16 Now when the news was heard in Pharaoh's house that Joseph's brothers had come , it pleased e Pharaoh and his servants . 17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph , "Say to your brothers , 'Do this : load your beasts and go e to the land of Canaan , 18 and take your father and your households and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you will eat the fat of the land .' 19 "Now you are ordered , 'Do this : take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives , and bring your father and come . 20 'Do not concern e yourselves with your goods , for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.' " 21 Then the sons of Israel did so ; and Joseph gave them wagons according to the command of Pharaoh , and gave them provisions for the journey . 22 To each e of them he gave changes of garments , but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of garments . 23 To his father he sent as follows : ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt , and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and sustenance for his father on the journey . 24 So he sent his brothers away , and as they departed , he said to them, "Do not quarrel on the journey ."
25 Then they went up from Egypt , and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob . 26 They told him, saying , "Joseph is still alive , and indeed he is ruler over all the land of Egypt ." But he was stunned , for he did not believe them. 27 When they told him all the words of Joseph that he had spoken to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived . 28 Then Israel said , "It is enough ; my son Joseph is still alive . I will go and see him before I die ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 45:16-28
Commentary on Genesis 45:16-24
(Read Genesis 45:16-24)
Pharaoh was kind to Joseph, and to his relations for his sake. Egypt would make up the losses of their removal. Thus those for whom Christ intends his heavenly glory, ought not to regard the things of this world. The best of its enjoyments are but lumber; we cannot make sure of them while here, much less can we carry them away with us. Let us not set our eyes or hearts upon the world; there are better things for us in that blessed land, whither Christ, our Joseph, is gone to prepare a place. Joseph dismissed his brethren with a seasonable caution, "See that ye fall not out by the way." He knew they were too apt to be quarrelsome; and having forgiven them all, he lays this charge upon them, not to upbraid one another. This command our Lord Jesus has given to us, that we love one another, and that whatever happens, or has happened, we fall not out. For we are brethren, we have all one Father. We are all guilty, and instead of quarrelling with one another, have reason to fall out with ourselves. We are, or hope to be, forgiven of God, whom we have all offended, and, therefore, should be ready to forgive one another. We are "by the way," a way through the land of Egypt, where we have many eyes upon us, that seek advantage against us; a way that leads to the heavenly Canaan, where we hope to be for ever in perfect peace.
Commentary on Genesis 45:25-28
(Read Genesis 45:25-28)
To hear that Joseph is alive, is too good news to be true; Jacob faints, for he believes it not. We faint, because we do not believe. At length, Jacob is convinced of the truth. Jacob was old, and did not expect to live long. He says, Let my eyes be refreshed with this sight before they are closed, and then I need no more to make me happy in this world. Behold Jesus manifesting himself as a Brother and a Friend to those who once were his despisers, his enemies. He assures them of his love and the riches of his grace. He commands them to lay aside envy, anger, malice, and strife, and to live in peace with each other. He teaches them to give up the world for him and his fulness. He supplies all that is needful to bring them home to himself, that where he is they may be also. And though, when he at last sends for his people, they may for a time feel some doubts and fears, yet the thought of seeing his glory and of being with him, will enable them to say, It is enough, I am willing to die; and I go to see, and to be with the Beloved of my soul.