Genesis 45:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

May God appoint me not only as master over my siblings, as my dreams have revealed, but also as ruler of all of Egypt, a blessing my visions did not foretell. When you come back, tell Jacob, ‘Joseph, your son, is alive, and look, he is seated in the royal chariot of Egypt.’

The term 'Arabian' is introduced in this context, although it does not appear in the Hebrew texts. This has led to the mistaken belief that the region of Gesen is located in Arabia. Furthermore, if we consider that the final letter in the Hebrew word for gesen (גשם) signifies gesem, which I find unappealing, it can be interpreted as the land of rainfall, since gesem can be translated as 'rain.'

It was expressed with the same phrasing, indicating that the same One who communicated through Joseph was now speaking through His own body, remaining consistent in His message. He instructed, “Do not be afraid. Quickly go to my father and say, ‘Your son Joseph declares, God has made me ruler over all Egypt.’” In the Gospel, He reassures us, “Fear not; go and inform my brothers to head to Galilee, where they will encounter me” (Matthew 28:10). He further proclaimed, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me” (Matthew 28:18), implying that this power was granted by divine decree, rather than due to human malice. There is no charge against Him who outlines the blessings.

Joseph invited Jacob along with his entire family and belongings to settle in the land of Goshen. This area was located not far from the capital of Egypt, which allowed Jacob to be close to Joseph. Goshen was adjacent to the Nile River and bordered Arabia to the west, which is why it is referred to as Arabian in the Septuagint. It also lay next to the territory of the Philistines. The main city of this region was Ramessah. Goshen was renowned in Egypt for its lush pastures, making it particularly suitable for the Israelites, who tended livestock. The land was so fertile that the Israelites enjoyed an abundance of vegetables, such as cucumbers, melons, onions, and garlic, which were freely available to them. Despite living in proximity to the Egyptians, the Israelites in Goshen kept to themselves, as the Egyptians had a disdain for shepherds.