Notes for Gen 45:1LEB

"all the ones standing beside him."

 

"stood."

 

Notes for Gen 45:2LEB

"and he gave his voice in weeping," meaning that Joseph could not restrain himself and wept out loud.

 

"and the Egyptians heard and the household of Pharaoh heard." Presumably in the latter case this was by means of a report.

 

Notes for Gen 45:5LEB

"let there not be anger in your eyes."

 

You sold me here, for Yahweh sent me. The tension remains as to how the brothers’ wickedness and Yahweh’s intentions work together. Clearly Yahweh is able to transform the actions of wickedness to bring about some gracious end. But this is saying more than that; it is saying that from the beginning it was Yahweh who sent Joseph here. Although harmonization of these ideas remains humanly impossible, the divine intention is what should be the focus. Only that will enable reconciliation.

 

Notes for Gen 45:6LEB

"the famine [has been] in the midst of."

 

Notes for Gen 45:7LEB

Yahweh sent me. The repetition of this theme that Yahweh sent Joseph is reminiscent of commission narratives in which the leader could announce that Yahweh sent him (e.g., Exod 3:15LEB).

 

"to make you a remnant." The verb, followed here by the preposition לְ (lé), means "to make."

 

The infinitive gives a second purpose for Yahweh’s action.

 

Notes for Gen 45:8LEB

"a father." The term is used here figuratively of one who gives advice, as a father would to his children.

 

Notes for Gen 45:9LEB

"hurry and go up."

 

Notes for Gen 45:10LEB

The perfect verbal form with vav consecutive here expresses instruction.

 

Notes for Gen 45:11LEB

The verb כּוּל (kul) in the Pilpel stem means "to nourish, to support, to sustain." As in 1 Kgs 20:27LEB, it here means "to supply with food."

 

Notes for Gen 45:12LEB

"And, look, your eyes see and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that my mouth is the one speaking to you."

 

Notes for Gen 45:13LEB

The perfect verbal form with the vav consecutive here expresses instruction.

 

"and hurry and bring down my father to here."

 

Notes for Gen 45:16LEB

"and the sound was heard."

 

"was good in the eyes of."

 

Notes for Gen 45:17LEB

"and go! Enter!"

 

Notes for Gen 45:18LEB

After the imperatives in vv. 17–18a, the cohortative with vav indicates result.

 

After the cohortative the imperative with vav states the ultimate goal.

 

"fat."

 

Notes for Gen 45:19LEB

The words "to say" have been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

 

Notes for Gen 45:20LEB

"let not your eye regard."

 

Notes for Gen 45:21LEB

"and the sons of Israel did so."

 

"according to the mouth of Pharaoh."

 

Notes for Gen 45:22LEB

"to all of them he gave, to each one, changes of outer garments."

 

"changes of outer garments."

 

Notes for Gen 45:23LEB

"according to this."

 

Notes for Gen 45:24LEB

"do not be stirred up in the way." The verb means "stir up." Some understand the Hebrew verb רָגָז (ragaz, "to stir up") as a reference to quarreling (see Prov 29:9LEB, where it has this connotation), but in Exod 15:14LEB and other passages it means "to fear." This might refer to a fear of robbers, but more likely it is an assuring word that they need not be fearful about returning to Egypt. They might have thought that once Jacob was in Egypt, Joseph would take his revenge on them.

 

Notes for Gen 45:25LEB

"and they entered the land of Canaan to their father."

 

Notes for Gen 45:26LEB

"and his heart was numb." Jacob was stunned by the unbelievable news and was unable to respond.

 

Notes for Gen 45:27LEB

"and they spoke to him all the words of Joseph which he had spoke to them."