The National tribune., 1894-04-26
INTRODUCTION.
VERSES 1921.
Time


VERSES 1921.
Time.
Verses 1922 are in the same year as that
of the death of Jacob. He died in the year
2315 A. M. When Jacob died Joseph was
56 years old Joseph died at the age of 10
years (Gen, so 26) We therefore move
along "a years, and locate the date of Jo-
seph's death in the year 1863 A. M. Joseph
had lived in Egypt ever since he was IL
years old hence he resided there 50 years
He began to rule when 80 years old, and
therefore was Governor for 80 years. The
time referred to in V. % is that of the
Exodus, to wit, the year 2513, or 144 years
after the death Of Joseph. "The evil which
we did" ". 15) was the selling of Joseph,
50 years before his death.
Where.
Jacob died probably at Goshen, in the
city Rameses, but he was buried at Hebron,
the land of Canaan, in the cave Of Machpe-
lah so: 13. All his children went to the
funeral at Hebron. Now, it is stated by
Josephus (Ant., 2: 8, II that the brothers of
Joseph refused 10 return with him to Egypt,
lest seeing their father was dead, Joseph
would lily treat them. They resolved on
the spot to test his feelings toward them.
q
Hebron.
The Brothers Of Joseph.
We are not probably to understand all
the eleven brothers. v. Is. There has been
an interval of 81 years. They were all
older, except Benjamin, than Joseph. Prob
ably one or more had died in the meantime.
The Messenger.
Verse 16 states the brothers sent mes
senger to Joseph. Who was he? While we
do not know, we can infer it was one of the
innocent brothers or Benjamin
and most likely the last named. This is
the quite general opinion. lie was seeming
ly selected as the spokesman. The follow
ing verses show, however, that all the other
brothers were present when the messenger
addressed Joseph.
Definitions.
/. Peradventure IS. Perhaps.
2. Brethren. Is. Brothers.
3. Requite. Is. Pay back, retaliate.
4. Evil Is. The jealousy, ill-treatment,
and specially the selling of Joseph into
slavery.
5. Were the brothers truthful in their
statement in V. 16s Some say the whole
story was feigned. And yet it is not so un-
likely that Jacob had taken such precaution
ana gwen SuCn QlrecIlOn.
6. Am / in the place of God? 19. We
may understand these words in different
ways.
a. Joseph was not in Gods place. If
there were any vengeance due, it must be
inflicted by God, and not by mere mortal
(Deu. 80 :35.
b. Joseph was in God'so place, and should
treat his brothers ina Godlike way.
7. Verse 20 shows Joseph thought his
brothers guilty of all they intended to ac-
complish by his sale, but yet believed in an
overruling Providence.
Suggestions.
/. On death OF parent let children seek
basis for continued love and friendship,
and peace.
9. Admit frankly any injustice done to
others.
3. Confess sins to God.
a. Be forgiving.
3. Cause no one to feel sad by showing q
lack of confidence in him.
6. Brotherly love is emphasized.
z. Joseph's Fear-Nots, and his comforta-
BILE words to wrong d0ers remind us of our
Savior.
6. Speak kindly to one another. V. 81.
8. Tie brothers accepted the assurances of
Joseph and returned to Egypt.
VERSES 22-26
Time.
We found that verses 1922 were dated
A. Nj. 2315. This paragraph (Vs. 22-26) is
54 years later, A. nj. 1863
Where.
Joseph probably died at Memphis, Egypt
Editor j. M. Francis, of the Troy Times,
once travelling in Egypt, wrote: "There was
the site of the old city of Memphis Ruins
erumbling to dust, great mounds of broken
bricks and pottery fragments mark the place;
the city with its ancient splendors has disap-
peared. But what wonderful SCIENCES have
been enacted upon this ground, or rather
under this ground-for the accumulating
debris over which we pass is score or more
feet above the surface of the old city. 1t
was a city of magnificent palaces, of the
wonderful Temple of Phtah, of colossal
statues of famous rulers and illustrious he
roes, Of majestic columns and magnificent
fountains, of charming groves and beautiful
gardens set off with stately trees, blooming
with flowers, and ornamented with costly
art work"
Rev. DIR. Manning, in his volume on Egypt,
says of Memphis: :" 1t was probably here
that Moses and Aaron stood before Pharaoh
and demanded that he should let the people
co. In the city now buried beneath mol
dering heaps and desert sand, the faithful
and fearless leader braved the wrath Of the
king; for he endured as seeing Him who is
invisible This was the spot where Pha-
raoh rose up in the night, he, and all his
servants, and all the Egyptians; and there
was great cry in Egypt; for there was not
house where there was not one dead"
But Joseph was ultimately buried at
Shechem in the land of Canaan. His body
was put into coffin and retained in Egypt
until the Exodus.
Defnitions.
/. House. V. %. Family.
g Brought up upon Joseph's knee. o.
An idiom TO express adoption.
g. Will visit you. "a, That was to be
at the Exodus, 144 years later, led by Moses
a. Land. V. "a Canaan.
5. Garry up bones,o %. Joseph's body
was retained in Egypt for IA years. Why
not carried to canaan and buried as was that
of Jacob? tuo1ct
a. 1t would be a slight of Egypt, and SO
offend the Egyptian Nation.
b. Might wean the brothers from Egypt,
and it was Gods purpose they remain there
longer.
g. Embalmed. In Egypt" says Herodotus,
certain persons are appointed by law to
exercise this art as their peculiar business,
and when dead body is brought them they
produce patterns of mummies in wood, imi-
tated in painting; the most elaborate of