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Genesis 45:20. Regard not your stuff— The word, which we render stuff, כלי keli, signifies furniture of any kind; whatever is prepared and finished for the use of man. And the expression, which is peculiar in the Hebrew, as the margins of our Bibles shew, seems only to signify, that they should pay no regard to their possessions or moveables in the land of Canaan. Chais translates it, ne regrettez point vos meubles, don't regret or grudge your moveables. The rendering of the Vulgate, leave nothing of your furniture behind, nec dimittatis quidquam de supellectili vestra, is wrong, as the reason given in the next clause manifestly shews; for the good of all the land of AEgypt is yours.

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Genesis 45:22. To—each man changes of raiment— St. Jerome renders it, two robes, binas stolas; and the Syriac, a pair of garments, which seems the true interpretation. Great part of the riches of the ancients consisted in changes of raiment, as well as in money; whence it became a custom to present changes of raiment either for honour or reward, Judges 14:13. 2 Kings 5:5.Luke 15:22; Luke 15:22. Horace mentions no less than five thousand robes in the possession of one Roman, lib. i. epis. vi. ver. 43. The guests at weddings usually were presented with, and appeared in, these garments; which explains Matthew 22:11. And the custom of keeping so many of these garments is referred to by St. James, your riches are corrupted, and your garments, preserved in your wardrobes, are moth-eaten, James 5:2.

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Genesis 45:23. Bread and meat for his father— The flesh which travellers in the east frequently carry with their other provisions, is usually potted, in order to preserve it fit for use. Dr. Shaw* mentions it as part of the provision he made for his journey to Mount Sinai, which commonly is not completed under two months; nor does he speak of any other sort of meat which he carried with him. In some such way, doubtless, was the meat prepared, which Joseph sent to his father for his viaticum when he was to come into AEgypt, ten asses laden with the good things of AEgypt, and ten she-asses laden with corn, and bread and meat, for his father by the way. But meat is by no means necessary for an eastern traveller; and especially for so short a journey as Jacob had to take; and still less for one who was to travel with considerable quantities of cattle, as we know Jacob did; see ch. Genesis 46:6; Genesis 46:32. who consequently could kill a goat or a kid, a sheep or a lamb for himself and his company, whenever he pleased. It was therefore, no doubt, sent rather as a mark of respect, and as a delicacy. And St. Jerome, in a letter of his, speaks of potted flesh in this light.

• Pref. p. 11.

There are other ways, however, in these hot countries of potting flesh for keeping, besides that of contusion mentioned by St. Jerome, and practised in our country. Jones, in the Misc. Curiosa, vol. 3: p. 388, 389. gives us this description of the Moorish elcholle, which is made of beef, mutton, or camel's flesh, but chiefly beef; and which "they cut into long slices, salt it well, and let it lie twenty-four hours in the pickle. They then remove it out of the tubs or jars, into others filled with water, and when it has lain a night, take it out, and hang it on ropes in the sun and air to dry. When it is thoroughly dried and hard, they cut it into a pan or cauldron, which is ready with boiling oil and suet sufficient to cover it, where it boils till it be very clear and red, if one eat it; which, taken out, they set to drain. When all is thus done, it stands till cool, and jars are prepared to put it up in, pouring the liquor they fried it in upon it; and as soon as it is thoroughly cold, they stop it up close. It will keep two years, it will be hard, and they look upon the hardest to be best done. This they dish up cold, sometimes fried with eggs and garlic, sometimes stewed, and lemon squeezed on it. It is very good any way, either hot or cold."

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Genesis 45:24. See that ye fall not out by the way— The word, rendered fall not out, is very strong in the original; it signifies, to quarrel with passion and fury, Proverbs 29:9. 2 Kings 19:27. Joseph, thinking that his brethren, reflecting upon all that had passed, might probably reproach each other; or, possibly, that their envy might be inflamed through the preference given to Benjamin, admonishes them to maintain that union which they once so unkindly had broken: thus, in the most delicate manner, intermixing admonition and reproof. Note; 1. In our way to heaven, we should carefully avoid disputes; we are brethren. 2. To forgive, becomes those who are forgiven. 3. We shall give the AEgyptians, the men of this world, a bad opinion of our religion, if we quarrel among ourselves.

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Genesis 45:26. Jacob's heart fainted— The Vulgate, and some others, render this passage, Jacob awoke, as it were, out of a dead sleep, yet he believed them not. The particle כי ki, rendered for in our version of the Bible, often signifies but, but yet, or although: and thus the meaning of the passage is, that though Jacob did not perfectly believe, or had not heard enough to be sufficiently confirmed in the belief of their words; yet the very hearing of Joseph's being yet alive, whom he thought so long dead, gave such a sudden shock to his blood and animal spirits, and poured in such a tide of joy upon his heart, as quite overpowered the venerable patriarch, and made him fall into a swoon. That sudden transports of joy, as well as other passions, will produce this effect, is well known from experience. Le Clerc quotes a remarkable instance out of Aulus Gellius. "After the battle of Cannae, in which the Roman army was cut to pieces, an ancient mother, hearing that her son was slain, pined with grief and melancholy; but the report proved false, and the youth returned not long after to Rome. The mother, struck with the sudden sight of him, was so overpowered with the fulness of unexpected joy which rushed in upon her, that she swooned away and died."

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Genesis 45:27. When he saw the waggons— The intelligence of his son Joseph was so unexpected, yet so important to the good old father, that he could scarcely be persuaded to believe the truth of it; nor could he be satisfied, without the convincing evidence of the magnificent presents which Joseph had sent him: then his spirit revived; i.e.. he not only recovered perfectly from his fainting fit, but was now raised to greater life and vigour than he had felt since the loss of Joseph. Pristino vigori restitutus est, says Bochart; he was restored to his ancient vigour. Joy revived his heart, says St. Chrysostom, just as fresh oil poured upon a lamp, which was ready to die, makes it rekindle, and shed a new and more vigorous light.

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Genesis 46:1. And Israel came to Beer-sheba, &c.— Though this was in his way from Hebron, as it lay in the most southerly parts of Canaan; yet he probably made choice of it, the rather, as both Abraham and Isaac had consecrated the place, and there received favourable answers from God. See ch. Genesis 21:33.Genesis 26:23; Genesis 26:23, &c. In his devotion he had an eye to God as "the God of his father Isaac," that is, a God in covenant with him; for by Isaac the covenant was entailed upon him. He "offered sacrifices," extraordinary sacrifices, besides those at his stated times. These sacrifices were offered, 1. By way of thanksgiving for the last blessed change of the face of his family, for the good news he had received concerning Joseph, and for the hopes he had of seeing him. 2. By way of petition for the presence of God with him in his intended journey. 3. By way of consultation. Jacob would not go, till he had asked permission of Jehovah.

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Genesis 46:2. And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night— Probably the next night after he had offered his sacrifices. Those who desire to keep up communion with God, shall find that it never fails on his side. If we speak to him as we ought, he will certainly answer us. God called him by his name, by his old name, "Jacob, Jacob," to remind him of his low estate. Jacob, like one well acquainted with the visions of the Almighty, answers, "Here am I"—ready to receive orders.

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