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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Genesis, Chapter XLIII].</TITLE>
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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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[<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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<HR>
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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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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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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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for they heard that they should eat
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bread there.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Jacob's sons, having got leave to take
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Benjamin with them, were observant of the
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orders their father had given them, and went
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down the second time into Egypt to buy
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corn. If we should ever know what a famine
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of the word means, let us not think it much
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to travel as far for spiritual food as they did
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for corporal food. Now here we have an account
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of what passed between them and Joseph's
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steward, who, some conjecture, was
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in the secret, and knew them to be Joseph's
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brethren, and helped to humour the thing;
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I rather think not, because no man was permitted
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to be present when Joseph afterwards
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made himself known to them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+45:1"><I>ch.</I> xlv. 1</A>.
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Observe,
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1. Joseph's steward has orders from
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his master (who was busy selling corn, and
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receiving money) to take them to his house,
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and make ready for their entertainment.
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Though Joseph saw Benjamin there, he
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would not leave his work at working-time,
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nor trust another with it. Note, Business
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must take place of civility in its season. Our
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needful employments must not be neglected,
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no, not to pay respect to our friends.
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2. Even this frightened them: <I>They were afraid,
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because they were brought into Joseph's house,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+43:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
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The just challenges of their own consciences,
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and Joseph's violent suspicions of
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them, forbade them to expect any favour,
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and suggested to them that this was done
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with a bad design upon them. Note, Those
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that are guilty and timorous are apt to make
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|
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."
|
|
|
|
(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."
|
|
|
|
(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
|
|
those who are servants in religious families
|
|
should take all fit occasions to speak of God
|
|
and his providence with reverence and seriousness.
|
|
|
|
(4.) He directs them to look up to
|
|
God, and acknowledge his providence in the
|
|
good bargain they had. We must own ourselves
|
|
indebted to God, as <I>our God and the
|
|
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
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<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>
|
|
|
|
<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>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) He placed his brethren according to
|
|
their seniority
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+43:33"><I>v.</I> 33</A>),
|
|
as if he <I>could certainly
|
|
divine.</I> Some think they placed themselves
|
|
so, according to their custom; but, if so, I
|
|
see not why such particular notice is taken
|
|
of it, especially as a thing they marvelled at.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(3.) He gave them a very plentiful
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Page240"> </A>
|
|
|
|
entertainment, sent messes to them from his own
|
|
table,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+43:34"><I>v.</I> 34</A>.
|
|
This was the more generous in
|
|
him, and the more obliging to them, because
|
|
of the present scarcity of provisions. In a
|
|
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.
|
|
It is said, <I>They drank and were merry;</I> their
|
|
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
|
|
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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