Notes, Critical and Explanatory, on the Holy Scriptures

lie was not to return alive from Egypt; but his remains were to be conveyed back, and his posterity was to come thence to take possession of the promised land.

Exod. 1:2; 6 : 14; Numbers 20 : 6; 1 Par. 6 : 1, 3. It is probable that several whose names are here mentioned, were not as yet born when Jacob entered into Egypt Ruben spoke only of his two children, when offering to stake their lives for the safe return of Benjamin; and Benjamin, then only about thirty-two years of age, could not have been the father of many children, even by different wives. Their names are here given in connection with those of their parents, as the original settlers in Egypt, and the heads of the nation.

Exod. 6 : 15; 1 Par. 4 : 24. n From this it may be inferred that the other women, with the exception of the wife of Jnda. were not Canaanites. IJ 1 Par. 0 : 1. 13 1 Par. 2:3; 4 : 21. Her and Onan died in Canaan : Hesron and Hamuel were born, most probably in Egypt.

Joeeph instructed his father and brothers to state this fact with a view to obtain for them a settlement remote from the Egyptians. The king, who is thought to have been of the Shepherd dynasty (who bad invaded the country), found it to his advantage to establish a race of shepherds in a district in which they might sustain him against the natives in case of a revolt The natives generally detested shepherds.