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3,811 commentary entries
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
Judah's Appeal on Behalf of Benjamin. (b. c. 1707.)
JUDAH'S APPEAL ON BEHALF OF BENJAMIN. (B. C. 1707.) We have here a most ingenious and pathetic speech which Judah made to Joseph on Benjamin's behalf, to obtain his discharge from the sentence passed upon him. Perhaps J…
Joseph Discovers Himself to His Brethren. (b. c. 1707.)
JOSEPH DISCOVERS HIMSELF TO HIS BRETHREN. (B. C. 1707.) Judah and his brethren were waiting for an answer, and could not but be amazed to discover, instead of the gravity of a judge, the natural affection of a father or…
Pharaoh's Kindness to Joseph. (b. c. 1707.)
PHARAOH'S KINDNESS TO JOSEPH. (B. C. 1707.) Here is, 1. The kindness of Pharaoh to Joseph, and to his relations for his sake: he bade his brethren welcome (Genesis 45:16), though it was a time of scarcity, and they were…
The History of Joseph. (b. c. 1707.)
THE HISTORY OF JOSEPH. (B. C. 1707.) We have here the good news brought to Jacob. 1. The relation of it, at first, sunk his spirits. When, without any preamble, his sons came in, crying, Joseph is yet alive, each strivi…
Jacob Sacrifices at Beersheba. (b. c. 1707.)
JACOB SACRIFICES AT BEERSHEBA. (B. C. 1707.) The divine precept is, In all thy ways acknowledge God; and the promise annexed to it is, He shall direct thy paths. Jacob has here a very great concern before him, not only…
Jacob's Removal to Egypt. (b. c. 1706.)
JACOB'S REMOVAL TO EGYPT. (B. C. 1706.) Old Jacob is here flitting. Little did he think of ever leaving Canaan; he expected, no doubt, to die in his nest, and to leave his seed in actual possession of the promised land:…
Meeting between Jacob and Joseph. (b. c. 1706.)
MEETING BETWEEN JACOB AND JOSEPH. (B. C. 1706.) We have here, I. The joyful meeting between Jacob and his son Joseph, in which observe, 1. Jacob's prudence in sending Judah before him to Joseph, to give him notice of hi…
Pharaoh's Generosity; Jacob Presented to Pharaoh. (b. c. 1706.)
PHARAOH'S GENEROSITY; JACOB PRESENTED TO PHARAOH. (B. C. 1706.) Here is, I. The respect which Joseph, as a subject, showed to his prince. Though he was his favourite, and prime-minister of state, and had had particular…
Distressed Occasioned by the Famine. (b. c. 1706.)
DISTRESSED OCCASIONED BY THE FAMINE. (B. C. 1706.) Care being taken of Jacob and his family, the preservation of which was especially designed by Providence in Joseph's advancement, an account is now given of the saving…
Jacob's Charge Concerning His Burial. (b. c. 1706.)
JACOB'S CHARGE CONCERNING HIS BURIAL. (B. C. 1706.) Observe, 1. The comfort Jacob lived in (Genesis 47:27-28); while the Egyptians were impoverished in their own land, Jacob was replenished in a strange land. He lived s…
Jacob's Last Illness. (b. c. 1689.)
JACOB'S LAST ILLNESS. (B. C. 1689.) Here, I. Joseph, upon notice of his father's illness, goes to see him; though a man of honour and business, yet he will not fail to show this due respect to his aged father, Genesis 4…
Jacob Blesses the Sons of Joseph; Jacob's Dying Prophecy. (b. c. 1689.)
JACOB BLESSES THE SONS OF JOSEPH; JACOB'S DYING PROPHECY. (B. C. 1689.) Here is, I. The blessing with which Jacob blessed the two sons of Joseph, which is the more remarkable because the apostle makes such particular me…
Jacob's Prophecy Concerning His Sons. (b. c. 1689.)
JACOB'S PROPHECY CONCERNING HIS SONS. (B. C. 1689.) Here is, I. The preface to the prophecy, in which, 1. The congregation is called together (Genesis 49:2): Gather yourselves together; let them all be sent for from the…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 49:5-7
These were next in age to Reuben, and they also had been a grief and shame to Jacob, when they treacherously and barbarously destroyed the Shechemites, which he here remembers against them. Children should be afraid of…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 49:8-12
Glorious things are here said of Judah. The mention of the crimes of the three elder of his sons had not so put the dying patriarch out of humour but that he had a blessing ready for Judah, to whom blessings belonged. J…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 49:13-21
Here we have Jacob's prophecy concerning six of his sons. I. Concerning Zebulun (Genesis 49:13), that his posterity should have their lot upon the seacoast, and should be merchants, and mariners, and traders at sea. Thi…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 49:22-27
He closes with the blessings of his best beloved sons, Joseph and Benjamin; with these he will breathe his last. I. The blessing of Joseph, which is very large and full. He is compared (Genesis 49:22) to a fruitful boug…
Death of Jacob. (b. c. 1689.)
DEATH OF JACOB. (B. C. 1689.) Here is, I. The summing up of the blessings of Jacob's sons, Genesis 49:28. Though Reuben, Simeon, and Levi were put under the marks of their father's displeasure, yet he is said to bless t…
The Burial of Jacob. (b. c. 1689.)
THE BURIAL OF JACOB. (B. C. 1689.) Joseph is here paying his last respects to his deceased father. 1. With tears and kisses, and all the tender expressions of a filial affection, he takes leave of the deserted body, Gen…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 50:7-14
We have here an account of Jacob's funeral. Of the funerals of the kings of Judah, usually, no more is said than this, They were buried with their fathers in the city of David: but the funeral of the patriarch Jacob is…
Joseph Comforts His Brethren. (b. c. 1689.)
JOSEPH COMFORTS HIS BRETHREN. (B. C. 1689.) We have here the settling of a good correspondence between Joseph and his brethren, now that their father was dead. Joseph was at court, in the royal city; his brethren were i…
The Death of Joseph. (b. c. 1635.)
THE DEATH OF JOSEPH. (B. C. 1635.) Here is, I. The prolonging of Joseph's life in Egypt: he lived to be a hundred and ten years old, Genesis 50:22. Having honoured his father, his days were long in the land which, for t…
The Israelites Oppressed in Egypt. (b. c. 1588.)
THE ISRAELITES OPPRESSED IN EGYPT. (B. C. 1588.) In these verses we have, 1. A recital of the names of the twelve patriarchs, as they are called, Acts 7:8. Their names are often repeated in scripture, that they may not…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 1:8-14
The land of Egypt here, at length, becomes to Israel a house of bondage, though hitherto it had been a happy shelter and settlement for them. Note, The place of our satisfaction may soon become the place of our afflicti…