Genesis 44

Joseph dismisseth his brethren, having caused every one’s money to be put into his sack again, and his own up into Benjamin’s besides, v. 1. Etc. after that they are pursued and charged with theft by him, whereat being greatly perplexed, they ignorantly make themselves and the guilty one, liable to punishment, 4. The Cup is found in Benjamin’s sack, whereat being much astonished, they return to Joseph, submitting themselves to his punishment: yet Juda speaks much and earnestly in Benjamin’s behalf, assaying to remain in his stead, 12.

1. And he [Joseph namely] charged him that was over his house, saying; Fill the sacks of these men with food, according as they shall be able to carry, and put each man’s money into the mouth of his sack.

2. And my cup, [This seems to have been a Cup, high large, and deep, and of great value, having its name, from the roundness and height.] the silver Cup thou shalt put into the mouth of the least his sack, [i.e. Benjamin’s] with the money of his corn, [i.e. that money which he had brought to buy provision withal] and be did according to Joseph’s word, which he had spoken.

3. In the morning when it grew light, these men were let go, (or dismiss) they and their asses.

4. They went forth the City, they were not gone far, when Joseph said to him, that was over his house: Get thee up, and pursue after these men, and when thou shalt have overtaken them, thou shalt say to them, wherefore have yee requited evil for good?

5. Is it not the same [Cup, namely] out of which my Lord drinketh? And whereby he shall surely observe (somewhat) [or whereby he shall surely try or find out, viz. what manner of men ye are. Heb. observing should observe. The Hebrew word doth sometimes indeed signify to observe something by vain and unwarranted arts, thus to discover or foretell secret and hidden things, as Leviticus 19:26. 2 Kings 21:6. But it likewise often signifies, prudently to observe and find out things, and by certain marks and evidences to trace and discover them, as above chapter 30. 27. 1 Kings 20:33. And so it is taken here. Oth. Whereof he shall surely be informed, and so verse 15.] ye have done ill, (in) that ye have done.

6. And he overtook them; and spoke to them the same words. [viz. which Joseph had charged him with.]

7. And they [i.e. one of them in all their names, therefore it follows, "my Lord", not, "our Lord".] said to him: Why does my LORD speak such words? [Heb. after those words] Far be it from thy servants, that they should do such a thing. [Heb. from doing after this word, or, thing.]

8. Behold, the money which we found in the mouth of our sacks, we have brought back again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal silver or gold out of thy Master’ house?

9. With whom of thy servant’s it shall be found, let him die: and we also shall be slaves to my Lord [i.e. not only die the thief, whoever he be, shall die, but we will all be made slaves besides. See above chapter 43. 17. Thus not being conscious of any guilt, they speak more confidently, than warily, not dreaming, nor suspecting of any trick or deceit that might have been put upon them, as formerly the money was conveyed into their sacks; nor weighing or considering what grief might seize upon their father by such a case.]

10. And he said; Be this now also thus, [Oth. This is right now likewise, & c.] according to your words: [understand this concerning the search to be made themselves liable to, he did moderate.] with whom it shall be found, the same shall be my slave, but ye shall be guiltless. [i.e. free from punishment, and at liberty to return home unmolested. See Exodus 20:7. And 34. 7.]

11. And they made haste; and every one set his sack upon the ground; and every one opened his sack.

12. And he searched, beginning with the greatest, [This he did of purpose, to hold them the longer in pain about the issue, and to be the less suspected by them; for he knew well enough, where he should find the Cup, having put it up himself.] and ending with the least: and that Cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.

13. Then they rent their garments [viz. for grief over the trespass which Benjamin seemed to have committed, and for fear as well of that punishment, which Joseph was like to inflict on him, as of the heaviness, which would redound thence upon their father; of rending of garments, see above chapter 37. On verse 29.] and every man laded his ass, and they returned to the City.

14. And Juda came with his brethren into Joseph’s house, for he was yet there himself: [Joseph namely, waiting for the success and issue of this affair, above verse 5.] and they fell down before his face to the ground.

15. And Joseph said to them, what deed is this, which ye have done? Know ye not, that such a man as I, should surely observe (that)? [see above on verse 5.]

16. Then said Juda; what shall we say to my Lord? What shall we speak? And what shall we justify our selves? [Other wherewith shall we justify our selves? The Hebrew Verb here used, (as likewise another coming from the same root) signifies to count, or speak (one) free, and declare him guiltless, after what manner a person arraigned for a certain misdeed, is pronounced clear, and acquitted by the Judge. See this signification, Exodus 23:7. Deuteronomy 25:1. Psalms 31:6. Proverbs 17:15. Isaiah 5:23. Compare Matthew 11:19. Romans 3:20. Galatians 2:16. And chapter 3. 8. & c.] God hath found the unrighteousness of thy servants; [i.e. he hath observed the same by his Providence, and brought it to light now. Understand this not of the present dead, wherein they knew themselves not guilty, but of some other, for which their conscience checked them, and which God now punished in them.] behold we are my Lord’s bond-slaves, both we, and he, in whose hand [i.e. with whom] the Cup was found.

17. But he said; far be it from me to do this: the man in whose hand the Cup is found, he shall be my bond-slaves; but, go ye up in peace [i.e. with friendship and concord, without any prejudice and detriment to your persons or goods. Compare above chapter 26. 29, 31. 2 Sam. 3. 21.] to your father.

18. Then Juda drew near to him, and said; O my Lord, [See above chapter 43. 20.] let thy Servant, I pray, speak one word before the ears of my Lord, and let not thy wrath be kindled against thy Servant; for thou art even as Pharao. [Heb. like thou, like Pharao, i.e. Thou art of as great authority and power as Pharao is, whose person thou dost represent; in which regard I owe thee as much respect and awe, as to the King himself. See this kind of speaking, above chapter 18. 25. Juda calleth his brother Joseph here & in the following verses, his Lord: and ten times he calleth himself, his Father, and all his Brethren, Joseph’s Servants; which he doth indeed of humility and reverence, but withal fulfills thereby the dreams of Joseph, above chapter 37. 7, 9.]

19. My Lord did ask his Servants, saying; Have ye a Father, or Brother?

20. Then said we to my Lord; we have an old Father, and a youth [Compare above chapter 37. 3. The word jelled betokens indeed very young children, even such are new-born, as above chapter 21. 8. Exodus 1:17. And 2. 8. But it is likewise used of reasonably aged persons; as of Joseph, when he was seventeen years old, above chapter 37. Verse 30. Of all the children of Jacob, when Ruben was about fourteen, above chapter 33. 1. And here of Benjamin, being about twenty four.] of old age, [i.e. one that was born in the fathers old age] the least: whose brother is dead, and he is alone left over his mother, and his father loves him.

21. Then said thou to thy Servants: Bring him down to me; that I may cast my eye upon him: [or, set my eye upon him, that is, that I may see him myself, and discover the truth of your sayings: See above chapter 41. verse 15, 16. Sometimes this phrase is used for to show grace and favour, as Jeremiah 39:12. And chapter 40. 4.]

22. And we said to my Lord; That youth shall not be able to forsake his father: [for the father would not give way to it] if he forsake his father, he [viz. the father] shall die.

23. Then saidest thou to thy Servants; If your least brother come not down with you, ye shall see my face no more. [Heb. not add, or continue to see my face, see above chapter 43. 5.]

24. And it came to pass, when we went up to thy Servant, my Father, and we related my Lord his words unto him:

25. And that our Father had said; Return, buy us a little food:

26. We then said; we shall not dare to go down: if our least brother be with us, then we shall go down; for we shall not be able to see that man’s face, if our least brother be not with us.

27. Then said thy Servant, my Father, to us; Yee know, that my wife [Viz. Rachel, see below chapter 46. On verse 19] bare me two: [viz. two sons, Joseph and Benjamin.]

28. And the one is gone forth from me, and I said; indeed, he is assuredly torn; [Heb. tearing torn, here Joseph begins to understand, what his brethren had made Jacob believe concerning himself. Insomuch that to this day he knew not otherwise, but Joseph was torn by wild beast.] and I have not seen him hitherto.

29. Now, if ye take this also away from my face, and a mischief meet him, then shall ye cause my gray hairs to go down with grief into the grave, [see above chapter 37. Verse 35. And below verse 31.]

30. Now then, when I come to thy Servant, my Father, and the youth is not with me, (being, that his soul is bound to this his soul). [i.e. being he loves him so entirely and tenderly, even as his own heart: so the like phrase, 1 Samuel 18:1.]

31. Then shall it come to pass, when he seeth, that the youth is not there, that he shall die: and thy Servants shall cause the gray hairs of thy Servant, our Father, to go down into the grave with heaviness.

32. For thy Servant, [i.e. I myself] is Surety for this youth, with my father, [Heb. from by my Father; that is, as some interpret it, when he departed from his Father] saying; If I bring him not again unto thee, then I shall have sinned against my Father all days: [i.e. I shall be esteemed guilty and worthy of punishment, by my Father, all the days of my life, as above chapter 43. 9. See the note there.]

33. Now then, let thy Servant [i.e. my self] (I pray) remain my Lord’s bond-slave, for this youth; and let the youth go up with his brethren. [Juda shows here a most singular tenderness towards his Father, and no small love to his brother Benjamin.]

34. For how should I go up to my Father, if the youth were not with me? That I may not se woe shall come upon my Father. [Heb. find him, i.e. surprise, invade, happen to, light upon him. See this phrase, Exodus 18:8. Deuteronomy 4:30. Esther 8:6. Job 31:29, etc. All this relation of Juda, did so touch and affect the heart of Joseph, that he was not able to refrain himself any longer from tears, and discovering of himself unto his brethren.]