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The Pulpit Commentary
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 43:27
And he asked them of their welfare (literally, peace), and said, Is your father well (literally, Is there peace to your father?), the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 43:28
And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance.
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 43:29
And he (i.e. Joseph) lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said (without waiting for an answer), God be gracious unt…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 43:30
And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn (literally, were becoming warm, from intensity of tore) upon his brother: and he sought where to weep;—the second occasion on which Joseph is represented as overcome by th…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 43:31
And he washed his face (an indication of the violence of his weeping), and went out (from his chamber), and refrained himself (keeping his tears in check), and said, Set on bread—an expression used at the present day in…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 43:32
And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves. "Joseph eats apart from his brethren, keeping strictly to the Egyptian mode; and the history…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 43:33
And they sat before him,—that the Egyptians sat at meals is in exact accordance With the representations on the monuments, in which they are never exhibited as reposing on couches, but always as seated round a circular…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 43:34
And he took and sent (literally, and he sent) messes—maseoth, from nasa, to take or lift up, i.e. things taken or lifted up, hence portions or gifts (2 Samuel 11:8)—unto them from before him (cf. 1 Samuel 9:23). The pra…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 44:1-34
Character built on faith. This chapter continues the same thread of Joseph's policy, and the same lessons are in it. I. PRACTICAL WISDOM THE FRUIT OF PIETY. The true man is the strong man. With a deep knowledge of the h…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 44:1-34
EXPOSITION Genesis 44:1, Genesis 44:2 And he (i.e. Joseph) commanded the steward of his house,—literally, him that was over his hoarse (Genesis 43:15)—saying, Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, a…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 44:1-34
Joseph's artifice to detain Benjamin, or the story of the silver goblet. I. JOSEPH'S STRATAGEM (Genesis 44:1-13). 1. The formation of the plot (Genesis 44:1-5). 2. The execution of the plot (Genesis 44:6-12). 3. The res…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 44:3-5
As soon as the morning was light (literally, the morning became bright), the men (literally, and the men) were sent away, they and their asses. That Joseph did not make himself known to his brothers at the repast was no…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 44:5
Probation. Divination by cups was practiced by the ancient Egyptians. But no reason to suppose that Joseph actually used this art. It would have been inconsistent with his habitual faithfulness to God, and with the ascr…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 44:6
And he (i.e. the steward) overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words.
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 44:7-10
And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do (literally, for be thy seesaws from doing) according to's thing: behold, the money (literally, the silver), which we fo…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 44:11-13
Then they speedily took down (literally, and they hasted and took down) every man his sack (from off his ass) to the ground, and opened every man his sack. Thus as it were delivering them up for examination. And he (the…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 44:14-17
And Judah—who is recognized as the leader in this second embassy to Egypt (Genesis 43:8)—and his brethren came to Joseph's house; for he was yet there:—"awaiting, no doubt, the result which he anticipated" (Murphy)—and…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 44:14-34
The conversion of Judah. I. THE EVIDENCE OF IT. 1. The unexpected confession of guilt which he makes. "God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants." 2. The sensitive appreciation of the terrible blow which Benjamin'…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 44:18-34
Then Judah came near to him, and said,—the speech of Judah in behalf of his young brother Benjamin has been fittingly characterized as "one of the master. pieces of Hebrew composition" (Kalisch), "one of the grandest an…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 44:32
A surety. "For thy servant became surety for the lad unto his father." The brethren of Joseph had been surprised on their second visit to Egypt at the cordiality of their reception. They started homewards with well-lade…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 45:1-15
Darkness turned into light. Joseph's revelation of himself to his brethren in the atmosphere of the purest brotherly affection and grateful acknowledgment of Divine goodness. Only small natures are ashamed of tears. At…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 45:1-15
EXPOSITION Genesis 45:1, Genesis 45:2 Then (literally, and) Joseph could not refrain himself (i.e. keep himself from giving way to the impulses of love) before all them that stood by him (i.e. the Egyptian officials of…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 45:1-15
Joseph's discovery of himself to his brethren. I. THE ANNOUNCEMENT. "I am Joseph, whom ye sold into Egypt." 1. How it was made. 2. How it was received. II. THE COMMISSION. 1. To carry an invitation. "Haste ye, and go up…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 45:3
And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph. The effect of this announcement can be better imagined than described. Hitherto he had been known to his brethren as Zaphnath-paaneah. Now the voice and the appearance of…