(2.) He would have Joseph sworn to bring him thither to be buried, (v. 29, 31.) that Joseph being under such a solemn obligation to do it, might have that to answer to the objections which otherwise might have been made against it, and for the greater satisfaction of Jacob now in his dying minutes. Nothing will better help to make a death-bed easy, than the certain prospect of a rest in Canaan after death.
(3.) When this was done, Israel bowed himself upon the bed's-head, yielding himself, as it were, to the stroke of death; ("Now let it come, and it shall be welcome;") or worshipping God, as it is explained, Heb. 11. 21, giving God thanks for all his favours, and particularly for this, that Joseph was ready, not only to put his hand upon his eyes to close them, but under his thigh to give him the satisfaction he desired concerning his burial. Thus they that go down to the dust, should with humble thankfulness, bow before God, the God of their mercies, Ps. 22. 29.
CHAP. XLVIII.
The time drawing nigh that Israel must die, haying in the former chapter given order about his burial, in this, he takes leave of his grand-children by Joseph, and in the next, of all his children. Thus Jacob's dying words are recorded, because he then spake by a spirit of prophecy; Abraham's and Isaac's are not. God's gifts and graces shine forth much more in some saints than in others upon their death-beds. The Spirit, like the wind, blows where it listeth. In this chapter, I. Joseph, hearing of his father's sickness, goes to visit him, and takes his two sons with him, v. 1, 2. II. Jacob solemnly adopts his two sons, and takes them for his own, v. 3..7. III. He blesses them, v. 8..16. IV. He explains and justifies the crossing of his hands in blessing them, v. 17..20. V. He leaves a particular legacy to Joseph, v. 21, 22.
1.AND it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2. And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed. 3. And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, 4. And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people, and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession. 5. And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt, before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine. 6. And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance. 7. And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come into Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Beth-lehem.
Here,
I. Joseph, upon notice of his father's illness, goes to see him; though a man of honour and business, yet he will not fail to show this due respect to his aged father, v. 1. Visiting the sick, to whom we lie under obligations, or may have opportunity of doing good, either for body or soul, is our duty. The sick bed is a proper place both for giving comfort and counsel to others, and receiving instruction ourselves. Joseph took his two sons with him, that they might receive their dying grandfather's blessing, and that what they might see in him, and hear from him, might make an abiding impression upon them. Note, 1. It is good to acquaint young people that are coming into the world, with the aged servants of God that are going out of it, whose dying testimony to the goodness of God, and the pleasantness of wisdom's ways, may be a great encouragement to the rising generation. Manasseh and Ephraim (I dare say) would never forget what passed at this time. 2. Pious parents are desirous of a blessing, not only for themselves, but for their children. "O that they may live before God!" Joseph had been, above all his brethren, kind to his father, and therefore had reason to expect particular favour from him.
II. Jacob, upon notice of his son's visit, prepared himself as well as he could to entertain him, v. 2. He did what he could to rouse his spirits, and to stir up the gift that was in him; what little was left of bodily strength, he put forth to the utmost, and sat upon the bed. Note, It is very good for sick and aged people to be as lively and cheerful as they can, that they may not faint in the day of adversity. Strengthen thyself, as Jacob here, and God will strengthen thee; hearten thyself and help thyself, and God will help and hearten thee. Let the Spirit sustain the infirmity.
III. In recompense to Joseph for all his attentions to him, he adopted his two sons. In this charter of adoption, there is,
1. A particular recital of God's promise to him, to which this had reference. "God blessed me; (v. 3.) and let that blessing be entailed upon them." God had promised him two things, a numerous issue, and Canaan for an inheritance; (v. 4.) and Joseph's sons, pursuant hereunto, should each of them multiply into a tribe, and each of them have a distinct lot in Canaan, equal with Jacob's own sons. See how he blessed them by faith in that which God had said to him, Heb. 11. 21. Note, In all our prayers, both for ourselves and for our children, we ought to have a particular eye to, and remembrance of, God's promises to us.
2. An express reception of Joseph's sons into his family, "Thy sons are mine, (v. 5.) not only my grand-children, but as my own children." Though they were born in Egypt, and their father was then separated from his brethren, which might seem to have cut them off from the heritage of the Lord, yet Jacob takes them in, and owns them for visible church-members. He explains it; (v. 16.) Let my name be named upon them, and the name of my fathers; as if he had said, "Let them not succeed their father in his power and grandeur here in Egypt; but let them succeed me in the inheritance of the promise made to Abraham," which Jacob looked upon as much more valuable and honourable, and would have them to prize and covet accordingly. Thus the aged dying patriarch teaches these young persons, now that they were come of age, (being about twenty-one years old,) not to look upon Egypt as their own, nor to incorporate themselves with the Egyptians, but to take their lot with the people of God, as Moses afterward in the like temptation, Heb. 11. 24..26. And because it would be a piece of self-denial in them, who stood so fair for preferment in Egypt, to adhere to the despised Hebrews; to encourage them, he constitutes each of them the head of a tribe. Note, Those are worthy of double honour, who,
