Holly Bible - KJV with Concise Commentaries by Z Selam - HTML preview
Download the book in PDF, ePub, Kindle for a complete version.
while we cannot foresee what will happen. Our prudence must attend God's providence.
4. Mention is made of the death and burial of Rachel, Joseph's mother, and Jacob's best beloved wife (Ge 48:7), referring to that story, Ge 35:19.
Note, (1.) When we come to die ourselves, it is good to call to mind the death of our dear relations and friends, that have gone before us, to make death and the grave the more familiar to us. See Nu 27:13. Those that were to us as our own souls are dead and buried; and shall we think it much to follow them in the same path?
(2.) The removal of dear relations from us is an affliction the remembrance of which cannot but abide with us a great while. Strong affections in the enjoyment cause long afflictions in the loss.
7 And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the
land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem.
8 And Israel beheld Joseph’s sons, and said, who are these? 9 And Joseph said unto his father, they are my sons, whom God hath
given me in this place. And he said, bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them.
10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see.
And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.
Jacob was blind for age, Ge 48:10. It is one of the common infirmities of old age. Those that look out at the windows are darkened, Ec 12:3. It is folly to walk in the sight of our eyes, and to suffer our hearts to go after them, while we know death will shortly close them, and we do not know but some accident between us and death may darken them. Jacob, like his father before him, when he was old, was dim-sighted. Note,