1Jacob is hardly persuaded to send Benjamin. 15Joseph's brethren are brought into Joseph's house. 19They discover their fears to the steward, who pacifieth them. 26Joseph maketh them a feast.
1AND the famine was sore 1in the land.
1 Namely, in the land of Canaan, and others thereabout.
2And it came to pass, 2when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food.
2 Hebr. when they ended, or, made an end to eat, that is, when their provision was near spent.
3And Judah spake unto him, saying, 3The man 4did solemnly protest unto us, saying, 5Ye shall not see my face, except your 6brother be with you.
3 Namely, the lord of Egypt; as also Gen. 42:33 and here verses 5, 6, 7, etc.
4 Hebr. testifying hath testified.
5That is, not be admitted into my presence. See this phrase likewise, 2 Sam. 14:24, 28, 32; Acts 20:25, 38.
6 Namely, Benjamin.
4If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food:
5But ifa thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Yeb shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.
a Gen. 42:20.
b Gen. 44:23.
6And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as 7to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?
7 Or, telling that man, that, etc.
7And they said, The man 8asked us straitlyc of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him 9according to the tenor of these words: 10could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?
8 Hebr. asking he asked.
c strictly, closely*
9 Hebr. after the mouth of the same words, that is, according to the demand of the words which he presented to us.
10 Hebr. would we know knowingly.
8And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not 11die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.
11 Namely, of famine.
9I will be surety for him; ofd my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the 12blame for ever:
d Gen. 44:32.
12 That is, be guilty and blameworthy all the days of my life. Thus the word, to sin, or be a sinner, is taken Gen. 44:32; 1 Kings 1:21.
10For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.
11And their father Israel said unto them, 13If it must be so now, do this; take of the 14best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little 15balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, 16nuts, and almonds:
13 As if he said: If this be the case, then let it be done in the Name of God.
14 That is, that which for its worth and goodness is most commended and esteemed. Some hold this to be meant of very rare and excellent fruit, which were to be cut off from the trees.
15 See of this and some following spices, Gen. 37 on verse 25.
16 Other, pineapple-nuts, or, hazelnuts.
12And take 17double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; 18peradventure it was an oversight:
17 That is, as much again as formerly, the dearth being much increased since, verse 1.
18 That is, there may have come to pass by some mistake or other that the money was thus returned into your sacks.
13Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man:
14And 19God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. 20If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.
19 See Gen. 17:1.
20 As if he said: if it must be so, that my children be kept from me, the Lord’s will be done, I remit the issue of this business wholly unto Him. See the like kind of expression, Esther 4:16. Other, as I am bereft of children, (namely, of Joseph and Simeon) so I am bereft (namely, of Benjamin).
15¶And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.
16And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and 21slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon.
21 Hebr. slay slaying, that is, of such cattle as is used to be slain for man’s food. Compare Prov. 9:2.
17And the man did as Joseph bade;e and the man brought the men into Joseph's house.
e invited, asked, told*
1822And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks 23at the first time are we brought in; 24that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take 25us for bondmen, and our asses.
22 They knew not that they were invited to dinner there, but perceived they would be secured in the house, and be charged with or punished for the money.
23 That is, in our first journey hither. See Gen. 42:25.
24 Or, roll, or, welter himself over us, that is, cast a heavy charge upon us to our confusion and ruin, as a body remains oppressed when a heavy burden lights upon him.
25 It is held that the Egyptians were wont to punish theft with slavery.
1926And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house,
26 Namely, to excuse themselves before any charge would be laid against them for that money.
20And said, 27O sir, wef28came indeed down 29at the first time to buy food:
27 The Hebrew phrase here is commonly used by those who, being in any distress, address themselves for something of a greater. So Exod. 4:10; Num. 12:11.
f Gen. 42:3.
28 Hebr. descending, we descended.
29 See on verse 18.
21And it came to pass, wheng we came 30to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand.
g Gen. 42:27, 35.
30 They relate the matter here not correctly, nor so distinctly as it totally did happen; for, one of them had found his money in his sack in the inn by the way, and the others at home, Gen. 42:27, 35; but it seems, they did it here in this manner, either for brevity’s sake, or in consternation.
22And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks.
23And he said, 31Peace be to you, fear not: 32your God, and the God of your father, hath given you 33treasure in your sacks: I had 34your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.
31 Or, peace shall be to you, that is, your case is safe and good, you need not fear, be of good cheer.
32 It seems that this servant was instructed in the true religion by Joseph.
33 Or, some hidden matter.
34 That is, I have received your money.
24And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, andh gave them water, and 35they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender.
h Gen. 18:4.
35 See Gen. 18 on verse 4.
25And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat 36bread there.
36 That is, stay at dinner, or take their repast there. See Gen. 31 on verse 54.
26¶And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, andi37bowed themselves to him to the earth.
i Gen. 37:10; 42:6.
37 See Gen. 37:7.
27And he 38asked them of their welfare, and said, 39Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?
38 Hebr. asked them after the peace, that is, concerning their welfare, or, how it went with them since. So Exod. 18:7; Judges 18:15; 1 Sam. 25:5; of the word peace, see Gen. 37 on verse 14.
39 Hebr. hath he peace? And so in the sequel. See Gen. 29 on verse 6.
28And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance.
29And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother, ofj whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee,40my son.
j Gen. 42:13.
40 Thus he calls him, out of kindness and affection, after the manner of them, who, being more advanced in age and gravity, or authority, finds cause to speak friendly and kindly to those of younger years and meaner condition.
30And Joseph made haste; for his 41bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.
41 The bowels of a man do properly signify his inward parts, such as are the heart, lungs, liver, stomach, etc. Forasmuch as these, and especially the heart are much moved, and kindled, when one has an object of pity or compassion before his eyes; therefore the bowels are taken for pity and compassion itself, as proceeding from the inmost of the heart of man, 1 Kings 3:26; Philip. 2:1; Col. 3:12.
31And he washed his face, and went out, and 42refrained himself, and said, 43Set on bread.
42 Namely, from weeping; see Gen. 45:1.
43 That is, serve in the meat, bring up dinner.
32And they set on for 44him by 45himself, and for 46them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for 47that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.
44 Joseph.
45 As a sign of his dignity, and for the respect, due to him.
46 The brothers of Joseph.
47 In regard of their idolatrous religion, whereby they exhibited divine worship to calves, oxen, etc. whom the Hebrews did slay and eat. Compare Gen. 46:34; Exod. 8:26.
33And they sat 48before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and 49the youngest according to his youth: 50and the men marvelled 51one at another.
48 That is, over against him.
49 Hebr. the little one according to his littleness.
50 Not only that Joseph showed them so much honor, but especially that they were placed everyone according to his age and seniority, which they perceived was altogether unknown to him.
51 Hebr. the man to his neighbor.
34And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin’s messk was 52five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and 53were merry with him.
k dish of food
52 Hebr. he multiplied the messes of Benjamin above the messes of them all, five hands, that is, by five parts.
53 That is, they were merry and cheerful. The Hebrew word does not always signify to overcharge oneself with excess of wine; but sometimes only to be cheered with the drinking of it. See Psalm 104:15; Cant. 5:1; Hag. 1:6, as also the Greek word is taken, John 2:10.