Genesis 43:5
_My face, in peace. Joseph had told them they should be considered as spies, if they did not produce their youngest brother. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_My face, in peace. Joseph had told them they should be considered as spies, if they did not produce their youngest brother. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Asked us. This is perfectly consonant with what they say, chap. xlii. 13, and chap. xliv. 19. They mentioned their having a brother at home, without the smallest suspicion of doing wrong._... [ Continue Reading ]
_The boy; now 24 years old, (Calmet) and the father of a family, chap. xlvi. 21. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_For ever. Always lay the blame on me, and punish me as you think fit. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Best fruits: Hebrew literally, "of the praise, or song of the earth;" or of those things for which the country is most renowned, and which are not found in Egypt. (Origen) --- Balm. Literally, rosin, resinæ; but here by that name is meant balm. (Challoner) See chap. xxxvii. 25. --- Honey, or all sor... [ Continue Reading ]
_Desolate. Hebrew and Septuagint, "Since I am deprived of my children, I am deprived of my children:" I must submit._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Victims: the blood of which was first offered to God, as he had appointed, (chap. xviii. 1; Leviticus xvii. 5.) and the flesh brought upon the table. If idolatry was then common in Egypt, as Calmet supposes, in opposition to Grotius, Joseph did not participate at least in that impiety. --- At noon.... [ Continue Reading ]
_We opened. Chap. xlii. 35. They seem to have discovered the whole of their money only when they were in the presence of Jacob; though they had already, perhaps, seen part of it at the inn, and left it in their sacks for the satisfaction of their father. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Your God. To Him we must always refer what advantage we derive from men. He inspired Joseph to give such orders to his steward. --- I have for good. I received it, and was satisfied that it was good: you need not be uneasy; you are not suspected of any fraud. (Haydock) --- Hebrew, "Your money came... [ Continue Reading ]
_Living. The Samaritan and Septuagint add, "Joseph replied, Blessed be he of God: and bowing themselves," &c. Thus all Joseph's brethren adore him, chap. xxxvii. 7. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hebrews. "They had the same aversion for all who did not adopt their superstition." (Porphyrius, Abstin. iv.) Herod. ii. 41, says, that would not use a knife which had been in the hands of a Greek, nor kiss him. This aversion arose, from their custom of abstaining from various meats which other nat... [ Continue Reading ]
_They sat. This posture is more ancient than that of lying down at table. The Hebrews adopted the latter, from the Persians, during the captivity, Esther i. 6, and vii. 8. --- We have at least no earlier vestige of this custom in Scripture. (Calmet) --- Very much: as they were placed in that order b... [ Continue Reading ]
_Of him. Joseph, the master of the feast, sends a portion to each of his guests, according to the ancient custom. (Plut.[Plutarch,?] Sympos. ii.) --- Five parts: in order to distinguish Benjamin the more. So Hector reproaches Diomed for fleeing before him, though he was placed in the highest place a... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XLIII.... [ Continue Reading ]