Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 1 · Chapter 44
CHAP. XLIV.
1. Ioseph sending his brethren away with corne, causeth his cup to be put in Benjamins sacke. 4, Hee sendeth after them, complaining of injurie. 11, Search is made, and the cup found. 13, They are brought backe, and submit themselves to servitude. 17. Ioseph would retaine Benjamin onelyonly. 18, Iudahs humble supplication to Ioseph: wherein (after relation of things that had passed) he offred himselfe bond-man in Benjamins stead, in commiseration of his aged father.
ANd hee commanded him that was over his house, saying; fill the mens bagges, with food; so much as they can carie: and put every mans money, in his bagges mouth. And my cup the silver cup, put in the bags mouth of the youngest; and his corne money: and he did, according to the word of Ioseph, which he hath spoken. The morning was light; and the men were sent away; they and their asses. They were gone out of the citie, not gone farre; and Ioseph said, to him that was over his house; rise-up, follow after the men: and overtake them, and say unto them; wherfore have ye rewarded evill for good? Is not this it, in which my Lord drinketh; and he would searching search diligently for it? yee have done evill, in that yee have done. And hee overtooke them: and hee spake unto them, these same words. And they said unto him; wherefore speaketh my Lord such words? Farre be it from thy servants, to doe such a thing. Behold, the money, which we found in our bagges mouth; we brought againe unto thee, out of the land of Canaan: and how should wee steale, out of thy Lords house; silver, or gold? With whom soever of thy servants it be found, both let him dye: and we also will be to my Lord, for servants. And he said; now also according to your words, so let it be: hee with whom it is found, shall be my servant; and you, shall be blamelesse. And they hastened, and tooke-downe, every man his bagge, to the ground: and they opened, every man his bagge. And he searched, he began with the eldest, and ended with the yongest: and the cup was found in Benjamins bagge. And they rent their garments: and laded every man his asse, and returned to the citie. And Iudah and his brethren, came to Iosephs house; and he, was yet there: and they fell before him, on the ground. And Ioseph said unto them; what deed is this, that ye have done? knew ye not, that such a man as I, could searching search-diligently? And Iudah said, what shall we say unto my Lord? what shall we speake, and how shall wee justifie our selves? God hath found out, the iniquity of thy servants; behold, wee are my Lords servants; both we, and hee in whose hand the cup is found. And he said, farre be it from me, to doe this: the man, in whose hand the cup is found, hee shall be my servant; and you, get ye up in peace, unto your father.
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And Iudah came-neere unto him, and said; O my Lord; let thy servant I pray thee, speak a word in the eares of my Lord; and let not thy anger be kindled, against thy servant: for thou art, even as Pharaoh. My Lord asked his servants, saying; have yee a father, or a brother? And wee said unto my Lord; wee have a father, an old-man; and a childe of his old-age, the yongest: and his brother is dead; and he himselfe alone, is left of his mother, and his father loveth him. And thou saydst unto thy servants; bring him downe, unto me: that I may set mine eye, upon him. And wee said unto my Lord; the yong-man, cannot leave his father: and if hee should leave his father, then hee would dye. And thou saydst unto thy servants; if your yongest brother, come not downe, with you; ye shall no more, see my face. And it was, when wee came-up, unto thy servant, my father: then wee told him, the words of my Lord. And our father said; Returne, buy for us a little food. And we said, we cannot goe-downe: if our yongest brother be with us, then will we goe-downe; for wee cannot see the mans face; and our yongest brother, not bee with us. And thy servant, my father, said unto us: you doe know, that my wife bare unto mee two. And the one, went-out from me; and I said, surely hee is torne is torne-in-pieces: and I saw him not, since. And if ye take this also, from my face, and mischiefe befall him: then shall ye bring downe my gray-haires, with evill unto hell. And now; when I come, to thy servant my father; and the yong-man, he be not with us: and his soule, is bound-up in his soule. Then will it be, when hee seeth that the yong-man is not, that he will dye: and thy servants shall bring-downe, the gray-haires of thy servant our father, with sorrow unto hell. For thy servant, became surety for the yong-man; unto my father, saying: if I bring him not, unto thee; then will I, bee a sinner unto my father; all daies. And now, I pray thee let thy servant abide, in stead of the yong-man; a servant to my Lord: and let the yong-man, goe-up with his brethren. For how, shall I goe-up to my father; and the yong-man, bee not with me? lest I see the evill, that shall finde my father.
Annotations.
OVer his house] that is, his steward: see Gen. 43. 16. 19. The Chaldee calleth him, Provost over the house. So in verse 4. food] that is, corne; as the Chaldee explains it: So in verse 25.
Vers. 2. yongest] Heb. least: meaning in age: so after. By this Ioseph meant to trie his brethrens love to Benjamin, and to their father: whether they would assist him, in his utmost-perill. The hard measure which before they had offered unto Ioseph himselfe, moved him hereunto.
Vers. 5. Is not this, &c.] Here the Greeke translation addeth: Wherefore have ye stollen my silver cup? Is not this, &c. would searching search] so the Chaldee here translateth it: or would learne by experience by it, that is, would try your truth and loyaltie. So the word was used before, in Gen. 30. 27. The Hebrew Nachash (whereof the Serpent in that tongue hath his name, Gen. 3. 1.) signifieth first a diligent observation, triall or search, 1 King. 20. 33. Gen. 30. 27. secondly, a too curious search or finding out, by soothsaying or divination, which Gods law forbiddeth, Deut. 18 10. And so the Greeke translateth it here, and Thargum Ierusalemy; as if Ioseph could finde out the theft, by divination, or, by consulting with the soothsayers of Egypt: or used the cup for such an art. So after in verse 15.
Vers. 7. such words] or, according to these words. farre be it] or, be it a prophane thing: see Gen. 18. 25. such a thing] or, according to this word.
Vers. 8. silver] the Chaldee expounds it, vessels of silver, or vessels of gold.
Vers. 10. blemelesse] or, cleare, innocent, and so without punishment: the Greeke saith pure.
Vers. 13. rent their garments] for griefe of heart. See Gen. 37. 29. 34.
Vers. 16. iniquity] other sinnes, for which they were under Gods wrath: though in this they were innocent. This was the end, why God by Ioseph brought this tentation upon them, that they might see their former sinnes, and repent. So the Prophet saith, By this shall the iniquity of Iakob be purged; and this is all the fruit, to take away his sinne, Esa. 27. 9.
foreign Here beginneth the eleventh section of the law, called Vajiggash, that is, And (Iudah) came-neere: see Gen. 6. 9.
Vers. 18. Oh] or, Have respect unto me: see Gen. 43. 20. The Greeke and Chaldee explaine it, I pray thee my Lord. as Pharaoh] that is, of princely power and Maiesty: so shewing a reason why he besought him not to be angry: for the Kings wrath, is like the roaring of a Lyon: Prov. 19. 12.
Vers. 20. and a childe] understand, he hath a child, as the Greeke explaineth it. of old age] that is, borne him, when he was old, see Gen. 37 3. the yongest] or, a little one.
Vers. 21. that I may set] or, and I will set my eye, that is, be hold him. The Greeke translateth, and I will have care of him. So, setting of the eye, sometime signifieth, as Ier. 40. 4. In this sense, it was a promise of princely clemency; that they might the more readily bring their brother.
Vers. 22. yong-man] so called because he was the yongest of the brethren: yet was hee at this time maried, and had tenne sonnes. Gen. 46. 21. he] that is, the father would dye.
Vers. 23. no more see] or, not adde to see my face. See Gen. 43. 3.
Vers. 28 is torne] or, tearing is torne: the Chaldee saith killed: the Greeke thus, yee said unto mee that he was eaten of wilde beasts: see Gen. 37. 33.
Vers. 29. mischiefe] in Chaldee, death. gray-haires] Hebr. graynesse, or, hoarinesse. So Gen. 42. 38. with evill] that is, with affliction and sorrow, as is explained, verse 31. So euils, are often used for afflictions, Deut. 31. 17. Psal. 88. 4. hell] or, the grave: so verse 31. See Gen. 37. 35.
Vers. 30. his soule] that is, the old mans life: see Gen. 19. 17. and 37 21. bound up in his soule] that is, knit with the yong-mans life. The Greeke translateth, his soule hangeth on this mans soule, (or life.) This phrase signifieth intire love, as 1 Sam. 18. 1. So the Chaldee expresseth it, his soule is beloved unto him, as his owne soule.
Vers. 31. is not] namely, with us, as the Chaldee addeth.
Vers. 32. a sinner] and so guilty, and subject to punishment: see Gen. 43. 9.
Vers. 33. instead of the yong man] herein Iudah sheweth his faithfulnesse and love to his father, and brother, in this necessity; upon which experiment Ioseph presently manifesteth himselfe, Gen 45. 1. Iudas being surety for his brother, is here an image of Christ (the Lion of the tribe of Iudah, Rev. 5. 5.) who being suretie for us, Heb. 7. 22. hereby have we perceived his love, that he laid downe his life for us, therefore we ought also to lay downe our lives for our brethren, 1 Ioh. 3. 16.
Vers. 34. shall finde] that is, shall come upon my father. So finding is often used, 1 Chro. 10. 3. Psal. 116. 3. and 119. 113.