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CHAP. XIII. The History and Mystery of Joseph's Sale.
THE History of Joseph's Life is handled under four Heads. First, His Sale into Egypt. Secondly, His State in Egypt. Thirdly, His Exercise there, And Fourthly, His Exit thence, and out of the World, &c.
§. 1. First, In the first Head, there be three particular circumstances to be observed, in the Sale of Joseph, &c. Consider, 1. The Sellers. 2. The Buyers. 3. The principal impulsive procu∣ring cause of this Bargain both in the Sellers and in the Buyers. In this Sale,
First, The Sellers are to be considered: His own Brethren who hated him, whereof Moses makes mention in Gen. 37. as he gives an account in chap. 36. of Esau, who hated his Brother Jacob, as Joseph (his Son) was hated of his Brethren: Though Esau lost his Birth∣right by his own fault, but Joseph got it by the fault of Reuben: The time when these Sellers made this Sale is mentioned by Moses, to wit, while Esau and his Posterity had peaceable and prosperous possessions in Mount-Seir, when Jacob (with his Father Isaac) were but Pilgrims in Canaan. Esau had now (before Jacob's return from Laban to the Land of Promise) remov∣ed himself from sojourning with his Father Isaac (where Jacob left him at his Banishment from home) by the over-ruling providence of God (who appointeth the bounds of all mens Habitations, Act. 17.26. Gen. 49.13. Psal. 24.1. &c.) to make room for the right heir of that pro∣mised Land, both according to Gods Promise and Isaac's Blessing, Gen. 36.6, 7, 8. though it may be justly doubted whether Esau gave place to Jacob out of any regard to such reasons, but rather,
1. Because he consulted his own conveniency (finding his condition in Canaan uneasy to him∣self, both by the respect his Father, especially his Mother bore to Jacob, and by the disrespect they bore to him, for grieving them with his wicked Marriages, Gen. 26.25.) And
2. Because he would both refuse the incommodiousness of Canaan (wherein so small a por∣tion was in a sojourning way alloted them, as could not with any comfort, contain both his and his Brothers large Estates) and chuse Seir, for its more commodiousness of Hunting, wherein he much delighted, and where he might make himself more room for his growing substance (than a sojourner could compass in Canaan) yea and where also he might have more Elbow∣room (as a prophane person, Heb. 12.16.) for his grievous sinning: whatever Esau's thoughts were (most likely minding nothing but his own conveniency and commodity) God caused them to conduce to the promoting of his own Promise and Providence: for God had promis'd Canaan, not to Esau, but to Jacob, however, as Esau's removal from Canaan to Seir must needs be for much case to Jacob at his return, who could promise to himself little peace and less comfort in Esau's over nigh a neighbourhood; and who now (upon Esau's resignation,) could be accommo∣dated with compass or ground enough (though but sojourners) for his Cattel in Canaan: And Though Esau in his removing to Seir did depart from the Church, yet did he grow exceeding great there through the great Graciousness of God, who had a gracious regard,
1. To the Divine Promise made to Abraham [of multiplying his Seed as the Stars, &c. Gen. 22.17.
2. To the Divine Oracle given to Rebekah [of two Nations in her Womb, &c. Gen. 25. 23. And
3. To the Patriarchal Blessing bestow'd by Isaac on Esau [wherein a Dominion is promis'd him, &c. Gen. 27.39, 40. all which were, in a great measure accomplished before Moses time, as appeareth, Gen. 36. & 1 Chron. 1.35. and after him also, 2 Kin. 8.20. in all which three places an account is held forth of Esau's foretold Dominion in his Dukedoms and Kingdoms, reduced to Dukedoms again, but at last expired in Herod the Idumean or Edomite of, Esau, who craftily compassed the Title of being termed the King of the Jews, Mat. 2.1. who therefore was troubled at Christs Birth, for fear of losing his Kingdom, v. 2, 3. &c. See Jo∣sephus Antiquity, Lib. 14. cap. 26. and 15.10. wherein may be observed how the Blessing of Isaac upon Esau did take place: Though he was a bad Son (therefore called Edom, a name and Note of his Prophaneness, Gen, 25.30, and 36.1.) yet had he a good Father, and was thus beloved for his Fathers sake, as Rom. 11.28. concerning Temporal Blessings: All the predictions and promises of God, have their due and full accomplishment, even to a Prophane Esau: How much more will not God be wanting to fulfil all the aforesaid for his Holy and