Gênesis 45
Origen of Alexandria · Comentário Patrístico (catena)
Gênesis 45:25
We should observe in reading the holy Scriptures how "to go up" and "to go down" are employed in each individual passage. For if we were to give diligent consideration, we would discover that almost never is anyone said to have gone down to a holy place, nor is anyone related to have gone up to a blameworthy place. These observations show that the divine Scripture was not composed, as it seems to most, in illiterate and uncultivated language but was adapted in accordance with the discipline of divine instruction. Nor is Scripture devoted so much to historical narratives as to things and ideas that are mystical.You will find it written, therefore, that those who are born of the seed of Abraham have gone down into Egypt and again that the sons of Israel have gone up out of Egypt. Indeed Scripture speaks thus also of Abraham himself: "But Abraham went up out of Egypt into the desert, he and his wife and all that was his, and Lot with him." — HOMILIES ON GENESIS 15.1
Gênesis 45:26
I do not understand these words to have been said in the usual sense. For if, for example, we should assume that he could have been overcome with lust and sinned with his master's wife, I do not think that this would have been announced about him by the patriarchs to his father Jacob: "Your son Joseph is living." For if he had done this, without doubt he would not be living. For "the soul that sins, the same shall die."23But Susanna also teaches the same things when she says, "I am straitened on every side. For if I do this thing—that is, if I sin—it is death to me; and if I do not do it, I shall not escape your hands." Notice, therefore, that she too understood that there is death in sin. But also the judgment revealed by God to the first man contains the same things when he says, "But on the day that you shall eat of it you shall die the death." For as soon as he has transgressed the commandment, he is dead. For the soul that has sinned is dead, and the serpent, which said, "You shall not die the death," is shown to have deceived him. And these words have been about that which was said by the sons of Israel to Jacob: "Your son Joseph is living." — HOMILIES ON GENESIS 15.2
Gênesis 45:26
But Jacob is excited not only about the fact that he has heard that "Joseph his son is living," but also especially about that which has been announced to him that it is Joseph who holds "dominion over all Egypt."For the fact that he has reduced Egypt to his rule is truly great to him. For to tread on lust, to flee luxury and to suppress and curb all the pleasures of the body, this is what it means to have "dominion over all Egypt." And this is what is considered great and held in admiration by Israel. But if there is someone who should subject at least some vices of the body but yield to others and be subject to them, it is not said correctly of him that he holds "dominion over the whole land of Egypt," but, for example, he will appear to hold dominion over one, perhaps, or two or three cities. But Joseph, whom no bodily lust ruled, was prince and lord "of all Egypt." — HOMILIES ON GENESIS 15.3
Gênesis 45:27
What Latin expresses by saying: "his spirit was revived," is written in Greek anezōpyrēsen. This means not so much to revive as to rekindle, so to speak, and reignite. This expression is usually used when, perhaps in some material, the fire fails to the point that it appears to be extinguished; and if perhaps it is renewed when kindling has been added, it is said to have been rekindled. Or if the light of a lamp should reach the point that it is thought to have gone out, if perhaps it be revived when oil has been poured in; although the expression is less refined, the lamp is said to have been rekindled. One will speak similarly also of a torch or other lights of this kind.This expression seems to indicate something like this also in Jacob. As long as he was far from Joseph and received no information about his life, his spirit had failed in him, as it were, and the light which was in him had been darkened, as the kindling already failed. But when those who reported to him about Joseph's life came, that is, those who said that "the life was the light of all people," he rekindles his spirit in himself, and the brightness of the true light is renewed in him. — HOMILIES ON GENESIS 15.2
Gênesis 45:27
But not even this is to be neglected idly, that the text says not the soul, but the spirit as its better part, was revived or rekindled. For indeed the brightness of the light that was in him, even if it was not completely extinguished then when his sons showed him Joseph's robe stained with the blood of a kid. He could be deceived by their lie, so that "he tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned his son, nor did he wish at all to be consoled," but said, "I go down to my son into the nether world, mourning." Even if then, as we said, the light in him had not been completely extinguished, nevertheless it had been darkened in the greatest degree because he could be deceived, because he could tear his garments, because he could mourn by mistake, because he could call on death, because he desired to go down into the nether world, mourning. On account of these things, therefore, he now revives and "rekindles his spirit," because it followed logically that hearing the truth would rekindle and restore the light that the deceit of a lie had obscured in him. — HOMILIES ON GENESIS 15.3
Gênesis 45:28
But because occasionally the divine fire can be extinguished even in the saints and faithful, hear the apostle Paul warning these who were worthy to receive gifts of the Spirit and grace, and saying, "Do not extinguish the Spirit." The Scripture says of Jacob, therefore, "And Jacob rekindled his spirit, and Israel said, 'It is a great thing for me if my son Joseph is still living,' " as if he has experienced something like that which Paul warned against and has renewed himself through those words that had been spoken to him about Joseph's life.But this also should be noticed, that he who "rekindled his spirit," meaning, of course, that spirit which seemed almost extinguished, is said to be Jacob. But he who says, "It is a great thing for me if my son Joseph is living," as if he understands and sees that the life which is in the spiritual Joseph is great, is no longer called Jacob but Israel, as it were, he who sees in his mind the true life which is Christ, the true God. — HOMILIES ON GENESIS 15.3