Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
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 Egypwliicli 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 lorit 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 woulds 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 governor, 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 in Kinuates 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