the night, saying: “Fear not, go down into Egypt, for I will make a great nation of thee there, and will bring thee back again from thence.” Consoled by the vision, Jacob continued his journey, and arrived in Egypt.
Juda went on in advance to apprise Joseph of his father’s approach. Joseph immediately made ready his chariot, and went out to meet his father. As soon as he saw him coming, he descended from his chariot and embraced him, weeping.
And Jacob said to Joseph: “Now I shall die with joy, because I have seen thy face, and leave thee alive.” Joseph presented his father to Pharao, who asked him: “How many are the years of thy life?” Jacob answered: “The days of my pilgrimage[1] are a hundred and thirty years, few [2] and evil [3], and they are not come up to the days of the pilgrimage of my fathers.” Then Jacob, having blessed the king, retired. And Joseph gave his father and his brothers possessions in the land of Gessen[4], the most beautiful and fertile part of Egypt.
COMMENTARY.
The love of parents for their children. You can see by the example of Jacob, how very strong is the love which parents have for their children. He had mourned for Joseph for twenty-three long years, and the moment he heard that he was alive, full of fatherly love, he cried out that he asked for nothing more on earth than to see his son Joseph once more. Then, too, how troubled he was about the prisoner Simeon, and how anxious about Benjamin! He proved his love for Joseph
by his actions, for out of love for him he left his home, notwithstanding his infirmities, and undertook a long and difficult journey. Parents are only too willing to do all they can for their children.
