Genesis 42
PAT13G [ciIAF. XLIV* they abstained from sheep, and sacrificed goats; but, in the Mendesian, quite contrary, they abstained from goats, and sacrificed sheep: as he tells us in his Euterpe, (cap. 42.) And the wisest of them were so nicely superstitious, that some of them thought it unlawful to eat of the head of any living creature; others the shoulder-blade; others of the feet; others of some like part. So Sextus Empiricus tells us: (lib. iii. Pyrrh. Hypot. cap. 24.) AiyvTrrivjv Si rwv ooj>u)v uvat vojju%0fitvtt)v, of plv Kt^aXqv £wou i>ayuv avitpov uvat vojuf£ov<r*v, &c. Upon which score I do not know but such kind of people might be so whimsical, as to refuse to eat with one another'.
Genesis 42:1
JjlND when Jacob saw that there ivas corn in Egypt, &c. He saw, perhaps, some pass by luden with corn, which they had bought there. Or, one sense (as is frequent in Scripture) is put for another: seeing for hearing; as it is expressed, ver. 2. Why do you look one upon another?] As idle people use to do, while none of them will stir to seek relief. Or, rather, as men that know not what course to take, expecting who w f ould begin to advise for their preservation. JjlND the famine was sore, &c] Still increased to a greater scarcity.
Genesis 42:2
That we may live, and not die. He excites them to make no further delay, by the great necessity wherein they were; no less than danger of perishing. Wlien they had eaten up the com that they brought out of Egypt.] So that they had nothing to live upon but only the poor crop that their own country produced, which could not long sustain thcin. Buy us a little food.] He hoped, it is likely, the next year would be better; and so only desired a supply of their present necessity.
Genesis 42:3
And Judah spake unto him, &c. Reuben had spoken to him in vain, (xlii. 37, 38.) and Levi,’ perhaps, had not recovered his interest in him, since the barbarous action at Shcchem: and therefore Judah took upon him to persuade his father; being next in birth, and of no small authority among his brethren. Ye sltall not see my face.] But bo taken for spies; and so lose their lives.
Genesis 42:4
Lest mischief befal him. He being, as yet, but young, and not used to travel, Jacob w r as afraid the journey might be hazardous to him. Besides, he could not but desire to have some of their company; though this was not his principal reason.
Genesis 42:5
Came to buy corn among those that came. iPeoplc came from all parts thereabout, upon the same business: and Jacob’s sons among others; whom, perhaps, they met withal upon the road. We will not go down.] Because it would not only have been to no purpose, but also endangered their lives. Ver. G. Wlierefore dealt ye so ill with me? &c] It was unkindly done of you, to tell him of another brother. For what need was there to say any thing of one who was not with you?
Genesis 42:6
And’ Joseph was the governor, &c. The Hebrew word schallit signifies, sometimes, one that hath absolute power: and seems to be used here to set forth the high authority which Joseph exercised under Pharaoh. He it was that sold to all the people of the land.] Appointed at what rates corn should be sold, in every part of the country. For it is not to be supposed that he in person could treat with every man that came to buy; but he by his deputies, w T ho observed his orders. And Joseph’s brethren came.] It should seem by this, -that all foreigners were ordered to come to him; in the royal city, where he resided; or, at least, their names were brought to him, that he might speak with such as he thought fit: and thereby get the better intelligence of the state of their several countries; and be sure to sec his brethren, who, he knew, w r ould be constrained to come thither. Jltey boived themselves before him,&c] Unwittingly fulfilled his dream. This seems to have been done after the manner of their own and other eastern countries; not of Egypt, wiiere they only bowed the knee, (xli. 40.) (
Genesis 42:7
Spake roughly to them. Gave them hard words, as wc speak. Or, spake in a hirsh tone to them, and with a stern countenance. Tlie man asked us straightly^ &c] They having told him, they were all one man’s sons, (xlii. 11.) he might well ask them, what man’s? And whether there were any more of them? And whether their father and brother were yet living? And we told him according to the tenour of these words.] Answered every question as truth required.
Genesis 42:8
And they knew not him. They had not seen him in twenty years: in which time a youth alters far more than grown men do; so that though he knew them, they might not know him; who appeared also in such pomp and state, that it made them not think of him: and he spake also to them by an interpreter, (ver. 23.) which represented him as a stranger to them. Send the lad with me.] Trust him with me. He calls him lad, because he was the youngest of them all; and one, of whom his father was as tender as if he had been a little child, though indeed he had children of his own, (xlvi. 21.) Tliat we may live, &c] These were very moving arguments; the preservation of a whole family, Benjamin and all: who, if he went, might return in safety; but, if he stayed at home, must perish with all the rest.
Genesis 42:9
Ye are spies. He did not think they w r cre such persons, but said this to provoke them, to give an account of themselves, and of his father. Nor is there any reason to look upon this as a lie. For they arc not words of affirmation, but of probation or trial: such as judges use, when they examine suspected persons, or inquire into a crime, of which men are accused. And therefore have the force of an interrogation; Are ye not spies? or, Imusttakc you for spies, till you prove the contrary. To see the nakedness of the land are ye come.] The weak places of the country, which arc least defensible. Or, as others will have it, the secrets of the land; for it is the same word that is used to express the privy parts. I will be surety for him.] Be bound in what penalty thou pleascst, to bring him back. Of my hand shalt thou require him.] Punish me (who will he answerable for him) if he miscarry. Bear the blame for ever.] Lie under thy displeasure, as long as I live. All this signifies only, that he would do his utmost to secure him: and rather suffer the heaviest thing himself, than lose Benjamin.
Genesis 42:10
Let one of your brethren, &c. This shall be the proof of your honesty. Instead of sending one of you to your father, you shall all go but one; who shall remain bound in prison till you bring your younger brother: and in the mean time carry provision for your families. Vcr. 20. But bring your youngest brother, &c] Fail not to let mo see your youngest brother: and so shall you justify yourselves to be no spies: and suffer nothing. And they did so.] They consented to this proposal. For except tve had lingered, &c] If thou hadst not hindered us by these scruples about Benjamin, we had been there and at home again, by this time.
Genesis 42:11
We are all one man’s sons. There needed no moTe than this to take off his suspicion. For no man would have sent his sons, but rather his servants, if they had come upon an ill design: or, at least, not all his sons; or not all of them together in a company: but dispersed them rather about the country. Nor w r as it probable, that one man could have a design upon Egypt; but all the gTeat men of Canaan must have joined in it: and then they would have sent men of different families, not all of one alone. We are true men.] This was a good argument that they said true, when they told him (ver. 10.) thoy had no other business in Egypt but to buy corn. Take of the best fruits.] The Hebrew word mizzimrath signifies * of the most praised; or, as Bochart more literally interprets it, " quae in hac terra sunt maxime decantata," (par. ii. Hierozoic. lib. v. cap. 9.) those fruits which are most celebrated in the land of Canaan: which was as famous for the things following, as Egypt was for corn. And it seems at this time did not want them; which might make them more acceptable in Egypt, where they grew at no time. For Egypt being a low and plain country, and Canaan a hilly, it made their products very different Balm.] Rather resin, as was observed on xxxvii. 25. Honey.] For which this country was famous; especially in some parts of it, about Tekoah, as Bochart also observes. And therefore was a fit present for a king,’ as we sec in the story of David, (2 Sam. xvii. 29.) And was carried from hence to the marts of Tyre. (Ezek. xxxvii. 17.) Spices.] The word necoth signifies storax; as was also observed before, (xxxvii. 25.) Myrrh.] Which Bochart translates mastich. Nuts.] He also proves, by many arguments, that the word botnim signifies those nuts wo call pistacldoes; which may well be numbered among the best fruits of the land: being very friendly to the stomach and liver; powerful against poison; and highly esteemed, by the Digitized byj/licrosoft d vD/ CHAP, XLIII.] UPON GENESIS. ancients, iis a delicious food. And so Mairaonides and Kimchi expound the word. Almonds.’] They are fitly joined with pistachioes, as he observes; bcingfructus congeneres: and Dioscorides treats of them together; and Theophrastus describes the pistachio as ofxoiov rate afivydaXoig, like unto almonds. (Vid. Canaan, lib. i.)
Genesis 42:12
And he said unto them, Nay, &c. Unless you have better arguments than this, I must take you for spies. He slights their argument, as great men sometimes do, when they know not presently how to answer it. He had a mind also to have them give a further account of their family, that he might be informed what was become of his brother Beujamin. Take double money.] Other money besides their first. Which, if it signify as much more as the first, the reason was, because he thought corn might now be grown dearer.
Genesis 42:13
Thy servants are twelve brethren, &c. They enforce tlleir former argument, by relating their condition more fully and distinctly. But still it amounts to no more than this; that it was not likely a parent would venture all his children, in such a design, as they were suspected to come about. The youngest is this day with our father.] This Mas the tiling he desired to know. And one is not.] Is dead. So they thought, because they had heard nothing of him, in twenty years’ space.
Genesis 42:14
Tftis is that I spake unto you, &c. This confirms what I said, and gives me just ground for suspicion, that ye arc spies: because you pretend to have another brother, which is not likely; for wiiy should not your father send all, as w r ell as so many? This was but a cavil; but served to compass his end, which was to see his brother. If 1 he bereaved, I am bereaved.] I submit unto it, and will bear it as patiently as I am able. Or, as some paraphrase it, I have been bereaved of Joseph and Simeon, so now I am of Benjamin: no new things happen to me; but I have been used to such afflictions f which I may therefore bear more equally.
Genesis 42:15
Hereby shall ye be proved. By.this very thing shall you be tried; wiicthcr you be honest men, or no. By the life of Pharaoh, &c] As sure as Pharaoh lives; CHAP. XLII.] UPON GENESIS. or, ita salens sit, so let Pharaoh be safe and in health, as I will keep you here, till I see your younger brother. Others expound it, If Pharaoh have any authority here, i. e.‘be kin^ of this country, you shall not stir from hence, &c. But most authors take this for an oath: the original of which is well explained by Mr. Selden, in his Titles of Honour, p. 45. where he observes, that the name of gods behig given to kings very early, St apcr^c virtpfioXrjv, (as Aristotle speaks, lib. vi. Ethic, cap. 1.) from the excellence of their heroic virtue, which made them.anciently great benefactors to mankind, thence arose the custpm,of swearing by them, which Aben Ezra saith continuedin his time (about 1170) when Egypt was governed by caliphs. If any man swore by the king’s head, and was found io have sworn falsely, he was punished capitally.^ And when Scach Ismael, the first sophi, got the Persian empire, no oath was held so sacred (as Leunclavius reports), as to swear by his head, i. e. in effect, by his life. But St. Basil will not have this to be an oath: but a solemn asseveration, to persuade belief. For, saith he, (torn. i. Horn, in Psal. xv. p. 155.) E«rf rtvzg \6yot <rxV ara $ v optctov Zx 0VTZ £> °vx vpicoi Sc ovtzs, &c. Tliere are certain speeches which have the fashion of oatlis, and yet are not catlis: but %zpa.7rda irpbg rove atcovovrag, serve only to persuade the auditors. Such he takes this to be; and that of St. Paul, N?) rfjv fl/ufrlpav mi%nmv, by our rejoicing, 1 Cor. xv. 31. where he saith the apostle was not unmindful of the evangelical commandment, not to swear; but by a j speech, in form of an oath, he would have them believe; that Ins glorying in them (or rather in Christ) was dearer to him than anything else. And the truth is, Judah seems to have taken these words of Joseph only for a solemn j protestation, (xliii. 3.) wherein he exposed the life of Pharaoh (which was most dear to him) unto execration, if he was not as good as his word. So G. Calixtus understands it. Vcr. 16. Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother.] At first he proposed that only one of them should return home, to bring their brother to him; and all the rest remain, in the mean time, prisoners in Egypt. Vcr. 17. And he put them altogether into ward, &c] That they might consult one with another, which of them should go to fetch Benjamin; about which, it seems, they could not agree: every one fearing to be the messenger of such sad tidings to their father; who might suspect they were all lost. Stood btfore Joseph.] Presented themselves to him in his office (as we speak), or, in the place where he gave audience to those who came to petition him, or to buy corn of him. For it is plain, by the next verse, that he was not at his own house.
Genesis 42:16
Bring these men home. Conduct them to my house. And stay.] The Hebrew phrase signifies a great slaughter; of several sorts of creatures, perhaps; that there might be a plentiful provision.
Genesis 42:18
Joseph said unto them the third day, &c. I have no mind to destroy you: for I know there is a God, who will punish all injustice and cruelty. Therefore I make this new proposition to you. And the men were afraid, &c] Every thing (as was observed, xlii. 28.) terrifies a guilty conscience. And fall upon us.] i. e. Kill us. And take w for bondmen, &c] Rather, [or take us for bondmen, and our asses.
Genesis 42:19
They came near to the steward, &c. They desired to speak with him, before they entered into the house, that they might set themselves right in his opinion.
Genesis 42:20
We came at the first time to buy food. And wo paid for it what was demanded.
Genesis 42:21
And they said one to another. They that had the chief hand in the conspiracy against Joseph, began upon this occasion to make the following reflections on it. We are verily guilty, &c] See the power of conscience, which flies in their face and reproaches them for a fact committed above twenty years ago. In that we saio the anguish of his soul, &c] We would have no pity, when he besought us with tears; and now nothing that we can say will move this man. They observe their guilt in their punishment. For, as they had thrown Joseph into a pit, so they had been thrown into a prison themselves: and as nothing he could say would incline them to spare him, so now they found Joseph inexorable to them. This anguish of his soul and his entreaties are not mentioned before, (chap, xxxvii.) £>ut could not but be supposed, if they had not been mentioned here. When we came to the inn, &c] There we found that very money, to a farthing, in our sacks’ mouths, &c.
Genesis 42:22
And Reuben answered them, &c. You should have hearkened unto me, and then you had not come into this distress. Behold, also, his blood is required.] You killed him, and Aow you must pay for it with the loss of your lives. For he thought him to be dead. We cannot tell who put our money, &c] We are ignorant how it came there; but suppose it was by some mistake: and therefore have brought it again, with new money for another purchase.
Genesis 42:23
Spake to them by an interpreter. This shews • the Egyptian tongue and the Hebrew were different; though in some words they might agree. Peace be to you.] Trouble not yourselves about that matter. Your God, and the God of your fathers, &c.] This steward had learned of Joseph the knowledge of the true God: to whose kindness he bids them ascribe this event. And lie brought Simeon out unto them.] Unbound; as free as themselves.
Genesis 42:24
And he turned himself about from them. And went into some other room. And xvept.] Natural affection was too strong for the person he put on: and would not suffer him to counterfeit any longer. Returned to them, and communed with them.] When he had vented his passion, and composed himself to his former temper, he repeated to them what he had told them before: but added withal, thatif they brought Benjamin with them, they might traffic in the land, (ver. 34.) And took from them Simeon.] Who, the Hebrews say, was the person that put Joseph into the pit: and therefore was now served in his kind. This, I think, may be fairly conjectured, that Reuben being resolved to save him, and Judah also inclined to favour him, if Simeon had joined with them, their authority might have prevailed to deliver him. And bound him before their eyes.] Caused him to be bound in their presence; to strike the greater terror into them. Gave them water.] Ordered water to be brought, as the custom was, to wash their feet. (See xviii. 4.) Ver. 2(S. Bowed themselves to the ground.] Here again was Joseph’s dream fulfilled. (See xlii. 0.)
Genesis 42:25
To give them provision for the way. That they might carry what they bought entire, for the use of their families. And thus he did unto them.] Thus the person, to whom Joseph gave that command, did unto them.
Genesis 42:26
And they laded their asses tvith com, &c. It is not said how many asses they laded; but one would guess, by what follows, only each man one. For they went only to fetch a present supply: not thinking of providing against a long famine.
Genesis 42:27
And as one of them opened his sack, 8cc. Wherein was their provision for the way, (vcr. 25.) Vcr. 28. He said unto his brethren, &c] Who all presently opened their sacks and found their money there. For so the story is told by Judah at their return to Egypt, (xliii. 21.) And both by that place and this, it appears this happened to them when they came unto their inn, to rest themselves, in their first day’s journey. And their heart failed them, &c] Their guilt made them Digitized bf Migrosoft ® [chap xliii. afraid; otherwise they would have rejoiced. But all things terrify an evil conscience: which made them think some design was laid to undo them all. JFliat is this that God hath done unto us?] Now God was in all their thoughts, as the chief governor of all things; whosoever was the instrument.
Genesis 42:28
Thy servant our father, &c. Here they made a reverence to him in the name of their father: whereby that part of the dream (xxxvii. 9, 10.) which concerned him, was also fulfilled. And they speak likewise of him in ai; humble style, signifying his inferiority to Joseph. Vei. 29. Saw his brother Benjamin.] He had seen him before, (ver.lG.) but did not think fit to take notice of him at the first: or, perhaps, was then full of business, when they presented themselves at their first appearance; and had not leisure to speak with them till dinner-time. God be gracious unto thee, my son.] He blessed him, as superiors were wont to do those below them: whom they called their sons, with respect to themselves, as fathers of the country.
Genesis 42:30
Hie man who is the lord of the land. By this it appears Joseph was little less than a king, i. e. in his authority and sway, which he bare in that country. Took us for spies.] In the Hebrew it is, he gave us, i. e. treated us as spies; by delivering us to bo put in prison. His bowels did yearn.] He felt a great commotion within himself, which he was not able to keep from breaking out; and therefore he made haste out of the room where they were, as if some other business called him away.
Genesis 42:31
Set on bread. Set the dinner upon the table.
Genesis 42:32
And they set one for him by himself, &c. There seems to have been three tables. One where he sat alone in state, another where his brethren sat, and a third where the great men of Egypt were entertained. For the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews, &c] Because the Hebrews (saith Jonathan) did eat those beasts which the Egyptians worshipped. And to the same purpose writes Onkelos. In which regard the Egyptians were as scrupulous to eat with a Grecian in aftertimes, as now with a Hebrew. So Bochart observes out of Athenacus, lib. vii. Deipnos. where Anaxandrides, a comedian, jeers the Egyptians for worshipping an eel, as a great god, whom we, saith he, think to be most excellent meat. And out of Herodotus, who, in his Euterpe, (cap. 41.) saith no Egyptian man or woman would kiss the mouth of a Greek; nor make use of a knife, a spit, or a pot, belonging to them; nor take a bit of beef cut with a Greek’s knife. (See Bochart’s Hierozoic. par. vi. lib. ii. cap. 53. And Dr. Spencer, de Hit. Hebr. p. 125.) But though it appear by such passages, that, in the time of Herodotus and other forenamed writers, several animals were held so sacred among the Egyptians that th§y would not eat them, yet it may well be questioned, whether it were so in the days of Joseph. For there is not the least sign of it in this story; much less of their worshipping such creatures: the worship of the famous ox, called Apis, being a much later invention, as many learned men have demonstrated: and some of them having given probable reasons that Joseph himself was the person at first represented by that figure under the name of Ab, i. e. Father of his country. (See Ger. Vossius, lib. i. de Idol. cap. 29.) Therefore it is most likely, that this abhorrence is to be resolved only into the very different manners of the Hebrews from the Egyptians: particularly at their meals, in the way of dressing their meat, or in their eating. For we know some of the Jews themselves afterwards scrupled to eat with those who had unwashen hands; and several nations have avoided such familiarity with others, merely on the account of their different customs; of which the Egyptians were exceeding tenacious, as Herodotus himself informs us, particularly in their eating. For he concludes his discourse about their feasts with this observation: (in his book beforementioned, cap. 28.) Uarplotm Se xP e( >fi voc vofioKTt, aXXov avSlva hrtKriu>vTati Using their oivn country customs, they receive no other. And in the ninety-first chapter of the same book he saith, that as they would use no Greek customs, so (to speak all in a word) jurjS’ aAAwv imSafia, &c. Neither would they use the customs of any other men in the world whatsoever. Nay, one part of Egypt differed extremely from another; for in the Theban province
Genesis 42:33
Tliey sat before him. For that was the custom before the way of lying upon beds was invented. (See xxvii. 19. xxxvii. 25.) And the men marvelled one at another.] That they should be so exactly disposed, according to the order of their birth: and so kindly treated by one that had lately used them very roughly.
Genesis 42:34
And ye shall traffic in the land.) Buy corn, or any thing else the country affords; without any let or impediment. And he tool: and sent messes, &c. Ordered those that waited to take and carry messes from his own table unto theirs. For such was the ancient custom, for great men to honour such as wore in their favour, by sending dishes to them, which were first served up to themselves: from whence they were called missa, messes, things sent. The ancient way of eating also is to be observed, which was not like ours: as appears by Plutarch in his Sympos. lib. ii. Q. nit. where he disputes, which was the better custom, to eat out of one common dish, or every one to have a dish to himself, as the manner was in old time; when, all the meat being set on the table, the master of the feast distributed to every one his portion. Benjamins mess was five times as much, &c] He had five dishes to their one: which was intended as a peculiar respect to him. Or, as others understand it, there was five times as much meat in his mess, as in one of theirs. Which might well be part, of the cause of their wonder, (ver. 33.) And they drank.] After they had dined, plenty of wine was brought in, for every one to drink as much as he pleased. For such is the custom of the Abyssines at this day, not to drink or talk at dinner, but after the meat is taken away; as Ludolphus assures us from Telezius; who takes it to have been the ancient custom among other nations, particularly the Romans; for which he alleges those verses of Virgil, iEneid. i. " Postquam prima quies epulis, mensaeque remota;, Crateras magnas statuunt, et vina coronant." I mention wine here in Egypt: for though Herodotus saith in his days they had no vines, but used drink made of barley, i. e. such as ours, (lib. ii. cap. 77.) yet in the time of Joseph it seems to have been otherwise. For it is not likely the chief butler would have dreamt of a vine and grapes, and pressing them into Pharaoh’s cup, (xl, 9, 10, 11.) if ho had never seen them in Egypt, And they were merry with him.] So we well translate the last words of this chapter; which signify their drinking plentifully; more liberally than at home: not till they were drunk (as R. Solomon saith some used to abuse this place, to countenance that vice), but till they were very cheerful. For they could not be so senseless, as, before so great a man in a strange place, where tlrey were also full of fear, to make themselves drunk.
Genesis 42:35
JVhen both they and their father satv the bundies of money, &c J They had seen the same before: therefore this is set down to express the fear which Jacob himself was in, at the sight of the money; though we may well suppose their fear was increased, when they perceived him to have the same apprehensions which they had, of some design that might be laid against their lives, when they returned to Egypt, though they brought their younger brother with them.
Genesis 42:36
Simeon is not. He looked upon him as dead; being in the power of so rough a man, as they described the lord of the land to be: especially if ho did not send Benjamin thither, as, for the present, he was resolved not to do. All these things are against me.] Or, upon me, as the Hebrew words carry it. These arc heavy burdens which lie upon me, not upon you; who can be content to have Benjamin go, after I have lost two of my sons already.
Genesis 42:37
Slay my two sons if I bring him not to thee. Nothing could be more foolishly said; for what good would it do to Jacob (nay, what an increase of his affliction would it have been), to lose two grandchildren, after he had lost another son? But it was spoken out of a passionate desire to redeem Simeon, and to make more provision for their family: being confident that Joseph (who professed to fear God, ver. 18.) would be as good as his word.
Genesis 42:38
He is left alone. The only child of his mother. Bringdown my grey hairs with sorrow to the grave.] You will make me, who am worn away already, die with grief. CHAP. XLI1I.
And when all the land of Egypt was famished. When they had eaten up all their own stores, which, we may suppose, failed in two years’ time. The people cried to Pharaoh, &c] Made earnest petitions to the king, for relief of their necessities. Ver. 5G. And the famine was over all the face of the earth.] Grew still greater in all the neighbouring countries. And the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.] For the Egyptians themselves, having spent all their own stores, w r crc sorely pinched.
And all the countries came to buy com, &c. i. e. The neighbouring countries, as was said before, (ver. 54.) For if the most distant had come, the storehouses had been soon emptied. Because the famine teas sore in all lands.] It increased more and more, in those countries beforenamed, which w r erc grievously afflicted by it. • CHAP. XLII.