CHAPTER XLIII _The famine continuing, Jacob desires his sons to go again to_ _Egypt and buy some food_, 1, 2. _Judah shows the necessity of Benjamin's accompanying them,_ _without whom it would be useless to return to Egypt_, 3-5. _Jacob expostulates with him_, 6. _Judah replies, and offers to... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 43:8. _SEND THE LAD WITH ME_] As the original is not ילד _yeled_, from which we have derived our word _lad_, but נער _naar_, it would have been better had our translators rendered it by some other term, such as _the youth_, or _the young man_, and thus the distinction in the Hebrew wou... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 43:9. _LET ME BEAR THE BLAME FOR EVER_] וחטאתי לך כל הימים _vechatathi lecha col haiyamim, then shall I sin against thee all_ _my days_, and consequently be liable to punishment for violating my faith.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 43:11. _CARRY DOWN THE MAN A PRESENT_] From the very earliest times _presents_ were used as means of introduction to great men. This is particularly noticed by Solomon: _A man's gift maketh room_ _for him, and bringeth him before great men_, Proverbs 18:16. But what was the present bro... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 43:12. _DOUBLE MONEY_] What was returned in their sacks, and what was farther necessary to buy another load.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 43:14. This verse may be literally translated thus: "And God, the all-sufficient, shall give you tender mercies before the man, and send to you your other brother, and Benjamin; and I, as I shall be childless, so I shall be childless." That is, I will submit to this privation, till God... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 43:16. _SLAY, AND MAKE READY_] טבח טבח _teboach tebach, slay a_ _slaying_, or make a _great slaughter _- let preparations be made for a great feast or entertainment. See a similar form of speech, Proverbs 9:2; 1 Samuel 25:11; and Genesis 31:54.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 43:18. _AND THE MEN WERE AFRAID_] _A guilty conscience needs no_ _accuser_. Every thing alarms them; they now feel that God is exacting _retribution_, and they know not what the degrees shall be, nor where it shall stop. _FALL UPON US_] התגלל עלינו _hithgolel alainu_, roll himself upo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 43:20. _O SIR, WE CAME INDEED - TO BUY FOOD_] There is a frankness now in the conduct of Joseph's brethren that did not exist before; they simply and honestly relate the whole circumstance of the money being found in their sacks on their return from their last journey. _Afflictions_ fr... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 43:23. _AND HE SAID_] The address of the steward in this verse plainly proves that the knowledge of the true God was in Egypt. It is probable that the steward himself was a _Hebrew_, and that Joseph had given him intimation of the whole affair; and though he was not at liberty to revea... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 43:24. _BROUGHT THE MEN INTO JOSEPH'S HOUSE, C._] This is exactly the way in which a _Hindoo_ receives a guest. As soon as he enters, one of the civilities is the presenting of water to wash his feet. So indispensable is this, that water to wash the feet makes a part of the offering to... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 43:27. _AND HE ASKED THEM OF THEIR WELFARE_] This verse may be thus translated: "And he asked them concerning their prosperity; and he said, is your father prosperous, the old man who ye told me was alive? And they said, Thy servant our father prospers; he is yet alive.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 43:29. _HE LIFTED UP HIS EYES, AND SAW HIS BROTHER BENJAMIN_] They were probably introduced to him _successively_; and as Benjamin was the youngest, he would of course be introduced last. _GOD BE GRACIOUS UNTO THEE, MY SON!_] A usual salutation in the east from the aged and _superior... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 43:32. _THEY SET ON FOR HIM BY HIMSELF, C._] From the text it appears evident that there were _three_ tables, one for Joseph, one for the Egyptians, and one for the eleven brethren. _THE EGYPTIANS MIGHT NOT EAT BREAD WITH THE HEBREWS_] There might have been some _political_ reason for... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 43:33. _THE FIRST-BORN ACCORDING TO HIS BIRTHRIGHT_] This must greatly astonish these brethren, to find themselves treated with so much _ceremony_, and at the same time with so much _discernment_ of their respective ages.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 43:34. _BENJAMIN'S MESS WAS FIVE TIMES SO MUCH AS ANY OF_ _THEIRS._] Sir John Chardin observes that "in Persia, Arabia, and the Indies, there are several houses where they place several plates in large salvers, and set one of these before each person, or before two or three, according... [ Continue Reading ]