And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.
6. And Joseph died. The Rabbins ignorantly conclude from this expression that Joseph died first of his brethren, whereas it is evident that the others were passed over, and his name was expressly mentioned to do him honor, as being the only one then in authority.
Their names recur throughout Scripture to make them familiar to us, showing how precious God's spiritual Israel are to Him. Seventy souls entered Egypt, the very number of nations scattered at Babel, so mark how their later increase becomes wonderful, it is always good to remember how small a thing we began from before the Lord made us great.
AI summary
Commenting on Exodus 1:1-7
And Joseph died, and all his brethren,.... It is a notion of the Jews, that Joseph died before any of his brethren; see Gill on Gen 50:26 and they gather it from these words; but it does not necessarily follow from hence, they might die some before him and some after him; and as they were all born in about seven years' time, excepting Benjamin...