The First Book of Moses, called Genesis
Genesis 44
Chapter XLIV · Vol. I, pp. 287–288
1 Joseph's policy to stay his brethren. 18 Judah's humble supplication to him.
1 And he commanded athe steward of his house, saying, Fill the men's sacks with food,b as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his sack's mouth:
a Heb. him that was over his house, ch. 43.16,19.
b ch. 42.1; 43.2, i.e. corn.
2 And put my ccup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest, and his corn-money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.
c ch. 42.15. Mat. 10.16, with ch. 43.33.
3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.
4 And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?
5 Is not this it in which1 my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth?2 Ye have done evil in so doing.3
1 Did you not know that he would make a narrow search for his beloved cup, and would employ all that marvellous skill by which he hath advanced himself in power, to discover it?
2 Or, maketh trial.—[Divination, or an attempt to foresee the future by means of certain mysterious arts, was greatly practised by the Egyptians. Their favourite mode was from goblets of a spherical form. 'Small pieces of gold or silver, with precious stones, were thrown into the vessel; after which certain incantations were pronounced, and the evil demon invoked; the latter was then supposed to give the answer by pointing to some of the characters on the precious stones. Sometimes the goblet was filled with pure water, upon which the sun was allowed to play; and the figures which were thus formed were interpreted as the desired omen' (Kalisch).—P.]
3 However good the intention, and kind the feeling of Joseph, we may not approve or justify an artifice accompanied by a false accusation, and, ver. 13, much unnecessary harrowing of his brethren's feelings. The result, no doubt, established them fully in his confidence, but, as it appears, ch. 50.15, did not establish their confidence in him.—C.
6 And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words.
7 And they said unto him, dWherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing.
8 Behold, the money which we found in our sacks' mouths we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold?
9 With ewhomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die,4 and we also will be my lord's bondmen.5
A.M. 2298. B.C. 1706.
e ch. 31.32.
4 Innocence is confident, yet this was too rash and rigorous.
5 The implicit confidence of so many brethren in each others' honesty, is a noble tribute to Jacob's education of his family.—C.
10 And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless.
11 Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.
12 And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest; and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack.
13 Then they frent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city.6
f ch. 37.29. Nu. 14.6. 2 Sa. 1.2,11; 13.19.
6 Conscious of their own innocence, and disdainful of so vile a charge, they put the matter upon this short issue:—That whoever upon search should be found to have the cup, should be given up to suffer death, and themselves become all the lord's bound slaves. So said, so done; the beasts were unloaded, the sacks were searched, and to their great astonishment and surprise, the cup was found in Benjamin's. To no purpose it was for the poor youth to say anything in his own defence, upon such a demonstration none would believe him; and yet, being all concerned in the disgrace, they loaded their asses again, and in a mournful manner returned to the city.—Stackhouse.
14 And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house; (for he was yet there;) and they gfell before him on the ground.
g ch. 37.7,9.
15 Andh Joseph said unto them, iWhat deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?7
h See note on ver. 5.
i ch. 3.13; 4.10.
7 Or, make trial.
16 And kJudah said, lWhat shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, mwe are my lord's servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found.
17 And he said, nGod forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in opeace unto your father.
n ch. 18.25. Ps. 75.2.
o And safety, ch. 26.29.
18 Then pJudah came near unto him, and said,8 Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant; for thou art even qas Pharaoh.9
p Nu. 14.28. De. 32.44. Ju. 17.2.
8 Simplicity of narrative, pathetic appeal, filial affection, and generous devotedness, place this pleading of Judah beyond all example of excellence. But as it is the pleading of an elder brother for his brethren in the hour of shame, does it not forcibly suggest to a believer the pleading of him who, in the midst of our sins, 'was not ashamed to call us brethren,' He. 2.11, and 'who ever liveth to make intercession for us?' He. 7.25.—C.
q ch. 41.40,44. Pr. 19.12, with Jn. 5.22.
9 Thou hast as much power, and art as much to be dreaded, as king Pharaoh himself.
19 My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father or a brother?
20 And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a rchild of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him.
r ch. 35.18; 37.3; 43.8.
21 And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may sset mine eyes upon him.
s ch. 42.15,20; 43.29. Je. 40.4.
22 And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die.
23 And thou saidst unto thy servants, tExcept your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more.
t ch. 42.15,20; 43.3.
24 And it came to pass, when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.
26 And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down; for we may not see the man's face, except our youngest brother be with us.
27 And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife xbare me two sons:
A.M. 2298. B.C. 1706.
x Rachel, ch. 46.19; 30.22-24; 35.18.
28 And the one went out from me, and I said, Surelyy he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since:9
y ch. 37.33; 42.36,38.
9 Judah describes very passionately their father's melancholy condition for the loss of his son Joseph; the extreme fondness he had for his son Benjamin; the difficulty they were under to prevail with him to trust him with them, so that he himself was forced to become security for his safe return; and that, if he should go home without him, his father's life was so wrapt up in the child, that he would certainly die with grief. Rather, therefore, than see the grief of his aged father, and his gray hairs with sorrow descending to the grave, he offered himself an equivalent for his brother: 'Now, therefore, I beseech thee, my lord, let me, thy servant, abide here a slave instead of the lad, and let him go up with his brethren; for how shall I see my father without him?' This moving speech and generous offer were what Joseph's soul could not withstand; and therefore, being able to contain himself no longer, he ordered all the company to leave the room, that he might have a more affectionate freedom in discovering himself to his brethren.—Stackhouse.
29 And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with zsorrow to the grave.
30 Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; (seeing that ahis life is bound up in the lad's life;)
31 It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave.
32 For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, bIf I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever.
b ch. 43.8,9.
33 Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren.1
1 From this narrative, and from the apparent apathy of Benjamin himself in the whole affairs which so closely concerned him, the impression is apt to be left that he was a mere lad at the time, who required to be taken charge of by his brothers. This is a mistake. He was about or nearly thirty years old; and he had besides a large family. When he went down to Egypt, very soon after the scene here depicted, his family numbered no less than ten sons. It would seem, however, that he was a man of soft and gentle temperament, submissive to the will of others; and his father's tender and over-anxious training had not tended to give him vigour or self-reliance.—P.
Notes
Reflections.—The joys of this world are quickly changed into lamentation, mourning, and woe! But amidst all its variety of changes, we cannot but observe that God exactly fulfils his purposes in his own time, and makes the proudest to bow before the righteous at his pleasure. How pleasant it is when brethren's hearts are so united, that one is willing to bear another's burdens, however heavy and grievous! And it is highly becoming when children cannot bear to see the grief and distress of their aged parents, but are using every method to promote their peace. Learn, O my soul, to walk circumspectly! Snares may be laid for me where I least expect them. If I am wronged by false accusations, let me always observe and acknowledge the righteous hand of God therein. If I am overtaken in a fault, let my submission be humble and candid. Let me always give honour to whom honour is due; and be cautious in that which I utter before them. Let me be always faithful to my engagements, tenderly affectioned towards my parents, and ready to lay down my life for the brethren. But may my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, and my right hand forget her cunning, if I forget him whose way is in the sea, and his paths in the mighty waters of darkness and trouble, and who even in these reveals himself to his people: him who searcheth the hearts and trieth the reins of his people: him who ever liveth to make intercession for us: him who is the surety of the better testament; and who, when God had no pleasure in sacrifices and offerings, said, Lo, I come; I delight to do thy will, O my God: thy law is within my heart.