Bible Commentaries

Joseph makes Himself known to his Brethren. Pharaoh invites Jacob and his Family to Settle in Egypt

5-7. Joseph declares that the events of the past all witnessed to the providential care of God.

6. Earing] i.e. ploughing, cognate with Lat. aro, 'I plough.' The word is now obsolete.

8. A father to Pharaoh] a title of honour and respect: cp. Isaiah 22:21.

10. The land of Goshen] This was a fertile district of N. Egypt, lying to the E. of the Nile between Zagazig and Tel-el Kebir, 40m. NE. of Cairo. The railway from Alexandria to Suez now runs through it. There have been discovered in this neighbourhood the remains of a town, called on its monuments Gesem. The land of Goshen was probably the same as the 'field of Zoan' (Psalms 78:12) and the 'land of Rameses' (Genesis 47:11). 18, 19. The district of Goshen was well suited. to the pastoral habits of the Hebrews. There is a papyrus of the time of the Pharaoh Merenptah, some centuries later than the present events, which refers to permission given to some tribes of nomad Asiatics (Shasu) to 'pass the fortress Etham in the land of Succoth near the town Pithom to pasture their cattle in that territory.' All these places were in the land of Goshen.

19. Wagons] Those depicted on the monuments had two wheels and were drawn by oxen.

20. Regard not your stuff] Do not trouble to bring all your belongings with you.

24. See that ye fall not oat by the way] Joseph perhaps feared that his brothers might reproach one another for their treatment of him, and so quarrels might arise.