Observations Upon the Old Testament, Genesis · Chapter 42 – Chapter 43
CHAP. XLII.
Verse 1. SAw] Heard, v. 2. so the people saw the voices, Exod. 20. 18. Jacob was as much assured of it as if he had seen it. And one eye-witnesse is of more credit then many eare-witnesses. And likely he saw it too by many Canaanites that bought and brought co…ne out of Egypt, Acts 7. 12.
corac] The word for corne signifies also breaking.
why] So negligent, or as men amazed helplesse, Acts 7. 11. gaze, as men destitute of counsel. Famine is a terrible thing, 2 Kings 6. 25. Deut. 28. 57. Lam. 4. 10. Esay 9. 20. A famine in Canaan in the dayes of Abram, ch. 12. 10. of Isaac, ch. 26. 1. and now in Jacobs time, and, Acts 11. 28. Gods servants subject to common calamities, yet God provides for them, Psal. 37. 19.
V. 2. Get you down] Egypt lay lower then Canaan, ch. 45. 13, 9.
V. 4. But Benjamin] …h. 37. 3. 35. 18. 42. 38.
V. 6. Governour] Ps. 105. 22. Of the Hebrew word Shallet and Shil…on, is made in Arabick Sultan, a title whereby the chief Governours of Egypt and Babylon are still called.
and he it was that sold] Likely his Officers to the Natives. But himself to Forreigners, that by sifting them he might informe himself of any danger to the land, to prevent it of any meanes of good to the land, to advance it.
bowed down] So fulfilling his Prophetick dream, ch. 37. 7, 8, 9. So, ch. 43. 26, 28. 44. 14. 50. 18.
V. 7. He knew them, but] For many good reasons, he yet dissembles that he knew them, and yet discovers not himself unto them, to prevent sundry inconveniences, and to further good intents and purposes towards them.
spake roughly] They deserved no better of him. Though Joseph did it in a good intent, to a good purpose.
V. 9. Remembred the dreams So he did before. But now more usefully, he saw the time for the fulfilling of them.
spies, to see the nakednesse] Exod. 32. 25. Not by way of lying he speaks thus, but by way of questioning and examining, to bolt out other matters to other good purposes; so▪ v. 12. as a severe Inquisiter.
V. 11. All one mans sons] And therefore not likely to be spies. The spies were sent one of a tribe, Numb. 13. 2. And they dispersed themselves in all likelihood and reason.
V. 13. One is not] Is dead, ch. 44. 20. 37. 30. Not in this world, ch. 5. 24. Heb 11. 5.
V. 14. This is it that I spake] This discovers it; pretending another brother, or why should he alone be left behinde? This not likely; and being false in this, ye are but spies sure.
V. 15. By the life of Pharaoh] Pharaoh liveth: a kinde of oath or swearing as the like phrase importeth, Jer. 5. 2: But more properly a kinde of vehement Asseveration, as, Ezech 33. 11. 1. Sam, 1. 26. 17. 55. 20. 3. 25. 26. and 2 Sam▪ 15. 21. 2 Kings 2. 2, 4. Or it may be a wish, Let, or, so let Pharaoh live, as, &c. No sufficient ground to charge upon Joseph, a sinful oath by the life of Pharaoh, yea, a grievous sin, Deut. 6. 13. compared with Mat. 4. 10. Jer. 5. 7.
Ye] Ye all, v. 16.
ye shall not] If ye go. The words are suspensive, implying a curse; so, ch. 14. 23.
V. 17. Into ward] God calls them by tribulation to repentance for their sin, Heb 12. 10.
V. 18. I feare God] Chap. 20. 11. Nehem. 5. 15. Prov. 16. 6.
V. 20. Your youngest brother unto me] Cares most for him, and hopes his father will conceive no hurt towards him, by his bountiful dealing with them.
V. 21. And they said one to another] In the absence, or out of the hearing of the Interpreter.
guilty] Affliction as a rack forceth confession, and a guilty conscience, though likely sleeping afore, yet now upon twenty yeares after, galleth afresh, Hos. 5. 15. Job 36. 8, 9, 10.
therefore is this distresse] Divers wayes Joseph dealt now with them, as they had done with him, Judg. 1. 7, Mat. 7. 2. Jam. 2. 13.
V. 24. And wept] Ch. 43, 30, moved with their self-accusations, and his own natural affection, which was to o strong to be kept in by artificial disguises, but that in secret it must have vent.
Simeon, and bound him] That eldest of them that were most against him. Reuben most, and Judah next, were for him. And Simeon was chief in that bloody massacre of the Sichemites.
before their eyes] Though haply when they were gone, he might give him some more liberty, ch. 43. 23.
V. 25. Every mans money] Lest his father should be in want.
Thus did he unto them] Josoph did so, or his steward at his command. Thus Joseph rewards evil with good, Rom. 12. 17, 19. Mat. 5. 44.
V. 27. And as one of them] V. 35. What Judah saith, ch. 43. 21. as if they had all opened their sacks, and found their moneys in the Inne, …is but a summing and cutting off particulars for brevity sake, to Josephs steward, as not a thing material to their present purpose, with him, and they speaking in haste.
V. 28. Failed them] Suspecting some plot laid for their ruine, or at least some danger to Simeon by it, Lev. 26. 36.
God hath done] They rightly acknowledge Gods hand and his Providence in it.
V. 35. Were afraid] Lest also they should be accused of theft, chap. 44. 5. Guilty consciences timorous, Lev. 26. 36.
V. 36. Against me] Heavy to me, though ye make light of them.
V. 37. My two sonnes] That is, slay two of my sonnes. For he had foure, ch. 46. 9. or my two sonnes here present, or most deare to me. A passionate speech, yet such as might make Jacob conceive he had some reason for his so confident undertaking for Benjamins return.
V. 38. For his brother is dead] Only brother by the mother, ch. 44. 20, 27, 28.
to the grave] See Annot. on ch. 37. 35. Here Jacob bewrayes too much passion, and too little faith and patience.
CHAP. XLIII.
Verse 1. SOre] The longer, the sorer.
V. 2. Eaten up] Near-hand.
a little food] For present need, not knowing there were five yeares of famine yet to come, and he had a great family.
V. 3. Solemnely protest] Ch. 42. 15, 20.
not see my face] With favour and safety.
V. 4. Thee food] At thy command, for thee and us all, thy family.
V. 5. We will not go] Because it were vaine and dangerous, ch. 44. 26.
V. 7. Asked us strictly] Many things passed between Joseph and his brethren, which are not so expressely related in the story, ch. 44. 22, 19. They could not upon Josephs questions honestly avoid the telliug of their brother Benjamin.
V. 8. And Judah said] He now fittest to move, and this the fittest season.
the lad] Benjamin was now about twenty seven yeares, being twelve or thirteen yeares younger then Joseph, and borne after Dinahs ravishing, and in the departing from Bethel. See Annot. on ch. 35. 18. And now Benjamin had nine or ten sonnes, ch. 46. 21. See Annot. on ch. 22. 5. Lad, comparatively, being the youngest.
V. 11. Must be so] No wisdome to strive against necessity. Better to adventure one to uncertain danger, then to cast the whole family upon certain famine.
a Present] Prov. 18. 16. 21. 14. 17. 8. So Jacob had tried, ch. 32. 20. He useth prudent meanes as subservient to Gods Providence.
nuts] Of Terebinth, or the Turpentine-tree.
V. 12. Double money] Because the price of corne increased by the continuance of the famine.
and the money] This besides. Jacobs just dealing.
V. 14. God Almighty] Our chief trust must be in him, Prov. 21. 1.
If I be boreaved] Esther 4. 16. Contentation in Gods Will, referring all to him with patience.
V. 18. S…ek occasion] Guilty persons are suspicious.
V. 19. At the doore of the house] Before they went in.
V. 21. Every mans money] See Annot. on ch. 42. 27, 35. For haste they joyne together what was done in the Inne, and what was discovered at home.
V. 23. Your God] It seems Joseph taught his steward and family to feare God.
V. 24. Washed their feet] Ch. 18. 4. 24. 32.
V. 26. They brought him the Present] Each a part of it, as they had divided it amongst themselves.
bowed] Ch. 37. 9.
V. 28. Thy servant our father] Ch 37. 9.
V. 30. Did yerne] 1 Kings 3. 26.
V. 32. By himself] As became the Viceroy. Here were three Tables.
Abomination unto the Egyptians] For the Hebrewes were known to be Keepers of sheep, and so to kill, eat and sacrifice such cattel as the Egyptians worshipped, ch. 46. 34 Exod. 8. 26. The Egyptians had flocks of sheep, ch. 47. 6. Oxen, Exod. 9. 3, 19. But not to kill the sheep or kine, or to eate the head of any beast. But for delight and profit by their milk and wool, and for commerce. And haply those that kept them were strangers rather then Egyptians.
V. 33. Youngest] Hebt. Least in age.
marvelled] Seeing themselves so seasted, and that Joseph appointed them their places, according to each mans age.
V. 34. Messes] The custome of those times, to have the meat set before the Lord, and he to distribute to the Guests, 1 Sam. 1. 4, 5. 9, 23, 24. 2 Sam. 6. 19.
five times] To shew his affection to him, and to make trial whether his brethren would envie him for it. 1 Sam. 1. 4, 5.
drank, and were merry] yet with sobriety, Hag. 1. 6. John 2. 10. Cant. 5 1.