Genesis 43:31-34
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.]
