Genesis 43:23

_AND THEY CAME NEAR TO THE STEWARD OF JOSEPH'S HOUSE, AND THEY COMMUNED WITH HIM AT THE DOOR OF THE HOUSE,_ No JFB commentary on these verses....

23._Peace be to you_. Because שלום (_shalom_,) among the Hebrews, signifies not only peace, but any prosperous and desirable condition, as well as any joyful event, this passage may be expounded in two ways: either that the ruler of Joseph’s house commands them to be of a peaceful and secure mind; or that he pronounces it to be well and happy with them. The sum of his answer, however, amounts to this, that there was no reason for fear, because their affairs were in a prosperous state. And since, after the manner of men, it was not possible that they should have paid the money for the corn which was found in their sacks, he ascribes this to the favor of God. For though true religion was then almost extinct in the world, God nevertheless caused some knowledge of his goodness always to remain in the hearts of men, which should render them responsible. Hence it has happened that, following n...

15-25 Jacob's sons 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 bodily food. Joseph's steward had orders from his master to take them to his house. Even this frightened them. Those that are guilty make the worst of every thing. But the steward encouraged them. It appears, from what he said, that by his good master he was brought to the knowledge of the true God, the God of the Hebrews. Religious servants should take all fit occasions to speak of God and his providence, with reverence and seriousness....

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 reveal it, yet he gives them assurances that the whole business would issue happily. _I HAD YOUR MONEY._] כספכם בא אלי _caspechem ba elai, your money_ _comes to me_. As I am the steward, the cash for the corn belongs to me. Ye have no reason to be apprehensive of any evil; the whole transaction is between myself and you; receive therefore the money as a present from _the God of your father_, no matter whose hands he makes use of to convey it. The _conduct_ of the steward, as well as his _words_, had a great tendency to relieve their bur

- Joseph and His Eleven Brethren 11. דבשׁ _d__e__bash_, “honey,” from the bee, or sirup from the juice of the grape. בטנים _bôṭ__e__n_, “pistachio nuts.” שׁקד _shâqêd_, “almond tree;” related: “awake.” The tree is also called לוּז _lûz_. Some refer the former to the fruit, the latter to the tree. The eleven brothers are now to bow down before Joseph. Genesis 43:1 The famine was severe. The pressure began to be felt more and more. The twelve households had at length consumed all the corn they had purchased, and the famine still pressed heavily upon them. Jacob directs them

EXPOSITION GENESIS 43:1, GENESIS 43:2 AND THE FAMINE WAS SORE (literally, _was heavy_)_ _IN THE LAND (_sc_._ _of Canaan). AND IT CAME TO PASS, when they had eaten up—literally, _had finished to eat up, i.e._ not nearly (Mercerus, Bush), but entirely consumed—THE CORN WHICH THEY HAD BROUGHT OUT OF EGYPT,—it is probable that only Jacob's family partook of the Egyptian corn, the slaves supporting themselves on roots, vegetables, and milk (Calvin, Rosenmüller, Gerlach)—THEIR FATHER SAID UNTO THEM, GO AGAIN, BUY US A LITTLE FOOD. What they could buy would be little in proportion to their needs....

AND HE SAID, PEACE [BE] UNTO YOU, FEAR NOT,.... Do not be uneasy and disturbed, you have nothing to fear, you are in no danger: YOUR GOD, AND THE GOD OF YOUR FATHER, HATH GIVEN YOU TREASURE IN YOUR SACKS; the hidden treasure, as the word signifies, found in their sacks; was there by the providence of God, so disposing the heart of Joseph to order it to be put there, as the steward interpreted it; who by being Joseph's family had got some knowledge of the true God, and of his all wise and disposing Providence: I HAD YOUR MONEY; he received it of them, which he acknowledges, and that was sufficient to acquit them from guile and theft, though he does not say that he put the money into their sacks, or by whose order it was done: AND HE BROUGHT SIMEON OUT UNTO THEM; either out of prison, or out of some other room to them, which was, no doubt, done by the direction of Joseph....

CHAPTER 43 THE SECOND VISIT TO JOSEPH _ 1. The journey to Egypt with Benjamin (Genesis 43:1)_ 2. The kindness of Joseph (Genesis 43:16)...

GENESIS 43. THE BROTHERS RETURN TO EGYPT WITH BENJAMIN. It is generally held that this chapter is from J except for the references to Simeon in Genesis 43:14 and Genesis 43:23_ b_. According to J, Simeon seems to have played no special part, and there is not the same urgency for return as in E; the discussion as to Benjamin is postponed till the corn is spent. Genesis 42:38 perhaps originally stood after Genesis 43:2. In the conversation Judah takes the part taken by Reuben in E (as in the discussion as to the killing of Joseph), and we learn that Joseph had ascertained Benjamin's existence by inquiry. Arrived in Egypt, they are tak

The Reception in Joseph's House 15. _stood before Joseph_ The story is condensed. The men on arrival in Egypt are required to present themselves for purposes of trade before Joseph....