Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 50:24
And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
24. will surely visit you ] The visitation of God in a gracious and merciful sense, as in Exo 3:16; Exo 4:31; cf. Luk 1:68, “He hath visited and redeemed his people.” “Bring you up,” cf. Gen 15:16, Gen 28:15, Gen 46:4.
which he sware, &c.] Cf. Gen 22:16, Gen 26:3, Gen 28:13.
Observe how the patriarchal narrative is closing with the promise of redemption, and with the renewal of the oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 24. Joseph said – I die] That is, I am dying; and God will surely visit you – he will yet again give you, in the time when it shall be essentially necessary, the most signal proof of his unbounded love towards the seed of Jacob.
And bring you out of this land] Though ye have here every thing that can render life comfortable, yet this is not the typical land, the land given by covenant, the land which represents the rest that remains for the people of God.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
God will surely visit you, i.e. deliver you out of this place, where I foresee you will be hardly used after my decease; or, fulfil his promised kindness to you, as that word is used, Gen 21:1; Exo 4:31. There is a double visitation oft mentioned in Scripture; the one of grace and mercy, which is here meant; the other of justice and anger, as elsewhere.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
24. Joseph said unto his brethren, IdieThe national feelings of the Egyptians would have beenopposed to his burial in Canaan; but he gave the strongest proof ofthe strength of his faith and full assurance of the promises, by “thecommandment concerning his bones” [Heb11:22].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die,…. Some time before his death he called them together, and observed to them, that he expected to die in a little time, as all must:
and God will surely visit you; not in a way of wrath and vindictive justice, as he sometimes does, but in a way of love, grace, and mercy:
and bring you out of this land; the land of Egypt, in which they then dwelt:
unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; meaning the land of Canaan, which he swore to those patriarchs that he would give to their posterity.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
When Joseph saw his death approaching, he expressed to his brethren his firm belief in the fulfilment of the divine promise (Gen 46:4-5, cf. Gen 15:16, Gen 15:18.), and made them take an oath, that if God should bring them into the promised land, they would carry his bones with them from Egypt. This last desire of his was carried out. When he died, they embalmed him, and laid him ( from , like Gen 24:33 in the chethib) “in the coffin,” i.e., the ordinary coffin, constructed of sycamore-wood (see Hengstenberg, pp. 71, 72), which was then deposited in a room, according to Egyptian custom ( Herod. 2, 86), and remained in Egypt for 360 years, until they carried it away with them at the time of the exodus, when it was eventually buried in Shechem, in the piece of land which had been bought by Jacob there (Gen 33:19; Jos 24:32).
Thus the account of the pilgrim-life of the patriarchs terminates with an act of faith on the part of the dying Joseph; and after his death, in consequence of his instructions, the coffin with his bones became a standing exhortation to Israel, to turn its eyes away from Egypt to Canaan, the land promised to its fathers, and to wait in the patience of faith for the fulfilment of the promise.
Chronological Survey of the Leading Events of the Patriarchal History
Arranged according to the Hebrew Text, as a continuation of the Chronological Tables at p. 77, with an additional calculation of the year before Christ.
The Events Year of Migration to Egypt Year of Entrance into Canaan Year from the Creation Year Before Christ Abram’s entrance into Canaan 1 2021 2137 Birth of Ishmael 11 2032 2126 Institution of Circumcision 24 2045 2113 Birth of Isaac 25 2046 2112 Death of Sarah 62 2083 2075 Marriage of Isaac 65 2086 2072 Birth of Esau and Jacob 85 2106 2052 Death of Abraham 100 2121 2037 Marriage of Esau 125 2146 2012 Death of Ishmael 148 2169 1989 Flight of Jacob to Padan Aram 162 2183 1975 Jacob’s Marriage 169 2190 1968 Birth of Joseph 176 2197 1961 Jacob’s return from Padan Aram 182 2203 1951 Jacob’s arrival at Shechem in Canaan ? 187 ? 2208 ? 1950 Jacob’s return home to Hebron 192 2213 1945 Sale of Joseph 193 2214 1944 Death of Isaac 205 2226 1932 Promotion of Joseph in Egypt 206 2227 1931 Removal of Israel to Egypt 1 215 2236 1922 Death of Jacob 17 232 2253 1905 Death of Joseph 71 286 2307 1851 Birth of Moses 350 565 2586 1572 Exodus of Israel from Egypt 430 645 2666 1492
The calculation of the years b.c. is based upon the fact, that the termination of the 70 years’ captivity coincided with the first year of the sole government of Cyrus, and fell in the year 536 b.c.; consequently the captivity commenced in the year 606 B. C.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
24. And Joseph said unto his brethren. It is uncertain whether Joseph died the first or the last of the brethren, or whether a part of them survived him. Here indeed Moses includes, under the name of brethren, not only those who were really so, but other relations. I think, however, that certain of the chiefs of each family were called at his command, from whom the whole of the people might receive information: and although it is probable that the other patriarchs also gave the same command respecting themselves, since the bones of them all were, in like manner, conveyed into the land of Canaan; yet special mention is made of Joseph alone, for two reasons. First, since the eyes of them all were fixed upon him, on account of his high authority, it was his duty to lead their way, and cautiously to beware lest the splendor of his dignity should cast a stumbling block before any of them. Secondly, it was of great consequence, as an example, that it should be known to all the people, that he who held the second place in the kingdom of Egypt, regardless of so great an honor, was contented with his own coalition, which was only that of the heir of a bare promise.
I die. This expression has the force of a command to his brethren to be of good courage after his death, because the truth of God is immortal; for he does not wish them to depend upon his life or that of another man, so as to cause them to prescribe a limit to the power of God; but he would have them patiently to rest till the suitable time should arrive. But whence had he this great certainty, that he should be a witness and a surety of future redemption, except from his having been so taught by his father? For we do not read that God had appeared unto him, or that an oracle had been brought to him by an angel from heaven; but because he was certainly persuaded that Jacob was a divinely appointed teacher and prophet, who should transmit to his sons the covenant of salvation deposited with him; Joseph relies upon his testimony not less securely than if some vision had been presented to him, or he had seen angels descending to him from heaven: for unless the hearing of the word is sufficient for our faith, we deserve not that God, whom we then defraud of his honor, should condescend to deal with us: not that faith relies on human authority, but because it hears God speaking through the mouth of men, and by their external voice is drawn upwards; for what God pronounces through men, he seals on our hearts by his Spirit. Thus faith is built on no other foundation than God himself; and yet the preaching of men is not wanting in its claim of authority and reverence. This restraint is put upon the rash curiosity of those men, who, eagerly desiring visions, despise the ordinary ministry of the Church; as if it were absurd that God, who formerly showed himself to the fathers out of heaven, should send forth his voice out of the earth. But if they would reflect how gloriously he once descended to us in the person of his only-begotten Son, they would not so importunately desire that heaven should daily be opened unto them. But, not to insist upon these things; when the brethren saw that Joseph, — who in this respect was inferior to his fathers, as having been partaker of no oracle, — had been imbued by them with the doctrine of piety, so that he contended with a faith similar to theirs; they would at once be most ungrateful and malignant, if they rejected the participation of his grace.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(24) God will . . . bring you out of this land.This is, first, a proof of Josephs faith, commended in Heb. 11:22; and, secondly, it is a preparation for the next book (Exodus). Josephs faith thus unites the two books together.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
“And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am dying. But God will surely visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land which he swore to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob.” ’
Some of his brothers are clearly yet alive and he calls them and tells them that he is dying. And once he is dead God will then surely visit them and take them back to the promised land. Joseph is strongly aware that the covenant still stands firm and God’s promises to their fathers must be fulfilled.
It would seem that he feels that, now that his position of authority will cease, their purpose in Egypt is done. They must by now have been a fairly large group numbering probably tens of thousands. But they have comfortably settled down and do not return to the land God has promised them, and eventually they will suffer for it. It is not wise to delay in obedience when God commands. And yet as the future reveals, when man fails God finds another way.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Gen 50:24. God will surely visit you See ch. Gen 21:1. The subsequent words, and bring you out of this land, evidently shew in what manner Joseph believed that GOD would visit the Israelites. Thus he died in the same faith with his ancestors, agreeable to what the apostle to the Hebrews says: By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel, and gave commandment concerning his bones. Heb 11:22.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
It was thus the fathers in the faith comforted their descendants with an assurance of GOD’S promises. One saint relates to another GOD’S covenant promises, and their dependence upon them. Thus Abraham to Isaac: and Isaac to Jacob: and Jacob to Joseph: and Joseph to his descendants. Reader! if believers now had faith in equal exercise, such would be our comforts in dying hours. Exo 4:31 ; Psa 27:13-14 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 50:24 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
Ver. 24. And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die. ] A sad saying to them, poor souls. For now began their misery and slavery in Egypt. When Epaminondas died, his whole country died with him; the Thebans were never after known by their victories, but by their overthrows. When Augustus died, the sun seemed to the Romans to fall from heaven: such an alteration presently followed in that state. When Louis XII departed this world, saith Budaeus, a he that erewhile seemed to touch heaven with his finger, lay grovelling, as if he had been thunderstruck. All Israel’s prosperity died with Josiah; and so did their liberty and worldly felicity with Joseph. His nephews, the Ephraimites, attempted, before the time, their own deliverance, not long after Joseph’s death, even while their father Ephraim was yet alive, but with ill success, to his great grief and regret. 1Ch 7:22 Psa 78:9 Hasty work seldom ends well: how this of mine will do, I know not, made up, as it might be, in little more than four month’s space, amidst manifold fears and distractions, at spare hours; and bearing date from mine enlargement, July the llth, Anno Dom. 1643, that happy day that saw me both a prisoner and a free man, by the good hand of my God upon me; to whom be glory and praise for ever. As for this my book, made b purposely to testify my thankfulness to God, mine Almighty Deliverer, and to those whom he was pleased to use as instruments of my much endeared liberty; such as it is, E, ; as he said of his rhetoric: and, if I shall cast in my verdict,
“ Cum relego, scripsisse pudet, quia plurima cerno,
Me quoque, qui [scripsi] iudice, digna lini. ” c
a Qui prius digito coelum attingere videbantur, nunc humi de
repente serpere sideratos esse diceres. – Bud.
b See mine Epist. Dedicat. set before my Com. on the Four
Evangel.
c
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
surely visit you. (Exo 3:16.) Figure of speech Polyptoton. Hebrew “visiting will visit you”; used for great emphasis. See note on Gen 26:28. This was the faith of Joseph referred to in Heb 11:22. He had “heard” (Rom 10:17) and believed what God had said to Abraham. Gen 12:7; Gen 15:18; Gen 13:14, Gen 13:15; Isa 26:3, Isa 26:4; Jam 28:13; Jam 35:12; Jam 48:1-4. All three names are united and discriminated in Exo 2:24; Exo 3:6. Psa 105:9, Psa 105:10. And compare Exo 6:3, Exo 6:4. Deu 11:21. Luk 1:72, Luk 1:73, &c.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
I die: Gen 50:5, Gen 3:19, Job 30:23, Ecc 12:5, Ecc 12:7, Rom 5:12, Heb 9:27
visit you: Gen 21:1, Exo 4:31
you out: Gen 15:14-16, Gen 26:3, Gen 35:12, Gen 46:4, Gen 48:21, Exo 3:16, Exo 3:17
sware: Gen 12:7, Gen 13:15, Gen 13:17, Gen 15:7, Gen 15:18, Gen 17:8, Gen 26:3, Gen 28:13, Gen 35:12, Gen 46:4, Exo 33:1, Num 32:11, Deu 1:8, Deu 6:10
Reciprocal: Gen 23:20 – for a Gen 25:11 – after Gen 31:3 – Return Gen 47:29 – must die Exo 1:6 – General Exo 3:8 – I am Exo 13:5 – sware Exo 13:19 – for he had Num 11:12 – the land Jer 32:22 – which Zep 2:7 – shall visit Act 7:32 – I am Act 20:32 – I commend 2Ti 4:6 – and Heb 2:6 – visitest Heb 11:13 – all died Heb 11:22 – faith
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 50:24. I die; and God will surely visit you To this purpose Jacob had spoken to him, Gen 48:21. Thus must we comfort others with the same comforts wherewith we ourselves have been comforted of God, and encourage them to rest on those promises which have been our support. Joseph was, under God, both the protector and benefactor of his brethren, and what would become of them now he was dying? Why, let this be their comfort, God will surely visit you. Gods gracious visits will serve to make up the loss of our best friends: and bring you out of this land And therefore they must not hope to settle there, nor look upon it as their rest for ever; they must set their hearts upon the land of promise, and call that their home.