Genesis 47:12

Gen 47:12 And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father’s household, with bread, according to [their] families.

Ver. 12. And Joseph nourished his father.] For which end he was "sent before" {Psa 105:17} by God: and for whose sake so many thousands were preserved, that else would have perished. What fools, then, are they that hunt out the saints, their only safeguard! and hate them to whom they owe all the good they have! This is, with the foolish deer, to eat up the leaves that hide them from the huuter.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Gen_47:12

And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his fathers household, with bread

Types of the Holy Eucharist

I.

WHO WAS THIS THAT FED HIS BRETHREN IN THE TIME OF DEARTH? Act_7:11). Joseph, separate from his brethren (Gen_49:26), sold to be a bond servant (Psa_105:17), tried, afflicted, and imprisoned, so that the iron entered into his soul (Psa_105:18), was a true type of Jesus our Lord, Who became a stranger unto His brethren, an alien unto His mothers children (Psa_69:8; Psa_88:7; Psa_88:18), Who took upon Him the form of a servant (Php_2:7), was afflicted and smitten (Isa_53:4-5, and cf. Psa_88:8). Then, too, as Joseph brought out of prison (Psa_105:19-20). set over all the land of Egypt (Gen_41:41; Gen_41:43; Psa_105:21), saluted as Zaphnath-pasneah (Gen_41:45), the Saviour of the world (Neals), sustained the life of all nations by miraculous supplies of bread (Gen_41:57): even so Jesus our Lord, the true Joseph, taken from prison and from judgment (Isa_53:8), entrusted with all power (Mt Eph_1:20-23), exalted to the right hand of God to be a Prince and a Saviour (Act_5:31), now feeds countless thousands throughout all the world, with Himself, the Living Bread, in the Holy Eucharist.

II. WHOM DID JOSEPH FEED?

1. All countries--for all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn: because that the famine was so sore in all lands (Gen_41:57). So in one sense our True Joseph giveth food to all flesh (Psa_136:25), and openeth His hand, and filleth all things living with plenteousness (Psa_145:16; Psa_104:27; Psa_28:1-9).

2. Joseph fed his people, the Egyptians, for when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith unto you, do . . . And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians Gen_41:55-56). And when money failed . . . all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread . . . And Joseph gave them bread Gen_47:15; Gen_47:17). So now Jesus our Lord, the True Joseph, prepares a table in the wilderness of this world, at which He feeds His people, not with common food, but with spiritual good things, help, benedictions, knowledge, grace, to deliver their soul from death and to feed them in the time of dearth (Psa_33:18), so that they may eat and crave for that still greater food, the Holy Eucharist, of which He spake (Psa_81:11), open thy mouth, &c.

3. But Joseph specially cared for his brethren--his kinsfolk according to the flesh--for he brought them into his house and feasted them Gen_43:17; Gen_43:34), he gave them provision for the way (Gen_42:25). So now our own Joseph, Jesus our Lord, hath special care for His elect (Wis_3:9), the saints of the Most High whom He is not ashamed to call His brethren (Heb_2:11), He brings them into His house, He makes them to sit down to meat, at His table in His kingdom, He comes forth and serves them, saying, Come, eat of My bread and drink of the wine that I have mingled (Pro_9:5), for My flesh is meat indeed and My blood is drink indeed (Joh_6:55). Thus do the poor eat andare satisfied. They are full, yet hungry still.

III. WHEN DID JOSEPH FEED THEM?

1. When the dearth was in all lands, and the famine was over all the face of the earth, and was sore in all lands (Gen_41:54; Gen_41:56-57), and there was no bread in all the land: for the famine was very sore, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine Gen_47:13), then Joseph nourished his father and his brethren and all his fathers household, with bread. So now, in the time of dearth, when there is a sore and grievous famine in the weary land of this world and multitudes are perishing with hunger, because they cannot satisfy the cravings of their immortal spirit with the husks that the swine do eat Luk_15:16), our True Joseph feedeth the hungry, satisfieth the fainting soul with Himself, the bread of God, and saith to every soul that is hungering and thirsting after righteousness (Mat_5:6), Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it (Psa_81:11.)

2. After he had made himself strange unto them (Gen_42:7-8), he nourishes them with bread. So now Jesus our Lord appears in another form, and makes Himself strange as it were unto us by veiling His beauty and His brightness under the veils of bread and wine, as it is written, Verily Thou art a God that hidest Thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour Isa_45:15).

3. When his brethren had repented of their wickedness and fault, and were sorry for their sin--for they said, We are verily guilty concerning our brother. So now it is when we have confessed our wickedness, and are sorry for our sins (Psa_38:18; Psa_51:3), when we have examined ourselves (1Co_11:28; 1Co_11:31-32), when we do truly and earnestly repent us of our sins . . . and have made our humble confession to Almighty God, meekly kneeling upon our knees; then is it that our dear Lord vouchsafes to feed and nourish us with that True Wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and that True Bread that strengtheneth mans heart, in the Holy Communion.

IV. WHERE DID JOSEPH NOURISH HIS BRETHREN WITH BREAD?

1. He fed and feasted them in his house, at his princely table, albeit sitting apart from them (Gen_43:16-17; Gen_43:32); whereas the Greater One than Joseph, even Jesus our King, receiveth sinners and eateth with them Luk_15:2) at His own royal table of Sacred Communion (Luk_22:30), in His house the Church (1Ti_3:15; Heb_3:6).

2. Also Joseph gave his brethren provision for the way (Gen_42:25; Gen_45:21): so our Blessed Lord invites us to draw nigh unto the altar of God, and strengthen ourselves with the Bread of Life now, whilst we are in the way, saying, Arise and eat of My Flesh and drink of My Blood, because the journey is too great for thee (1Ki_19:7).

3. He fed and nourished them in Goshen (Gen_46:28; Gen_47:1; Gen_47:4; Gen_47:27; Gen_50:8; Gen_50:22); so it is in the true Goshen that Jesus our King Eternal feeds His brethren at the marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev_19:1-21.), and reveals Himself to them face to face.

V. How DID JOSEPH NOURISH HIS BRETHREN?

1. He fed his brethren at no expense to themselves--for Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every mans money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way; and thus did he unto Gen_42:25, and cf Gen_43:12; Gen_43:21-24; Gen_45:20-24; Gen_47:11-12; Gen_47:27; Gen_50:21 not once nor twice. So Jesus our Saviour feeds us with His own most Blessed Body and Blood, and satisfies our mouth with good things, without money and without price (Isa_55:1-2), again and yetagain throughout our earthly pilgrimage.

2. He nourished them with corn (Gen_42:19; Gen_50:25), and wine Gen_43:34), and bread (Gen_47:12), and so saved their lives by a great deliverance; and yet the food which Joseph provided was perishable in its nature, and they who partook of it died at their appointed time. Whereas our True Joseph--Who is the Corn of Wheat (Joh_12:24), the Wine that cheereth God and man (Jdg_9:13), and theBread of God which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the Joh_6:33)--gives us Food which is incorruptible, and is the seed of immortality, seeing that This is the Bread which cometh down from heaven that a man may eat thereof, and not die, if any man eat of this Bread he shall live for ever. (W. F. Shaw, B. D.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Gen 47:12. With bread according to their families — לחם לפי השׂŠ, literally, with bread to the mouth of the little one — That is, as much as every one desired, without any restraint, mouth being put for desire, as chap. Gen 24:57; Isa 30:2; or, as a little child is nourished: he, as it were, put their meat into their very mouths: it was brought to them without any more care or pains of their own, than an infant takes for its food.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Some read, that he fed them as little babes, because they could not provide for themselves against that famine.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

12. And Joseph nourished his father, etc., according to their families Some explain the expression, “the mouth of the little one,” as if Joseph nourished his father and his whole family, in the manner in which food is conveyed to the mouths of children. These interpreters regard the form of speech as emphatical, because, during the famine, Jacob and his family had no more anxiety about the providing of food than children, who cannot even stretch out their hand to receive it. Others translate it “youth,” but I know not with what meaning. Others take it, simply, according to the proportion and number of the little children. To me the genuine sense seems to be that he fed all, from the greatest to the least. Therefore, there was sufficient bread for the whole family of Jacob, because, by the care of Joseph, provision was made to supply nourishment even to the little ones. In this manner Moses commemorates both the clemency of God, and the piety of Joseph; for it was an instance of uncommon attention, that these hungry husband men, who had not a grain of corn, were entirely fed at his expense.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

(12) According to their families.—Heb., according to the “taf” This, as we have seen above, means “according to the clan or body of dependants possessed by each one.” Dan, with his one child, would have been starved to death if the allowance for himself and his household had depended upon the number of his “little ones,” which is the usual translation of this word in the Authorised Version. (See margin.)

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

12. according to their families] The margin, according to the number of their little ones, gives the literal rendering. Delitzsch comments, “little children being mentioned because they would require much food, and also because people would be less willing to see them in want.” Cf. Gen_45:11.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And there was no bread in all the land,.... The land of Egypt and the parts adjacent, but in Pharaoh's storehouses, all being consumed that were in private hands the first two years of the famine:

for the famine was very sore; severe, pressed very hard:

so that the land of Egypt, and all the land of Canaan, fainted by reason of the famine; that is, the inhabitants of both countries, their spirits sunk, as well as their flesh failed for want of food: or "raged" (b); became furious, and were like madmen, as the word signifies; according to Kimchi (c), they were at their wits' end, knew not what to do, as Aben Ezra interprets it, and became tumultuous; it is much they had not in a violent manner broke open the storehouses of corn, and took it away by force; that they did not must be owing to the providence of God, which restrained them, and to the care and prudence of Joseph as a means, who, doubtless, had well fortified the granaries; and very probably there were a body of soldiers placed everywhere, who were one of the three parts or states of the kingdom of Egypt, as Diodorus Siculus (d) relates; to which may be added, the mild and gentle address of Joseph to the people, speaking kindly to them, giving them hopes of a supply during the famine, and readily relieving them upon terms they could not object to.

(b) "insanivit vel acta fuit in rahiem", Vatablus; "furebat", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. (c) In Sepher Shorash rad so Ben Melech in loc. (d) Bibliothec. l. 1. p. 67.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Or, according to the mouth of the family; mouth being put for their will or desire, as it is Gen 24:57; Isa 30:2, as much as every one desired, without any restraint; or, according to the manner of a little child, he put their meat into their very months; it was brought to them without any more care or pains of theirs than an infant takes for its food.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

12. According to their families — Hebrews, for the mouth of the little ones; that is, bread for the mouths of these. Thus Joseph became a nourishing father to his aged father’s household, as well as to Pharaoh and all Egypt.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And Joseph nourished ejsitometrei (LXX), i.e. gave them their measure of cornhis father, and his brethren, and all his father"s household, with bread, according to their families literally, to, or according to, the mouth of the little ones, meaning either in proportion to the size of their families (LXX, Keil, Kalisch, Murphy), or with all the tenderness with which a parent provides for his offspring (Murphy), or the whole body of them, from the greatest even to the least (Calvin), or completely, down even to the food for their children ("Speaker"s Commentary").

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

לפי הטף ACCORDING TO THEIR LITTLE ONES — according to the requirements of all their household.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.

ויכלכל..לחם לפי הטף, the reason children are mentioned is that children eat all day long and waste food, leaving crumbs behind all over the place. Our sages in Pessachim 10 state that it is in the nature of children to break food up into crumbs and to leave them all over the place. There is a well known proverb which states that children are responsible for decay of food.

Radak on the Tanakh — English translations: “Sefaria Community Translation” (CC0 1.0 (public-domain dedication)); “Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash” (CC BY 4.0); “Rabbi Mike Feuer, Jerusalem Anthology” (CC BY 4.0); and “R. David Kimhi on the first book of Psalms, Translated by R.G. Finch, London, 1919” (public domain). Text via Sefaria.