22 That is, that Joseph was still alive.  Thus Midr.  Tanchumah on Gen. xlii. 1.

23 Comp.  Gen. xxvii. 27.

24 Joseph’s mother had long been dead.  See Gen. xxxv. 19.  But the object of Muhammad was probably to bring the event into strict accordance with the prediction of the dream.  Gen. xxxvii. 10.  Some, however, suppose that Bilhah is here meant, and her appearance before Joseph is also asserted to be the fulfilment of the dream by some of the Rabbins.  Comp.  Raschi on Gen. xxxvii. 10.

25 Lit.  This is of the announcements of the things unseen (by thee, Muhammad).  Compare the manner in which the story of the Creation and of Moses in the mount is introduced.  Sura xxxviii. 70; xxviii. 45.  Mr. Muir thinks that Muhammad must at this period, while recasting and working up these materials, have entered upon a course of wilful dissimulation and deceit (although the end would justify to him the means employed) in claiming inspiration for them.

SURA XL.-THE BELIEVER [LXXVIII.]

Mecca.-85 Verses

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Ha.  Mim.  The Revelation (sending down) of the Book is from God the Almighty, the All-knowing,1

Forgiver of sin, and receiver of penitence,-vehement in chastisement,

Long-suffering!  There is no God but He:  to Him shall be the final gathering.

None but infidels gainsay the signs of God:  but let not their prosperity in the land deceive thee.

The people of Noah, and the confederates after them, have brought the charge of imposture before these Meccans:  each nation schemed against their apostle to lay violent hold on him, and disputed with vain words to refute the truth.  Therefore did I lay violent hold on them; and how great was my chastisement!

Thus is it that thy Lord’s sentence, that inmates shall they be of the fire, was accomplished upon the infidels.

They who bear the throne2 and they who encircle it, celebrate the praise of their Lord and believe in Him, and implore forgiveness for the believers:-"O our Lord! thou embracest all things in mercy and knowledge; forgive, therefore, those who turn to thee and follow thy path; keep them from the pains of hell: 

O our Lord! and bring them into the Gardens of Eden which thou hast promised to them, and to the righteous ones of their fathers and their wives and their children; for thou art the All-mighty, the All-wise: 

And keep them from evil:  for on him hast thou mercy whom on that day thou shalt keep from evil;” and this will be the great felicity.

But to the infidels shall a voice cry, “Surely the hatred of God is more grievous than your hatred of yourselves, when ye were called to the faith, and remained unbelievers.”

They shall say, “Twice, O our Lord, hast thou given us death, and twice hast thou given us life:3 and we acknowledge our sins:  is there no way to escape?”