Bible Commentaries
Genesis 50

Verse 1

wept. See note on Genesis 42:24 .

Verse 2

Israel. See notes on Genesis 32:28 ; Genesis 43:8 ; Genesis 45:26 , Genesis 45:28 .

Verse 3

for so, &c. Israelites never embalmed. Hence the need of this parenthetical explanation.

Verse 4

Joseph spake. He could not speak before, for, in mourning, Egyptians never shaved, and Joseph, therefore, was not presentable. See on Genesis 41:14 .

Verse 5

digged. Hence, probably rock-hewn.

Verses 7-10

And. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ), emphasizing each party.

Verse 11

Atad. Probably named after the owner, as 2 Samuel 6:6 , "Nachon's"; 2 Samuel 24:16 , "Araunah's".

Abel-mizraim = the mourning of the Egyptians.

Verse 13

his sons . . . buried him. See note on Acts 7:16 .

bought. Compare Genesis 23:10 .

Verse 15

The final section of Genesis.

Verse 17

Joseph wept. See note on Genesis 42:24 .

Verse 18

fell down. Compare Genesis 37:7-10 .

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

Verse 19

am I, &c. Figure of speech Erotesis . Septuagint reads "I am in the place of God". The Syriac and Arab, read "I fear God".

Verse 20

God meant it, &c. Compare Psalms 105:17 . Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

alive. See on Genesis 45:5 .

Verse 21

kindly. Hebrew spake unto their hearts.

Verse 23

Machir. Compare Numbers 26:29 ; Numbers 32:39 . Joshua 17:1 .

brought up, &c. Hebrew born. See Genesis 30:3 , i.e., were adopted by him as soon as they were born.

Verse 24

surely visit you. (Exodus 3:16 .) Figure of speech Polyptoton. Hebrew "visiting will visit you"; used for great emphasis. See note on Genesis 26:28 . This was the faith of Joseph referred to in Hebrews 11:22 . He had "heard" (Romans 10:17 ) and believed what God had said to Abraham. Genesis 12:7 ; Genesis 15:18 ; Genesis 13:14 , Genesis 13:15 ; Isaiah 26:3 , Isaiah 26:4 ; Jam 28:13 ; Jam 35:12 ; Jam 48:1-4 . All three names are united and discriminated in Exodus 2:24 ; Exodus 3:6 . Psalms 105:9 , Psalms 105:10 . And compare Exodus 6:3 , Exodus 6:4 .Deuteronomy 11:21 .Luke 1:72 , Luke 1:73 , &c.

Verse 25

carry up my bones from hence. Which they did. See Exodus 13:19 . Joshua 24:32 . So Jacob had charged them. Genesis 49:29 , Genesis 49:30 , and so they had done, Genesis 50:7-13 .

hence. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Syriac, and one printed edition (1494), add "with you".

Verse 26

a coffin. Thus the book of Genesis begins with God, and ends with man. It begins with the creation of the heavens above, and ends with "a coffin in Egypt".