, 12

same night, and said, I the Assyrian opam the God of Abra- pressed them without cause. Isaiah, 52, 4. with

k Now these are the of Israel, which came

names of the children

into Egypt; every man and his household came

the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a ben the first-born of Isvision, saying, Fear rael, he was the shield, and thy exceed- much as he defled his 15, 1.

speak and say before shub
the LORD thy God, A
Syrian ready to perish
was my father; and he
went down into Egypt,

and sojourned there

with a few, and

there a nation, great, mighty, and populous.

Deuteronomy, 25, 3 neration they shall

g But in the fourth ge

2

a

25 These are the sons of Bilhah, which Laban gave unto Rachel his daughter; and she bare these unto Jacob: all the souls were seven. 26 All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his 11 loins, besides Jacob's sons' wives, all the souls were threescore and six.

27 And the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, were two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten.

28 And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face unto Goshen, they came into the land of Goshen.

and

29 And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. 30 And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive.

31 And Joseph said unto his brethren, and unto his father's house, I will go up, and show Pharaoh, and say unto him, My brethren, and my father's house, which were in the land Canaan, are come unto me;

of

32 And the men are shepherds, for 12 their trade hath been to feed cattle, and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.

e

8 Or, prince.
The sons of Benja-
min; Bela, and Becher,
Chronicles, 7, 6

and Jedinel, three. 1
Ahiram, Numbers,

26, 38.
Shupham, Numbers,
26, 39. Shuppim, i

Chronicles, 7, 12

9Hupham.

w Shuppim also, and
Huppim, the children
sons of Aher. 1 Chron.

of Ir, and Hushim, the
712

10 Or, Shuham.

Jezer, and Shallum, the
7,13

a

* The sons of Naphtali; Jahziel, and Guni, and sons of Bilhah. 1 Chron. y And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob son. And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again, and bare Jacob second son. Genesis, Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid

30, 5, 7.

a See chapter 46, 31.

b And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy chilthy flocks, and thy hast. Genesis, 45, 10. herds, and all that thou

dren's children, and

c And at the second
time Joseph was made
known to his brethren;
and Joseph's kindred
was made known unto
Pharaoh. Acts, 7, 13.
d See chapter 46, 33.
e See chapter 46, 34,

Israel also came into
journed in the land of
For thus saith the Lord

Egypt; and Jacob so

Ham. Psalm 105, 23.

GOD, My people went
down aforetíme into
Egypt to sojourn there;
and the Assyrian op
cause. Isaiah, 52, 4.
g And the famine was

pressed them without

2 And he took some of his brethren, even five men, and presented them unto Pharaoh. 3 And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, d What 18 your occupation? And they said unto Phathe land of Egypt and raoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, affliction: and our fa- and also our fathers.

2 And Laban gave to sore in the land. Gene

sis, 43, 1. Now there

came a dearth all

to be her maid. Gene- the land of Egypt and
sis, 29, 29.
Chanaan, and great

a And all the souls
that came out of the

loins of Jacob were
seventy souls; for Jo-
ready. Exodus, 1, 5.
11 thigh.

seph was in Egypt al

went

down into Egypt with

b Thy fathers threescore and ten persons; and now the LORD thy God hath of heaven for multitude. Deuteronomy, 10, 22. Then sent Jother Jacob to him, and score and fifteen souls. Acts, 7, 14.

made thee as the stars

seph, and called his fa-
all his kindred, three-

e So he fled with all
rose up passed over

the mount

that he had; and he
the river, and set his
Gilead. Genesis, 31, 21.
thou thy servant depart
thy word: for mine eyes
Luke, 2, 29, 30.
cattle.

d Lord, now lettest
in peace, according to
have seen thy salvation.

12 they are men of

And his brethren

e See chapter 47, 2, 3. went to feed their father's flock in Shechem. Genesis, 37, 12

And Moses said, It

33 And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occu-we shall sacrifice the pation?

powers.

is not meet so to do; for
abomination of the
Egyptians to the LORD
our God; lo, shall we

thers found no susten-
ance. Acts, 7, 11,

h See chapter 46, 34.

And Abimelech said, fore thee: dwell where sis, 20, 15.

Behold, my land is be

it pleaseth thee. Gene

j See verse 4.

k And the man Jeroman of valour: and So

boam was a mighty

lomon seeing the young
man that he was indus-
trious, he made him
of the house of Joseph.
1 Kings, 11, 28

ruler over all the charge

1 How many are the days of the years of thy life?

LORD, and give earunto

e

4 They said, moreover, unto Pharaoh, ƒ For to Sojourn in the land are we come; for thy servants have no pasture for their flocks; for the famine is sore in the land of Canaan: now therefore, we pray thee, let thy servants dwell in the land of Goshen.

h

5 And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, saying, Thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee:

6 The land of Egypt is before thee: in the Hear my prayer, o best of the land make thy father and brethmy ery; hold not thy ren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them am a stranger with thee, dwell: and if thou knowest any men of activity my fathers were. Psalm among them, then make them rulers over my

peace at my tears: for I

and a sojourner, as all

39, 12. By faith he so

journed in the land of cattle.

promise, as in a strange
country, dwelling in
tabernacles with Isaac
and Jacob, the heirs

promise..... These all

7 And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and with him of the same set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed ing received the prodied in faith, not hav- Pharaoh. mises, but having seen them afar off, and were

8 And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, 1 How old persuaded of them, and art thou? confessed that they

embraced them, and

9 And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, 'The days of Time on the earth. the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and

were strangers and pil-
grims
Hebrews, 11, 9, 13.

God's providence can with perfect ease support them: and be repenting sinners never so numerous, the unsearchable riches of Christ are sufficient, and in heaven there is room enough for them all. However generous our friends may be, it is prudent to be modest, and not to give them any ground to suspect us of encroaching, or to complain that we are burdensome. In general, the further from courts, the nearer to Canaan; and however obscure and despised our lot be, if it prove advantageous to our souls, and favourable to communion with God, we ought to be thankful for it. Our lives are in the Lord's hands, whatever we wish and dehis time. In the mean while, if even the abhorrence of the world keep us separate from it, we have cause to rejoice and be glad on that account.-S.

1. Jacob's prudence in sending Judah before him to Joseph, to give him notice of his arrival in Goshen. This was a piece of respect owing to the government, under the protection of which these strangers were come to put themselves, v. 28. We should be very careful not to give offence to any, especially not to the higher 2. Joseph's filial respect to him. He went in his chariot to meet him, and, in the interview, shewed, (1.) How much he honoured him; he presented himself unto him. Note, It is the duty of children to reverence their parents, yea, though Providence, as to outward condition, has advanced them above their parents.sire; and though we should be willing to die, yet we should be also willing to wait (2.) How much he loved him; time did not wear out the sense of his obligations, but his tears, which he shed abundantly upon his father's neck, for joy to see him, were real indications of the sincere and strong affection he had for him. See how near sorrow and joy are to each other in this world, when tears serve for the expressions of both: in the other world, weeping will be restrained to sorrow only; in heaven, there is perfect joy, but no tears of joy; all tears, even those, shall there be wiped away, because the joys there are, as no joys here are, without any allay.branch; but, because it is a lower branch, is it therefore not of the tree? Our It was observed, when Joseph embraced Benjamin, that he wept upon his neck, but, when he embraced his father, he wept upon his neck a good while: his brother Benjamin was dear, but his father Jacob must be dearer.

3. Jacob's great satisfaction in this meeting; (v. 30,) Now let me die. Not but that it was further desirable to live with Joseph, and to see his honour and usefulness; but he had so much pleasure and satisfaction in this first meeting, that he thought it too much to desire or expect any more in this world, where our comforts must always be imperfect. Jacob wished to die immediately, and yet lived seventeen years longer, which, as our lives go now, is a considerable part of a man's age. Note, Death will not always come just when we call for it, whether in a passion of sorrow, or in a passion of joy. Our times are in God's hand, and not in our own; we must die just when God pleases, and not either just when we are surfeited with the pleasures of life, or just when we are overwhelmed with its griefs.-H. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.-In those events and undertakings, which appear most joyful, there are probable consequences involved, which may remind us to "rejoice with trembling;" and warn us not to proceed without seeking counsel, assistance, and a blessing from the Lord. Attending on his ordinances, and receiving the pledges of his covenant-love, we may expect his presence, and that peace which it confers: and when we are satisfied that we are his people, and in the path which he marks out to us, being assured of his supports and consolations, we may not only enter into the iron furnace of bondage and oppression, but into the fiery furnace of persecution.-In all our removals, we need to be reminded of our removal out of this world; and, though it is desirable to be surrounded at the eve of life with our beloved friends and children; yet, nothing can encourage us to fear no evil, when "passing through the valley of the shadow of death," but the presence of Jesus Christ to receive our souls.-Be our families never so large,

CHAP. XLVII. FORGIVENESS.-1. Though Joseph was a great man, and his brethren were comparatively mean and despicable, especially in Egypt, yet he owned them. Let those that are rich and great in the world, learn hence not to overlook or despise their poor relations. Every branch of the tree is not a top Lord Jesus, like Joseph here, is not ashamed to call us brethren. 2. They being strangers and no courtiers, he introduced some of them to Pharaoh, to kiss his hand, as we say, intending thereby to put an honour upon them among the Egyptians. Thus Christ presents his brethren in the court of heaven, and improves his interest for them, though in themselves unworthy, and an abomination to the Egyptians.-H.

A PRESENTATION AT COURT.-1. Joseph presented Jacob to Pharaoh, v. 7. And here, (1.) Pharaoh asks Jacob a common question; How old art thou? v. 8. A question usually put to old men, for it is natural to us to admire old age, and to reverence it, (Lev. 19, 33,) as it is very unnatural and unbecoming to despise it Isa. 3, 5. Jacob's countenance, no doubt, shewed him to be very old; for he had been a man of labour and sorrow: in Egypt, people were not so long-lived as in Canaan, and therefore Pharaoh looks upon Jacob with wonder; he was as a show in his court. When we are reflecting upon ourselves, this should come into the account; "How old are we?" (2.) Jacob gives Pharaoh an uncommon answer, v. 9. He speaks as became a patriarch, with an air of seriousness, for the instruction of Pharaoh. Though our speech be not always of grace, yet it must thus be always with grace. Observe here, [1.] He calls his life a pilgrimage, looking upon himself as a stranger in this world, and a traveller towards another world: this earth his inn, not his home. To this the apostle refers; (Heb. 11, 13.) They confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims. He not only reckoned himself a pilgrim, now that he was in Egypt, a strange country in which he never was before; but his life, even in the land of his nativity, was a pilgrimage, and those who so reckon it, can the better bear the inconvenience of banishment from their native soil; they are but pilgrims still, and so they were always. [2] He reckons his life by days; for even so, it is soon reckoned, and we are not sure of the con

Joseph's dealings in the famine.

thirty years: years

my

m few and evil have the days of the
life been, and have

not attained

of unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.

10 And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh.

11 ¶ And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. 12 And Joseph nourished his "father, and his brethren, and all his father's household, with bread, 2 according to their families.

13 And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore, so that the land of Egypt, and all the land of Canaan, fainted by reason of the famine.

is

also vanity. Eccles.

2, 23.

n And these are the Abraham's life

an hundred

He visiteth his sick father.

40r, princes. And he his field, because the famine prevailed over them: gave him to wife Asen- so the land became Pharaoh's.

ath the daughter of Po

ti-pherah priest Lor,

prince] of On. Genesis,
41, 45.

21 And as for the people, he removed them to And Benaiah cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end thereof.

the son of Jehoiada
was over both the Che-

rethites and the Pe

lethites; and David's
sons were chief rulers,

which 18princes) 2 Samuel,
threescore and fifteen
w And Esau said, Let
And the days of Isaac

years. Genesis, 25, 7.

were an hundred and
fourscore years. Gene-
sis, 35, 28.

o See verse 7.

Therefore they did

set over them taskmas-
ters to afflict them with
their burdens. And

they built for Pharaoh

treasure cities, Pithom
and Raamses. Exod. 1,

11. And the children of
Rameses to Succoth

Israel journeyed from
About six hundred
thousand on foot that
were men, besides chil-

dren. Exodus, 12, 37.

q See verse 6.
Honour thy father
and thy mother: that
upon the land which
eth thee. Exodus, 20,
a glad father: but a

thy days may be long
the LORD thy God giv
12 A wise son maketh

16 And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and will give you for your cattle, if money fail. 17 And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses; and he 3 fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year. 18 When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle: there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies and our lands:

19 Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh; and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate. 20 And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for the Egyptians sold every man

of his mother.

Proverbs, 10, 1.
hours a little child

is

nourished: according
to the little ones.-Now
therefore fear ye not:

I will nourish you and

your little ones.

And

he comforted them,
and spake kindly unto
them. Genesis, 50, 21.

me now leave with thee
some the folk that

are with me. And he

said, What needeth it?

let me find grace in the

sight of my lord. Gen.
33, 15.

x See verse 22.
5 Or, princes.
y See verse 11.

2 See chapter 46, 3.

6 the days of the years of his life.

a And the LORD said

unto Moses, Behold, thy
must die: call Joshua,
in the tabernacle of the
give him a charge. Deut.

days approach that thou

and present yourselves
congregation,that I may

31, 14.

Genesis, 41, 30. Now buried by the grave of
there came

over all the land of

Egypt and Chanaan,
and our fathers found

and great affliction:

no sustenance. Acts, 7,

11.

tinuance of it for a day to an end, but may be turned out of this tabernacle at
less than an hour's warning. Let us therefore number our days, (Ps. 90, 12,) and
measure them, Ps. 39, 4. [3.] The character he gives of them was, First, That
they were few. Though he had now lived one hundred and thirty years, they
seemed to him but a few days, in comparison with the days of eternity, the
eternal God, and the eternal state, in which a thousand years (longer than ever
any man lived) are but as one day. Secondly, That they were evil; this is true
concerning man in general; (Job, 14, 1,) he is of few days, and full of trouble; since
his days are evil, it is well they are few; Jacob's life, particularly, had been made
up of evil days; and the pleasantest days of his life were yet before him. Thirdly,
That they were short of the days of his fathers; not so many, not so pleasant, as
their days. Old age came sooner upon him than it had done upon some of his
ancestors. As the young man should not be proud of his strength or beauty, so
the old man should not be proud of his age, and the crown of his hoary hairs,
though others justly reverence it; for those who are accounted very old, attain not ||
to the years of the patriarchs. The hoary head is then only a crown of glory,
when it is found in the way of righteousness. (3.) Jacob both addresses himself
to Pharaoh, and takes leave of him with a blessing, v. 7. Jacob blessed Pharaoh,
and again, v. 10, which was not only an act of civility, (he payed him respect, and
returned him thanks for his kindness,) but an act of piety, he prayed for him, as
one having the authority of a prophet and a patriarch. Though in worldly
wealth, Pharaoh was the greater, yet in interest with God, Jacob was the greater;
he was God's anointed, Ps. 105, 15. And a patriarch's blessing was not a thing
to be despised, no, not by a potent prince. Darius valued the prayers of the
church for himself and for his sons, Ezra, 6, 10. Pharaoh kindly received Jacob,
and, whether in the name of a prophet or no, thus he had a prophet's reward,
which sufficiently recompensed him, not only for his courteous converse with him,
but for all the other kindnesses he showed to him and his. —H.
PREPARING TO DIE.--At last, v. 29, the time drew nigh that Israel must die.
Israel, a prince with God, that had power over the angel, and prevailed, yet must
yield to death. There is no remedy, he must die; it is appointed for all men,
therefore for him; and there is no discharge in that war. Joseph supplied him
with bread, that he might not die by famine; but that did not secure him from
dying by age or sickness. He died by degrees; his candle was not blown out, but
gradually burnt down to the socket, so that he saw, at some distance, the time
drawing nigh. Note, It is an improveable advantage, to see the approach of death,
before we feel its arrests, that we may be quickened to do what our hand finds to
do, with all our might: however, it is not far from any of us. Now Jacob's care,
as he saw the day approaching, was about his burial, not the pomp of it, (he was

mother. 2 Sam. 19, 37.

My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die:

22 Only the land of the 4 priests bought he not: for the priests had a portion assigned them of Pharaoh, and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them, wherefore they sold not their lands.

23 Then Joseph said unto the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land.

24 And it shall come to pass in the increase, that ye shall give the fifth part unto Pharaoh; and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for them of your households, and for food for your little ones. 25 And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: let 20 us find in the sight of my lord, and grace we will be Pharaoh's servants.

26 And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth part; " except the land of the 5 priests only, which became not Pharaoh's.

27 T And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.

28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt mine own city, and be seventeen years: so 6 the whole age of Jacob was my father and of my an hundred forty and seven years. 29 And the time "drew nigh that Israel must in my grave which I die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto the land of Canaan, him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, me go up, I pray thee, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, will come again. For and deal kindly and truly with me; dbury me into the land of Canaan, not, I pray thee, in Egypt:

no way solicitous about that,) but the place of it. 1. He would be buried in Canaan; this he resolved on, not from mere humour, because Canaan was the land of his nativity, but in faith, because it was the land of promise, (which he desired thus, as it were, to keep possession of, till the time should come when his posterity should be masters of it, (and because it was a type of heaven, that better country, which he that said these things declared plainly that he was in expectation of, Heb. 11, 14. He aimed at a good land, which would be his rest and bliss on the other side death. 2. He would have Joseph sworn to bring him thither to be buried, v. 29, 31, that Joseph, being under such a solemn obligation to do it, might have that to answer to the objections which otherwise might have been made against it, and for the greater satisfaction of Jacob now in his dying minutes. Nothing will better help to make a death-bed easy, than the certain prospect of a rest in Canaan after death. 3. When this was done, Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head, yielding himself, as it were, to the stroke of death; (“Now let it come, and it shall be welcome;") or worshipping God, as it is explained, Heb. 11, 21, giving God thanks for all his favours, and particularly for this, that Joseph was ready, not only to put his hand upon his eyes to close them, but under his thigh, to give him the satisfaction he desired concerning his burial. Thus they that go down to the dust, should, with humble thankfulness, bow before God, the God of their mercies, Ps. 22, 29.-H.

PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.-Ver. 1-10. The kindness of liberal benefactors. so far from encouraging us to encroach upon them, should remind us to shew them all proper attention and deference; and in attending to some peculiar relative duties, we should look round upon the whole circle, and so proportion them as not to entrench upon others.-When Joseph selected five from his eleven brethren to present before Pharaoh, he doubtless had good reasons for his conduct, though not made known to us, nor probably to them. Thus the Lord Jesus, in dispensing his special benefits as he sees good, acts in perfect wisdom, though we are not acquainted with the grounds of his distinguishing grace; and thus, neither despising our meanness, nor ashamed even in his highest exaltation "to call us brethren," nor resenting our past misconduct, however base, he presents us, when we submit and believe in him, for acceptance before his father's throne.-Industry in any honest enployment is always creditable; and indeed all, who are not in some way diligent, are worthless incumbrances on the community. Nor ought a man, in compliance with fashion or prevalent notions, to be ashamed of the lowest useful occupations: for nothing that is not sinful is disgraceful, in the sight of God, or of wise and good men.-It is generally best to abide with God in our own calling; for, what the world calls mending ourselves, is frequently little better than renouncing peace, content, and a situation favourable to the prosperity of our

6 And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance. 7 And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel d died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Beth-lehem. 8 And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who are these?

GENESIS, XLVIII.

CHAP. 48-B. C. 1689.

a And, behold, the

LORD stood above it,

and said, I am the LORD
God of Abraham thy
father, and the God of
Isaac: the land whereon
thou liest, to thee will I

give it, and to thy seed.
name of that place
of that city was called

And he called the

Beth-el: but the name

at first. Gen. 28, 13, 19.

b And I will give unto
after thee, the land
stranger, all the land of
Canaan, for an everlast-

thee, and to thy seed
wherein thou art a

1

CHAP. 48-B. C. 1689.
And Jacob's heart faint-

ed,

for he believed them

not. Genesis, 45, 26.

By faith Jacob, when he was a-dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, lean

ing

upon the top of his

staff. Hebrews, 11, 21.
k And, behold, I am
with thee, and will keep

thee in all places whit

ther thou goest, and will
bring thee again into
this land; for I will not
leave until

done that which I have

spoken to thee of. Gen.
28, 15.

He blesseth Joseph's sons.

12 And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.

13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near unto him.

14 And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was 2, 15. Yes, he had the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's and prevailed: he wept, head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh unto him: he found him was the first-born. spake with us. Hosea,

power over the angel,

will be their God. Gen. and made supplication

ing possession; and
17,8
Joseph were two tribes,

in Beth-el, and there he

c For the children of Manasseh and Ephraim. || 12, 4. Joshua, 14, 4.

d And Rachel died, way to Ephrath, which

is

35, 19.

e

and was buried in the
Bethlehem. Genesis,
And he lifted up his
men and the children;
with thee? And he said.
The children which God
hath graciously given

eyes, and saw the wo-
and said, Who are those

thy

Behold, I and
the children whom the
LORD hath given me,
are for signs and for
wonders in Israel from
the LORD of hosts, which
dwelleth in mount Zion.

Isaiah, 8, 18.
And make me sa-

youry meat, such as I
love, and bring it to me

soul may bless thee be

4.

that I may eat; that my
fore I die. Genesis, 27,
he was a-dying, blessed
and worshipped, leaning
Hebrews, 11. 21.

By faith Jacob, when
both the sons of Joseph;
upon the top of his staff.

And it came to pass,
that when Isaac was
old, and his eyes were

dim, so that he could
not see, he called Esau

his eldest son, and said
unto him, My son: and
he said unto him, Be-
27, 1.

hold, here am I. Gen.
Theavy.

h And he came near
smelled the smell of his
raiment, and blessed
him, and said, See, the
the smell of a field
blessed. Gen. 27, 27.

and kissed him: and he

smell of my son is as
which the LORD hath

i And he knew it, and
said, It is my son's coat;

an evil beast hath de-
without doubt rent in
And told him, say-

voured him: Joseph is

pieces. Genesis, 37, 33.
ing, Joseph is yet alive,
and he is governor over
all the land of Egypt.

1 That they may posEdom, and of all the by my name, saith the

sess the remnant of

heathen, which are call

ed

LORD that doeth this.
Amos, 9, 12. That the
residue of men might
seek after the Lord, and
all the Gentiles, upon
whom my name is call-

ed, saith the Lord, who
Acts, 15, 17hese things.

2 as fishes do increase.
3 was evil in his eyes.
m His [Joseph's] glory
is like the firstling of

horns are like the

15 ¶ And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,

16 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 and Isaac; and let them 2 grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.

17 And when Joseph saw that his father laid his bullock, and his his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it shall push the people 3 displeased him. and he held up his father's the earth: and they hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto

together to the ends of

21 And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die; but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.

22 Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.

II. Jacob, upon notice of his son's visit, prepared himself as well as he could to entertain him, v. 2. He did what he could to rouse his spirits, and to stir up the gift that was in him; what little was left of bodily strength he put forth to the utmost, and sat upon the bed. Note, It is very good for sick and aged people to be as lively and cheerful as they can, that they may not faint in the day of adversity. Strengthen thyself, as Jacob here, and God will strengthen thee; hearten thyself and help thyself, and God will help and hearten thee. Let the Spirit sustain the infirmity.-H.

souls, for gilded cares, encumbrances, and manifold temptations.-Indeed, our life is but a pilgrimage; few and evil are the days of it; and provided they be spent with God, and to his glory, the rest is of very little consequence. If we have a prospect that, when we go hence and are no more seen, we shall go home to our Father's house, we shall not want, and ought not to desire, the paltry interests of the world; why, then, should we burden ourselves with unavailing cares and sorrows? Why covet riches, shortly to be left behind? Why engage in projects to be left unfinished, or aspire at distinctions which death will terminate? We do not act thus on a journey, when our heart is at home: the con- A DEATH-BED TESTIMONY.-Before Jacob entails his blessing, he recounts his veniences or inconveniences which we meet with, but little affect us to retard experiences of God's goodness to him. He had spoken, v. 3, of God's appearing our progress; we do not want to erect stately mansions, or to lay up wealth, in a to him. The particular visits of his grace, and the special communion we have country which we are leaving, and to which we shall return no more; nor do we sometimes had with him, ought never to be forgotten. But, v. 15, 16, he menencumber ourselves with those things which we are not in need of, and which tions the constant care which the Divine Providence had taken of him all his days. must be left behind when we embark for our native country.-"Godliness with 1. He had fed him all his life long unto this day, v. 15. Note, As long as we have contentment is great gain; for we brought nothing into this world, and it is cer- lived in this world, we have had continual experience of God's goodness to us, tain we can carry nothing out; and having food and raiment, let us be there-in providing for the support of our natural life. Our bodies have called for daily with content." But, oh! how miserable are they, who have all their good things food, and no little has gone to feed us, yet we have never wanted food conveniduring the few and evil days of this present life, and whose last comfort is likely ent. He that has fed us all our life long, surely will not fail us at last. 2. He to expire with their dying breath! Let us then "give diligence to make our had by his angel redeemed him from all evil, v. 16. A great deal of hardship he calling and election sure;" and, as our days are likely to be so much fewer had known in his time, but God had graciously kept him from the evil of his than Jacob's, let us often ask ourselves seriously, how old we are: that our life troubles. Now that he was dying, he looked upon himself as redeemed from all may not vanish, nor death approach unobserved or unprepared for.-"A hoary evil, and bidding an everlasting farewell to sin and sorrow. Christ, the Angel of head is a crown of glory," only "when it is found in the way of righteousness; the covenant, is he that redeems us from all evil, 2 Tim. 4, 18. Note, (1.) It beand they whose consistency of character will bear them out, need neither be comes the servants of God, when they are old and dying, to witness for our God ashamed nor afraid to bear testimony for God before the greatest princes, who, that they have found him gracious. (2.) Our experiences of God's goodness to if wise, will highly value their pious prayers.-S. us are improvable, both for the encouragement of others to serve God, and for encouragement to us in blessing them, and praying for them.-H.

CHAP. XLVIII. VISITING THE SICK.-I. Joseph, upon notice of his father's illness, goes to see him; though a man of honour and business, yet he will not fail to shew this due respect to his aged father, v. 1. Visiting the sick, to whom we lie under obligations, or may have opportunity of doing good, either for body or soul, is our duty. The sick bed is a proper place both for giving comfort and counsel to others, and receiving instruction ourselves. Joseph took his two sons with him, that they might receive their dying grandfather's blessing, and that what they might see in him, and hear from him, might make an abiding impression upon them. Note, 1. It is good to acquaint young people, that are coming into the world, with the aged servants of God, that are going out of it, whose dying testimony to the goodness of God, and the pleasantness of wisdom's ways, may be a great encouragement to the rising generation, Manasseh and Ephraim (I dare say) would never forget what passed at this time. 2. Pious parents are desirous of a blessing, not only for themselves, but for their children. "Oh that they may live before God!" Joseph had been, above all his brethren, kind to his father, and therefore had reason to expect particular favour from him.

THE CROSSED HANDS.-In blessing Joseph's sons, Jacob crossed hands. Joseph placed them so as that Jacob's right hand should be put on the head of Manasseh the eldest, v. 12, 13. But Jacob would put it on the head of Ephraim the youngest, v. 14. This displeased Joseph, who was willing to support the reputation of his first-born, and would therefore have removed his father's hands, v. 17, 18. But Jacob gave him to understand that he knew what he did, and that he did it neither by mistake, nor in a humour, nor from a partial affection to one more than the other, but from a spirit of prophecy, and in compliance with the divine counsels. Manasseh should be great, but truly Ephraim should be greater. When the tribes were mustered in the wilderness, Ephraim was more numerous than Manasseh, had the standard of that squadron, Numb. 1, 32, 33, 35; 2, 18, 20, and is named first, Ps. 80, 2. Joshua was of that tribe, so was Jeroboam. The tribe of Manasseh was divided, one half on one side Jordan, the other half on the other side, which made it the less powerful and considerable. In the foresight of this, Jacob crossed hands. Note, 1. God, in bestowing his blessings upon his

GENESIS, XLIX.

CHAP. 49.-B. C. 1683.
a And this is the bless-

CHAP. 49-B. C. 1689. 14 Issachar is a strong ass couching down 1 Jacob calleth his sons together: 3 he pronounceth curses on Reu-ing, wherewith Moses Moab, and shall destroy between two burdens:

And the children of leadest Joseph like a

Levites out of their in-
heritance, at the com-
mandment of the LORD,

these cities and their

suburbs, etc. Joshua,
21, 3, etc.

k He couched, he lay
a great lion: who shall
stir him up? Blessed
is he that blesseth thee,

down as a lion, and as

and cursed is he that

curseth thee. Numbers,