Genesis 44

Genesis 44:1

men. Hebrew, plural of ish, or ’enosh. App-14.

Genesis 44:2

cup. Hebrew. gebi’a, out of which wine was poured: distinguishing from the smaller cups from which it was drunk. Jeremiah 35:5.

youngest. This was the fourth step to try them, and to prove whether they were the same brethren still, and would treat Benjamin as they had treated Joseph.

Genesis 44:4

Wherefore. Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6. Septuagint and Syriac insert “Wherefore then have ye the silver cup? "

Genesis 44:5

divineth. This was to confirm their belief that Joseph was an Egyptian. Emphasized by Figure of speech Polyptoton. Hebrew divining he divineth.

evil. Hebrew. R’a’a. See App-44.

Genesis 44:7

God forbid. No word for “God” here. Hebrew = Far be it from thy servants.

Genesis 44:9

let him die. This was the penalty in the Code of Khammurabi, with which they were acquainted in Canaan (6); death for stealing from a palace. Property more sacred than life.

Genesis 44:16

What . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis (App-6).

God hath found out. This confession was what Joseph had been labouring to procure. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

iniquity. Hebrew. ’avon. See App-44.

Genesis 44:18

Judah. He who proposed to sell Joseph and save his life (Genesis 37:26, Genesis 37:27), now proposes to remain a bondman for Benjamin. He had already become surety for his Safety (Genesis 43:8, Genesis 43:9).

Genesis 44:28

I said. Here Joseph learned what happened after they had sold him; and how they had deceived their father (Genesis 37:31, Genesis 37:32).

Genesis 44:29

my gray hairs. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct). App-6. = “me, in my old age”.

the grave. Hebrew. Sheol. See note on Genesis 37:35, and App-35. The whole phrase is a Euphemism (App-6) for “ye will kill me”; so Genesis 44:31, “he will die”.

Genesis 44:30

life = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. See App-13.

Genesis 44:31

with us. Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, and Syriac have the words in the text.

Genesis 44:34

see. Put by Metonymy (of Cause) for the feelings produced by seeing them. Note the Ellipsis “see [and grieve over] the evil, “&c.

come. Hebrew find. Evil is thus personified, by Figure of speech Prosopopoeia.