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Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Genesis 44:18-34

Judah's Intercession

This is one of the most beautiful and pathetic passages in Hebrew narrative. Judah's speech falls into two unequal divisions: (1) Genesis 44:18 a simple recapitulation of the story, (2) Genesis 44:31 his self-sacrificing offer of himself as a substitute for Benjamin. The points emphasized are (a) Joseph's previous demand to see Benjamin, (b) the aged father's unwillingness to let him go, (c) the certainty that the loss of Benjamin would be Jacob's death, (d) the offer to stay in Benjamin's place.

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See also Genesis 44:18-34 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Genesis 44:18. _THOU ART EVEN AS PHARAOH._] As wise, as powerful, and as much to be dreaded as he. In the Asiatic countries, the reigning monarch is always considered to be the _pattern of all_...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    - The Ten Brothers Were Tested Joseph has had the satisfaction of seeing his brother Benjamin safe and well. He has heard his brothers acknowledging their guilt concerning himself. He resolves to put...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 44 THE FEIGNED DISMAY AND THE BRINGING BACK _ 1. The cup concealed and the dismay (Genesis 44:1)_ 2. The return to Joseph's house (Genesis 44:14)...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    GENESIS 44. BENJAMIN IS ACCUSED OF STEALING JOSEPH'S SILVER CUP, AND JUDAH PLEADS WITH JOSEPH TO PUNISH HIM INSTEAD OF BENJAMIN. The narrative is from J. Joseph arranges this final test that he may be...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    THEN JUDAH CAME NEAR UNTO HIM— After the terrible sentence which Joseph had passed, Genesis 44:17. Judah became more immediately interested, and was concerned to plead the cause of his brother; and ev...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    3. _Joseph as Prime Minister of Egypt_ (Genesis 41:46 to Genesis 47:31) 46 And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh,...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND HE SAID, GOD FORBID THAT I SHOULD DO SO: BUT THE MAN IN WHOSE HAND THE CUP IS FOUND, HE SHALL BE MY SERVANT; AND AS FOR YOU, GET YOU UP IN PEACE UNTO YOUR FATHER._ No JFB commentary on these ver...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE FINAL TEST OF JOSEPH'S BRETHREN 2. Put my cup.. in the sack's mouth of the youngest] Joseph evidently did this as an excuse for keeping Benjamin with him. Perhaps, too, it was a test of the breth...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Reuben was the oldest brother but Judah had become the leader. (See verse 14. See also Genesis 43:3; Genesis 43:8.) And after this time, when Jacob gave his *blessing to his sons, he made Judah the mo...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE GENESIS _ALUN OWEN_ CHAPTER 44 JOSEPH’S PLOT AGAINST HIS BROTHERS V1 Then Joseph *commanded the manager of his house. He said to him, ‘Fill the men’s bags with grain. Give t...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יִּגַּ֨שׁ אֵלָ֜יו יְהוּדָ֗ה וַ יֹּאמֶר֮ בּ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    VISITS OF JOSEPH'S BRETHREN Genesis 42:1; Genesis 43:1; Genesis 44:1 "Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good."-...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    JUDAH PLEADS FOR BENJAMIN Genesis 44:18 No portion in Genesis could be more suitable for Good Friday. Judah's proposal to give himself instead of Benjamin reminds us of Him who freely gave Himself up...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Occasionally, criticism of Joseph's action in placing the money and his cup in the sacks of his brethren has been made. To put the matter in the mildest form, surely such criticism reveals a lack of h...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    A TEST FOR JOSEPH'S BROTHERS Once again, Joseph told his steward to fill the sacks with grain and place each man's money in his sack. However, he also told him to put his silver cup in the mouth of B...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou [art] even (e) as Pharaoh....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Boldly, perceiving that he had to deal with an equitable judge. --- Thou art; the second man in the kingdom. Hebrew, "even as Pharao."_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Psalms 75:2 Reader! attend to every minute circumstance in this intercession of Judah's, for in it there is a representation of a greater than Judah. Observe, before he opened his mouth he came near....

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Having already shown the position of Isaac, I resume briefly with the remark that he stands before us clearly as the representative of the Son, and this too as dead, risen, and in heaven. All will und...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    18._Let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word_. Judah suppliantly asks that leave may be given him to speak, because his narrative was about to be prolix. And whereas nobles are offended, and take it...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 42 THROUGH 47. At the same time another scene presents itself. His brethren, who had rejected him, forced by famine, are brought, by the path of repentance an...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THEN JUDAH CAME NEAR UNTO HIM,.... Being the spokesman of his brethren, and the surety of Benjamin: he plucked up a spirit, put on courage, and drew nearer to the governor, and with much freedom and b...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou [art] even as Pharaoh. Ve...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _And Judah said_ We have here a most pathetic speech which Judah made to Joseph on Benjamin's behalf. Either Judah was a better friend to Benjamin than the rest, and more solicitous to bring him off;...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Iosephs policie to stay his brethren. 14 Iudahs humble supplication to Ioseph. 1 AND hee commaunded the [NOTE: _Hebrew:_ him that was ouer his house.] steward of his house, saying, Fill the mens s...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Then Judah came near unto him and said, stepping forward in his great agitation, O MY LORD, LET THY SERVANT, I PRAY THEE, SPEAK A WORD IN MY LORD'S EARS, AND LET NOT THINE ANGER BURN AGAINST THY SERVA...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    JUDAH'S HEROIC BEHAVIOR...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    SEVENTH SECTION _The second journey. Benjamin accompanying. Joseph maketh himself known to his brethren. Their return. Jacob’s joy._ GENESIS 43-45 A. The trial of the brethren. Their repentance and...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    BENJAMIN ACCUSED WRONGFULLY The wisdom of Joseph is seen now in such a way as to lead his brothers to repentance without accusing them. He instructed his steward to fill the brothers' sacks with food...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    18-34 Had Joseph been, as Judah supposed him, an utter stranger to the family, he could not but be wrought upon by his powerful reasonings. But neither Jacob nor Benjamin need an intercessor with Jos...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    JUDAH made a little nearer approach to him, that he might present his humble petition to him. IN MY LORD'S EARS, in thy hearing; for this phrase doth not necessarily imply that he whispered in his ear...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    On which we shall dwell more particularly. There is not in scripture a more perfect and beautiful type of Christ than Joseph. Whether we view Christ as the object of the Father's love, the object of t...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Genesis 44:18 Judah H3063 near H5066 (H8799) said H559 (H8799) O H994 lord H113 servant H5650 speak...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘The Judah came near to him and said, “Oh my lord, let your servant I pray you speak a word in my lord's ears. And do not let your anger burn against your servant for you are as Pharaoh.” Judah assure...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Joseph's brethren further tested. Arrest on charge of taking a cup. CHARACTERS: Joseph, Judah, Benjamin, steward. CONCLUSION: Even in afflictions wherein the believer thinks himself wronge...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Genesis 44:2. _Put my cup._ A splendid cup decorated with devices; in these cups the Egyptians fancied they could divine by the various refractions of light on its mouldings. Sometimes they put polish...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord?_ JUDAH’S INTERCESSION I. IT WAS ABLE. II. IT WAS NOBLE. III. IT GAVE PROMISE OF FUTURE GREATNESS, IV. IT SUGGESTS SOME FEATURES OF OUR LORD’S INTE...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 44:18 Judah wants to speak to Joseph in private to ask him for an important favor. ⇐ ⇔

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 44:1 Still disguising his true identity from his brothers, Joseph sends them away after the meal. But he gives instructions that his silver cup should be placed in the sack of...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Genesis 44:21. That I may set mine eyes upon him.] An expression meaning the exercising of a tender care towards him. Thus (Jeremiah 29:12.) “Take him, and _look well to him,_ and do...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GENESIS 44:1, GENESIS 44:2 AND HE (_i.e._ Joseph) COMMANDED THE STEWARD OF HIS HOUSE,—literally, _him that was over his hoarse _...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    And so he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men's sacks (Genesis 44:1) Well, let's see. "And he sat them before him according to birthright." And he took and sent messes unto them...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Oh my Lord. 'No paraphrase,' says Dr. A. Clarke, `can heighten the let thy. Genesis 18:30 Genesis 18:32 2 Samuel 14:12 Job 33:31...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    And Judah said — We have here a most pathetic speech which Judah made to Joseph on Benjamin's behalf. Either Judah was a better friend to Benjamin than the rest, and more solicitous to bring him off;...

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