THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
Just as Joseph advised, his siblings responded to Pharaoh and were granted the opportunity to reside in the region of Goshen.
Genesis 47:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
We are come to sojourn in thy land, because there is no grass for the flocks of thy servants, the famine being very grievous in the land of Chanaan: and we pray thee to give orders that we thy servants may be in the land of Gessen.
וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֗ה לָג֣וּר בָּאָרֶץ֮ בָּאנוּ֒ כִּי־אֵ֣ין מִרְעֶ֗ה לַצֹּאן֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לַעֲבָדֶ֔יךָ כִּֽי־כָבֵ֥ד הָרָעָ֖ב בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וְעַתָּ֛ה יֵֽשְׁבוּ־נָ֥א עֲבָדֶ֖יךָ בְּאֶ֥רֶץ גֹּֽשֶׁן׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
2 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Cyrill of Alexandria
Let us also consider the following point: When Joseph's brothers came with Benjamin, he acknowledged them and graciously offered them a meal, as previously mentioned. He refrained from distributing any inheritance to them, instructing only that they return home to bring their father, Jacob, to him. Upon the father's arrival and witnessing Joseph alive with his children, it was then that Joseph assigned them land, the finest among all (Gen. 44-47). This can be seen as a clear indication that Christ will welcome those Israelites who turn to Him in the final days, at a time when they shall come together in harmony with the new people of God. This new nation represents, as I have noted, Benjamin. Yet, we shall not receive our inheritance in hope without the holy forefathers.
Read more (96 words)
They, though having died in faith, as the wise Apostle Paul articulated, ‘did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, that they might attain perfection not without us’ (Hebrews 11:39-40). Thus, we shall await the forefathers so that we may reach perfection together. Consequently, we, along with the holy forefathers, from the beginning to the end, shall inherit the best and purest portion of the kingdom of heaven in Christ, through whom and with whom glory is given to God the Father, in the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Gen 46:34You shall answer: We, thy servants, are shepherds, from our infancy until now, both we and our fathers. And this you shall say, that you may dwell in the land of Gessen, because the Egyptians have all shepherds in abomination.
- Gen 15:13And it was said unto him: Know thou beforehand that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land not their own, and they shall bring them under bondage, and afflict them four hundred years.
- Deut 26:5And thou shalt speak thus in the sight of the Lord thy God: The Syrian pursued my father, who went down into Egypt, and sojourned there in a very small number, and grew into a nation great and strong and of an infinite multitude.
- Gen 43:1In the mean time the famine was heavy upon all the land.
- Acts 7:11Now there came a famine upon all Egypt and Chanaan, and great tribulation: and our fathers found no food.
- Ps 105 (104):23
- Acts 7:6And God said to him: That his seed should sojourn in a strange country, and that they should bring them under bondage and treat them evil four hundred years.
- Isa 52:4For thus saith the Lord God: My people went down into Egypt at the beginning to sojourn there: and the Assyrian hath oppressed them without any cause at all.