A Help for the Understanding of the Holy Scriptures, Genesis · Chapter 42
CHAP. XLII.
Verſ. 1. NOw when Jacob ſaw that there was corn in Egypt.]
To wit, by the relation of the Canaanites, who in his ſight did daily bring it home.
Verſ. 6. And Joſephs brethren came, and bowed down themſelves before him, &c.]
It ſeems that however there was corn ſold unto the natives, throughout all the land of Egypt, by ſubordinate officers deputed by Joſeph to that ſervice, yet the ſtrangers that came from other countreys for corn, came immediately to Joſeph, and bought it of him; by which he had opportunity of ſifting them, and informing himſelf concerning any thing that might be for the advantage of Egypt, and God withall did accompliſh what in his dreams was long ſince foreſhown, that his brethren ſhould in an humble and ſubmiſſive manner bow down before him.
Verſ. 7. He knew them, but made himſelf ſtrange unto them, &c.]
Had Joſeph at firſt made known himſelf to his brethren, he might fear leſt they would aſſay to hide from their father what had befallen him in Egypt, leſt their wickedneſſe in ſelling him, &c. ſhould thereby come to knowledge: neither would they happely have dealt ſincerely with him, in telling him how it fared with his father, and with his brother Benjamin (concerning whom he had cauſe enough to ſuſpect them, becauſe of that they had done to him, and becauſe he was not now with them.) To prevent therefore theſe inconveniences, and that he might firſt bring them to make a full relation of the preſent ſtate of their family; ſecondly, humble them the better with the remembrance of their former ſinnes; thirdly, make their joy the greater when the truth of things ſhould be diſcovered to them; fourthly, clear the more fully the accompliſhment of his dreams, when being under his juriſdiction and power they ſhould in ſuch an humble manner proſtrate themſelves before him, and make ſupplication to him for their peace and libertie, he made ſhew of his diſpleaſure, accuſed them to be ſpyes, and proſecuted the accuſation, as is related in this, and the following chapters.
Verſ. 9. And Joſeph remembred the dreams which he dreamed of them.]
That is, he called to mind how now in their bowing down before him his dreams were accompliſhed: for we muſt not underſtand theſe words, as if he had never thought upon his dreams before.
Verſ. 11. Wee are all one mans ſonnes.]
They apprehend the ground of Joſephs charge to be, becauſe they came in that company like conſpiratours, and therefore in this anſwer they imply, that they came thus together becauſe brethren, and the more unlike ſpies who uſe to diſperſe themſelves; as alſo becauſe one man would hardly expoſe almoſt all his ſonnes at once in ſo dangerous an imployment.
Verſ. 14. That is it that I ſpake unto you.]
That is, this diſcovers that to be true that I charged you vvith: Is it poſſible that one man ſhould have twelve ſuch ſonnes? or why ſhould not one have ſerved to fetch corn? or if you vvould come together, vvhy ſhould one onelyonly ſtay at home?
Verſ. 20. But bring your youngest brother unto me.]
Though Joſeph could not but fear that his father vvould be very loth to ſend his Benjamin vvith them into Egypt, yet not knovving hovv to truſt his brethren concerning his life and ſafety except he might ſee him, and hoping vvithall that his father vvould by his preſent bountifull dealing vvith them conceive that no vvrong ſhould be done him, he commands this ſtraitly that they muſt be ſure to bring their youngeſt brother vvith them.
Verſ. 21. We are verily guilty concerning our brother, &c.]
That is, it is our ſinne long ſince committed againſt our brother Joſeph that hath brought this miſery upon us: vvhereof they are the more aſſured by comparing together their former ſin and preſent miſery: they had ſold their brother into bondage, and they were now deprived of their libertie; Joſeph in the anguiſh of his ſoul beſought them, and they would not hear him, they therefore had now done what they could to perſwade the Governour concerning their fidelitie, and he would not be perſwaded by them; they had deluded their father with a lie, and now when they ſpake the truth they could not be believed.
Verſ. 24. And he turned himſelf about from them, and wept.]
Moved with their acknowledgement of their fault, and eſpecially with Reubens ſharp upbraiding them.
And took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.]
Though Reuben, that had no hand in ſelling Joſeph, was for three dayes impriſoned with the reſt of his brethren, becauſe Joſeph had no colour to ſhew him more favour then the reſt, yet now when Joſeph was to take one of them to ſtay behind in bonds, till the reſt went home and fetched Benjamin, he paſſeth by Reuben the eldeſt (remembring how he had pleaded for him) and took Simeon Jacobs ſecond ſonne, the rather perhaps becauſe he was the forwardeſt in Joſephs troubles, which may be the more probably conceived, becauſe he was by nature bold and fierce, as is evident by that fact of his upon the Shechemites, Gen. 34. 25. Two of the ſonnes of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinahs brethren, took each man his ſword, and came upon the citie boldly, &c. and to humble them the more, and to make them the more carefull ſpeedily to return with Benjamin, he bound him before their eyes, though happely when they were gone he might eaſe him of his bonds, and onelyonly keep him in priſon till their return.
Verſ. 25. Then Joſeph commanded to fill their ſacks with corn, and to restore every mans money into his ſack.]
To wit, leſt his father ſhould be in want; and yet this he doth ſecretly, becauſe as yet he would not be known.
Verſ. 28. And their hearts failed them.]
Finding their money in one of their ſacks, as men perplexed in conſcience are wont to fear every thing, they ſuſpect ſome plot laid for their ruine; or at leaſt that ſome danger hereby would befall Simeon: and therefore this their fear was encreaſed when at their coming home they found it ſo in all their ſacks, verſ. 36. And when both they, and their father ſaw the bundles of money, they were afraid. And Jacob their father ſaid unto them, Me have you bereaved of my children: Joſeph is not, and Simeon is not.
Verſ. 36. All theſe things are against me.]
As if he ſhould have ſaid, Though they be not very grievous to you, they are like to fall heavily upon me.