Matthew Poole and continuators on Genesis 43

2 And it came to pass when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food .

He saith, a little, either to shew, that he took no thought to satisfie his or their curiosity or luxury, but onely their necessity, for which a little would suffice, and that they must all moderate their appetites, especially in a time of such scarcity: or to encourage them to the journey by suggesting to them that they needed not bring great stores but onely what was sufficient for that year, and that God would provide better for them hereafter so as they should not need to go so far for corn any more.

3 And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us saying, Ye shall not see my face except your brother be with you.

See the same expression 2 S[illegible: 1+ letters]m. 14. 24, 32. Act. 20. 25, 38. Ye shall not be admitted into my presence, nor to the purchasing of any corn here.

Marginal references: Heb. protesting he protested.; chap. 42. 20. and 44. 23.

5 But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down , for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.

Because we shall both lose the end of our journey, viz. the getting of corn, and run the utmost hazard of all our lives.

7 And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenour of these words ; could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?

We gave answers su[illegible: 1+ letters]ble to his questions, or such as his words required.

Marginal references: Heb. asking he asked us.; Heb. mouth.; Heb. knowing could we know.

8 And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live, and not die, both we and thou, and also our little ones.

Who for his age and prudence and penitent carriage for his youthful follies was most beloved and regarded by his father.

So he calls him, because he was the youngest of all, though he was now 30 years old, and a father of divers children. See Gen. 30. 22. and 35. 18. and 41. 46. and 46. 21.

9 I will be surety for him: of my hand shalt thou require him: If I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever.

Heb. be an offender to thee, Let me bear the guilt and shame and punishment due to so great an offence.

Marginal references: chap. 44. 3[illegible: 1+ letters] ▪

11 And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this: take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrhe , nuts and almonds.

Of all which see Gen. 37. 25.

That kind of nuts which we call pistaches, as some Hebrew and other expositours render the word; for that was both an excellent fruit and peculiar to Iudea and Syria and well agreeing with the almonds which here follow.

12 And take double money in your hand, and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks: carry it again in your hand, peradventure it was an oversight .

Double to what you carried last, either to procure more corn, which may prevent the frequency of such perillous journies: or because the continuance and increase of the scarcity had advanced the price.

For it is their money, not ours, and therefore must be restored.

Either in you, or in the receiver of your money, who through multitude of buyers and haste in his business might easily be mistaken.

14 And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin: If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved .

An expression whereby he submits himself and children to Gods will and providence, whatever the issue shall be. Compare Esth. 4. 16. Or thus, As I have been already bereaved of some of my dearest children, so I shall be bereaved of the rest, and I shall be left solitary, and if this be my portion, Gods will be done.

Marginal references: Or, and I, as I have been, &c.

16 And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready: for these men shall dine with me at noon .

The usual time for the more solemn meal in the East Countries, as the evening was the time, and the supper the great meal among the Romans.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1+ letters] killing.; Heb. [illegible: 1 word].

18 And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Josephs house, and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time, are we brought in, that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen , and our asses.

The proper punishment for thieves.

Marginal references: Heb. roll himself upon us.

23 And he said, Peace be to you , fear not: your God, and the God of your father hath given you treasure in your sacks : I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.

No harm shall come to you for that matter.

Thus he speaks, because Ioseph had instructed him, as well as others of his family, in the true Religion.

By his power and providence secretly putting it there.

Marginal references: Heb. your money came to me.

28 And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive: and they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance.

By which expression delivered in Iacobs name and by his order Iacob himself made obeisance to him, as was foretold, Gen. 37. 9.

29 And he lift up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mothers son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? and he said, God be gracious unto thee my son .

(i. e.) More narrowly observed him, having now more leasure, than he seems to have had when he saw him first, ver. 16.

So he calls him, not from special affection, which he intended not yet to discover; but because this compellation is commonly used when a man speaks to another who is his inferiour in age, or dignity.

Marginal references: chap. 42. 13.

30 And Joseph made haste: for his bowels did yern upon his brother: and he sought where to weep, and he entred into his chamber, and wept there.

His heart and inward parts were vehemently moved, as they commonly are upon occasion of any excessive passion, of love, pity, grief, or joy, &c.

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 is an abomination unto the Egyptians .

Partly because the dignity of his place and the custom of Princes required this state: and partly for the reason here following.

Not so much from their pride and disdain of other people, as from their superstition and idolatry: partly because they worshipped the creatures, which the Hebrews and others did commonly eat: and partly because of some peculiar rites and customes which they had in the dressing and ordering of their diet. Whence Herodotus affirms, that the Egyptians would not use the pots nor knives of the Graecians about their food. Compare Gen. 46. 34. Exod. 8. 26.

33 And they sate before him, the first-born according to his birth-right, and the youngest according to his youth : and the men marvelled one at another.

Being so placed either by Iosephs appointment: or rather by their own choice and according to their custome; by which the elder, though the handmaidens children, took place of the younger, who by that order were taught what veneration they owe to the aged, and how great a sin it is, though very customary, in young men to despise those whom they should reverence.

Not the Egyptians, but the Hebrews, the men last spoken of.

Either at the matter and manner of the feasts and entertainments of the Egyptians; or rather at the singular honour which Ioseph did to them above all others, the reason whereof they could not conceive, and therefore marvelled at it.

34 And he took, and sent messes unto them from before him : but Benjamins mess was five times so much as any of theirs : and they drunk, and were merry with him.

It was the antient custom of Egypt and other countries, in their feasts, that either all the meat, or at least some eminent parts and parcels of it, were not promiscuously set before all the guests, but peculiarly distributed by the master of the feast to the several guests, and that differently according to his respect and affection to them, or to their several qualities. See 1 Sam. 1. 5. and 9. 22, 23, 24.

Partly because of his nearer relation and dearer affection to him, and partly to observe whether this would raise that envy in them towards him, which was the occasion of their malicious enterprize against himself, that he might accordingly provide for his security.

The Hebrew word oft signifies to be drunk, but oft-times it is onely to drink liberally, though not to drunkenness, as may appear from Cant. 5. 1. Hag. 1. 6. Ioh. 2. 10.

Marginal references: Heb. they drank largely.