Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
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 el Tort 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.
CHAPTER XLIV.
warm and susceptible heart, united to a judgment that exerted a complete control over his feelings—a happy invention in devising means towards the attainment of his ends, and an inflexible adherence to the course, bowever painful, which prudence i-equired.
Ver. 1-34. Policy to Stay his Brethrek. 1. And Joseph commanded the steward—The design of putting the cup into the sack of Benjamin was obviously to bring that young man into a situation of diftieulty or danger, in order thereby to discover how far the brotherly feelings of the i-est would be roused tosympatliize witli hisdistress, and stimulate their exertions in procuring his deliverance. But for what purpose was the money restored ? It was done, in the first instance, from kindly feelings to his father; but another and further design seems lo have been, the prevention of any injurious impressions as to the character of Benjamin. The discovery of the cup in
CHAPTER XLV.
Ver. 1-2S. Joseph making Himself Known. 1. Tlien •Tosepli could not refrain liimself—The severity of the inflexible magistrate here gives way to the natural feelings of the man and the brother. However well he had disciplined his mind, he felt it Impossible tfl resist the artless eloquence of Judah. He saw a satisfactory proof, in the return of all his brethren on such an occasion, that they were all'ectionately united to one another; he had liis possession, If there had been nothing else to judge by, might have fastened a painful suspicion of guilt on tlie youngest brother; but the sight of the money in each man's sack would lead all to the same conclusion, that Benjamin was just as innocent as themselves, altliougli the additional circumstance of tlie cup being found in his sack would bring him into greater trouble and danger.
lu aid enough to convince him, that time, reflection, or grace, had made a liappy improvement on their character; and he would, probably, have proc>eeded in a calm and leisurely manner, to reveal himself as prudence might have dictated. But when he heard the heroic self-sacrifice of Judah, and realized all the affection of that proposal a proposal for which he was totally unprepared—he was completely unmanned; he felt himself forced to bring this a. pnt my enp, tite silver cup, in the sack's moiitlt it was a large goblet, as the original denotes, higlily valued by its owner, on account of its costly material, or its elegant linish, and which had proliably graced his table at the sumptuous entertainment of the i)revious day.
painful trial to an end. lie cried, Cause every man to f;o out from me—In ordering the departure of witnesses of this last scene, lie acted as a warm-hearted and real
3. A.S soon as the morning tvas liglit, the men were sent a-way—Tliey commenced their homeward journey at early dawn (see on ch. 18. 2); and it maybe readily supposed in liigh spirits, after so happy an issue from all their troubles and anxieties. 4. When tliey were fjone out of tlie city . . . .Tosrplt said unto Ills steward They were brought to a sudden halt by the stunning intelligence that an article of rare value was ainissing from the governor's house. It was a silver cup ; so strong suspicions were entertained against them, that a siiecial messenger was despatched to search them. ."j. Is >i<>t this fritnd to his brothers—his conduct was dictated by motives of the highest prudence—that of preventing their early iniciuities from becoming known either to the members of liis liouseliold, or amongst the people of Egypt, a. lie wept aloud—No doubt, from the fulness of highly excited feelings; but to indulge in vehement and longcontinued transports of sobbing is the usual way in which the Orientals express their grief, ti. 1 am .Tosepii—The emotions that now rose in the bi'east of himself as well as his bri'thren—and chased each otlier in rapid succession-were many and violent. He was agitated by sympathy and joy; they were astonished, confounded, terri-
It In which my lord drinkctli—not only kept for tlie governor's personal use, but whereby he divlneth. Divination by cups, to ascertain the course of futurity, was one of the prevalent superstitions of ancient F/gypt, as it fied; and betrayed their terror, by shrinking as far as they could from his presence. So " troubled " were they, that h<^ hail torept-at his announcement of himself; and what kind, all'cetiouate terms did he use. He spoke of their liaving sold him—not to wound their feelings, but to convince them of his Identity; and then, to reassure thei? minds, he traced the agency of an overruling Providence, is of Kastern countries still. It is not likely that Joseph, a pious believer In the true Ood, would have addicted himself to tliis superstitious pietlce. Hut lii' might have availed himself of that popular notion to carry out tlie successful execution of his stratagem for tlie last d<'cisiv(!
trial of his brethren. 0, 7. he overtook titem, and lie spake . . . these words—The intelligeiute must have come upon them like a thunderbolt, and one of their most predominant feelings must havt: been the humiliating and galling sense of being made so often objects of su Kpielon. Protesting their Innocence, they Invited a search. The challenge was accepted. Beginning with the in Ills exile and ju'esent honour. Not that he wished t.iiem to roll the resimnslblllty of their crime on God ; no,
Ills only object was to encourage their contldence, and Induce them to trust in the plans he had formed for tlio future comfort of their father and themselves. 6. and yet lliere ure live years, in the wiileh there sliall neither i>e earin};' nor liarvest— Ear is an old English word, meaning to plough (cf. 1 .Samuel 8. I'i; Isaiah oO. 21). This seems to eontlrm the view given (ch. H. ri7), tliat the eldest, every sack was examined, and the cup being Ibund In lienjamln's, they all returned in an Indrscribable agony of mind to the house of the governor, throwing themselves at his feet, with the remal-kable confession, "God hath found out the Inlriully of thy servants." 10-31. Jiidali said, Wliat shall we say!—This iiddress ne4ds no {'ommeul—consisting at llrst of short, broken 44 famine was caused b.v an extraordinary drought, Which prevented the annual fiverrtowlng of the Nile; and of course made the land unlit to receive the seed of Egypt. , 11, 15. and lie fell upon . . . ilenjiimln's ueek—The
Jueob's Sacrifice al Beer-skeba. GENESIS XLVI, XLVII. Mis Arrival in Egypt.
surely bring tliee np again—As Jacob could not expect to live till the former promise was realized, he must have seen that the latter was to be accomplished only to his posterity. To himself it was literally verified in the removal of his remains to Canaan; but. In the large and liberal sense of the words, it was made good only on the establishment of Israel in the land of promise. Josepli shall put his hand upon thine eyes—shall perform the last sudden transition from a condemned criminal to a fondled brother, miglit have occasioned fainting or even death, had not his tuniultuous feelings been relieved by a torrent of tears. But Joseph's attentions were not confined to Benjamin. He affectionately embraced every one of his brothers in succession; and by those actions, his lorgiveness was demonstrated more fully than it could be by words. 17-30, Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy hrethrcn -As Josepli might have been prevented by office of filial piety; and this implied tliat he should henceforth enjoy, without interruption, the society of thatfavourite son.
delicacy, the king himself invited the patriarch and all his family to m igrate into Egypt ; and made most liberal arrangements for their removal and their subsequent
5-27. Immigration to Egypt. 5. Jacob rose up from Beer-sheba—to cross the border and settle In Egypt, However refreshed and invigorated in spirit by the religious services at Beer-sheba, he was now borne down by the infirmities of advanced age; and, therefore, his sona undertook all the trouble and toil of the arrangements, while the enfeebled old patriarch, with the wives and children, was conveyed, by slow and leisurely stages, in the Egyptian vehicles sent for their accommodation. 6 goods, which they had gotten In the land—not furni
&ettlement. It displays the character of this Pharaoh to advantage, that he was so kind to the relatives of Joseph, but indeed the greatest liberality he could show, could never recompense the services of so great a benefactor of his kingdom. Joseph gave them wagons—wliich must have been novelties in Palestine; for wheeled carriages were and arc almost unknown tliere. 32. changes of raiment—It was and is customary with great men, to bestow on their friends dresses of distinction, and in places where they are of the same description and qualture, but substance—precious things. 7. daughters—As Dinah was his only daughter, this must mean daughtersin-law. all his seed, brought lie with him—Though disabled by age from active superintendence, yet, as the venerable sheick of the tribe, he was looked upon as their common head, and consulted In every step. 8-37. all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten—Strictly speaking, tliere were only sixty-six went to Egypt; but to these add Joseph and his two sons, and Jacob tlie head of the clan, and the whole number amounts to seventy. In tlie speech of Steplien (Acts?. 14) tlie number is stated to be seventy-five ity, the value of these presents consists in their number. The great number given to Benjamin bespoke tlie warmth of his brother's attachment to him; and Josepli felt, from the amiable temper they now all displayed, he might, with perfect safety, indulge this fond partiality for a mother's son. 33. to his fiither he scjut-a supply of every thing that could contribute to his support and comfort—the large and liberal scale on which that supply was
' given being intended—like the tive messes of Benjamin— as a token of his filial love. 34. so he sent his brethren away—In dismissing them ou their homeward journey, he gave them this particular admonition: "See that ye but as that estimate includes five sons of Ephraim and Manasseh (1 Chronicles 7. 14-20), born in Egypt, the two accounts coincide.
fall not out by the way"—a caution that would be greatly needed; for not only during the journey would they be occupied in recalling the parts they had respectively acted in the events that led to Joseph's being sold into
28-34. ArriVai. in Egypt. 38. he sent Judah before hlni unto Joseph—This piecautionarjmeasure was obviously proper for apprising the king of the entrance of so large a company within his territories; moreover, it was necessary In order to receive instruction from .Joseph as to the locale of their future settlement. 39, 30. .Joseph made ready his chariot—The dilterence between chariot and wagon was not only In the lighter and more elegant construction of the former, but in the one being drawn by horses and the other by oxen. Being a public man in Egypt, Joseph was required to appear every where in an equipage suitable to his dignity; and, therefore, it was not owing either to pride or ostentatious parade that he drove his carriage, while his father's family were accommodated only in rude and huralile wagons, presented himself unto him—in an attitude of filial reverence (cf. Exodus 22. 17). The interview was a most aflecting one the happiness of the delighted fatlier was now at its height; and life having no higher charms, he could, in the very spirit of the aged Simeon, have departed In peace. 31-34. Joseph said, . . I will ga up, and show Pharaoh— it was a tribute of respect due to tlic king to apprise him of their arrival. And the instructions which he gave them were worthy of his character alike as an affectionate brother and a religious man.
Egjpt, but their wickedness would soon have to come to the knowledge of their venerable father.
CHAPTER XLVI.
Ver. I. Sacrifice at Bekr-sheba. 1. Israel took his journey with all that he had—that is, his household ; for in compliance with Pharaoh's recommendation, he left his heavy furniture behind. In contemplating a step so important as that of leaving Canaan, which at his time of life he might never revisit, so pious a patriarch would ask the guidance and counsel of God. With all his anxiety to see Joseph, he would rather have died in Canaan without that highest of earthly gratifications, than leave it without the consciousness of carrying tlie Divine blessing along with him. came to Beer-sheba—Tliat place, which was in his direct route to Egypt, had been a favourite encampment of Abraham (cli. 21. Si) and Isaac
(ch. 2<5. 25), and was memorable for their experience of the Divine goodness ; and Jacob seems to have deferred his public devotions till he had reached a spot so consecrated by covenant to his own God and the God of his fathers.
God spake unto Israel—Here is a virtual renewal of the covenant and an assurance of its blessings. Moreover, here is an answer on the chief subject of Jacob's prayer, and a removal of any doubt as to the course he was meditating. At first the prospect of paying a persona] visit to Joseph had been viewed with unmingled joy. But, on calmer consideration, many difficulties appeared to lie in the way. He might remember the prophecy to Abraham that his posterity was to be afflicted in Egypt, and also that his father had been expressly told not to go; he might fear the contamination of idolatry to his family and their forgetfulness of the land of promise. These doubts were removed by the answer of the oracle, and an assurance given him of great and increasing prosperity. 3. I will there make of thee a great nation How truly this promise was fulfilled, appears In tlie fact,
CHAPTER XLVII.
Ver. 1-.S1. Presentation at Cottrt. 1. Joseph . . . told Pharaoli, My father, and my bretlireii—Joseph furnishes a beautiful example of a man who could bear equally well the extremes of prosperity and adversity. High as he was, he did not forget tliat he had a superior. Dearly as he loved his father, and anxiously as he desired to provide for the whole family, he would not go Into the arrangements he had planned for their stay in Goshen, until he had obtained the sanction of his royal master, a. he took some of his brethrenprobably llie five eldest brothers: seniority being the least invidious principle of selection. 4. For to sojourn . . . are we come The royal conversation toolc the course which Joseph had anticipated (ch. 46.3:!), and they answered according to 45
- that the seventy souls who went down Into Egypt In-
' creased, la the space of 215 years, to 180,000. 4. I will also