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Genesis 50:15 Commentaries: When 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!"

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<a href="/commentaries/benson/genesis/50.htm" title="Benson Commentary">Benson</a> &#8226; <a href="/commentaries/illustrator/genesis/50.htm" title="Biblical Illustrator">BI</a> &#8226; <a href="/commentaries/calvin/genesis/50.htm" title="Calvin's Commentaries">Calvin</a> &#8226; <a href="/commentaries/cambridge/genesis/50.htm" title="Cambridge Bible">Cambridge</a> &#8226; <a href="/commentaries/clarke/genesis/50.htm" title="Clarke's Commentary">Clarke</a> &#8226; <a href="/commentaries/darby/genesis/50.htm" title="Darby's Bible Synopsis">Darby</a> &#8226; <a href="/commentaries/ellicott/genesis/50.htm" title="Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers">Ellicott</a> &#8226; <a href="/commentaries/expositors/genesis/50.htm" title="Expositor's Bible">Expositor's</a> &#8226; <a href="/commentaries/edt/genesis/50.htm" title="Expositor's Dictionary">Exp&nbsp;Dct</a> &#8226; <a href="/commentaries/gaebelein/genesis/50.htm" title="Gaebelein's Annotated Bible">Gaebelein</a> &#8226; <a href="/commentaries/gsb/genesis/50.htm" title="Geneva Study Bible">GSB</a> &#8226; <a href="/commentaries/gill/genesis/50.htm" title="Gill's Bible Exposition">Gill</a> &#8226; <a href="/commentaries/gray/genesis/50.htm" title="Gray's Concise">Gray</a> &#8226; <a href="/commentaries/guzik/genesis/50.htm" title="Guzik Bible Commentary">Guzik</a> &#8226; <a href="/commentaries/haydock/genesis/50.htm" title="Haydock Catholic Bible Commentary">Haydock</a> &#8226; <a href="/commentaries/hastings/genesis/49-10.htm" title="Hastings Great Texts">Hastings</a> &#8226; <a href="/commentaries/homiletics/genesis/50.htm" title="Pulpit Homiletics">Homiletics</a> &#8226; <a href="/commentaries/jfb/genesis/50.htm" title="Jamieson-Fausset-Brown">JFB</a> &#8226; <a href="/commentaries/kad/genesis/50.htm" title="Keil and Delitzsch OT">KD</a> &#8226; <a href="/commentaries/king-en/genesis/50.htm" title="Kingcomments Bible Studies">King</a> &#8226; <a href="/commentaries/lange/genesis/50.htm" title="Lange Commentary">Lange</a> &#8226; <a href="/commentaries/maclaren/genesis/50.htm" title="MacLaren Expositions">MacLaren</a> &#8226; <a href="/commentaries/mhc/genesis/50.htm" title="Matthew Henry Concise">MHC</a> &#8226; <a href="/commentaries/mhcw/genesis/50.htm" title="Matthew Henry Full">MHCW</a> &#8226; <a href="/commentaries/parker/genesis/50.htm" title="The People's Bible by Joseph Parker">Parker</a> &#8226; <a href="/commentaries/poole/genesis/50.htm" title="Matthew Poole">Poole</a> &#8226; <a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/50.htm" title="Pulpit Commentary">Pulpit</a> &#8226; <a href="/commentaries/sermon/genesis/50.htm" title="Sermon Bible">Sermon</a> &#8226; <a href="/commentaries/sco/genesis/50.htm" title="Scofield Reference Notes">SCO</a> &#8226; <a href="/commentaries/ttb/genesis/50.htm" title="Through The Bible">TTB</a> &#8226; <a href="/commentaries/wes/genesis/50.htm" title="Wesley's Notes">WES</a> &#8226; <a href="#tsk" title="Treasury of Scripture Knowledge">TSK</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="comtype">EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)</div><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/genesis/50.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(15) <span class= "bld">Joseph will peradventure . . . —</span>Heb., <span class= "ital">What if Joseph should hate us, </span>&c. They had not seen any change in his treatment of him, but if it were the case that he cherished feelings of revenge, they felt that they were now in his power.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/benson/genesis/50.htm">Benson Commentary</a></div><span class="bld"><a href="/context/genesis/50-15.htm" title="And when Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did to him....">Genesis 50:15-16</a>. </span><span class="ital">Joseph will peradventure hate us </span>— While their father lived, they thought themselves safe under his shadow; but now he was dead, they feared the worst. A guilty conscience exposeth men to continual frights; those that would be fearless must keep themselves guiltless. <span class="ital">Thy father did command — </span>Thus, in humbling ourselves to Christ by faith and repentance, we may plead that it is the command of his Father and our Father we should do so.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="mhc" id="mhc"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/mhc/genesis/50.htm">Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary</a></div>50:15-21 Various motives might cause the sons of Jacob to continue in Egypt, notwithstanding the prophetic vision Abraham had of their bondage there. Judging of Joseph from the general temper of human nature, they thought he would now avenge himself on those who hated and injured him without cause. Not being able to resist, or to flee away, they attempted to soften him by humbling themselves. They pleaded with him as the servants of Jacob's God. Joseph was much affected at seeing this complete fulfilment of his dreams. He directs them not to fear him, but to fear God; to humble themselves before the Lord, and to seek the Divine forgiveness. He assures them of his own kindness to them. See what an excellent spirit Joseph was of, and learn of him to render good for evil. He comforted them, and, to banish all their fears, he spake kindly to them. Broken spirits must be bound up and encouraged. Those we love and forgive, we must not only do well for, but speak kindly to.<a name="bar" id="bar"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/barnes/genesis/50.htm">Barnes' Notes on the Bible</a></div>His brethren supplicate Joseph for forgiveness. "They sent unto Joseph," commissioned one of their number to speak to him. now that our common father has given us this command. "And Joseph wept" at the distress and doubt of his brothers. He no doubt summons them before him, when they fall down before him entreating his forgiveness. Joseph removes their fears. "Am I in God's stead?" that I should take the law into my own hands, and take revenge. God has already judged them, and moreover turned their sinful deed into a blessing. He assures them of his brotherly kindness toward them.<a name="jfb" id="jfb"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/jfb/genesis/50.htm">Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary</a></div>15-21. When Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, &c.&#8212;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, as well as appeared an eminent type of the Saviour.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/poole/genesis/50.htm">Matthew Poole's Commentary</a></div> No text from Poole on this verse. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="gil" id="gil"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/gill/genesis/50.htm">Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible</a></div>And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead,.... And buried; for this and what follows were after their return to Egypt, from the burial of their father; though some think it was before, and as soon as they saw their father was dead, when they thought it a proper time, while Joseph's heart was tender and affected with his father's death, to compromise matters with him: but there is no reason to invert the order of the narration, for this "seeing" is not to be understood of their bodily sight, but of the contemplation of their minds; they considered with themselves that their father was now dead and buried, they had lost an affectionate parent, who was concerned for the welfare and peace of all his family, but what a turn things would now take they knew not: <p>they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him; their sin came fresh to their remembrance, guilt arose in their consciences and flew in their faces, and this caused fear and distrust where there was no reason for it, and led them to treat Joseph's character very ill; who was far from being of such a temper and disposition suggested by them, as if he retained hatred in his breast, and was of a revengeful spirit, only hid it during his father's life, because he would not grieve him. <a name="gsb" id="gsb"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/gsb/genesis/50.htm">Geneva Study Bible</a></div><span class="cverse2">And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, <span class="cverse3">{d}</span> Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.</span><p>(d) An evil conscience is never fully at rest.</div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><div class="comtype">EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)</div><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/cambridge/genesis/50.htm">Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges</a></div>14–21. Joseph and his Brethren<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">15</span>. <span class="ital">It may be … hate us</span>] Lit. “supposing Joseph were to hate us.” LXX <span class="greekheb">μή ποτε μνησικακήσῃ ἡμῖν Ἰωσήφ</span>. Joseph’s brethren fear lest, Jacob being dead, Joseph will no longer restrain his desire for revenge.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">requite</span>] Their conscience cannot leave them alone. Cf. their fear in <a href="/genesis/42-28.htm" title="And he said to his brothers, My money is restored; and, see, it is even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God has done to us?">Genesis 42:28</a>, <a href="/genesis/44-16.htm" title="And Judah said, What shall we say to my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants: behold, we are my lord's servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found.">Genesis 44:16</a>, <a href="/genesis/45-3.htm" title="And Joseph said to his brothers, I am Joseph; does my father yet live? And his brothers could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.">Genesis 45:3</a>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="pul" id="pul"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/50.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 15.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And when</span> (literally <span class="accented">and</span>) <span class="accented"><span class="cmt_word"></span>Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they</span> (literally, and they) <span class="cmt_word">said, Joseph will peradventure hate us,</span> - literally, <span class="accented">If Joseph</span> hated us, or pursued us hostilely (<span class="accented">sc</span>. what would become of us?), <span class="hebrew">&#x5dc;&#x5d5;&#x5bc;</span> with the imperfect or future setting forth a possible but undesirable contingency (<span class="accented">vide</span> Ewald's 'Hebrew Syntax,' &sect; 358a; Gesenius, 'Lexicon,' <span class="accented">sub voce</span>) - <span class="cmt_word">and will certainly requite us</span> (literally, <span class="accented">if returning he caused to return upon us</span>) <span class="cmt_word">all the evil which we did unto him.</span> "What then?" is the natural conclusion of the sentence. "We must be utterly undone." Genesis 50:15<a name="kad" id="kad"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/kad/genesis/50.htm">Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament</a></div>After their father's death, Joseph's brethren were filled with alarm, and said, "If Joseph now should punish us and requite all the evil that we have done to him," sc., what would become of us! The sentence contains an aposiopesis, like <a href="/psalms/27-13.htm">Psalm 27:13</a>; and &#1500;&#1493;&#1468; with the imperfect presupposes a condition, being used "in cases which are not desired, and for the present not real, though perhaps possible" (Ew. 358). The brethren therefore deputed one of their number (possibly Benjamin) to Joseph, and instructed him to appeal to the wish expressed by their father before his death, and to implore forgiveness: "O pardon the misdeed of thy brethren and their sin, that they have done thee evil; and now grant forgiveness to the misdeed of the servants of the God of thy father." The ground of their plea is contained in &#1493;&#1506;&#1514;&#1468;&#1492; "and now," sc., as we request it by the desire and direction of our father, and in the epithet applied to themselves, "servants of the God of thy father." There is no reason whatever for regarding the appeal to their father's wish as a mere pretence. The fact that no reference was made by Jacob in his blessing to their sin against Joseph, merely proved that he as their father had forgiven the sin of his sons, since the grace of God had made their misdeed the means of Israel's salvation; but it by no means proves that he could not have instructed his sons humbly to beg for forgiveness from Joseph, even though Joseph had hitherto shown them only goodness and love. How far Joseph was from thinking of ultimate retribution and revenge, is evident from the reception which he gave to their request (<a href="/genesis/50-17.htm">Genesis 50:17</a>): "Joseph wept at their address to him." viz., at the fact that they could impute anything so bad to him; and when they came themselves, and threw themselves as servants at his feet, he said to them (<a href="/genesis/50-19.htm">Genesis 50:19</a>), "Fear not, for am I in the place of God?" i.e., am I in a position to interfere of my own accord with the purposes of God, and not rather bound to submit to them myself? "Ye had indeed evil against me in your mind, but God had it in mind for good (to turn this evil into good), to do (&#1506;&#1513;&#1474;&#1492; like &#1493;&#1488;&#1492; <a href="/genesis/48-11.htm">Genesis 48:11</a>), as is now evident (lit., as has occurred this day, cf. <a href="/deuteronomy/2-30.htm">Deuteronomy 2:30</a>; <a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/4-20.htm">Deuteronomy 4:20</a>, etc.), to preserve alive a great nation (cf. <a href="/genesis/45-7.htm">Genesis 45:7</a>). And now fear not, I shall provide for you and your families." Thus he quieted them by his affectionate words. <div class="vheading2">Links</div><a href="/interlinear/genesis/50-15.htm">Genesis 50:15 Interlinear</a><br /><a href="/texts/genesis/50-15.htm">Genesis 50:15 Parallel Texts</a><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/niv/genesis/50-15.htm">Genesis 50:15 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/50-15.htm">Genesis 50:15 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/50-15.htm">Genesis 50:15 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/50-15.htm">Genesis 50:15 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/50-15.htm">Genesis 50:15 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://bibleapps.com/genesis/50-15.htm">Genesis 50:15 Bible Apps</a><br /><a href="/genesis/50-15.htm">Genesis 50:15 Parallel</a><br /><a href="http://bibliaparalela.com/genesis/50-15.htm">Genesis 50:15 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="http://holybible.com.cn/genesis/50-15.htm">Genesis 50:15 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="http://saintebible.com/genesis/50-15.htm">Genesis 50:15 French Bible</a><br /><a href="http://bibeltext.com/genesis/50-15.htm">Genesis 50:15 German Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a><br /></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td align="center"><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script><br /><br /> </div> <div id="left"><a href="../genesis/50-14.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 50:14"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 50:14" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../genesis/50-16.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 50:16"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 50:16" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div> <div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>

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