451 Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried , "Have everyone go out from me." So there was no man with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers . 2 He wept e e so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard of it. 3 Then Joseph said to his brothers , " I am Joseph ! Is my father still alive ?" But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence . 4 Then Joseph said to his brothers , "Please come closer to me." And they came closer . And he said , "I am your brother Joseph , whom you sold into Egypt . 5 "Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves , because you sold me here , for God sent me before you to preserve life . 6 "For the famine has been in the land these two years , and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting . 7 " God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth , and to keep you alive by a great deliverance . 8 "Now , therefore, it was not you who sent me here , but God ; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt . 9 "Hurry and go up to my father , and say to him, 'Thus says your son Joseph , "God has made me lord of all Egypt ; come down to me, do not delay . 10 "You shall live in the land of Goshen , and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children's children and your flocks and your herds and all that you have. 11 "There I will also provide for you, for there are still five years of famine to come, and you and your household and all that you have would be impoverished ."' 12 "Behold , your eyes see , and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth which is speaking to you. 13 "Now you must tell my father of all my splendor in Egypt , and all that you have seen ; and you must hurry and bring my father down here ." 14 Then he fell on his brother Benjamin's neck and wept , and Benjamin wept on his neck . 15 He kissed all his brothers and wept on them, and afterward e his brothers talked with him.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 45:1-15
Commentary on Genesis 45:1-15
(Read Genesis 45:1-15)
Joseph let Judah go on, and heard all he had to say. He found his brethren humbled for their sins, mindful of himself, for Judah had mentioned him twice in his speech, respectful to their father, and very tender of their brother Benjamin. Now they were ripe for the comfort he designed, by making himself known. Joseph ordered all his attendants to withdraw. Thus Christ makes himself and his loving-kindness known to his people, out of the sight and hearing of the world. Joseph shed tears of tenderness and strong affection, and with these threw off that austerity with which he had hitherto behaved toward his brethren. This represents the Divine compassion toward returning penitents. "I am Joseph, your brother." This would humble them yet more for their sin in selling him, but would encourage them to hope for kind treatment. Thus, when Christ would convince Paul, he said, I am Jesus; and when he would comfort his disciples, he said, It is I, be not afraid. When Christ manifests himself to his people, he encourages them to draw near to him with a true heart. Joseph does so, and shows them, that whatever they thought to do against him, God had brought good out of it. Sinners must grieve and be angry with themselves for their sins, though God brings good out of it, for that is no thanks to them. The agreement between all this, and the case of a sinner, on Christ's manifesting himself to his soul, is very striking. He does not, on this account, think sin a less, but a greater evil; and yet he is so armed against despair, as even to rejoice in what God hath wrought, while he trembles in thinking of the dangers and destruction from which he has escaped. Joseph promises to take care of his father and all the family. It is the duty of children, if the necessity of their parents at any time require it, to support and supply them to the utmost of their ability; this is showing piety at home, 1 Timothy 5:4. After Joseph had embraced Benjamin, he caressed them all, and then his brethren talked with him freely of all the affairs of their father's house. After the tokens of true reconciliation with the Lord Jesus, sweet communion with him follows.