Genesis 50:15-21

Here is...

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 50

15When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong which we did to him!”

16So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father charged before he died, saying,

17‘Thus you shall say to Joseph, “Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong.” ’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.

18Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.”

19But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place?

20“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.

21“So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume Chapter 50

III. The settling of a good understanding between Joseph and his brethren after the death of Jacob (v. 15–21).

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 50

15When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong which we did to him!”

16So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father charged before he died, saying,

17‘Thus you shall say to Joseph, “Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong.” ’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.

18Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.”

19But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place?

20“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.

21“So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Summary:

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 50

15When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong which we did to him!”

16So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father charged before he died, saying,

17‘Thus you shall say to Joseph, “Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong.” ’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.

18Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.”

19But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place?

20“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.

21“So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

After Jacob died, Joseph’s brothers grew fearful that he [Joseph] might finally have his revenge.

They sent a message to Joseph, which they claimed Jacob had spoken before he died.

In the message, Jacob pleaded with Joseph to forgive his brethren, referring to them as “servants of God.”

Joseph wept upon hearing this message.

Then his brothers came and bowed down to him.

They said, “Behold, we are your servants.”

“Behold, we are your servants.”

Joseph showed great compassion and told his brothers that he meant them no harm.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .

He asked if he was in the place of God that he might execute judgement on his brothers?

He told his brothers that God turned their evil into good, in order “to preserve many people.”

Joseph told them not to be afraid. He said that he would provide for them and their children.

Thus, Joseph spoke kindly to his brethren.

Commentaries and Study Bible Notes:

50:15-18 “The brothers’ guilty consciences reasserted themselves and caused them to seriously underestimate the genuineness of Joseph’s forgiveness and affection for them. Jacob’s concern to plead on his sons’ behalf equally underestimated Joseph’s words and actions toward his brethren.” - MacArthur Study Bible

5:19 am I in the place of God? “This concise question tweaked their memory of his explanation of how God had put him where he was (cf. 45:3-8), in the place God intended him to be at that time.” - MacArthur Study Bible

50:20 but God meant it for good. “Joseph’s wise, theological answer has gone down in history as the classic statement of God’s sovereignty over the affairs of men.” - MacArthur Study Bible

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 50

When Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, &c.—Joseph was deeply affected by this communication. He gave them the strongest assurances of his forgiveness and thereby gave both a beautiful trait of his own pious character

Key Points/Application:

Joseph’s Compassion

We can learn very much by observing Joseph’s response to his brethren. He had every opportunity to harm his brothers, yet he chose compassion and kindness.

Upon the death of Jacob, Joseph’s brothers pleaded with him to forgive them of their trespasses. They feared that with Jacob out of the picture, Joseph might finally have his revenge. However, rather than revenge and judgement, Joseph chose humility and promised to keep providing for his brethren.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 50

So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones

Joseph had every reason to choose revenge from the day that he saw his brothers again. However, rather than anger Joseph chose mercy and he comforted his brothers and spoke kindly to them.

God’s Divine Will

Joseph’s brothers were fearful of Joseph’s revenge but Joseph replied by saying...

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 50

“Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place?

20“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.

Joseph humbled himself as seen in the rhetorical question he asked his brothers. Joseph was not in the place of God and he had no intention of acting as God over his brethren. Further, Joseph claimed that although his brothers had meant evil against him, God used it for good. Thus, God accomplished His will despite the evil workings of man.