Genesis 42:1--45:28
Jacob ........ he <03290> [when Jacob.]
heard ............... looking <07200> [saw. i.e, heard, from the report of others, that there was plenty in Egypt.]
The operations of one sense are frequently put for those of another in Hebrew; (see the Parallel Passages.)
heard ............... looking <07200> [Why do ye.]
down <03381> [get you.]
live <02421> [that we.]
Benjamin <01144> [Benjamin.]
if <06435> [Lest.]
famine <07458> [for.]
ruler <07989> [governor.]
{Shallit,} an intendant, protector, ruler, from {shalat,} to be over or a protector, to rule: hence the Arabic {salita,} to obtain and exercise dominion, rule; and {sultÆ’n,} ruler, lord, prince, and king.
sold <07666> [he it was.]
bowed down <07812> [bowed.]
harshly ... asked ........ answered <07186 0559> [roughly unto them. Heb. hard things with them.]
recognized ........ recognize <05234> [but they knew.]
remembered <02142> [remembered.]
spies <07270> [Ye are spies.]
Persons who, under the pretence of wishing to buy corn, desire only to find out whether the land be so defenceless that the tribes to which you belong may attack it successfully, drive out the inhabitants, and settle themselves in it; or, having plundered it, retire into their deserts. This is a frequent custom among the Arabs to the present day.
vulnerable <06172> [nakedness.]
honest <03651> [We are, etc.]
We do not belong to different tribes; and it is not likely that one family would make a hostile attempt upon a whole kingdom; nor, if any serious design had been intended, that one man would have sent his sons on so hazardous an expedition.
honest .... servants <03651 05650> [true men.]
vulnerable <06172> [nakedness.]
servants <05650> [Thy servants.]
one .................. one <0259> [one is not.]
lives <02416> [By the life.]
youngest <06996> [except.]
prison <0631> [kept in prison. Heb. bound.]
imprisoned <0622> [put. Heb. gathered.]
imprisoned <04929> [ward.]
God <0430 03373> [I fear God.]
prison ............... families <01004> [house.]
take grain back <07668 0935> [carry corn.]
bring <0935> [bring.]
did <06213> [And they.]
said <0559> [they said.]
saw <07200> [we saw.]
distressed .................... distress <06869> [this distress.]
said ...... say <0559> [Spake I.]
blood <01818> [his blood.]
[he spake unto them by a interpreter. Heb. an interpreter was between them.]
The {mailitz} does not seem to have been an interpreter in our sense of the term; as we have many evidences in this book that the Egyptians, Hebrews, Canaanites, and Syrians, could understand each other in a general way; and it appears from several passages in this very chapter, (particularly ver. 24,) that Joseph and his brethren understood each others' language, as his brethren and Joseph's steward also did (ch. 43:19, etc; compare ch. 39; 49.) It seems to denote an officer who is called in Abyssinia, according to Mr. Bruce, {Kal Hatz‚,} "the voice or word of the king," who always stands at the side of a lattice window of a balcony, within which the king sits; who is never seen, but who speaks through a hole in the side of it, covered in the inside with a curtain, to this officer, by whom he speaks to the persons present.
wept <01058> [wept.]
Simeon <08095> [Simeon.]
orders <06680> [commanded.]
give ... provisions <05414 06720> [to give them.]
orders <03651> [and thus.]
resting place <04411> [the inn.]
resting place <04411> [inn.]
{Malon,} from {loon,} to stay, abide, lodge, denotes any place to stay and lodge in, particularly a place where travellers usually stop to lodge, which is generally near a well, where they fill their {girbehs,} or leathern bottles, with fresh water, and having unladen and clogged their camels, asses, etc., permit them to crop any little verdure there may be in the place, keeping watch over them by turns. Our word inn here gives us a false idea, there were no such places of entertainment in the desert which Joseph's brethren had to pass; nor are there any at the present day. The only accommodation such a place affords is either a well, or a {khan,} or {caravanserai,} which is generally no more than four bare walls, perfectly exposed, the place being open at the top, and furnishing a wretched lodging: and even these, it is probable, were not in use at this early period.
<03820> [their heart.]
dismayed .... trembling <03318 02729> [failed them. Heb. went forth.]
This refers to the spasmodic affection which is felt in the breast at any sudden alarm or fright.
God <0430> [What is.]
harshly ........... spying <07186 05414> [roughly to us. Heb. with us hard things.]
honest <03651> [true.]
twelve brothers <0251 06240> [twelve brethren.]
move about freely <05503> [traffick.]
each man's <0376> [every man's.]
childless <07921> [Me have ye.]
[all these things are against me.]
{Alay hayoo cullanah,} literally, "upon me are all these things:" rendered by the Vulgate, {in me h‘c omnia mala reciderunt,} "all these evils fall back upon me;" they lie upon me as heavy loads, hastening my death: they are more than I can bear.
two .... death <04191 08147> [Slay my.]
brother <0251> [his brother.]
accident <0611> [if mischief.]
go down ............................... bring down <03381> [bring.]
man <0376> [man.]
solemnly warned <05749> [did solemnly protest. Heb. protesting, protested.]
see ... face <06440 07200> [see my face.]
down <03381> [will not.]
questioned ... thoroughly <07592> [asked us straitly. Heb. asking asked us.]
way <06310> [tenor. Heb. mouth. could we certainly know. knowing could we know.]
boy ........ immediately <05288 06965> [lad with me.]
live <02421> [that we.]
little ones <02945> [also our.]
pledge <06148> [will be.]
hold <03027> [of my hand.]
twice <06471> [this second time. or, twice by this.]
then <0645> [If it must be.]
down <03381> [carry down.]
little balm .... little <04592 06875> [a little balm.]
balm <06875> [balm.]
For an explanation of the words {tzori, nechoth,} and {lot,} here rendered respectively balm, spices, and myrrh, see on ch. 37:25. {Devash,} honey, is supposed by some not to have been that produced by bees, but a syrup produced from ripe dates. The Jewish doctors observe, that the word in 2 Ch 31:5 signifies dates; and the Arabians, at this day, call the choicest dates preserved with butter, {dabous,} and the honey obtained from them, {dibs,} or {dabs.} {Benanim,} nuts signifies pistachio nuts, the finest thing found in Syria; but, according to the others, a small nut, the produce of a species of the turpentine tree. {Shekaidim} is certainly almonds.
honey <01706> [honey.]
spices <05219> [spices.]
double <04932> [double.]
mouths <06310> [mouth.]
God <0410> [And God.]
As .......... lose <0834 07921> [If I be, etc. or, and I, as I have been, etc.]
[See on ver.]
household ....... house <01004> [the ruler.]
Slaughter <02873> [slay. Heb. kill a killing.]
{Tevoch taivach,} "slay a slaying," or make a great slaughter: let preparations be made for a great feast or entertainment. See a similar form of speech in ch. 31:54. .# 1Sa 25:11 Pr 9:2
with ............................. eat with .... noon <0854 0398 06672> [dine with. Heb. eat.]
<0582> [the men.]
wants to capture <01556 05307> [seek occasion against us. Heb. Roll himself upon us.]
come down <03381> [we came indeed down. Heb. coming down we came down.]
came <0935> [we came.]
returned <07725> [we have.]
fine <07965> [Peace.]
money .... brought <0935 03701> [I had your money. Heb. Your money came to me.]
{Caspechem ba ailai,} "your money comes to me:" as I am the steward, the cash for the corn belongs to me. Ye have no occasion 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 employs to convey it.
Simeon <08095> [Simeon.]
bowed down <07812> [bowed.]
well <07965> [welfare. Heb. peace.]
father well <01 07965> [Is your father well. Heb. Is there peace to your father? the old.]
bowed <06915> [bowed.]
humility <07812> [made obeisance.]
mother's son ........................ son <01121 0517> [mother's son.]
said ......... told ...... said <0559> [of whom.]
God <0430> [God.]
son ........................ son <01121> [my son.]
affection <07356> [his bowels.]
tears ......... wept <01058> [wept there.]
composure <0662> [refrained.]
food <03899> [bread.]
eating .......... eat <03899 0398> [eat bread.]
disgusting <08441> [for that is an abomination.]
The Chaldee Paraphrast renders this clause, "Because the Hebrews eat the cattle which the Egyptians worship." But, as we learn from ver. 16, compared with this verse, that the provision for the entertainment of the Egyptians themselves was animal food, this reason cannot be just. The true reason seems to be that assigned by the LXX., [Bedlyma gar estin tois Aigyptiois pas poim‚n probaton:] "For every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians."
[44.12]
portions .......... portion .......... portions <04864> [messes.]
five times <02568 03027> [was five times.]
Sir John Chardin observes, that "in Persia, Arabia, and the Indies, there are some houses where they place several plates in large salvers, and set one of these before each person, or before two or three, according to the magnificence of each house. The great men of the state are always served by themselves, in the feasts that are made for them; and with great profusion, their part of each kind of provision being always double, treble, or a larger proportion of each kind of meat."
drunk <07937> [were merry. Heb. drank largely.]
household <01004> [the steward. Heb. him that was over his house.]
once <06965> [Up.]
repaid <07999> [Wherefore.]
divination <05172> [divineth. or, maketh trial.]
In the East, there is an ancient tradition, that there was a Cup which possessed the strange property of representing in it the whole world, and all the things which were then doing. The cup is called {Jami Jemsheed,} "the cup of Jemsheed," a very ancient king of Persia; and they say that it was discovered, filled with the elixir of immortality, when digging to lay the foundations of Persepolis. The Persian poets are full of allusions to this cup, which they style {Jem jehan nima,} the cup shewing the universe; and to it they ascribe all the prosperity of their ancient monarchs. Many of the Mahometan princes and governors affect still to have information by means of a cup. Now, though it cannot be admitted that Joseph practised divination, yet, according to the superstition of those times, supernatural influence might be attributed to HIS CUP.
money .......................... silver <03701> [the money.]
steal <01589> [how then.]
die <04191> [both.]
lord's <0113> [and we.]
<04672> [he with whom.]
began <02490> [began.]
cup <01375> [and the cup.]
threw <05307> [he was yet.]
threw <05307> [fell.]
think <04639> [What.]
know .... man <03045 0376> [wot ye not.]
find out things ..... divination <05172> [divine. or, make trial.]
Judah <03063> [Judah.]
replied ..... say <0559> [What shall we say.]
ourselves God ......................... found <0430 04672> [God hath.]
sin <05771> [iniquity.]
lord ....................... lord's <0113> [behold.]
Far be it <02486> [God forbid.]
slave <05650> [he shall.]
peace <07965> [in peace.]
lord ........... you <0994 0113> [Oh my Lord.]
"No paraphrase," says Dr. A. Clarke, "can heighten the effect of Judah's address to Joseph. To add, would be to diminish its excellence; to attempt to explain, would be to obscure its beauties; to clothe the ideas in other language than that of Judah, and his translators in our Bible, would ruin its energy, and destroy its influence. It is perhaps one of the most tender, affecting pieces of natural oratory ever spoken or penned: and we need not wonder to find that, when Joseph heard it, he could not refrain himself, but wept aloud. His soul must have been insensible beyond what is common to human nature, had he not immediately yielded to a speech so delicately tender, and so powerfully impressive."
servant ............... servant <05650> [let thy.]
angry <0639> [anger.]
Pharaoh <06547> [as Pharaoh.]
said <0559> [we said.]
Every word in this verse is simplicity and pathos itself. No man of the least sensibility can read it without great emotion. Indeed the whole speech is exquisitely beautiful, and perhaps the most complete pattern of genuine natural eloquence extant in any language. When we read this generous speech, we forgive Judah all the past, and cannot refuse to say, "Thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise."
boy <03206> [a child.]
brother <0251> [and his brother.]
left <03498> [he alone.]
down <03381> [Bring.]
so ... can <07760> [that I may.]
die <04191> [his father would die.]
told .... words <05046 01697> [we told him.]
first <0259> [the one.]
torn ... pieces <02963> [Surely.]
take <03947> [And if.]
tragedy <07451> [sorrow.]
return <0935> [When I.]
life ........ life <05315> [his life]
sees <07200> [when he.]
servants ... bring down ....... servant <05650 03381> [servants shall.]
grave <07585> [grave.]
servant ...... slave <05650> [therefore.]
What must Benjamin have felt when he heard his brother conclude his speech by a proposal which could never have been thought of if it had not been actually made! Perhaps the annals of the whole world do not produce an instance of so heroic and disinterested affection in any mere man.
servant ...... slave <05650> [I pray thee.]
boy ..... boy <05288> [instead.]
see <07200> [lest.]
couldn't <04672> [come on. Heb. find.]
able ... control <03201 0662> [could not.]
Make ... go out <03318> [Cause.]
wept loudly <05414 06963> [wept aloud. Heb. gave forth his voice in weeping.]
"This," says Sir J. Chardin, "is exactly the genius of the people of Asia; their sentiments of joy or grief are properly transports, and their transports are ungoverned, excessive, and truly outrageous. When anyone returns from a long journey or dies, his family burst into cries that may be heard twenty doors off; and this is renewed at different times, and continues many days, according to the vigour of the passion. Sometimes they cease all at once, and then begin as suddenly, with a greater shrillness and loudness than one could easily imagine."
Joseph ........ Joseph <03130> [I am Joseph.]
dumbfounded <0926> [for they.]
dumbfounded <0926> [troubled. or, terrified.]
Joseph ................... Joseph <03130> [I am Joseph.]
upset <06087> [be not grieved.]
angry <02734 05869> [nor angry with yourselves. Heb. neither let there be anger in your eyes. God.]
years ............. years <08141> [two years.]
plowing <02758> [earing.]
Earing means ploughing or seed-time from the Anglo-Saxon {erian,} probably from {aro,} to plough; and agrees with [aroo <\\See definition 723\\>,] Greek, {charatha,} Arabic, and {charash,} Hebrew.
preserve <07760 07611> [to preserve you a posterity. Heb. to put for you a remnant. to save.]
sent <07971> [it was not.]
adviser <01> [father.]
tell <0559> [Thus saith.]
down <03381> [come.]
land <0776> [in the land.]
Goshen <01657> [Goshen.]
Goshen was the most eastern district of Lower Egypt, and the frontier of that country and Arabia, not far from the Arabian gulf, and lying next to Canaan; for Jacob went directly thither when he came into Egypt, from which it was about eighty miles distant, though Hebron was distant from the Egyptian capital about three hundred miles.
near <07138> [be near.]
can ....... eyes <05869> [your eyes.]
speaks <06310> [my mouth.]
[Not as.]
honor <03519> [my glory.]
down <03381> [bring.]
kissed <05401> [Moreover.]
talked <01696> [talked.]
Pharaoh ....... pleased Pharaoh <06547 03190> [it pleased Pharaoh well. Heb. was good in the eyes of]
Pharaoh.
Load ... animals <02943 01165> [lade your.]
best <02459> [the fat.]
commanded <06680> [commanded.]
[waggons.]
little ones ..... wives <02945 0802> [for your.]
worry .... belongings <02347 03627> [regard not. Heb. let not your eye spare, etc.]
belongings <03627> [stuff.]
best <02898> [the good.]
[waggons.]
instructed <06310> [commandment. Heb. mouth.]
gave .............. gave <05414> [To all.]
It is a common custom with all the Asiatic sovereigns to give both garments and money to ambassadors and persons of distinction, whom they particularly wish to honour. De La Motraye says, "that they then clothed them (the ambassadors) with {caffetans} (long vests of gold or silver brocade) with large silk flowers."
<0376> [each.]
Benjamin <01144> [to Benjamin.]
loaded ..... products ........ loaded ... grain <05375 02898 01250> [laden with. Heb. carrying.]
products <02898> [good things.]
provisions <04202> [meat.]
As {mazon} is derived from {zoon,} to prepare, provide, Dr. A. Clarke thinks it may mean here prepared meat; some made-up dish, delicacies, confectionaries, etc. In Asiatic countries they have several curious methods of preserving flesh by potting, by which it may be kept, for any length of time, sweet and wholesome. Some delicacy, similar to the savoury meat which Isaac loved, may here be intended; sent to Jacob in consideration of his age, and to testify the respect of his son; for of other kinds of meat he could have no need, as he had large flocks and herds, and could kill a lamb, kid, etc. when he pleased.
overcome <07264> [See that.]
Joseph <03130> [Joseph.]
ruler <04910> [and he is.]
stunned <03820> [And Jacob's. Heb. And his.]
believe <0539> [he believed.]
spirit <07307> [the spirit.]
Enough <07227> [It is enough.]
