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17 money fail. 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 18 fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year. 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 19 lands: 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 20 not die, that the land be not desolate. And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land be21 came Pharaoh's. And as for the people, he removed them to cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end 22 thereof. Only the land of the priests bought he not; for the

are honest, whatsoever things are just, &c. &c. think on these things. Phi. iv. 8. Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Col. iv. 5.

17 For horses, &c.] The hand of the Lord is upon thy cattle (said Moses by the word of the Lord to Pharaoh), which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep, there shall be a very grievous murrain. Ez. ix. 3. And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt. 1 . . 28. And Satan answered the Lord and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. Job ii. 4. Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help, and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many, and in horsemen, because they are strong; but they look not to the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord. Is. xxxi. 1. No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other: ye cannot serve God and mammon. Mat. vi. 24.

18 We will not hide it, &c.] And as the king of Israel (Jehoram), was passing by upon the wall (during the great famine in Samaria), there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king. 2 Ki. vi. 26. My lord the king (said Ebed-melech, the Ethiopian to Zedekiah), these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet; whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is, for there is no more bread in the city. Je xxxviii. 9.

19 Buy us and our land for bread.] There were (of the Jews), that said, We, our sons, and our daughters are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat and live. Some also there were that said, We have

mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth. Ne. v. 2, 3. Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. Job ii. 4. All her people (the people of Jerusalem), sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul. See, O Lord, and consider, for I am become vile: our necks are under persecution. La. i. 11. We labour and have no rest: we get our bread with the peril of our lives, because of the sword of the wilderness. La. v. 5. 9. Whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake, shall find it; for what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul. Mat. xvi. 25, 26. Doubtless I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge af Christ Jesus my lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. Phi. iii. 8, 9.

See verse 23. and com.

21 To cities, &c.] And he (Joseph), gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field which was round about every city, laid he up in the same. Ge. xli. 48.

22 Priests bought he not.] Melchizedek king of Salem, brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. Ge. xiv. 18. And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnath-paaneah, and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-pers priest of On. Ge. xli. 45. See verse 54 David's sons were chief rulers. 2 Sa. viii. 18,

priests had a portion assigned them of Pharaoh, and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them: wherefore they sold not their lands. Then Joseph said unto the people, Behold, I have bought 23 you this day and your land for Pharaoh : lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land. And it shall come to pass in the 24 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 housholds, and for food for your little ones. And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: let us 25

For the priests had a portion.] Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite, as long as thou livest upon the earth. De. xii. 19. See Jos. chap. xxi. We certify you (said Artaxerxes), that touching any of the priests, and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them. Ezr. vii. 24. And I (Nehemiah), perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them. Ne. xiii. 10. Provide (said Jesus to his disciples) neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses; nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. Mat. X. 9, 10. Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar. 1 Co. ix. 13. Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Gal. vi. 6. Even when we were with you (said Paul), this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 2 The. iii. 10. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 1 Ti. v. 17.

23 See verse 19.

Here is seed for you.] The seven empty ears blasted with the east wind (seen in Pharaoh's dream) shall be seven years of famine (said Joseph). Ge. xli. 27. For these two years (said Joseph to his brethren) hath the famine been in the land, and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. Ge. xlv. 6. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness, according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Ps. li. 1. And there (in the wilderness) he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation; and sow the fields and plant vineyards which may yield fruits of increase. Ps. cvii. 36, 37. A good man sheweth favour and lendeth; he will guide his affairs with discretion. Ps. cxii. 5. He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him; but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it. Pr. xi. 26. He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread. VOL. I.

Pr. xii. 11. Much food is in the tillage of the poor. Pr. xiii. 23. In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good. Ec. xi. 6. Doth the plowman plow all day to sow ? Doth he open and break the clods of his ground? When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal wheat, and the appointed barley, and the rye, in their place. Is. xxviii. 24, 25. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth, and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth (saith the Lord), it shall not return unto me void. Is. lv. 10, 11. Behold, I have told you before (said Jesus respecting the destruction of the temple). Mat. xxiv. 25. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower, both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness. 2 Co. ix. 10.

24 The fifth part, &c.] See verse 25. Let Pharaoh do this (said Joseph), and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. Ge. xli. 34. Concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord. Le. xxvii. 32. And he (the king whom ye seek, said Samuel) will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers and to his servants: and he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work: he will take the tenth of your sheep, and ye shall be his servants. 1 Sa. viii. 15, 16, 17. See verse 23. and com.

25 Thou hast saved our lives.] Of every living thing (said God), of all flesh, two of every sort, shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee. Ge. vi. 19. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. Ge. xli. 45. For these two years (said Joseph) hath the famine been in the land, and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest: and God sent me before

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find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's 26 servants. And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth part; except 27 the land of the priests only, which became not Pharaoh's. And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied ex28 ceedingly. And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven 29 years. And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he

you, to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance: so now, it was not you that sent me hither, but God. Ge. xlv. 6, 7, 8. But as for you (said Joseph to his brethren), ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Ge. 1. 20. He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him; but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it. He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour, but he that seeketh mischief it shall come unto him. Pr. xi. 26, 27.

Let us find grace, &c.] And (Abraham) said (unto the three men who stood by him), My lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant. Ge. xviii. 3. And Esau said (unto Jacob), Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord. Ge. xxxiii. 15. Then she (Ruth) said (to Boaz), Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens. Ru. ii. 13.

22.

26 Except the land of the priests.] See verse

I will bring the worst of the heathen (upon Israel), and they shall possess their houses; I will also make the pomp of the strong to cease, and their holy places shall be defiled. Ez. vii. 24.

27 Dwelt in the land of Egypt.] See verse 11.

Grew, &c.] I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Ge. xiii. 16. and com. Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now the Lord thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude. De. x. 22. A Syrian ready to perish was my father (shall the person say who offers the basket of first-fruits), and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous. De. xxvi. 5. Their children also multipliedst thou (said the Levites) as the stars of heaven; and broughtest them into the land, concerning which thou hadst promised to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.

Ne. ix. 23. And he increased his people greatly, and made them stronger than their enemies. Ps. cv. 24. He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly, and suffereth not their cattle to decrease. Ps. cvii. 38. I will hiss for them, and gather them, for I have redeemed them; and they shall increase as they have increased. Zec. 1. 8. When the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt. Ac. vii. 17.

28 Seventeen years.] See Ge. xxxvii. 2.

The whole age of Jacob.] See verses 8, 9. and com. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if, by reason of strength, they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Ps. xc. 10. 12. How many are the days of thy servant? Ps. cxix.

84.

29 Must die.] See verse 9. and com. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. Ge. iii. 19. And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die; and 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. Ge. 1. 24. And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thy days approach that thou must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge. De. xxxi. 14. And when thy days be fulfilled (said the Lord to David by the mouth of Nathan), and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 2 Sa. vii. 12. We must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again: neither doth God respect any person; yet doth he devise means that his banished be not expelled from him. 2 S. xiv. 14. Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man. 1 Ki. ii. 1, 2. Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling! Job vii. 1. If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of

called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt: But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of 30 Egypt, and bury me in their burying place. And he said, I will do as thou hast said. And he said, Swear unto me. And he 31 sware unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head.

CHAPTER XLVIII.

AND it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, 1 Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons,

my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Job xiv. 14. I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living. Job xxx. 23. Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed: my soul is also sore vexed; but thou, O Lord, how long? Ps. vi. 2, 3. None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: that he should still live for ever, and not see corruption. Ps. xlix. 7.9. What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Ps. lxxxix. 48. It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. He. ix. 27.

Put, I pray thee, thy hand, &c.] See Ge. xxiv. 3. and com.

Bury me not, &c.] 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. Ge. 1. 25. Jacob went down into Egypt and died, he and our fathers, and were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor, the father of Sychem. Ac. vii. 15, 16. By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel: and gave commandment concerning his bones. He. xi.

22.

30 Lie with my fathers.] Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan. Ge. xxiii. 19. and com. The purchase of the field, and of the cave that is therein (in the field of Machpelah), was from the children of Heth.

Ge.

xlix. 32. My father (said Joseph to Pharaoh) 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 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. Ge. 1. 5. 14. See com. on verse 29. Let thy servant (said

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Barzillai to David), I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city" (“Rogelim" in Gilead), and be buried by the grave of my father, and of my mother. 2 Sa. xix. 37. Thy carcase (said the old prophet to the disobedient prophet whom he had seduced) shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers. 1 Ki. xiii. 22. Then I (Nehemiah) was very sore afraid (when the king Artaxerxes said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad?), and said unto the king, Why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste? Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? And I said, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it. Ne. ii. 3, 4, 5. 31 Swear unto me.]

com.

See chap. xxiv. 3. and

And Israel bowed himself, &c.] And the "man" ("Abraham's servant," being invited by Rebekah to lodge with her father Bethuel) bowed down his head, and worshipped the Lord. Ge. xxiv. 26. And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed. Ge. xlviii. 2. The king's (Solomon's) servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king bowed himself upon the bed. 1 Ki. i. 47. By faith, Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. He. xi. 21.

CHAP. XLVIII-1 Thy father is sick.] Lord, behold (said the sisters of Lazarus), he whom thou lovest is sick. John xi. 3.

His two sons.] And unto Joseph were born two sons, before the years of famine came: which Asenath, the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On, bare unto him; and Joseph called the name of the firstborn "Manasseh" (i. e. "forgetting"); and the name of the second called he "Ephraim" (i. e. "fruit,

2 Manasseh and Ephraim. And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, 3 and sat upon the bed. And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, 4 And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give 5 this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession. And

ful"). Ge. xli. 50, 51, 52. Unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath, the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On, bare unto him. Ge. xlvi. 20. And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation. Ge. 1. 23. After this (that his blessings were doubled at the hand of God) lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations. Job xlii. 16. Yea, thou (who fearest God) shalt see thy children's children. Ps. cxxviii. 6.

2 Strengthened himself.] Charge Joshua (said God to Moses), and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over (Jordan) before this people (Israel), and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see. De. iii. 28. Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood (to Ziph), and strengthened his hand in God. 1 Sa. xxiii. 16. Then (as the rulers of the Jews knew not whither I went or what I did) I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's (Artaxerxes') words that he had spoken unto me: and they said, Let us rise up and build: so they strengthened their hands for this good work. Ne. ii. 18. The Lord will strengthen him (the charitable man) upon the bed of languishing; thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness. Ps. xli. 3. My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. Pr. xxiii. 15. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Ep. vi. 10.

3 God Almighty appeared, &c.] See Ge. xvii. 1. and com. And I saw no temple therein (in the heavenly Jerusalem): for the Lord God Almighty, and the Lamb, are the temple of it. Re. xxi. 22.

Appeared unto me.] And he (Jacob) dreamed (a dream); and behold, a ladder set upon the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it: 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: and thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth; and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south and in thee, and in thy seed, shall all the families of the earth be blessed and behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land: for I

will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not: and he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it; and he called the name of that place Beth-el: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. Ge. xxviii. 12-19. Jacob came to "Luz," which is in the land of Canaan (that is "Beth-el"), he and all the people that were with him. Ge. xxxv. 6. And he built there an altar, and called the place El-Beth-el: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother. Ge. xxxv. 7. And God appeared unto Jacob again when he came out of Padan-aram, and blessed him: and God said unto him, I am God Almighty; be fruitful, and multiply, &c. The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it; and to thy seed after thee will I give the land. Ge. xxxv. 9. 11. 12. He (Jacob) had power over the angel, and prevailed; he wept and made supplication unto him; he found him in Beth-el, and there he spake with us. Ho. xii. 4.

Luz.] And the house of Joseph sent to descry Beth-el (now the name of the city be fore was Luz). Ju. i. 23.

4 I will make thee fruitful.] I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee (said God to Abram), and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing. Ge. xii. 2. and com. And thou saidst (said Jacob to God). I will surely do thee good; and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude. Ge. xxxii. 12. And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen, and they had possessions therein, and grew and multiplied exceedingly. Ge. xlvii. 27. And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty, and the land was filled with them. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. Ex. i. 7. 11.

Will give this land.] When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritan when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. De. xxx.

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