---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Genesis 45"
description: "CHAPTER 45   :-. JOSEPH MAKING
HIMSELF KNOWN. 1. Then Joseph could not refrain
himself—The severity of the inflexible magistrate here gives
way to the nat"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/genesis/45"
---

![Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible](/images/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible.jpg)

 The Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
 
Include 66 books
 
Denomination: calvinism
 
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CHAPTER 45

. JOSEPH MAKING
HIMSELF KNOWN.

**1. Then Joseph could not refrain
himself**—The severity of the inflexible magistrate here gives
way to the natural feelings of the man and the brother. However well
he had disciplined his mind, he felt it impossible to resist the
artless eloquence of Judah. He saw a satisfactory proof, in the
return of *all* his brethren on such an occasion, that they were
affectionately united to one another; he had heard enough to convince
him that time, reflection, or grace had made a happy improvement on
their characters; and he would probably have proceeded in a calm and
leisurely manner to reveal himself as prudence might have dictated.
But when he heard the heroic self-sacrifice of Judah [] and realized all the affection of that proposal—a
proposal for which he was totally unprepared—he was completely
unmanned; he felt himself forced to bring this painful trial to an
end.
**he cried, Cause every man to
go out from me**—In ordering the departure of witnesses of this
last scene, he acted as a warm-hearted and real friend to his
brothers—his conduct was dictated by motives of the highest
prudence—that of preventing their early iniquities from becoming
known either to the members of his household, or among the people of
Egypt.

**2. he wept aloud**—No doubt,
from the fulness of highly excited feelings; but to indulge in
vehement and long-continued transports of sobbing is the usual way in
which the Orientals express their grief.

**3. I am Joseph**—or, "terrified
at his presence." The emotions that now rose in his breast as
well as that of his brethren—and chased each other in rapid
succession—were many and violent. He was agitated by sympathy and
joy; they were astonished, confounded, terrified; and betrayed their
terror, by shrinking as far as they could from his presence. So
"troubled" were they, that he had to repeat his
announcement of himself; and what kind, affectionate terms he did
use. He spoke of their having sold him—not to wound their feelings,
but to convince them of his identity; and then, to reassure their
minds, he traced the agency of an overruling Providence, in his exile
and present honor []. Not that he wished them to roll the responsibility of
their crime on God; no, his only object was to encourage their
confidence and induce them to trust in the plans he had formed for
the future comfort of their father and themselves.

**6. and yet there are five years, in
the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest**—"Ear"
is an *old* English word, meaning "to plough" (compare
[1 Samuel 8:12](../../../kjv/1-samuel/8/12); [Isaiah 30:24](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/24)).
This seems to confirm the view given ([Isaiah 30:24](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/24)) that the famine was caused by an extraordinary drought,
which prevented the annual overflowing of the Nile; and of course
made the land unfit to receive the seed of Egypt.

**14, 15. And he fell upon . . .
Benjamin's neck**—The sudden transition from a condemned criminal
to a fondled brother, might have occasioned fainting or even death,
had not his tumultuous feelings been relieved by a torrent of tears.
But Joseph's attentions were not confined to Benjamin. He
affectionately embraced every one of his brothers in succession; and
by those actions, his forgiveness was demonstrated more fully than it
could be by words.

**17-20. Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say
unto thy brethren**—As Joseph might have been prevented by
delicacy, the king himself invited the patriarch and all his family
to migrate into Egypt; and he made most liberal arrangements for
their removal and their subsequent settlement. It displays the
character of this Pharaoh to advantage, that he was so kind to the
relatives of Joseph; but indeed the greatest liberality he could show
could never recompense the services of so great a benefactor of his
kingdom.

**21. Joseph gave them wagons**—which
must have been novelties in Palestine; for wheeled carriages were
almost unknown there.

**22. changes of raiment**—It was
and is customary, with great men, to bestow on their friends dresses
of distinction, and in places where they are of the same description
and quality, the value of these presents consists in their number.
The great number given to Benjamin bespoke the warmth of his
brother's attachment to him; and Joseph felt, from the amiable temper
they now all displayed, he might, with perfect safety, indulge this
fond partiality for his mother's son.

**23. to his father he sent**—a
supply of everything that could contribute to his support and
comfort—the large and liberal scale on which that supply was given
being intended, like the five messes of Benjamin, as a token of his
filial love [see on [Genesis 45:4](../../../kjv/genesis/45/4)].

**24. so he sent his brethren away**—In
dismissing them on their homeward journey, he gave them this
particular admonition:
**See that ye fall not out by
the way**—a caution that would be greatly needed; for not only
during the journey would they be occupied in recalling the parts they
had respectively acted in the events that led to Joseph's being sold
into Egypt, but their wickedness would soon have to come to the
knowledge of their venerable father.

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