Matthew Poole and continuators on Genesis 43:34

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.