771 lines
28 KiB
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771 lines
28 KiB
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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Genesis, Chapter XLIII].</TITLE>
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"This site is for those friends and family members who may or may not know Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if not, they may come to know Our Lord through His Prophets."> <meta name="author" content="Brian Duncalfe">
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"Prophecy, Rapture,hope,bible map,bible maps, God, tribulation,Second Coming,Christ,large print bible,commentary,complete">
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</HEAD>
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<body background="../sueback.jpg" bgproperties="fixed" >
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1></center>
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<HR>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
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<TR>
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<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC01042.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC01044.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<A NAME="Page236"> </A>
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>G E N E S I S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XLIII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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Here the story of Joseph's brethren is carried on, and very particularly
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related.
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I. Their melancholy parting with their father
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Jacob in Canaan,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+43:1-14">ver. 1-14</A>.
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II. Their pleasant meeting with
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Joseph in Egypt,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+43:15-34">ver. 15</A>,
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&c. For on this occasion nothing occurs
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there but what is agreeable and pleasant.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ge43_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge43_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge43_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge43_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge43_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge43_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge43_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge43_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge43_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge43_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Jacob Unwilling to Part with Benjamin.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1707.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And the famine <I>was</I> sore in the
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land.
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2 And it came to pass,
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when they had eaten up the corn which
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they had brought out of Egypt, their
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father said unto them, Go again, buy
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us a little food.
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3 And Judah spake
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unto him, saying, The man did solemnly
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protest unto us, saying, Ye
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shall not see my face, except your
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brother <I>be</I> with you.
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4 If thou wilt
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send our brother with us, we will go
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down and buy thee food:
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5 But if
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thou wilt not send <I>him,</I> we will not
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go down: for the man said unto us,
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Ye shall not see my face, except your
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brother <I>be</I> with you.
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6 And Israel
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said, Wherefore dealt ye <I>so</I> ill with
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me, <I>as</I> to tell the man whether ye had
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yet a brother?
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7 And they said, The
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man asked us straitly of our state,
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and of our kindred, saying, <I>Is</I> your
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father yet alive? have ye <I>another</I> brother?
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and we told him according to
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the tenor of these words: could we certainly
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know that he would say, Bring
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your brother down?
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8 And Judah
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said unto Israel his father, Send the
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lad with me, and we will arise and go;
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that we may live, and not die, both
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we, and thou, <I>and</I> also our little ones.
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9 I will be surety for him; of my
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hand shalt thou require him:
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if I bring him not unto thee, and set him
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before thee, then let me bear the blame
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for ever:
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10 For except we had lingered,
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surely now we had returned this second time.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here,
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1. Jacob urges his sons to go and
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buy more corn in Egypt,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+43:1,2"><I>v.</I> 1, 2</A>.
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The famine
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continued; and the corn they had bought
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was all spent, for it is meat that perisheth.
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Jacob, as a good master of a family, is in
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care to provide for those of his own house
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food convenient; and shall not God provide
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for his children, for <I>the household of faith?</I>
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Jacob bids them go again and buy a <I>little</I>
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food; now, in time of scarcity, a little must
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suffice, for nature is content with a little.
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2. Judah urges him to consent that Benjamin
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should go down with them, how much soever
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it went against his feelings and previous determination.
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Note, It is not at all inconsistent
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with the honour and duty which children
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owe their parents humbly and modestly
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to advise them, and, as occasion is, to reason
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with them. <I>Plead with your mother, plead,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=ho+2:2">Hos. ii. 2</A>.
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(1.) He insists upon the
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<A NAME="Page237"> </A>
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absolute necessity they were under of bringing
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Benjamin with them, of which he, who was
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a witness to all that had passed in Egypt,
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was a more competent judge than Jacob
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could be. Joseph's protestation
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+43:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>)
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may be alluded to to show upon what terms we
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must draw nigh to God; unless we bring
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Christ along with us in the arms of our faith,
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we cannot see the face of God with comfort.
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(2.) He engages to take all possible care of
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him, and to do his utmost for his safety,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+43:8,9"><I>v.</I> 8, 9</A>.
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Judah's conscience had lately smitten
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him for what he had done a great while ago
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against Joseph
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+42:21"><I>ch.</I> xlii. 21</A>);
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and, as an evidence
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of the truth of his repentance, he is
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ready to undertake, as far as a man could do
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it, for Benjamin's security. He will not only
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not wrong him, but will do all he can to protect
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him. This is restitution, as far as the
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case will admit; when he knew not how he
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could restore Joseph, he would make some
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amends for the irreparable injury he had
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done him by doubling his care concerning
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Benjamin.</P>
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<A NAME="Ge43_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge43_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge43_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge43_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Joseph's Brethren Again Sent to Egypt.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1707.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>11 And their father Israel said unto
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them, If <I>it must be</I> so now, do this;
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take of the best fruits in the land in
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your vessels, and carry down the man
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a present, a little balm, and a little
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honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and
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almonds:
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12 And take double money
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in your hand; and the money that
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was brought again in the mouth of
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your sacks, carry <I>it</I> again in your
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hand; peradventure it <I>was</I> an oversight:
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13 Take also your brother, and
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arise, go again unto the man:
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14 And
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God Almighty give you mercy before
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the man, that he may send away your
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other brother, and Benjamin. If I
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be bereaved <I>of my children,</I> I am bereaved.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Observe here,
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I. Jacob's persuasibleness.
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He would be ruled by reason, though they
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were his inferiors that urged it. He saw the
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necessity of the case; and, since there was
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no remedy, he consented to yield to the necessity
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+43:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>):
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"<I>If it must be so now, take
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your brother.</I> If no corn can be had but
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upon those terms, we may as well expose him
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to the perils of the journey as suffer ourselves
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and families, and Benjamin amongst the rest,
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to perish for want of bread." <I>Skin for skin,
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and all that a man has,</I> even a Benjamin, the
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dearest of all, <I>will he give for his life.</I> No
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death so dreadful as that by famine,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=La+4:9">Lam. iv. 9</A>.
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Jacob had said
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+42:38"><I>ch.</I> xlii. 38</A>),
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<I>My son
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shall not go down;</I> but now he is over-persuaded
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to consent. Note, It is no fault, but
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our wisdom and duty, to alter our purposes
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and resolutions when there is a good reason
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for our so doing. Constancy is a virtue, but
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obstinacy is not. It is God's prerogative not
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to repent, and to make unchangeable resolves.</P>
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<P>
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II. Jacob's prudence and justice, which
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appeared in three things:--1. He sent back
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the money which they had found in the sacks'
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mouths, with this discreet construction of it,
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<I>Peradventure it was an oversight.</I> Note,
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Honesty obliges us to make restitution, not
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only of that which comes to us by our own
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fault, but of that which comes to us by the
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mistakes of others. Though we get it by
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oversight, if we keep it when the oversight
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is discovered, it is kept by deceit. In the
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stating of accounts, errors must be excepted,
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even those that make for us as well as those
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that make against us. Jacob's words furnish
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us with a favourable construction to put
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upon that which we are tempted to resent as
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an injury and affront; pass it by, and say,
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<I>Peradventure it was an oversight.</I>
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2. He
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sent double money, as much again as they
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took the time before, upon supposition that
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the price of corn might have risen,--or that
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if it should be insisted upon they might pay
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a ransom for Simeon, or his prison-fees,--or
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to show a generous spirit, that they might be
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the more likely to find generous treatment
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with <I>the man, the lord of the land.</I>
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3. He
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sent a present of such things as the land
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afforded, and as were scarce in Egypt--<I>balm
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and honey, &c.</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+43:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>),
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the commodities that
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Canaan exported,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+37:25"><I>ch.</I> xxxvii. 25</A>.
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Note,
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(1.) Providence dispenses its gifts variously.
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Some countries produce one commodity,
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others another, that commerce may be preserved.
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(2.) Honey and spice will never
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make up the want of bread-corn. The famine
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was sore in Canaan, and yet they had
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balm and myrrh, &c. We may live well
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enough upon plain food without dainties;
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but we cannot live upon dainties without
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plain food. Let us thank God that that
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which is most needful and useful is generally
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most cheap and common.
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(3.) A <I>gift in
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secret pacifies wrath,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+21:14">Prov. xxi. 14</A>.
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Jacob's
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sons were unjustly accused as spies, yet Jacob
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was willing to be at the expense of a present,
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to pacify the accuser. Sometimes we must
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not think it too much to buy peace even
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where we may justly demand it, and insist
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upon it as our right.</P>
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<P>
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III. Jacob's piety appearing in his prayer:
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<I>God Almighty give you mercy before the man!</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+43:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
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Jacob had formerly turned an angry
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brother into a kind one with a present and a
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prayer; and here he betakes himself to the
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same tried method, and it sped well. Note,
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Those that would find mercy with men must
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seek it of God, who has all hearts in his
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hands, and turns them as he pleases.</P>
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<P>
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IV. Jacob's patience. He concludes all
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with this: "<I>If I be bereaved of my children,
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I am bereaved;</I> If I must part with them
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thus one after another, I must acquiesce, and
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say, <I>The will of the Lord be done.</I>" Note,
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It is our wisdom to reconcile ourselves to
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the sorest afflictions, and make the best of
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<A NAME="Page238"> </A>
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them; for there is nothing got by striving
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with our Maker,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+15:25,26">2 Sam. xv. 25, 26</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="Ge43_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge43_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge43_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge43_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge43_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge43_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge43_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge43_22"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge43_23"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge43_24"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge43_25"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Joseph Entertains His Brethren.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1707.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>15 And the men took that present,
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and they took double money in their
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hand, and Benjamin; and rose up,
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and went down to Egypt, and stood
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before Joseph.
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16 And when Joseph
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saw Benjamin with them, he said to
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the ruler of his house, Bring <I>these</I> men
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home, and slay, and make ready; for
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<I>these</I> men shall dine with me at noon.
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17 And the man did as Joseph bade;
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and the man brought the men into
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Joseph's house.
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18 And the men were
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afraid, because they were brought into
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Joseph's house; and they said, Because
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of the money that was returned
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in our sacks at the first time are we
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brought in; that he may seek occasion
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against us, and fall upon us, and
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take us for bondmen, and our asses.
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19 And they came near to the steward
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of Joseph's house, and they communed
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with him at the door of the
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house,
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20 And said, O sir, we came
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indeed down at the first time to buy
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food:
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21 And it came to pass, when
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we came to the inn, that we opened
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our sacks, and, behold, <I>every</I> man's
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money <I>was</I> in the mouth of his sack,
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our money in full weight: and we
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have brought it again in our hand.
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22 And other money have we brought
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down in our hands to buy food: we
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|
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cannot tell who put our money in our
|
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sacks.
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23 And he said, Peace <I>be</I> to
|
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you, fear not: your God, and the God
|
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of your father, hath given you treasure
|
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in your sacks: I had your money.
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And he brought Simeon out unto
|
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them.
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24 And the man brought the
|
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|
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men into Joseph's house, and gave
|
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<I>them</I> water, and they washed their
|
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feet; and he gave their asses provender.
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25 And they made ready the
|
||
|
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present against Joseph came at noon:
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|
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for they heard that they should eat
|
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|
|
bread there.
|
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|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
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|
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<P>
|
||
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|
||
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Jacob's sons, having got leave to take
|
||
|
|
Benjamin with them, were observant of the
|
||
|
|
orders their father had given them, and went
|
||
|
|
down the second time into Egypt to buy
|
||
|
|
corn. If we should ever know what a famine
|
||
|
|
of the word means, let us not think it much
|
||
|
|
to travel as far for spiritual food as they did
|
||
|
|
for corporal food. Now here we have an account
|
||
|
|
of what passed between them and Joseph's
|
||
|
|
steward, who, some conjecture, was
|
||
|
|
in the secret, and knew them to be Joseph's
|
||
|
|
brethren, and helped to humour the thing;
|
||
|
|
I rather think not, because no man was permitted
|
||
|
|
to be present when Joseph afterwards
|
||
|
|
made himself known to them,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+45:1"><I>ch.</I> xlv. 1</A>.
|
||
|
|
Observe,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Joseph's steward has orders from
|
||
|
|
his master (who was busy selling corn, and
|
||
|
|
receiving money) to take them to his house,
|
||
|
|
and make ready for their entertainment.
|
||
|
|
Though Joseph saw Benjamin there, he
|
||
|
|
would not leave his work at working-time,
|
||
|
|
nor trust another with it. Note, Business
|
||
|
|
must take place of civility in its season. Our
|
||
|
|
needful employments must not be neglected,
|
||
|
|
no, not to pay respect to our friends.
|
||
|
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|
||
|
|
2. Even this frightened them: <I>They were afraid,
|
||
|
|
because they were brought into Joseph's house,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+43:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
||
|
|
The just challenges of their own consciences,
|
||
|
|
and Joseph's violent suspicions of
|
||
|
|
them, forbade them to expect any favour,
|
||
|
|
and suggested to them that this was done
|
||
|
|
with a bad design upon them. Note, Those
|
||
|
|
that are guilty and timorous are apt to make
|
||
|
|
the worst of every thing. Now they thought
|
||
|
|
they should be reckoned with about the
|
||
|
|
money in the sacks' mouths, and should be
|
||
|
|
charged as cheats, and men not fit to be dealt
|
||
|
|
with, who had taken advantage of the hurry
|
||
|
|
of the market to carry off their corn unpaid
|
||
|
|
for. They therefore laid the case before the
|
||
|
|
steward, that he, being apprized of it, might
|
||
|
|
stand between them and danger; and, as a
|
||
|
|
substantial proof of their honesty, before
|
||
|
|
they were charged with taking back their
|
||
|
|
money they produced it. Note, Integrity
|
||
|
|
and uprightness will preserve us, and will
|
||
|
|
clear themselves as the light of the morning.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. The steward encouraged them
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+43:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>):
|
||
|
|
<I>Peace be to you, fear not;</I> though he knew
|
||
|
|
not what his master drove at, yet he was
|
||
|
|
aware these were men whom he meant no
|
||
|
|
harm to, while he thus amused them; and
|
||
|
|
therefore he directs them to look at the
|
||
|
|
divine Providence in the return of their
|
||
|
|
money: <I>Your God, and the God of your
|
||
|
|
father, has given you treasure in your sacks.</I>
|
||
|
|
Observe,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) Hereby he shows that he had
|
||
|
|
no suspicion at all of dishonesty in them: for
|
||
|
|
of what we get by deceit we cannot say, "God
|
||
|
|
gives it to us."
|
||
|
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|
||
|
|
(2.) Hereby he silences
|
||
|
|
their further enquiry about it. "Ask not
|
||
|
|
how it came thither; Providence brought it
|
||
|
|
to you, and let that satisfy you."
|
||
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|
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|
|
(3.) It appears
|
||
|
|
by what he said that, by his good
|
||
|
|
master's instructions, he was brought to the
|
||
|
|
knowledge of the true God, the God of the
|
||
|
|
Hebrews. It may justly be expected that
|
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|
|
those who are servants in religious families
|
||
|
|
should take all fit occasions to speak of God
|
||
|
|
and his providence with reverence and seriousness.
|
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|
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|
|
(4.) He directs them to look up to
|
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|
|
God, and acknowledge his providence in the
|
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|
|
good bargain they had. We must own ourselves
|
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|
|
indebted to God, as <I>our God and the
|
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|
|
God of our fathers</I> (a God in covenant with
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Page239"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
us and them) for all our successes and advantages,
|
||
|
|
and the kindnesses of our friends;
|
||
|
|
for every creature is that to us, and no more,
|
||
|
|
which God makes it to be. The steward encouraged
|
||
|
|
them, not only in words but in
|
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|
|
deeds; for he made very much of them till
|
||
|
|
his master came,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+43:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>.</P>
|
||
|
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|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge43_26"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge43_27"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge43_28"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge43_29"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge43_30"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge43_31"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge43_32"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge43_33"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge43_34"> </A>
|
||
|
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|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>26 And when Joseph came home,
|
||
|
|
they brought him the present which
|
||
|
|
<I>was</I> in their hand into the house, and
|
||
|
|
bowed themselves to him to the earth.
|
||
|
|
27 And he asked them of <I>their</I> welfare,
|
||
|
|
and said, <I>Is</I> your father well, the
|
||
|
|
old man of whom ye spake? <I>Is</I> he
|
||
|
|
yet alive?
|
||
|
|
28 And they answered,
|
||
|
|
Thy servant our father <I>is</I> in good
|
||
|
|
health, he <I>is</I> yet alive. And they
|
||
|
|
bowed down their heads, and made
|
||
|
|
obeisance.
|
||
|
|
29 And he lifted up his
|
||
|
|
eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin,
|
||
|
|
his mother's son, and said, <I>Is</I> this your
|
||
|
|
younger brother, of whom ye spake
|
||
|
|
unto me? And he said, God be gracious
|
||
|
|
unto thee, my son.
|
||
|
|
30 And
|
||
|
|
Joseph made haste; for his bowels
|
||
|
|
did yearn upon his brother: and he
|
||
|
|
sought <I>where</I> to weep; and he entered
|
||
|
|
into <I>his</I> chamber, and wept there.
|
||
|
|
31 And he washed his face, and went out,
|
||
|
|
and refrained himself, and said, Set on
|
||
|
|
bread.
|
||
|
|
32 And they set on for him by
|
||
|
|
himself, and for them by themselves,
|
||
|
|
and for the Egyptians, which did eat
|
||
|
|
with him, by themselves: because the
|
||
|
|
Egyptians might not eat bread with
|
||
|
|
the Hebrews; for that <I>is</I> an abomination
|
||
|
|
unto the Egyptians.
|
||
|
|
33 And they
|
||
|
|
sat before him, the firstborn according
|
||
|
|
to his birthright, and the youngest according
|
||
|
|
to his youth: and the men marvelled
|
||
|
|
one at another.
|
||
|
|
34 And he took
|
||
|
|
<I>and sent</I> messes unto them from before
|
||
|
|
him: but Benjamin's mess was five
|
||
|
|
times so much as any of theirs. And
|
||
|
|
they drank, and were merry with him.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Here is,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. The great respect that Joseph's
|
||
|
|
brethren paid to him. When they brought
|
||
|
|
him the present, <I>they bowed themselves before
|
||
|
|
him</I>
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+43:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>);
|
||
|
|
and again, when they gave him
|
||
|
|
an account of their father's health, <I>they made
|
||
|
|
obeisance,</I> and called him, <I>Thy servant our
|
||
|
|
father,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+43:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>.
|
||
|
|
Thus were Joseph's dreams
|
||
|
|
fulfilled more and more: and even the father,
|
||
|
|
by the sons, <I>bowed before him,</I> according to
|
||
|
|
the dream,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+37:10"><I>ch.</I> xxxvii. 10</A>.
|
||
|
|
Probably Jacob
|
||
|
|
had directed them, if they had occasion to
|
||
|
|
speak of him to <I>the man, the lord of the land,</I>
|
||
|
|
to call him <I>his servant.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. The great kindness that Joseph showed
|
||
|
|
to them, while they little thought it was a
|
||
|
|
brotherly kindness. Here is,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. His kind enquiry concerning Jacob: <I>Is
|
||
|
|
he yet alive?</I>--a very fit question to be asked
|
||
|
|
concerning any, especially concerning old
|
||
|
|
people; for we are dying daily: it is strange
|
||
|
|
that we are <I>yet alive.</I> Jacob had said many
|
||
|
|
years before, <I>I will go to the grave to my son;</I> but
|
||
|
|
<I>he is yet alive:</I> we must not die when we will.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The kind notice he took of Benjamin,
|
||
|
|
his own brother.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) He put up a prayer
|
||
|
|
for him: <I>God be gracious unto thee, my son,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+43:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>.
|
||
|
|
Joseph's favour, though he was the
|
||
|
|
lord of the land, would do him little good,
|
||
|
|
unless God were gracious to him. Many
|
||
|
|
seek the ruler's favour, but Joseph directs
|
||
|
|
him to seek the favour of the ruler of rulers.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) He shed some tears for him,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+43:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>.
|
||
|
|
His
|
||
|
|
natural affection to his brother, his joy to see
|
||
|
|
him, his concern at seeing him and the rest
|
||
|
|
of them in distress for bread, and the remembrance
|
||
|
|
of his own griefs since he last saw
|
||
|
|
him, produced a great agitation in him, which
|
||
|
|
perhaps was the more uneasy because he endeavoured
|
||
|
|
to stifle and suppress it; but he
|
||
|
|
was forced to retire into his closet, there to
|
||
|
|
give vent to his feeling by tears. Note,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] Tears of tenderness and affection are no disparagement
|
||
|
|
at all, even to great and wise
|
||
|
|
men.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] Gracious weepers should not
|
||
|
|
proclaim their tears. <I>My soul shall weep in
|
||
|
|
secret,</I> says the prophet,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+13:17">Jer. xiii. 17</A>.
|
||
|
|
<I>Peter
|
||
|
|
went out and wept bitterly.</I> See
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+26:75">Matt. xxvi. 75</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. His kind entertainment of them all.
|
||
|
|
When his weeping had subsided so that he
|
||
|
|
could refrain himself, he sat down to dinner
|
||
|
|
with them, treated them nobly, and yet contrived
|
||
|
|
every thing to amuse them.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) He ordered three tables to be spread,
|
||
|
|
one for his brethren, another for the Egyptians
|
||
|
|
that dined with him (for so different were
|
||
|
|
their customs that they did not care to eat
|
||
|
|
together), another for himself, who durst not
|
||
|
|
own himself a Hebrew, and yet would not sit
|
||
|
|
with the Egyptians. See here an instance,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] Of hospitality and good house-keeping,
|
||
|
|
which are very commendable, according as
|
||
|
|
the ability is.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] Of compliance with
|
||
|
|
people's humours, even whimsical ones, as
|
||
|
|
bishop Patrick calls this of the Egyptians not
|
||
|
|
eating with the Hebrews. Though Joseph
|
||
|
|
was the lord of the land, and orders were
|
||
|
|
given that all people should obey him, yet he
|
||
|
|
would not force the Egyptians to eat with the
|
||
|
|
Hebrews, against their minds, but let them
|
||
|
|
enjoy their humours. Spirits truly generous
|
||
|
|
hate to impose.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[3.] Of the early distance
|
||
|
|
between Jews and Gentiles; one table would
|
||
|
|
not hold them.</P>
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<P>
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(2.) He placed his brethren according to
|
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their seniority
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+43:33"><I>v.</I> 33</A>),
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as if he <I>could certainly
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divine.</I> Some think they placed themselves
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so, according to their custom; but, if so, I
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see not why such particular notice is taken
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of it, especially as a thing they marvelled at.</P>
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<P>
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(3.) He gave them a very plentiful
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<A NAME="Page240"> </A>
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entertainment, sent messes to them from his own
|
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table,
|
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+43:34"><I>v.</I> 34</A>.
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This was the more generous in
|
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|
him, and the more obliging to them, because
|
||
|
|
of the present scarcity of provisions. In a
|
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|
|
day of famine, it is enough to be fed; but
|
||
|
|
here they were feasted. Perhaps they had
|
||
|
|
not had such a good dinner for many months.
|
||
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|
It is said, <I>They drank and were merry;</I> their
|
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|
cares and fears were now over, and they ate
|
||
|
|
their bread with joy, concluding they were
|
||
|
|
now upon good terms with the man, the lord
|
||
|
|
of the land. If God accept our works, <I>our
|
||
|
|
present,</I> we have reason to be cheerful. Yet
|
||
|
|
when we sit, as they here did, to eat with a
|
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|
ruler, we should consider what is before us,
|
||
|
|
and not indulge our appetite, nor be desirous
|
||
|
|
of dainties,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+23:1-3">Prov. xxiii. 1-3</A>.
|
||
|
|
Joseph gave
|
||
|
|
them to understand that Benjamin was his
|
||
|
|
favourite; for his mess was <I>five times as much
|
||
|
|
as any of theirs,</I> not as if he would have
|
||
|
|
him eat so much more than the rest, for then
|
||
|
|
he must eat more than would do him good
|
||
|
|
(and it is no act of friendship, but rather an
|
||
|
|
injury and unkindness, to press any either to
|
||
|
|
eat or drink to excess), but thus he would testify
|
||
|
|
his particular respect for him, that he might
|
||
|
|
try whether his brethren would envy Benjamin
|
||
|
|
his larger messes, as formerly they had
|
||
|
|
envied himself his finer coat. And it must be
|
||
|
|
our rule, in such cases, to be content with what
|
||
|
|
we have, and not to grieve at what others have.</P>
|
||
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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