Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 6. There shall neither be earing nor harvest.] EARING has been supposed to mean collecting the ears of corn, which would confound it with harvest: the word, however, means ploughing or seed-time, from the Anglo-Saxon [A.S.] erian, probably borrowed from the Latin aro, to plough, and plainly means that there should be no seed-time, and consequently no harvest; and why? Because there should be a total want of rain in other countries, and the Nile should not rise above twelve cubits in Egypt; See on ""chap. xli. 31"". But the expressions here must be qualified a little, as we find from chap. xlvii. 19, that the Egyptians came to Joseph to buy seed; and it is probable that even during this famine they sowed some of the ground, particularly on the borders of the river, from which a crop, though not an abundant one, might be produced. The passage, however, in the above chapter may refer to the last year of the famine, when they came to procure seed for the ensuing year.
Matthew Henry Commentary
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 ha 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 she tears of tenderness and strong affection, and with these threw off tha austerity with which he had hitherto behaved toward his brethren. Thi 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 woul comfort his disciples, he said, It is I, be not afraid. When Chris manifests himself to his people, he encourages them to draw near to his with a true heart. Joseph does so, and shows them, that whatever the thought to do against him, God had brought good out of it. Sinners mus grieve and be angry with themselves for their sins, though God bring good out of it, for that is no thanks to them. The agreement betwee 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 less, but a greater evil; and yet he is so armed against despair, a even to rejoice in what God hath wrought, while he trembles in thinkin of the dangers and destruction from which he has escaped. Josep 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 their ability; this is showing piety at home, 1Ti 5:4. After 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 tru reconciliation with the Lord Jesus, sweet communion with him follows.
Original Hebrew כי3588 זה2088 שׁנתים8141 הרעב7458 בקרב7130 הארץ776 ועוד5750 חמשׁ2568 שׁנים8141 אשׁר834 אין369 חרישׁ2758 וקציר׃7105
