The Pulpit Commentary — Genesis — Section 590

HOMILETICS. Vers. 15-26.-Th.e last of tli,e house of Jacob. I. Josgprr AND HIS BRETHREN (vers. 15-18). 1. Tiu unworthy suspu:ion. _After Jacob's death, Joseph's brethren began to fear lest he should seek to revenge lumself on account of his early injuries. It was perhaps natural that such an apprehension should arise within their breasts considerin~ the enonnity of the wic!;:edness o~ which they had been guilty; but remembenng all the tokens of Joseph B love which already they had received it was surely unkind to Joseph to suffer such a thought for even a moment to find 'a lodo-- ment in their breasts. ~- T~efriendly _emliassage . . Deputin~ Benjamin, it is thought, to be the bearer of their wIShes, they mstructed him to renund Joseph of their dead father's desire that be should forgive the evil he had suffered at their hands, and to solicit an express assurance from his own lips that it was so. 3. The voluntary humilwtion. Vvhether they allowed their messenger to return or followed close upon his heels cannot be certainly concluded. But they appear to have resorted in a body to Joseph's palace, and placed themselves unconditionally in his power; "Behold, we be thy servants," meaning," Do with us what seemeth good in thy sight." 4. Tlie generous assurance. As they desired, he explicitly declared, though with tears at their unkindness, that they had no cause whatever to anticipate bis anger, that he was not in God's place that he should seek to punish them for a sin which had turned out so providentially for good, and that on the contrary be would continue to noarish them and their little ones so long as they remained in Egypt. II. JOSEPH AND HIS CHILDREN'S CHILDREN. 1. The children of Ephraim. He lived long enough to see the children of Ephraim's grandchildren born into this sinful world, and then he died at the good old age of 110 years. 2. Tlie children of Manasseh. He saw the offspring of Manasseh's son born, and either adopted into his own family, or brought up in his own house. III. JosErH AND TIIE nousE OJ!' IsnAEL. 1. Joseph's premonition of approaching death. "J·oseph said unto his brethren, "-i. e. the descendants of his brethren, his actual brethren having in all probability predeceased him,-" I die." Along with this Joseph recalled to their minds the sacred promise that God would eventually vmit them and cause them to return to their own land. It is well when death ap- proaches to remember God's promi~es. The thoughts of God are very euita~le for dying hours. 2. Joseph's pi-eparatwn for deatli. He took an oath of the cluldren of Israel that they would carry up his bones to Canaan, in this following the example and imitating the faith of his revered father Jacob. 3. Josepli's falling asleep in death. "Joseph died, the son of an hundred and ton years." He had lived n shorter life than any of the four great preceding patriarchs; but his life had been eminently honoured and useful, and his death, we may be sure, would be beautifully calm and peaceful. 4. Joseph's body_ after d~ath. ~t was embalmed, and t\10 mummy put into a coffin for better preservation, until the time approached when 1t could be taken for consignment to the holy land. Learn-1. How difficult it is to shake oneself free from the evil consequences of sin, even after it bas been forgiven. 2. How painful to a loving heart it is t_o be ~uspected of cherishing a feeling of reye~ge. 3. How gene~ousJ:i,; God_ sometimes rewards his servants on earth, by perm1ttmg them to see cluldren s cl11ldren, born und brought up, and sometimes also broug-ht into the family of his Church. 4. How peacefully a child of God can die; and 5. How hopefully he oug-ht to look forward to the re,rnrrecti0n CD, L. 15- -26.] THE BOOK OF GENESIS. 541