Bible Commentaries
Go deeper in Scripture
Browse trusted public-domain commentary alongside DiscipleDeck Bible study. References inside each commentary open Bible previews in place.
35,156 commentary entries
All active commentary sources
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…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 47:13-26
The policy of Joseph is faithfully employed for his monarch. The advantage taken of the people's necessities to increase the power of the throne is quite Eastern in its character—not commended to general imitation, but…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 47:13
And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore (literally, heavy), so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted (literally, was exhausted, had become languid and spiritless) by reas…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 47:14
And Joseph gathered up—the verb, used only here of collecting money, usually signifies to gather things lying on the ground, as, e.g; ears of corn (Ruth 2:3), stones (Genesis 31:46), manna (Exodus 16:14), flowers (Song…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 47:15
And when money failed (literally, and the silver was consumed, or spent) in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all (literally, and all) the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 47:20
And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so (literally, and) the land became Pharaoh's. From this it may be concluded that…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 47:21
And as for the people, he removed them—not enslaved them, converted them into serfs and bondmen to Pharaoh (LXX; Vulgate), but simply transferred them, caused them to pass over—to cities—not from cities to cities, as if…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 47:22
Only the land of the priests (so the LXX; Vulgate, and Chaldee render cohen, which, however, sometimes signifies a prince) bought he not; for the priests had a portion—not of land (Lange, Kalisch), but of food (Keil, Mu…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 47:25
And they said, Thou hast saved our lives (literally, thou hast kept us alive): let us find grace in the sight of my lord (i.e. let us have the land on these favorable terms), and we will be Pharaoh's servants. "That a s…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 47:26
And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day (i.e. the day of the narrator), that Pharaoh should have the fifth part; except the land of the priests only, which became not Pharaoh's. The account here gi…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 47:27-31
At last the time drew nigh that Israel must die. Israel, a prince with God, had power over the Angel, and prevailed, yet must die. Joseph supplied him with bread, that he might not die by famine, but that did not secure…
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…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 47:27-31
The sunset of a long life. There is a touching beauty in this scene between the veteran Israel and the prosperous Joseph. I. An illustration of HUMAN INFIRMITY. The supplanter, the prince of God, must succumb at last to…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 47:27
And Israel (i.e. the people) dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein (i.e. acquired holdings in it), and grew (or became fruitful), and multiplied exceedingly—or became ver…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 47:28
And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was (literally, the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were) an hundred forty and seven years. He had lived seventy-seven years in Canaa…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 47:28-31
EXPOSITION
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 47:28-31
Jacob's apprehension. I. WHAT IT WAS. 1. It was not anxiety about temporal support, for that had been generously made sure to him by his son Joseph. 2. It was not concern about the future fortunes of his family, for the…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 47:28-31
Jacob's residence in Egypt. I. JACOB'S PEACEFUL OLD AGE. "And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years." After an eventful and checkered pilgrimage of 130 years, during which Jacob had made largo experience of t…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 47:29
And the time drew nigh that Israel (i.e. Jacob) must die (literally, and the days of Israel to die drew near): and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight (not as if Jacob dou…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 47:30
But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their burying-place. The request of the venerable patriarch, while due in some respect to the deeply-seated instinct of human nature w…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 47:31
And he (i.e. Jacob) said, Swear unto me (in the manner indicated in Genesis 47:29). And he (i.e. Joseph) sware unto him. And (having concluded this touching and impressive ceremonial) Israel bowed himself upon the bed's…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 48:1-7
The death-beds of believers, with the prayers and counsels of dying persons, are suited to make serious impressions upon the young, the gay, and the prosperous: we shall do well to take children on such occasions, when…
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…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 48:1-22
EXPOSITION