The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 546

Ycrs. 13-17.-Roy11l donations on Joseph. It is instructive to observe with wha\ h1 1"ing Rr,l<,ur lllose~ speaks of Joseph. No sooner docs he mention this name than bis tonp:ue, the ready servant of his hea1t, gives vent to a flood of eloquence. No good is t.oo great t.o predict for Joseph. No benediction is too costly for him. 'l'he finest imagery th11t his fancy can invent is employed to foreshadow his greatness. 'l'hc imap:ination of the d)'ing saint fondly revels in the prospect of Joseph's prosperity and power. 'l'ouching Joseph, we have mentioned- l. Hrs FAITnFUL IMPROYEMENT OF TRIAL. 'l'he description of Rachel's firstborn is truly pathetic. He is pictured to ns as he "that was separated from his brethren." In a sense he had always been separate. In youth, his temper and tastes 1md predilections were all superior to theirs. They were coarse, vulgar, cruel; ho was refined, thoughtful, gentle-cast in a nobler mould. But the reference mado by Moses to separation is, doubtless, to that violent and murderous separation, when by his brothers' hands he was sold as a bond-slave and carried into E~ypt. How nobly he baJ borne that treatment is a matter of historic fact. How Joseph's behaviour in capti,ity bad led to the development of lsrael'H fortunes could never be erased from Jewish memory. His affectionate treatment of his aged father, and his generous forgi,·eness of bis brethren, marked him as "separato" from the common herd of men. This is a kind of separateness we may aspire to emulate. Here is a pattern man, IT. Hrs FORESEEN PROSPERITY. This forecast of prolific prosperity was founded on a double basis, Yiz. on the natirn resources of the district which was to be his favoured portion; and on the abiding benediction of Jehovah. Yet these two sources of pro~pcrity were in reality one--one source flowing through many_channels. His hills should laugh in fertility and gladness beneath the sunny smile of God. The vale of Shechcm bas al ways enjoyed a wide cele_brity for its beauty and frnitfnlness. ::Samaria was the paradise of Canaan. Its hills were covered with olives and vines aud figs. Its Yalleys waved with golden corn. One natural source of abundance is its perennial fountains and flowing streams-the "deep that coucheth beneath." Here it was that Jacob made his first purchase of land, and here lie digged the well which to this hour bears bis name. To this verdant district Jacob's sons led their flocks when drought and barrenness covered the land. And in this district occurred the shan,eful deed wheu Joseph was imprisoned in the pit and then sold t-0 lshrnaelites. By a generous retribution of God's sagacious providence, Joseph obtained his permanent portion in this very territory, ancl with all the energy of his soul Moses prayed, " Blessed of the Lord be his lan,I." llL Hrs FUTURE POWER. A double portion of property and power fell to Joseph. By the dying bequest of his father Jacob, each of Josepb's sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, was to rank in the first degree, adopted by Jacob in the place and rank of his own. Yet the two sons were destined not to grow in the same proportion of power. \,bile there were to he the "thousands of Manasseh," there were to be the "ten tl,ousands of Ephraim." God "divideth to every one severally as he will." 'l'he glory of these young men was to he "their strength,'' and this would be fostered by the fatness of their land. Yet their strength was not pictured under the image of a lion or_ an eagle. It was to be rather the quiet, patient strength of the ox-the strength whwh eudures, as did Joseph's in the land of Egypt. Horns are the bullock's ,natural weapons of defence, and these are significant emblems of power. But Josephs horns were to he like those of the unicorn. His was to be royal authority and strength. Evidently Moses foresaw the day when the sovereignty of the Hebrews would be divided, and when Joseph should wield a sceptre in Israel .. The roya} em,~laz?nry of Britain thus corresponds, in part, with the heraldry of ancient Samaria. With the Loms of unicorns" he was destined "to push the people together to tbo ends of the earth." His "born God exalted unto honour." To this hour, a remnant of Joseph'd }'uwer remains in Samaria. There still in the synagogue is enshrined the ancient Law, and there yet is observed the Paschal feast.-D. Vers. 18, 19.-Comhi11ed work and worship. Some tie of affinity bound these two tribe:s in peculiar intimacy. We cannot find this cementing link in the fact that the)r lal:!d~ lay in cluse contiguity ; this fact was not unique. Other tribes bordcre? on their coa;;ts, with whom no such intimate alliance prevailed. Neither were their secular 011. xxxm. 1-29.] T!rn D80K OF DEUT8UOXOMY.