In these verses we have, 1. A recital of the names of the twelve
patriarchs, as they are called, Acts vii. 8. Their names are often
repeated in scripture, that they may not sound uncouth to us, as other
hard names, but that, by their occurring so frequently, they may become
familiar to us; and to show how precious God's spiritual Israel are to
him, and how much he delights in them. 2. The account which was kept of
the number of Jacob's family, when they went down into Egypt; they were
in all seventy souls (v. 5). according to the computation we had, Gen.
xlvi. 27. This was just the number of the nations by which the earth
was peopled, according to the account given, Gen. x. For when the Most
High separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people
according to the number of the children of Israel, as Moses observes,
Deut. xxxii. 8. Notice is here taken of this that their increase in
Egypt might appear the more wonderful. Note, It is good for those whose
latter end greatly increases often to remember how small their
beginning was, Job viii. 7. 3. The death of Joseph, v. 6. All that
generation by degrees wore off. Perhaps all Jacob's sons died much
about the same time; for there was not more than seven years'
difference in age between the eldest and the youngest of them, except
Benjamin; and, when death comes into a family, sometimes it makes a
full end in a little time. When Joseph, the stay of the family, died,
the rest went off apace. Note, We must look upon ourselves and our
brethren, and all we converse with, as dying and hastening out of the
world. This generation passeth away, as that did which went before. 4.
The strange increase of Israel in Egypt, v. 7. Here are four words used
to express it: They were fruitful, and increased abundantly, like
fishes or insects, so that they multiplied; and, being generally
healthful and strong, they waxed exceedingly mighty, so that they began
almost to outnumber the natives, for the land was in all places filled
with them, at least Goshen, their own allotment. Observe, (1.) Though,
no doubt, they increased considerably before, yet, it should seem, it
was not till after the death of Joseph that it began to be taken notice
of as extraordinary. Thus, when they lost the benefit of his
protection, God made their numbers their defence, and they became
better able than they had been to shift for themselves. If God continue
our friends and relations to us while we most need them, and remove
them when they can be better spared, let us own that he is wise, and
not complain that he is hard upon us. After the death of Christ, our
Joseph, his gospel Israel began most remarkably to increase: and his
death had an influence upon it; it was like the sowing of a corn of
wheat, which, if it die, bringeth forth much fruit, John xii. 24. (2.)
This wonderful increase was the fulfillment of the promise long before
made unto the fathers. From the call of Abraham, when God first told
him he would make of him a great nation, to the deliverance of his seed
out of Egypt, it was 430 years, during the first 215 of which they were
increased but to seventy, but, in the latter half, those seventy
multiplied to 600,000 fighting men. Note, [1.] Sometimes God's
providences may seem for a great while to thwart his promises, and to
go counter to them, that his people's faith may be tried, and his own
power the more magnified. [2.] Though the performance of God's promises
is sometimes slow, yet it is always sure; at the end it shall speak,
and not lie, Hab. ii. 3.