seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Genesis 45:21 So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey. 22 To each of them he gave new clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels(b) of silver and five sets of clothes. 23 And this is what he sent to his father: ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey. 24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way!”
25 So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26 They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.” Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them. 27 But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 And Israel said, “I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”
25 So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26 They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.” Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them. 27 But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 And Israel said, “I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”
Remember Jacob was renamed Israel by God. The names still get switched and confusing. So Jacob's sons did this.
Bible-commentaries.com caught that "Don't quarrel on the way!" too.
"Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, 'Do not quarrel on the way!'" These words may have been said in jest, but truth can be very effectively communicated in a joking manner. Joseph knew the relationship his brothers had with one another. They were a rough bunch, which was more tied together by their common hatred than by their love for one another. They had mellowed over the years; they had come under conviction of sin, and they had received forgiveness. This had to be translated into a new fellowship with one another. The resurrection of Joseph from the dead, if we may use this image, should have the same effect upon them and their relationships as Jesus' resurrection has for us and visa versa.
When his sons tell him the news that Joseph is alive, Jacob does not react emotionally. We read in vs. 26 "They told him, 'Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.' Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them." The KJV and RSV say: "His heart fainted." This gives us the wrong impression. A physical fainting would have meant that the message got through to Jacob and overwhelmed him to the point where he lost consciousness. The Pulpit Commentary says: "literally, grew chill, the primary idea of the root being that of rigidity through coldness." The Dutch translates it with "his heart remained cold." ("zijn hart bleef er koud onder.") There was no normal reaction because there was no hope left in his heart. Hope and life go together. Those who give up hope have given up life.
Finally, Jacob is convinced by the facts. Hearing Joseph's word repeated, they sound like things Joseph would have said, and seeing the carts convinces Jacob. Again, the brothers may not have repeated everything Joseph said. Especially the words "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!" will have been omitted. But Jacob has enough proof to set out for Egypt. If nothing else convinced him, the delicacies Joseph had sent for him would. Joseph knew what Jacob liked.
The blueletterbible.org site adds this about Israel [Jacob].
This testimony of faith comes from Israel, not Jacob. When Jacob was in charge, we saw a whining, self-pitying, complaining, unbelieving type of man. But Israel, the man God conquered, had a testimony of faith.
What a warm story from such a dysfunctional family.... see all families can be wonderful and warm at times.
