_JACOB, OVERCOME BY THE ENTREATY OF HIS SONS, DELIVERS BENJAMIN TO THEM, AND SENDS THEM AGAIN INTO AEGYPT. JOSEPH RECEIVES HIS BRETHREN WITH GREAT KINDNESS, BRINGS SIMEON OUT TO THEM, AND MAKES THEM A FEAST._... [ Continue Reading ]
SEND THE LAD— Benjamin was now more than twenty-four years of age, and a father of several children, see ch. Genesis 46:21. The Hebrews call the youngest of the family _a lad,_ without regard to age, 2 Samuel 18:12, 1 Chronicles 22:5. See also ch. Genesis 37:30. _THAT WE MAY LIVE AND NOT DIE_— The f... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE OF THE BEST FRUITS— Of the most rare and excellent productions of the land of Canaan; in the Hebrew, _of the praise of the land._ The authors of the Universal History observe, that "it is to be feared the generality of our expositors have not been very happy in their translation of some of the... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE DOUBLE MONEY— i.e.. Both the money which was returned in the mouths of the sacks, and as much more, to buy a second supply of corn. See Genesis 43:21.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF I BE BEREAVED— Houbigant says that the Hebrew is verbatim, _But I, as I shall be bereaved, so I will be bereaved: ego autem, ut orbus ero, ita orbus ero._ One word demonstrates the event of the thing; the other, a mind prepared for that event, and that not a desirable one. So Esther, before she w... [ Continue Reading ]
SLAY, AND MAKE READY— Hebrew, _kill a killing;_ an expression denoting preparation for a grand repast, Proverbs 9:2. 1 Samuel 25:11. The usual time for the more solemn meal in these countries was at noon or in the evening.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MEN WERE AFRAID— Here again, as in ch. Genesis 42:28. we see how conscience operates; they who had shewn no mercy are prone to believe that none will be shewn to them. The phrase, _May seek occasion against us,_ is, in the Hebrew, as the margins of our Bibles render it, _May roll himself upon us... [ Continue Reading ]
PEACE BE TO YOU— Set your hearts at ease; _your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure;_ as much as to say, you are to acknowledge the providence of God in what hath befallen you: for the rest, _I had your money;_ it came to my hands, and you may make yourselves easy. There is an a... [ Continue Reading ]
IS YOUR FATHER WELL, &C.— Houbigant renders it, _Is your father well, who, ye told me, was yet alive? They answered, Our father is well; for he is yet alive._ Nothing can be more tender and affecting than this scene. He calls Benjamin, _my son,_ Genesis 43:29 which was a courteous appellation, where... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SET ON FOR HIM BY HIMSELF— There seems to have been three tables; one where Joseph sat alone in state, a second for the Egyptian courtiers, and the third for the eleven brethren. _BECAUSE THE EGYPTIANS_— The LXX translate these words, _because every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptia... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE TOOK, AND SENT MESSES— In ancient times it was the custom, when all the meat was set upon the table, for the master of the feast to distribute their portion to every one. Joseph not only ranged his brothers in proper rank according to their age, which must have greatly astonished them, but, i... [ Continue Reading ]