Génesis 45

José se da a conocer

1 José ya no pudo controlarse delante de sus servidores, así que ordenó: «¡Que salgan todos de mi presencia!» Y ninguno de ellos quedó con él. Cuando se dio a conocer a sus hermanos,

2 comenzó a llorar tan fuerte que los egipcios se enteraron, y la noticia llegó hasta la casa del faraón.

3 —Yo soy José —les declaró a sus hermanos—. ¿Vive todavía mi padre?Pero ellos estaban tan pasmados que no atinaban a contestarle.

4 No obstante, José insistió:—¡Acérquense!Cuando ellos se acercaron, él añadió:—Yo soy José, el hermano de ustedes, a quien vendieron a Egipto.

5 Pero ahora, por favor no se aflijan más ni se reprochen el haberme vendido, pues en realidad fue Dios quien me mandó delante de ustedes para salvar vidas.

6 Desde hace dos años la región está sufriendo de hambre, y todavía faltan cinco años más en que no habrá siembras ni cosechas.

7 Por eso Dios me envió delante de ustedes: para salvarles la vida de manera extraordinaria^[a] y de ese modo asegurarles descendencia sobre la tierra.

8 Fue Dios quien me envió aquí, y no ustedes. Él me ha puesto como asesor^[b] del faraón y administrador de su casa, y como gobernador de todo Egipto.

9 ¡Vamos, apúrense! Vuelvan a la casa de mi padre y díganle: “Así dice tu hijo José: ‘Dios me ha hecho gobernador de todo Egipto. Ven a verme. No te demores.

10 Vivirás en la región de Gosén, cerca de mí, con tus hijos y tus nietos, y con tus ovejas, y vacas y todas tus posesiones.

11 Yo les proveeré alimento allí, porque aún quedan cinco años más de hambre. De lo contrario, tú y tu familia, y todo lo que te pertenece, caerán en la miseria’”.

12 Además, ustedes y mi hermano Benjamín son testigos de que yo mismo lo he dicho.

13 Cuéntenle a mi padre del prestigio que tengo en Egipto, y de todo lo que han visto. ¡Pero apúrense y tráiganlo ya!

14 Y abrazó José a su hermano Benjamín, y comenzó a llorar. Benjamín, a su vez, también lloró abrazado a su hermano José.

15 Luego José, bañado en lágrimas, besó a todos sus hermanos. Solo entonces se animaron ellos a hablarle.

16 Cuando llegó al palacio del faraón la noticia de que habían llegado los hermanos de José, tanto el faraón como sus funcionarios se alegraron.

17 Y el faraón le dijo a José: «Ordena a tus hermanos que carguen sus animales y vuelvan a Canaán.

18 Que me traigan a su padre y a sus familias. Yo les daré lo mejor de Egipto, y comerán de la abundancia de este país.

19 Diles, además, que se lleven carros de Egipto para traer a sus niños y mujeres, y también al padre de ustedes,

20 y que no se preocupen por las cosas que tengan que dejar, porque lo mejor de todo Egipto será para ustedes».

21 Así lo hicieron los hijos de Israel. José les proporcionó los carros, conforme al mandato del faraón, y también les dio provisiones para el viaje.

22 Además, a cada uno le dio ropa nueva, y a Benjamín le entregó trescientas monedas de plata y cinco mudas de ropa.

23 A su padre le envió lo siguiente: diez asnos cargados con lo mejor de Egipto, diez asnas cargadas de cereales, y pan y otras provisiones para el viaje de su padre.

24 Al despedirse de sus hermanos, José les recomendó: «¡No se vayan peleando por el camino!»

25 Los hermanos de José salieron de Egipto y llegaron a Canaán, donde residía su padre Jacob.

26 Al llegar le dijeron: «¡José vive, José vive! ¡Es el gobernador de todo Egipto!» Jacob quedó atónito y no les creía,

27 pero ellos le repetían una y otra vez todo lo que José les había dicho. Y cuando su padre Jacob vio los carros que José había enviado para llevarlo, se reanimó.

28 Entonces exclamó: «¡Con esto me basta! ¡Mi hijo José aún vive! Iré a verlo antes de morirme».

Génesis 45 Commentary

Chapter 45

Joseph comforts his brethren, and sends for his father. (1-15) Pharaoh confirms Joseph's invitation, Joseph's gifts to his brethren. (16-24) Jacob receives the news of Joseph's being alive. (25-28)

Verses 1-15 Joseph let Judah go on, and heard all he had to say. He found his brethren humbled for their sins, mindful of himself, for Judah had mentioned him twice in his speech, respectful to their father, and very tender of their brother Benjamin. Now they were ripe for the comfort he designed, by making himself known. Joseph ordered all his attendants to withdraw. Thus Christ makes himself and his loving-kindness known to his people, out of the sight and hearing of the world. Joseph shed tears of tenderness and strong affection, and with these threw off that austerity with which he had hitherto behaved toward his brethren. This represents the Divine compassion toward returning penitents. "I am Joseph, your brother." This would humble them yet more for their sin in selling him, but would encourage them to hope for kind treatment. Thus, when Christ would convince Paul, he said, I am Jesus; and when he would comfort his disciples, he said, It is I, be not afraid. When Christ manifests himself to his people, he encourages them to draw near to him with a true heart. Joseph does so, and shows them, that whatever they thought to do against him, God had brought good out of it. Sinners must grieve and be angry with themselves for their sins, though God brings good out of it, for that is no thanks to them. The agreement between all this, and the case of a sinner, on Christ's manifesting himself to his soul, is very striking. He does not, on this account, think sin a less, but a greater evil; and yet he is so armed against despair, as even to rejoice in what God hath wrought, while he trembles in thinking of the dangers and destruction from which he has escaped. Joseph promises to take care of his father and all the family. It is the duty of children, if the necessity of their parents at any time require it, to support and supply them to the utmost of ( 1 Timothy. 5:4 ) Joseph had embraced Benjamin, he caressed them all, and then his brethren talked with him freely of all the affairs of their father's house. After the tokens of true reconciliation with the Lord Jesus, sweet communion with him follows.

Verses 16-24 Pharaoh was kind to Joseph, and to his relations for his sake. Egypt would make up the losses of their removal. Thus those for whom Christ intends his heavenly glory, ought not to regard the things of this world. The best of its enjoyments are but lumber; we cannot make sure of them while here, much less can we carry them away with us. Let us not set our eyes or hearts upon the world; there are better things for us in that blessed land, whither Christ, our Joseph, is gone to prepare a place. Joseph dismissed his brethren with a seasonable caution, "See that ye fall not out by the way." He knew they were too apt to be quarrelsome; and having forgiven them all, he lays this charge upon them, not to upbraid one another. This command our Lord Jesus has given to us, that we love one another, and that whatever happens, or has happened, we fall not out. For we are brethren, we have all one Father. We are all guilty, and instead of quarrelling with one another, have reason to fall out with ourselves. We are, or hope to be, forgiven of God, whom we have all offended, and, therefore, should be ready to forgive one another. We are "by the way," a way through the land of Egypt, where we have many eyes upon us, that seek advantage against us; a way that leads to the heavenly Canaan, where we hope to be for ever in perfect peace.

Verses 25-28 To hear that Joseph is alive, is too good news to be true; Jacob faints, for he believes it not. We faint, because we do not believe. At length, Jacob is convinced of the truth. Jacob was old, and did not expect to live long. He says, Let my eyes be refreshed with this sight before they are closed, and then I need no more to make me happy in this world. Behold Jesus manifesting himself as a Brother and a Friend to those who once were his despisers, his enemies. He assures them of his love and the riches of his grace. He commands them to lay aside envy, anger, malice, and strife, and to live in peace with each other. He teaches them to give up the world for him and his fulness. He supplies all that is needful to bring them home to himself, that where he is they may be also. And though, when he at last sends for his people, they may for a time feel some doubts and fears, yet the thought of seeing his glory and of being with him, will enable them to say, It is enough, I am willing to die; and I go to see, and to be with the Beloved of my soul.

Footnotes

• [a]. "salvarles " "… " "extraordinaria" . Alt. "salvarlos como un gran número de sobrevivientes" .
• [b]. "asesor" . Lit. "padre" .

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 45

This chapter contains an account of Joseph's making himself known to his brethren, which was done when they were alone, Ge 45:1-4; when he encouraged them not to distress themselves on account of their selling him into Egypt, for God in his providence had sent him there for their good, Ge 45:5-8; and he ordered them to go forthwith to Canaan, and acquaint his father with all the honour and glory they saw him in, and to desire him to come thither to him, where he should be provided for during the five years of famine yet to come, in the best part of the land of Egypt, Ge 45:9-13; upon which he expressed the strongest affection to Benjamin, and to all his brethren, Ge 45:14,15; the fame of this was soon spread in the house of Pharaoh, which gave the king great pleasure, who immediately expressed his earnest desire that his father might come and settle in Egypt, and ordered provisions to be sent him, and carriages to bring him down, and all that belonged to him, Ge 45:16-20; and Joseph accordingly delivered to his brethren wagons and provisions for the way, and gave gifts to them, and sent a present to his father, and dismissed his brethren with an exhortation not to fall out by the way, Ge 45:21-24; and when they came to Canaan, they acquainted their father with all these things, who at first could not believe them; but when he saw the wagons, his spirit revived, and determined to go and see his son, Ge 45:25-28.