Genesis 45:16-28

Genesis 45:16-28

[16] And the fame  thereof was heard  in Pharaoh's  house,  saying,  Joseph's  brethren  are come:  Pharaoh  well,  and  his servants.  [17] And Pharaoh  said  unto Joseph,  Say  unto thy brethren,  This do  ye; lade  your beasts,  get  you unto the land  of Canaan;  [18] And take  your father  and your households,  and come  unto me: and I will give  you the good  of the land  of Egypt,  and ye shall eat  the fat  of the land.  [19] Now thou art commanded,  this do  ye; take  you wagons  out of the land  of Egypt  for your little ones,  and for your wives,  and bring  your father,  and come.  [20] Also  regard  not your stuff;  for the good  of all the land  of Egypt  is yours. [21] And the children  of Israel  did  so: and Joseph  gave  them wagons,  according to the commandment  of Pharaoh,  and gave  them provision  for the way.  [22] To all of them he gave  changes  of raiment;  but to Benjamin  he gave  three  hundred  pieces of silver,  and five  changes  of raiment.  [23] And to his father  he sent  after this  manner; ten  asses  laden  with the good things  of Egypt,  and ten  she asses  laden  with corn  and bread  and meat  for his father  by the way.  [24] his brethren  away,  and he said  unto them, See that ye fall not out  by the way.  [25] And they went up  out of Egypt,  and came  into the land  of Canaan  unto Jacob  their father,  [26] And told  him, saying,  Joseph  is yet alive,  and he is governor  over all the land  of Egypt.  And Jacob's heart  fainted,  for he believed  them not. [27] And they told  him all the words  of Joseph,  which he had said  unto them: and when he saw  the wagons  which Joseph  had sent  to carry  him, the spirit  of Jacob  their father  revived:  [28] And Israel  said,  It is enough;  Joseph  my son  is yet alive:  and see him  before I die. 

What does Genesis 45:16-28 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Pharaoh"s invitation was as generous as it was because Pharaoh held Joseph in high regard. This is another excellent example of hospitality: giving the best that one has to a starving and needy family. Pharaoh"s invitation was an invitation, not a command. Pharaoh had no authority to command Jacob to move into Egypt. Jacob was free to accept or reject this offer. If Jacob chose to accept it, he would be free to return to Canaan whenever he chose. The fact that Jacob"s family could not leave Egypt once they settled there was due to a new Pharaoh"s new policies concerning the Israelites as residents of Egypt. It was not due to the action of this Pharaoh (Sesostris III).
". . . when Pharaoh restates Joseph"s offer and "twice" gives the brothers the "good" ( Genesis 45:18; Genesis 45:20) of the land of Egypt, it is hard not to see in the purpose of this narrative a conscious allusion to the "good" ( Genesis 1:31) land given to Adam in Genesis 1. The picture of Joseph is a picture of restoration-not just the restoration of the good fortune of Jacob, but, as a picture, the restoration of the blessing that was promised through the seed of Jacob. This picture is also a blueprint for the hope that lies for the people of Israel at the end of the Pentateuch. They are to go into the land and enjoy it as God"s good gift (e.g, Deuteronomy 30:5)." [1]
Joseph"s admonition to his brothers not to quarrel on their journey ( Genesis 45:24) is a bit unclear. Probably he meant just that: not to become involved in arguing and recriminations over the past (cf. Proverbs 29:9). Since Joseph had forgiven them, they should forgive one another (cf. Matthew 18:21-35). However the usual meaning of the Hebrew word is to fear (cf. Exodus 15:14). So part of his meaning may be that they should not be afraid of robbers as they returned to Canaan or fearful of returning to Egypt in the future. [2]
Jacob had suffered as a victim of his sons" deception and malice. He had also suffered because of his own failure to cling to the promises that God had given to his forefathers, himself, and Joseph in his dreams. Jacob always had difficulty believing without seeing. Nevertheless when he believed that Joseph was alive and ruling over Egypt, his spirit revived and he returned to a position of trust in God. For this reason Moses called him "Israel" again in the text ( Genesis 45:28). Often in Genesis a final comment by a chief actor in the drama anticipates the next scene, as here.
"Both Abraham and Jacob figuratively receive their sons back from the dead. Both sons prefigure the death and resurrection of Christ, but Joseph even more so. Both are not only alive but rulers over all (cf. Acts 2:32-34; Philippians 2:6-11). Jacob"s response on hearing the incredibly good news prefigures the response of the disciples when the women tell them that Christ is alive, having been raised from the dead. They too greet the news at first with stunned disbelief and finally with unspeakable joy when it is proved with many infallible proofs (cf. Luke 24:9-49; John 21:1-9; John 21:24-25; Acts 1:3). Their faith, like Jacob"s, revives them, reorients their lives, and makes them pilgrims venturing from land plagued by famine to the best land imaginable." [3]