Genesis 44:1-34
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.]
Genesis 39:5
Joseph's <03130> [for Joseph's.]
Genesis 39:22
put <05414> [committed.]
Esther 10:3
second .... King <04428 04932> [next unto king.]
<07521> [accepted.]
enthusiastically <01875> [seeking.]
REMARKS ON THE BOOK OF ESTHER. This Book, which derives its name from the person whose history it chiefly relates, is termed in Hebrew, [megillƒh <\\See definition 04039\\> 'Ectˆr <\\See definition 0635\\>,] megillath Esther, "the volume of Esther." Concerning its author there are various opinions: some attribute it to Ezra; some to Joachim, the son of Joshua the high priest; others to the men of the great synagogue; and others to Mordecai, which seems the most probable opinion. The events here related probably refer to the time of Artaxerxes Longimanus, who, according to Prideaux, was the Ahasuerus of Esther, agreeably to Josephus, (Ant. 1 xi. c. 6,) the Septuagint version, and the apocryphal additions to this book. The history, therefore, comes in between the sixth and seventh chapters of Ezra, commencing about A.M. 3540, and continuing through a period of twelve years: it relates the royal feast of Ahasuerus; the disgrace of Vashti, (ch. 1:;) the elevation of Esther to the Persian throne; the essential service rendered to the king by Mordecai, in detecting a plot against his life, (ch. 2:;) the promotion of Haman, and his purposed destruction of the Jews, (ch. 3:;) the consequent affliction of the Jews, and the measures pursued by them, (ch. 4:;) the defeat of Haman's plot, through the instrumentality of Esther, against Mordecai, (ch. 5:-7:;) and also the defeat of his general plot against the Jews, (ch. 8:; 9:1-15;) the institution of the feast of Purim to commemorate this deliverance, (ch. 9:16-32;) and the advancement of Mordecai, (ch. 10:;) and though some Christians have hesitated to receive this book into the sacred canon, yet it has always been received by the Jews, not only as perfectly authentic, but also as one of the most excellent of their sacred books. That it is a genuine and faithful description of a real fact, the observation of the feast of Purim, to the present day, is a sufficient evidence; since it is impossible, and in fact inconceivable, that a nation should institute, and afterwards continue to celebrate without interruption, through every generation of that people, in a long succession of ages, in whatever places they may have sojourned, this solemn annual festival, merely because one of their nation had written an agreeable fable or romance. It has been remarked, as an objection to this book, that the name of God no where occurs in it: His superintending providence, however, is frequently illustrated. It is shewn, indeed, in every part of the work; disconcerting evil designs, and producing great events, by means seemingly inadequate. It also presents an interesting description of mortified pride, and of malice baffled to the destruction of its possessors; and exhibits a very lively representation of the vexations and troubles, the anxieties, treachery, and dissimulation of a corrupt court.
Proverbs 17:2
wisely <07919> [wise.]
shamefully <0954> [that.]
Proverbs 22:29
person <0376> [a man.]
position ......... position <03320> [he shall stand.]
That is, he shall have the honour of serving kings; as the phrase denotes.
obscure <02823> [mean men. Heb. obscure men.]
Daniel 2:7-8
king <04430> [Let.]
gain <02084> [gain. Chal. buy.]
Daniel 4:2-3
delighted ..... about <06925 08232> [I thought it good. Chal. It was seemly before me.]
most high <05943> [that.]
great <07260> [great.]
kingdom <04437> [his kingdom.]
from <05974> [is from.]
Daniel 6:3
was distinguishing himself <01934 05330> [was preferred.]
extraordinary <03493> [an.]
intended <06246> [thought.]
Intended to make him grand vizier or {emiru'l umra.} Daniel had now been employed full sixty-five years as prime minister under the kings of Babylon; and was justly entitled, from his acknowledged wisdom, to this preference.
Matthew 28:18
All <3956> [All.]
Philippians 2:9-11
God <2316> [God.]
gave <5483> [given.]
every <3956> [every.]
under the earth <2709> [under.]
every <3956> [every.]
Lord <2962> [is Lord.]
to ... glory <1519 1391> [to the.]
