Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 45:24

So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way.

24. See that ye fall not out ] The precise meaning of Joseph’s parting words has sometimes been misunderstood. The Heb. word which he uses is not common. It occurs in Psa 4:4, “Stand in awe” (R.V. marg. be ye angry). So here LXX ; Lat. ne irascamini. The meaning then will be, “do not get excited, quarrel not, and dispute not” with one another about the degree of your guilt in your treatment of me. Cf. Reuben’s reproaches in Gen 42:22. The suggestion that he warns them against being indignant at the especial favours and gifts lavished upon Benjamin is not probable. A different rendering, “be not alarmed,” in the sense of “do not give way to the fear that I am nursing my revenge and am meditating an outbreak of wrath against you at a later time,” is hardly warranted, either by the use of the verb or by the context. But see Gen 50:15-21.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Gen 45:24

See that ye fall not out by the way

Good advice to Christians

I.

THE RELATIONSHIP OF CHRISTIANS. They are brethren.

II. THE COURSE OF CHRISTIANS. On their way from Egypt to Canaan, from house of bondage to Fathers house above.

III. THE DANGER OF CHRISTIANS. Falling out by the way–disagreeing, quarrelling, separating.

IV. THE DUTY OF CHRISTIANS. To watch against this danger. Why?

1. Because brethren.

2. Because travelling to a place where there is no falling out.

3. Because you cant fall out without falling down–lowering Christian character.

4. Because you cant fall out without disobeying your Father, who tells you to love one another.

5. Because you cant fall out without giving your enemies occasion to triumph. Fall out with yourselves, and with Satan, but not with one another. (J. F. Smythe.)

Christians walking harmoniously on the road of life

They whom Joseph thus addressed were all–

I. MEMBERS OF THE SAME FAMILY. Brethren: the relations Christians bear to each other (1Pe 3:6; Rom 12:10; Heb 13:1).

II. PARTAKERS OF THE SAME GRACE. Forgiven ourselves, we are to be forgiving.

III. ASSOCIATES IN THE SAME SERVICE. Concerted action is required of us.

IV. TRAVELLING TO THE SAME HOME. (J. F. Poulter, B. A.)

Christian agreement

Well would this text apply to that quarrelling among nations, which under the name of war has been thought honourable and often profitable, whereas it must ever be in the end most ruinous and disgraceful to the whole family of mankind. See then that in this respect ye fall not out by the way. See that you never be tempted, by any supposed honour or profit of war, to speak of it as desirable, or to wish for it in your hearts. Well would this text in like manner apply to natives of the same country, members of the same political community; and to the tumult, and strife, which of late years more especially have distracted the peace of society. Well does this rule apply also to those who esteem themselves members of the same household of faith. What can be more scandalous in the eyes of the scoffer, what can be more inconsistent with true piety in ourselves, than that all we, who would fain hope that we are going to the same heaven, and going by the same road of true faith in Christ, should embitter our few and evil days on earth by religious, or rather irreligious, contentions with each other. I might go on to apply the text to the variances and disputes, which arise often to mar the peace of a neighbourhood, the harmony of a parish, or the union of a charitable or friendly society. I speak to you of your brethren and sisters, of your parents or children, of your masters or servants, of your husbands or wives. And of these severally, whatever members you may each have, in the household to which you belong, of these severally I say, See that ye fall not out by the way.

1. Be humble. The more you are aware of your own failings, the more allowances you will make for those you live with. The less you will be disposed to fret at their selfishness and pride, the more heartily you are vexed at your own.

2. Be not selfish. Next to pride, if it be not the very same thing, stands selfishness, as the fruitful source of ill-temper. Look not, then, every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others Php 2:4).

3. Set in watch over your lips. And when an angry thought arises, for a while be resolutely silent. Words are to anger, as air to kindle flame. Without them it soon dies for want of vent.

4. Avoid whatever you have found to be your usual provocations to anger.

5. Take, then, in the last place, this one direction more, Overcome evil with good. A soft answer turneth away wrath. (E. Blencowe, M. A.)

Josephs charge to his brethren

Prevention is better than cure. Better keep out of debt than let someone pay your bills; better for a family to take care that all causes of difference and disagreement should be removed, than to be constantly making up quarrels. Joseph then would say, See that ye fall not out by the way–

1. Because ye are brethren.

2. Because ye are passing through an enemys country.

3. Because ye are the bearers of precious treasure.

4. Because ye are representative men. All these thoughts will apply to the Church of Christ. (A. F. Barfield.)

See that ye fall not out by the way!–a necessary warning

How well he knew human nature! They were going home with news which would reveal to their father that they had been the cause of their brothers disappearance, and had imposed on him with a deliberate falsehood; and for anything they knew, he might turn upon them and upbraid them with their cruelty and deceit. What so likely, therefore, as that they should begin to accuse each other–that crimination should lead to recrimination, and words to blows? Reuben might say again, It was not my fault, for I sought to save his life, and I went back to the pit hoping to find him and restore him to our father. Judah might respond, But for me he would have died, and it is to my happy suggestion to sell him to the Ishmaelites that we are indebted for all the good fortune that seems now to be coming to us; while the rest, conscious of their share in the nefarious transaction, might have sought to still the upbraidings of their consciences by uttering bitter things against each other. All that might have happened on their journey home, and so Joseph was not giving unnecessary counsel when he said, See that ye fall not out by the way. And they heeded his advice, for they reached home in peace; and it may be that, so far from quarrelling, they spent some of their time as they rode in conversing on the marvellous manner in which, in spite of their antagonism, and without their consciousness of anything in the least degree out of the way, the dreams of their brother had been fulfilled, and they had done obeisance at his feet. (W. M. Taylor, D. D.)

Luthers prayer

Controversy may be sometimes needful; but the love of disputation is a serious evil. Luther, who contended earnestly for the truth, used to pray: From a vainglorious doctor, a contentious pastor, and nice questions, the Lord deliver His Church!

Melancthon and his mother

Philip Melancthon, being at the conferences at Spire, in 1529, made a little journey to Bretten, to see his mother. This good woman asked him what she must believe amidst so many disputes, and repeated to him her prayers, which contained nothing superstitious. Go on, mother, said he, to believe and pray as you have done, and never trouble yourself about religious controversies.

Fraternal affection

Fraternal affection approaches very nearly to self-love, for there is but a short remove from our own concerns and happiness to theirs who came from the same stock, and are partakers of the same blood. Nothing, therefore, can be more unnatural than discord and animosity among members so allied, and nothing so beautiful as harmony and love. (L. N. Stretch.)

Church contention

When Caesar solicited the consulship he found Crassus and Pompey at variance, so that he could not apply to either of them for help, lest he should make the other his enemy. He determined to reconcile them by representing that if instead of fighting against each other, and thus raising enemies that might be formidable against them both, they would act in concert, by their united counsels and interest they might subdue all opposition. The scheme was successful, and Caesar by their help attained a pinnacle of power; and though neither Crassus nor Pompey gained any particular advantage by the league, if they had but used their united power wisely they might have affected great good. He who can bind together those who are at variance may procure for the state or for the Church a marvellous blessing. Never is a foe so ready to advance as when he sees those who should be one to attack him wounding and slaying each other. The battle of the sects has not only provoked ill blood in the Church of Christ, but has weakened her for offensive movements, because when she ought to have been increasing her armaments and completing her equipments for an aggression on the enemys territory, she has rather been engaged in quarrelling over some trivial point of doctrine, or perhaps some piece of church furniture, to her own dishonour and the enemys triumph. (New Handbook of Illustration.)

Trivial dissensions

Dr. Cannon was once appealed to by a certain church where there was a great commotion in regard to the point, whether in newly painting their church edifice the colour should be white or yellow. When the committee had stated their case, and with an emphasis, not to say acrimony, which gave sad proof of the existence of a fearful feud upon the unimportant question, the doctor quietly said, I should advise you, on the whole, to paint the house black. It is cheap, and a good colour to wear, and eminently appropriate for a body that ought to go in mourning over such a foolish quarrel among its members. (Homiletic Encylopoedia.)

Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell

Verse 24. See that ye fall not out by the way.] This prudent caution was given by Joseph, to prevent his brethren from accusing each other for having sold him; and to prevent them from envying Benjamin, for the superior favour shown him by his brother. It is strange, but so it is, that children of the same parents are apt to envy each other, fall out, and contend; and therefore the exhortation in this verse must be always seasonable in a large family. But a rational, religious education will, under God, prevent every thing of this sort.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

Or contend one with another, each vindicating himself, and laying the blame upon his brother.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

24. so he sent his brethren awayIndismissing them on their homeward journey, he gave them thisparticular admonition:

See that ye fall not out bythe waya caution that would be greatly needed; for not onlyduring the journey would they be occupied in recalling the parts theyhad respectively acted in the events that led to Joseph’s being soldinto Egypt, but their wickedness would soon have to come to theknowledge of their venerable father.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

So he sent his brethren away, and they departed,…. From Egypt to Canaan with the wagons, asses, and rich presents:

and he said unto them, see that ye fall not out by the way; the Targum of Jonathan adds, about the affair of selling me; which he had reason to fear they would, from what they, and particularly Reuben, had said in his presence, Ge 42:21; he was jealous this would be the subject of their discourse by the way, and that they would be blaming one another about it, and so fall into contentions and quarrels; that one would say it was owing to the reports of such an one concerning him, that they entertained hatred against him; that it was such an one that advised to kill him, and such an one that stripped him of his clothes, and such an one that put him into the pit, and such an one that was the cause of his being sold; and thus shifting of things from one to another, and aggravating each other’s concern in this matter, they might stir up and provoke one another to wrath and anger, as the word used signifies, which might have a bad issue; to prevent which Joseph gives them this kind and good advice; and especially there was the more reason to attend to it, since he was reconciled unto them, and was desirous the whole should be buried in oblivion.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

24. See that ye fall not out by the way. Some explain the passage as meaning, that Joseph asks his brethren to be of tranquil mind, and not to disturb themselves with needless fear; he rather exhorts them, however, to mutual peace. For, since the word רגז ( ragaz) sometimes signifies to tremble or be afraid, and sometimes, to make a tumult, the latter sense is the more appropriate: for we know that the children of God are not only easily appeased, if any one has injured them, but that they also desire others should live together in concord. Joseph was pacified towards his brethren; but at the same time he admonishes them not to stir up any strife among themselves. For there was reason to fear lest each, in attempting to excuse himself, should try to lay the blame on others, and thus contention would arise. We ought to imitate this kindness of Joseph; that we may prevent, as much as possible, quarrels and strifes of words; for Christ requires of his disciples, not only that they should be lovers of peace, but also that they should be peace-makers. Wherefore, it is our duty to remove, in time, all matter and occasion of strife. Besides, we must know, that what Joseph taught his brethren, is the command of the Spirit of God to us all; namely, that we should not be angry with each other. And because it generally happens that, in faults common to different parties, one maliciously accuses another; let each of us learn to acknowledge and confess his own fault, lest altercations should end in combats.

Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary

(24) See that ye fall not out by the way.Heb., do not get angry on the journey. Joseph feared that they might reproach one another for their treatment of him, and try to throw the blame on the one or two chiefly guilty, and that so quarrels might ensue. This is the meaning given to the passage in all the versions, and agrees with Josephs efforts to quiet their fears, and convince them of his good intentions. Several modern commentators, however, translate Be not afraid of the journey, but on insufficient grounds.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

24. See that ye fall not out by the way “Do not accuse one another of guilt, and so fall into unbrotherly contention . It was natural that in talking over this strange history each should seek to clear himself of blame . Three several times Joseph tells them that God had overruled their sin for good to all the family, and tenderly endeavours to alleviate thus the sorrow of their repentance” Newhall .

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments