mh_parser/vol_split/1 - Genesis/Chapter 42.xml

<div2 id="Gen.xliii" n="xliii" next="Gen.xliv" prev="Gen.xlii" progress="26.90%" title="Chapter XLII">
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<h2 id="Gen.xliii-p0.1">G E N E S I S</h2>
<h3 id="Gen.xliii-p0.2">CHAP. XLII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Gen.xliii-p1">We had, in the foregoing chapter, the fulfilling
of the dreams which Joseph had interpreted: in this and the
following chapters we have the fulfilling of the dreams which
Joseph himself had dreamed, that his father's family should do
homage to him. The story is very largely and particularly related
of what passed between Joseph and his brethren, not only because it
is an entertaining story, and probably was much talked of, both
among the Israelites and among the Egyptians, but because it is
very instructive, and it gave occasion for the removal of Jacob's
family into Egypt, on which so many great events afterwards
depended. We have, in this chapter, I. The humble application of
Jacob's sons to Joseph to buy corn, <scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.1-Gen.42.6" parsed="|Gen|42|1|42|6" passage="Ge 42:1-6">ver. 1-6</scripRef>. II. The fright Joseph put them
into, for their trial, <scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.7-Gen.42.20" parsed="|Gen|42|7|42|20" passage="Ge 42:7-20">ver.
7-20</scripRef>. III. The conviction they were now under of their
sin concerning Joseph long before, <scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.21-Gen.42.24" parsed="|Gen|42|21|42|24" passage="Ge 42:21-24">ver. 21-24</scripRef>. IV. Their return to Canaan
with corn, and the great distress their good father was in upon
hearing the account of their expedition, <scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.25-Gen.42.38" parsed="|Gen|42|25|42|38" passage="Ge 42:25-38">ver. 25</scripRef>, &amp;c.</p>
<scripCom id="Gen.xliii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42" parsed="|Gen|42|0|0|0" passage="Ge 42" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Gen.xliii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.1-Gen.42.6" parsed="|Gen|42|1|42|6" passage="Ge 42:1-6" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.42.1-Gen.42.6">
<h4 id="Gen.xliii-p1.7">Jacob Sends to Egypt to Buy
Corn. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xliii-p1.8">b. c.</span> 1706.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xliii-p2">1 Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in
Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?
  2 And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in
Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we
may live, and not die.   3 And Joseph's ten brethren went down
to buy corn in Egypt.   4 But Benjamin, Joseph's brother,
Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure
mischief befal him.   5 And the sons of Israel came to buy
<i>corn</i> among those that came: for the famine was in the land
of Canaan.   6 And Joseph <i>was</i> the governor over the
land, <i>and</i> he <i>it was</i> that sold to all the people of
the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves
before him <i>with</i> their faces to the earth.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xliii-p3">Though Jacob's sons were all married, and
had families of their own, yet, it should seem, they were still
incorporated in one society, under the conduct and presidency of
their father Jacob. We have here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xliii-p4">I. The orders he gave them to go and buy
corn in Egypt, <scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.1-Gen.42.2" parsed="|Gen|42|1|42|2" passage="Ge 42:1,2"><i>v.</i> 1,
2</scripRef>. Observe, 1. The famine was grievous in the land of
Canaan. It is observable that all the three patriarchs, to whom
Canaan was the land of promise, met with famine in that land, which
was not only to try their faith, whether they could trust God
though he should slay them, though he should starve them, but to
teach them to seek the better country, that is, the heavenly,
<scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Heb.11.14-Heb.11.16" parsed="|Heb|11|14|11|16" passage="Heb 11:14-16">Heb. xi. 14-16</scripRef>. We have
need of something to wean us from this world, and make us long for
a better. 2. Still, when there was famine in Canaan, there was corn
in Egypt. Thus Providence orders it, that one place should be a
succour and supply to another; for we are all brethren. The
Egyptians, the seed of accursed Ham, have plenty, when God's
blessed Israel want: thus God, in dispensing common favours, often
crosses hands. Yet observe, The plenty Egypt now had was owing,
under God, to Joseph's prudence and care: if his brethren had not
sold him into Egypt, but respected him according to his merits, who
knows but he might have done the same thing for Jacob's family
which now he had done for Pharaoh, and the Egyptians might then
have come to them to buy corn? but those who drive away from among
them wise and good men know not what they do. 3. <i>Jacob saw that
there was corn in Egypt;</i> he saw the corn that his neighbours
had bought there and brought home. It is a spur to exertion to see
where supplies are to be had, and to see others supplied. Shall
others get food for their souls, and shall we starve while it is to
be had? 4. He reproved his sons for delaying to provide corn for
their families. <i>Why do you look one upon another?</i> Note, When
we are in trouble and want, it is folly for us to stand looking
upon one another, that is, to stand desponding and despairing, as
if there were no hope, no help,—to stand disputing either which
shall have the honour of going first or which shall have the safety
of coming last,—to stand deliberating and debating what we shall
do, and doing nothing,—to stand dreaming under a spirit of
slumber, as if we had nothing to do, and to stand delaying, as if
we had time at command. Let it never be said, "We left that to be
done to-morrow which we could as well have done to-day." 5. He
quickened them to go to Egypt: <i>Get you down thither.</i> Masters
of families must not only pray for daily bread for their families,
and food convenient,

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but must lay out
themselves with care and industry to provide it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xliii-p5">II. Their obedience to these orders,
<scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.3" parsed="|Gen|42|3|0|0" passage="Ge 42:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. They <i>went
down to buy corn;</i> they did not send their servants, but very
prudently went themselves, to lay out their own money. Let none
think themselves too great nor too good to take pains. Masters of
families should see with their own eyes, and take heed of leaving
too much to servants. Only Benjamin went not with them, for he was
his father's darling. To Egypt they came, among others, and, having
a considerable cargo of corn to buy, they were brought before
Joseph himself, who probably expected they would come; and,
according to the laws of courtesy, <i>they bowed down themselves
before him,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.6" parsed="|Gen|42|6|0|0" passage="Ge 42:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>.
Now their empty sheaves did obeisance to his full one. Compare this
with <scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.14 Bible:Rev.3.9" parsed="|Isa|60|14|0|0;|Rev|3|9|0|0" passage="Isa 60:14,Re 3:9">Isa. lx. 14 and Rev. iii.
9</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Gen.xliii-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.7-Gen.42.20" parsed="|Gen|42|7|42|20" passage="Ge 42:7-20" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.42.7-Gen.42.20">
<h4 id="Gen.xliii-p5.5">Joseph Speaks Roughly to His
Brethren. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xliii-p5.6">b. c.</span> 1706.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xliii-p6">7 And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them,
but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them;
and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land
of Canaan to buy food.   8 And Joseph knew his brethren, but
they knew not him.   9 And Joseph remembered the dreams which
he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye <i>are</i> spies; to see
the nakedness of the land ye are come.   10 And they said unto
him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come.   11
We <i>are</i> all one man's sons; we <i>are</i> true <i>men,</i>
thy servants are no spies.   12 And he said unto them, Nay,
but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.   13 And
they said, Thy servants <i>are</i> twelve brethren, the sons of one
man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest <i>is</i> this
day with our father, and one <i>is</i> not.   14 And Joseph
said unto them, That <i>is it</i> that I spake unto you, saying, Ye
<i>are</i> spies:   15 Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life
of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest
brother come hither.   16 Send one of you, and let him fetch
your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may
be proved, whether <i>there be any</i> truth in you: or else by the
life of Pharaoh surely ye <i>are</i> spies.   17 And he put
them all together into ward three days.   18 And Joseph said
unto them the third day, This do, and live; <i>for</i> I fear God:
  19 If ye <i>be</i> true <i>men,</i> let one of your brethren
be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the
famine of your houses:   20 But bring your youngest brother
unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And
they did so.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xliii-p7">We may well wonder that Joseph, during the
twenty years that he had now been in Egypt, especially during the
last seven years that he had been in power there, never sent to his
father to acquaint him with his circumstances; nay, it is strange
that he who so often <i>went throughout all the land of Egypt</i>
(<scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.41.45-Gen.41.46" parsed="|Gen|41|45|41|46" passage="Ge 41:45,46"><i>ch.</i> xli. 45, 46</scripRef>)
never made an excursion to Canaan, to visit his aged father, when
he was in the borders of Egypt, that lay next to Canaan. Perhaps it
would not have been above three or four days' journey for him in
his chariot. It is a probable conjecture that his whole management
of himself in this affair was by special direction from Heaven,
that the purpose of God concerning Jacob and his family might be
accomplished. When Joseph's brethren came, he knew them by many a
satisfactory token, but they knew not him, little thinking to find
him there, <scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.8" parsed="|Gen|42|8|0|0" passage="Ge 42:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>. He
<i>remembered the dreams</i> (<scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.9" parsed="|Gen|42|9|0|0" passage="Ge 42:9"><i>v.</i>
9</scripRef>), but they had forgotten them. The laying up of God's
oracles in our hearts will be of excellent use to us in all our
conduct. Joseph had an eye to his dreams, which he knew to be
divine, in his carriage towards his brethren, and aimed at the
accomplishment of them and the bringing of his brethren to
repentance for their former sins; and both these points were
gained.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xliii-p8">I. He showed himself very rigorous and
harsh with them. The very manner of his speaking, considering the
post he was in, was enough to frighten them; for <i>he spoke
roughly to them,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.7" parsed="|Gen|42|7|0|0" passage="Ge 42:7"><i>v.</i>
7</scripRef>. He charged them with bad designs against the
government (<scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.9" parsed="|Gen|42|9|0|0" passage="Ge 42:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>),
treated them as dangerous persons, saying, <i>You are spies,</i>
and protesting <i>by the life of Pharaoh</i> that they were so,
<scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.16" parsed="|Gen|42|16|0|0" passage="Ge 42:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>. Some make
this an oath, others make it no more than a vehement asseveration,
like that, <i>as thy soul liveth;</i> however it was more than yea,
yea, and nay, nay, and therefore came of evil. Note, Bad words are
soon learned by converse with those that use them, but not so soon
unlearned. Joseph, by being much at court, got the courtier's oath,
<i>By the life of Pharaoh,</i> perhaps designing hereby to confirm
his brethren in their belief that he was an Egyptian, and not an
Israelite. They knew this was not the language of a son of Abraham.
When Peter would prove himself no disciple of Christ, he cursed and
swore. Now why was Joseph thus hard upon his brethren? We may be
sure it was not from a spirit of revenge, that he might now trample
upon those who had formerly trampled upon him; he was not a man of

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that temper. But, 1. It was to enrich his
own dreams, and complete the accomplishment of them. 2. It was to
bring them to repentance. 3. It was to get out of them an account
of the state of their family, which he longed to know: they would
have discovered him if he had asked as a friend, therefore he asks
as a judge. Not seeing his brother Benjamin with them, perhaps he
began to suspect that they had made away with him too, and
therefore gives them occasion to speak of their father and brother.
Note, God in his providence sometimes seems harsh with those he
loves, and speaks roughly to those for whom yet he has great mercy
in store.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xliii-p9">II. They, hereupon, were very submissive.
They spoke to him with all the respect imaginable: <i>Nay, my
lord</i> (<scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.10" parsed="|Gen|42|10|0|0" passage="Ge 42:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>)—a
great change since they said, <i>Behold, this dreamer comes.</i>
They very modestly deny the charge: <i>We are no spies.</i> They
tell him their business, that they came to buy food, a justifiable
errand, and the same that many strangers came to Egypt upon at this
time. They undertake to give a particular account of themselves and
their family (<scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.13" parsed="|Gen|42|13|0|0" passage="Ge 42:13"><i>v.</i>
13</scripRef>), and this was what they wanted.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xliii-p10">III. He clapped them all up in prison for
three days, <scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.17" parsed="|Gen|42|17|0|0" passage="Ge 42:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>.
Thus God deals with the souls he designs for special comfort and
honour; he first humbles them, and terrifies them, and brings them
under a spirit of bondage, and then binds up their wounds by the
Spirit of adoption.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xliii-p11">IV. He concluded with them, at last, that
one of them should be left as a hostage, and the rest should go
home and fetch Benjamin. It was a very encouraging word he said to
them (<scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.18" parsed="|Gen|42|18|0|0" passage="Ge 42:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>): <i>I
fear God;</i> as if he had said, "You may assure yourselves I will
do you no wrong; I dare not, for I know that, high as I am, there
is one higher than I." Note, With those that fear God we have
reason to expect fair dealing. The fear of God will be a check upon
those that are in power, to restrain them from abusing their power
to oppression and tyranny. Those that have no one else to stand in
awe of ought to stand in awe of their own consciences. See
<scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.15" parsed="|Neh|5|15|0|0" passage="Ne 5:15">Neh. v. 15</scripRef>, <i>So did not I,
because of the fear of God.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="Gen.xliii-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.21-Gen.42.28" parsed="|Gen|42|21|42|28" passage="Ge 42:21-28" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.42.21-Gen.42.28">
<h4 id="Gen.xliii-p11.4">Reflections of Joseph's
Brethren. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xliii-p11.5">b. c.</span> 1706.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xliii-p12">21 And they said one to another, We <i>are</i>
verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of
his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is
this distress come upon us.   22 And Reuben answered them,
saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child;
and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is
required.   23 And they knew not that Joseph understood
<i>them;</i> for he spake unto them by an interpreter.   24
And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to
them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and
bound him before their eyes.   25 Then Joseph commanded to
fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into
his sack, and to give them provision for the way: and thus did he
unto them.   26 And they laded their asses with the corn, and
departed thence.   27 And as one of them opened his sack to
give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money; for,
behold, it <i>was</i> in his sack's mouth.   28 And he said
unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, <i>it is</i> even
in my sack: and their heart failed <i>them,</i> and they were
afraid, saying one to another, What <i>is</i> this <i>that</i> God
hath done unto us?</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xliii-p13">Here is, I. The penitent reflection
Joseph's brethren made upon the wrong they had formerly done to
him, <scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.21" parsed="|Gen|42|21|0|0" passage="Ge 42:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>. They
talked the matter over in the Hebrew tongue, not suspecting that
Joseph, whom they took for a native of Egypt, understood them, much
less that he was the person they spoke of.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xliii-p14">1. They remembered with regret the
barbarous cruelty wherewith they persecuted him: <i>We are verily
guilty concerning our brother.</i> We do not read that they said
this during their three days' imprisonment; but now, when the
matter had come to some issue and they saw themselves still
embarrassed, now they began to relent. Perhaps Joseph's mention of
<i>the fear of God</i> (<scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.18" parsed="|Gen|42|18|0|0" passage="Ge 42:18"><i>v.</i>
18</scripRef>) put them upon consideration and extorted this
reflection. Now see here, (1.) The office of conscience; it is a
remembrancer, to bring to mind things long since said and done, to
show us wherein we have erred, though it was long ago, as the
reflection here mentioned was above twenty years after the sin was
committed. As time will not wear out the guilt of sin, so it will
not blot out the records of conscience; when the guilt of this sin
of Joseph's brethren was fresh they made light of it, and sat down
to eat bread; but now, long afterwards, their consciences reminded
them of it. (2.) The benefit of affliction; they often prove the
happy and effectual means of awakening conscience, and bringing sin
to our remembrance, <scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.13.26" parsed="|Job|13|26|0|0" passage="Job 13:26">Job xiii.
26</scripRef>. (3.) The evil of guilt concerning our brethren; of
all their sins, it was this that conscience now reproached them
for. Whenever we think we have wrong done us, we ought to remember
the wrong we have done to others, <scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:Eccl.7.21-Eccl.7.22" parsed="|Eccl|7|21|7|22" passage="Ec 7:21,22">Eccl. vii. 21, 22</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xliii-p15">2. Reuben alone remembered, with comfort,
that he had been an advocate for his

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brother, and had done what he could to prevent the mischief they
did him (<scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.22" parsed="|Gen|42|22|0|0" passage="Ge 42:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>):
<i>Spoke I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child?</i>
Note, (1.) It is an aggravation of any sin that it was committed
against admonitions. (2.) When we come to share with others in
their calamities, it will be a comfort to us if we have the
testimony of our consciences for us that we did not share with them
in their iniquities, but, in our places, witnessed against them.
This shall be our rejoicing in the day of evil, and shall take out
the sting.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xliii-p16">II. Joseph's tenderness towards them upon
this occasion. He retired from them to weep, <scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.24" parsed="|Gen|42|24|0|0" passage="Ge 42:24"><i>v.</i> 24</scripRef>. Though his reason directed that
he should still carry himself as a stranger to them, because they
were not as yet humbled enough, yet natural affection could not but
work, for he was a man of a tender spirit. This represents the
tender mercies of our God towards repenting sinners. See <scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.20" parsed="|Jer|31|20|0|0" passage="Jer 31:20">Jer. xxxi. 20</scripRef>, <i>Since I spoke
against him I do earnestly remember him still.</i> See <scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:Judg.10.16" parsed="|Judg|10|16|0|0" passage="Jdg 10:16">Judg. x. 16</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xliii-p17">III. The imprisonment of Simeon, <scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.24" parsed="|Gen|42|24|0|0" passage="Ge 42:24"><i>v.</i> 24</scripRef>. He chose him for the
hostage probably because he remembered him to have been his most
bitter enemy, or because he observed him now to be least humbled
and concerned; he bound him <i>before their eyes</i> to affect them
all; or perhaps it is intimated that, though he bound him with some
severity before them, yet afterwards, when they were gone, he took
off his bonds.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xliii-p18">IV. The dismission of the rest of them.
They came for corn, and corn they had; and not only so, but every
man had his money restored in his sack's mouth. Thus Christ, our
Joseph, gives out supplies without money and without price.
Therefore the poor are invited to buy, <scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.3.17-Rev.3.18" parsed="|Rev|3|17|3|18" passage="Re 3:17,18">Rev. iii. 17, 18</scripRef>. This put them into great
consternation (<scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.28" parsed="|Gen|42|28|0|0" passage="Ge 42:28"><i>v.</i>
28</scripRef>): <i>Their heart failed them, and they were afraid,
saying one to another, What is this that God hath done to
us?</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xliii-p19">1. It was really a merciful event; for I
hope they had no wrong done to them when they had their money given
them back, but a kindness; yet they were thus terrified by it.
Note, (1.) Guilty consciences are apt to take good providences in a
bad sense, and to put wrong constructions even upon those things
that make for them. They flee when none pursues. (2.) Wealth
sometimes brings as much care along with it as want does, and more
too. If they had been robbed of their money, they could not have
been worse frightened than they were now when they found their
money in their sacks. Thus he whose ground brought forth
plentifully said, <i>What shall I do?</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.12.17" parsed="|Luke|12|17|0|0" passage="Lu 12:17">Luke xii. 17</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xliii-p20">2. Yet in their circumstances it was very
amazing. They knew that the Egyptians abhorred a Hebrew (<scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.43.32" parsed="|Gen|43|32|0|0" passage="Ge 43:32"><i>ch.</i> xliii. 32</scripRef>), and therefore,
since they could not expect to receive any kindness from them, they
concluded that this was done with a design to pick a quarrel with
them, and the rather because the man, the lord of the land, had
charged them as spies. Their own consciences also were awake, and
their sins set in order before them; and this put them into
confusion. Note, (1.) When men's spirits are sinking every thing
helps to sink them. (2.) When the events of Providence concerning
us are surprising it is good to enquire what it is that God has
done and is doing with us, and to consider the operation of his
hands.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Gen.xliii-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.29-Gen.42.38" parsed="|Gen|42|29|42|38" passage="Ge 42:29-38" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.42.29-Gen.42.38">
<h4 id="Gen.xliii-p20.3">The Report Made to Jacob. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xliii-p20.4">b. c.</span> 1706.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xliii-p21">29 And they came unto Jacob their father unto
the land of Canaan, and told him all that befell unto them; saying,
  30 The man, <i>who is</i> the lord of the land, spake
roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country.   31 And
we said unto him, We <i>are</i> true <i>men;</i> we are no spies:
  32 We <i>be</i> twelve brethren, sons of our father; one
<i>is</i> not, and the youngest <i>is</i> this day with our father
in the land of Canaan.   33 And the man, the lord of the
country, said unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye <i>are</i> true
<i>men;</i> leave one of your brethren <i>here</i> with me, and
take <i>food for</i> the famine of your households, and be gone:
  34 And bring your youngest brother unto me: then shall I
know that ye <i>are</i> no spies, but <i>that</i> ye <i>are</i>
true <i>men: so</i> will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall
traffic in the land.   35 And it came to pass as they emptied
their sacks, that, behold, every man's bundle of money <i>was</i>
in his sack: and when <i>both</i> they and their father saw the
bundles of money, they were afraid.   36 And Jacob their
father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved <i>of my children:</i>
Joseph <i>is</i> not, and Simeon <i>is</i> not, and ye will take
Benjamin <i>away:</i> all these things are against me.   37
And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I
bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring
him to thee again.   38 And he said, My son shall not go down
with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if
mischief befal him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye
bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xliii-p22">Here is, 1. The report which Jacob's sons
made to their father of the great distress they had been in in
Egypt; how they had been suspected, and threatened, and obliged

<pb id="Gen.xliii-Page_236" n="236"/>

to leave Simeon a prisoner there, till they
should bring Benjamin with them thither. Who would have thought of
this when they left home? When we go abroad we should consider how
many sad accidents, that we little think of, may befal us before we
return home. <i>We know not what a day may bring forth;</i> we
ought therefore to be always ready for the worst. 2. The deep
impression this made upon the good man. The very bundles of money
which Joseph returned, in kindness to his father, frightened him
(<scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.35" parsed="|Gen|42|35|0|0" passage="Ge 42:35"><i>v.</i> 35</scripRef>); for he
concluded it was done with some mischievous design, or perhaps
suspected his own sons to have committed some offence, and so to
have run themselves into a <i>præmunire—a penalty,</i> which is
intimated in what he says (<scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p22.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.36" parsed="|Gen|42|36|0|0" passage="Ge 42:36"><i>v.</i>
36</scripRef>): <i>Me have you bereaved.</i> He seems to lay the
fault upon them; knowing their characters, he feared they had
provoked the Egyptians, and perhaps forcibly, or fraudulently,
brought home their money. Jacob is here much out of temper. (1.) He
has very melancholy apprehensions concerning the present state of
his family: <i>Joseph is not, and Simeon is not;</i> whereas Joseph
was in honour and Simeon in the way to it. Note, We often perplex
ourselves with our own mistakes, even in matters of fact. True
griefs may arise from false intelligence and suppositions,
<scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p22.3" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.13.31" parsed="|2Sam|13|31|0|0" passage="2Sa 13:31">2 Sam. xiii. 31</scripRef>. Jacob
gives up Joseph for gone, and Simeon and Benjamin as being in
danger; and he concludes, <i>All these things are against me.</i>
It proved otherwise, that all these were for him, were working
together for his good and the good of his family: yet here he
thinks them all against him. Note, Through our ignorance and
mistake, and the weakness of our faith, we often apprehend that to
be against us which is really for us. We are afflicted in body,
estate, name, and relations; and we think all these things are
against us, whereas these are really working for us the weight of
glory. (2.) He is at present resolved that Benjamin shall not go
down. Reuben will undertake to bring him back in safety (<scripRef id="Gen.xliii-p22.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.37" parsed="|Gen|42|37|0|0" passage="Ge 42:37"><i>v.</i> 37</scripRef>), not so much as putting
in, <i>If the Lord will,</i> nor expecting the common disasters of
travellers; but he foolishly bids Jacob slay his two sons (which,
it is likely, he was very proud of) if he brought him not back; as
if the death of two grandsons could satisfy Jacob for the death of
a son. No, Jacob's present thoughts are, <i>My son shall not go
down with you.</i> He plainly intimates a distrust of them,
remembering that he never saw Joseph since he had been with them;
therefore, "Benjamin shall not go with you, by the way in which you
go, for <i>you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the
grave.</i>" Note, It is bad with a family when children conduct
themselves so ill that their parents know not how to trust
them.</p>
</div></div2>