Chapter XLII
Ver. 1-38. Journey into Egypt. 1. Now when Jacob saw that thei-e was com in Kgypt—learned from common rumour. It is evident, from Jacob's language, that his own and his sons' families had suffered greatly from the scarcity; and through the increasing severity of the scourge, tliose men, who had formerly shown both activity and spirit, were sinking into despondency. God would not interpose miraculously when natural means of preservation were within reach. 5. the famine waa in tlie land of Canaan—The tropical rains, wliich annually falling swell the Nile, are those of Palestine also; and tlieir failure would produce the same disastrous eflects in Canaan as in Egypt. Numerous caravans of its people, therefore, poured over the sandy desert of Suez, with their beasts of burden, for the purchase of corn; and amongst others, " the sons of Israel " were compelled to undertake a Journey from which painful associations made tliem strongly averse. 6. Joseph was the governor—in the zenith of his power and influence, he it was tliat sold i. e., directed the sales; for it is Impossible that he could give attendance In every place. It Is prob-
office, which were these—the signet ring, used for signing public documents, and its impression was more valid than the sign-manual of the king; the khelaat or dress of honour, a coat of finely wrought lim n, or rather cotton, worn only by the highest personages; the gold necklace, a badge of rank—the plain or ornamental form, of it indicating the degree of rank and dignity ; the |)ri vilege of riding iri a strife carriage, the second cliai iot; aii<' lastly—43. they cried before him. Bow the kne» abrech, an Egyptian term; not referring to prostration, but signifying, according to some, " father" (cf. ch. 45. S); according to others, "native prince"— j. c, proclaimed him naturalized. In order to remove all popular dislike to him as a foreigner. 44. These ceremonies of investiture were closed In usual form by the king in council solemnly ratifying the appointment. I am Pharaoh, and without thee, &e.—a proverbial mode of expression for great power. 45. Zaphnath-paaneah—variously interpreted, "revealer of secrets;" "saviour of the land;" and from the hieroglyphics, "a wise man fl(HMiig from pollution" i. e., adultery, gave him to wife Asenatli, the daughter of—His naturalization was completed by this alliance with a family of high distinction. On being founded l)y an Arab colony, rotl-plierah, like Jethro, priest of MIdian, miglit he a worslilpper of the true God ; and thus Joseph, a jilous man, will be freed from the charge of marrying an Idolatress for worldly cn<ls. Oncalled Aven (Ezeklel .il). 17), and also Hetli-sliemesh (Jeremiah 43.13). In look.lng at this profusion of honours heaped smidenly upon Joseph, it cannot be doubted that
a!)le, however, that he may have personally superintended the storehouses near the border of Canaan, both because that was the most exposed part of the count.'y, and because he must have anticipated the arrival of S(ime messengers from his father's house. Joseph'* bretl>r<'n came, and bowed down themselves before him— Ills prophetic dreams were in the course of being
fulfilled, and the atrocious barbarity of his hrethrei. had been the means of bringing about the very issue tliey had planned to prevent (Isaiah (K). 11; Uevelatlon
3. 1), last clause). 7, 8. Josepit saw his Iirctltren, and he knew them, . . . but they knew not him-this ia not wouderl'ul. They were full-grown men—he was but a lad at parting. They were In their usual garb—ho was In his official robes. They never dreamt of him as governor of Egypt, while ho had been expecting them. They had but one faci?—ho h.ad ten persons to Judge by. made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly—It would bean injustice to Joseph's character to suppose that this stern manner was prompted by any
PLANTS MENTIONED IN THE SCRIPTURES.
I'Ol'LAli.
Gen. xu. S7«
JotrplCs Brethren come to buy Com. GENESIS XLIII. Their Second Arrival in Egypt.
little foot!— It was no easy matter to bring Jacob to agree to the only conditions on wliicli his sons could return to Blgypt (ch. i'l. 1.")). The necessity of immediately procuring fresh supplies for the maintenance of themselves and their families overcame every otlier consideration, and extorted liis consent to Benjamin joining in a journey, wliich his sons entered on with mingled feelings of hope and anxiety—of hope, because having now complied with tlie governor's demand to bring down their youngest brother, they flattered themselves that the alleged ground of suspecting them would be removed; and of appreliension, that some ill designs were meditated against them. 11. take of the best fruits ... a present—It is an Oriental practice never to approach a man of power without a present, and Jacob might remember how he pacified his brother (Proverbs 21. It)—balm, spices, and myrrh (ch. ;M.
vindictive feelings—he never indulged any resentment against others wliohad injured liim. But lie spoke in tlie authoritative tone of tlie governor in order to elicit some much longed-for intelligence respecting the state of ills
father's family, as well as to l)ring his Ijrethren, l)y tlieir own humiliation and distress, to a sense of tlie evils they had done to him. 9-14. Ye are spies—this is a suspicion entertained regarding strangers in all Eastern countries down to the present day. Joseph, however, who was well aware that his brethren were not spies, has been charged with cruel dissimulation, with a deliberate violation of what he knew to be the truth, in imputing to them such a chai'acter. But it must be remembered that he was sustaining the part of a ruler; and, in fact, acting on tlie very principle sanctioned by many of the sacred writers, and our Lord himself, wlio spolce parables (tlctitious stories)
to promote a good end. 15. By the life of Pliaraoh—It
2.1), honey, which some think was dibs, a syrup made from ripe dates [BocHAKT] ; but others, the lioney of Heljioii,
is a very common practice in Western Asia to swear by the life of the king. Joseph spoke in the style of an Egyp-
wliicli is still valued as far superior to that of Egypt
tian, and perhaps did not think there was any evil in it. But we are taught to regard all such expressions in the
nuts, pistachio nuts, of which Syria grows the liest in the worlil ; almonds, which were most abundant in Pali sliiie.
1!J. take double money—the first sum to be returned, and another sum for a new supply. The restored money
light of an oath (Maltliew 5. Si; James 5. 11!). 17-^4. put tlicm . . . Into warrt ttii-ce days—Their continemeut liad been designed to bring tliem lo salutaiy reflection. And
ill the sacks' mouth was a perplexing circumstance. But
this object was attained, for tliey looked upon the retriljutive justice of God as now pursuing tlieiu in that lor-
it might have been done inadvertently by one of the servants—so Jacob persuaded himself—and happy it was for his own peace and the encouragement of the travellers that he took this view. Besides the duty of restoring it, honesty in their case was clearly the best—the safest policy. 14. Go«l Almighty give you mercy before the man—Jacob is here committing them all to the care of God, and, resigned to what appears a heavy trial, praj'S that it may be overruled for good.
eigii land. The drift of their conversation is one of the most strilving instances of tlie power of conscience on
record. !44. took . . . Simeon, aikcl bound liliii—lie had
probalily been thechief instigator—tlie most violent actor
in the outrage upon Joseph; and if so, his selection to 1)6
the Imprisoned and fettered hostage for their return
woul<l, in the present course of their reflections, have a painful significance. 25-38. Josepli comiuanded to lUl their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money—This private generosity was not an i niringement
l.)-.)(). Arrival in PJgypt. 15. stood before .Toseph We may easily imagine tlie delight with wlilcii, amid the crowd of other applicants, the eye of Joseph would fix on his brethren and Benjamin. But occupied with his public duties, he consigned them to the care of a confidential servant till he should have finished the business of the day. 16. ruler of his house—In the houses of wealthy Egyptians one upper man-servant was intru.sted with the management of the house (cf. ch. 39. 5). slay, and make ready—iTcbreu), " kill a killing "—implying preparations for a grand entertainment (cf. ch. 31. 5t; 1 Samuel 25. II; Proverbs 9. 2; Matthew 22. 4). The animals have to be killed as well as prepared at home. The heat of the climate requires that the cook should take the joints directly from the hands of the flesher, and tlie Oriental taste is, from habit, fond of newly-killed meat. A great profusion of viands, with an Inexhaustible supply of vegetables, was provided for the repasts, to which strangers were invited, the pride of Egyptian people consisting rather in the quantity and variety than in the choice or delicacy of the dishes at their table, dine . . . at noon—the hour of dinner was at mid-day. 18. the men were afraid—Their feelings of awe on entering the stately mansion, unaccustomed as they were to houses at all-their anxiety at the reasons of their being taken there—their .solicitude about the restored money—their honest simplicity in communicating their distress to the steward, and his assurances of having received their money in "full weight"—the offering of their fruit-present, which would^s usual, be done with some parade, andtthe Oriental salutations that passed between their host and them—are all described in a graphic and animated manner.
of his duty—a defrauding of the revenue. He would have a discretionary power—he was daily enriching the king's exchequer—and he might have paid the sum from his own
purse. 87. Inn—a mere station for baiting beasts of burden, he espied his money—the dl.scovery threw them
into greater perpjexity than ever. If they had been congratulating themselves on escaping from the ruthless gov-
ernor, they perceived that now lie would have a handle against them; and It is observable, that they looked upon
this as a judgment of heaven. Thus one leading design
of Joseph was gained in their consciences being roused to a sense of guilt. 35. as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every mait's . . . money was in his sack—It appears that they had been silent about the money discovery at the resting-place, as their father might have blamed them for not instantly returning. However innocent they knew themselves to be, it was universally felt to be an unhappy circumstance, which might bring them Into new and greater perils. 36. Me have ye bereaved
this exclamation indicates a painfully excited state of
feeling, and it shows how difficult It is for even a good man to yield implicit submission to the course of Providence. The language does not Imply that his missing sons had got foul play from the hands of the rest, but he looks upon Simeon as lost, as well as Joseph, and he inKinuates it was by .some imprudent statements of theirs that he was exposed to the risk of losing Benjamin also. 37. Reuben spake, . . . Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee—This was a thoughtless and unwarrantable condition—one that he never seriously expected his father would accept. It was designed only to give assurance of the greatest care being taken of Benjamin. But unforeseen circumstances might arise to render it impos-
31-31. The Dinner. 31. Joseph said, Set on bread equivalent to having dinner served, bread being a term inclusive of all victuals. The table was a small stool, most probably the usual round form, "since persons might even then be seated according to their rank or
sible for all of them to preserve that young lad (James 4.
13), and Jacob was much pained by the prospect. Little did he know that God was dealing with him severely, but In kindness (Hebrews 12. 7, 8), and that all those things he thought against him were working together for his good. CHAPTER XLIII.
seniority, and the modern Egyptian table Is not without
its post of honour and a fixed gradation of place." [Wilkinson.] Two or at mo.st three persons were seated at one
table. But the host being the highest in rank of the company had a table to himself; whilst It was so arranged that an Egyptian was not placed nor obliged to eat from the same dish as an Hebrew. 3a. Kgyptlans might not ea« bread with the Hebrews ; for that is an abomiuatipn
Ver, 144. Preparations for a Second JotTRNEY, to EGTFT. it. their father said, ... Go again, buy us a
Joseplis P'tUcy to Stay his Brethren. GENESIS XLIV, XLV. He makes Hiimelf known.
—The prejudice probably arose from the detestation in which, from the oppressions of the slieplierd-kings, tlie nation lielj all of that occupation. 34. took and sent meases . . . Beiijainin's mess wns five times—In Egypt, as in other Oriental countries, tliere were, and are, two modes of paying attention to a guest wlioni the liost wishes to honour—either by giving a clioice piece from liis own hand, or ordei'ing it to be Uilien to tiie stranger. Tlie degree of respect sliown consists in the quantity, and while the ordinary rule of distinction is a douolo me.ss, it must have appeared a very distinguished mark of favour bestowed on Benjamin to liave no less than five times anj' of his brethren. t.Iiey drank, and were merry >vit}i him Hebrew, "drank freely," same as Solomon's Song,
sentences, as if, under the overwhelming force of the speaker's emotions, his utterance were choked, it becomes more free and copious by the elTort of speaking, as he proceeds. Every word finds its way to the heart; and it may well be imagined that Benjamin, who stood there speechless, like a victim about to be laid on the altar, when he heard the magnanimous oITer of Judah to submit to slavery for his ransom, would be bound bj' a lifelong gratitude to his generous brother; a tie that seems lo have become hereditary in his tribe. Joseph's behaviour must not be viewed from any single point, or in separate parts, but as a whole—a well-thought, deep-laid, closely-connected plan; and though some features of it do certainly exhibit an appearance of harshness, yet the pervading principle of his conduct was reul, genuine brotherly kindness. Read in this light, the narrative of the proceedings describes the continuous, though secret pursuit of one end; and Joseph discovers, in his management of the scheme, a very high order of intellect-
5.1; Jolm 2.10. In all these cases the idea of intemperance is excluded. The painful anxieties and cares of Joseph's brethren were dispelled, and they were at ease.