Chap. XL | p(4.e.) Is dead, as thar Phraſe often ſignifies both in Scripture, as Gen: 37 30. and 44. 20. Jer. 31.15. Matth: 2. 17, 18. and in other Authors, as Homer, Enripicles, &c. They concluded with great probability that he was dead, chap. 44. 20.. becauſe for twenty years together they had heard nothing, either of him or from himz which may ſeem {trange, conſidering the nearneſs of Egypt and Ca- nan ; But this came tr» paſs partly from his own long Impriſon- ment, and afterwards from his great and high Employment ; part- ly from his loathneſs to bring ſo much miſchief to his Father, and Brethren, as the diſcovery of his caſe might have produced ; and principally from the over-ruling Providence of God, which for its own glorious deſign diſpoſed of Joſeph's Mind and Afffairs, ſo that heceither did not fend to his Father's Houſe, or that the Meſla- ges were intercepted, there being not then thoſe conveniencies for mutua] correſpondencies which now there are. And it is not im- probable thar Joſeph might be further acquainted with the mind of Gold in this matter by Dreams, which may ſeem to have been fami= larly afforded to him, together with the Interpretation of them. See Gen: 40. 8. and 41. 16. | 14 And Joſeph faid unto them, That is it that T
{ſpake unto you, ſaying, Ye areſpies q. 9 This juſtifies my Accuſation ; for it is not probable, that one
in one Family, and that he ſhould expoſe them all to the perils of ſucha Journey.
15 Hereby ye ſhall be proved : * By the life of Pha- *se2xSam; raoh 7,ye ſhall not gofurth hence, except your young- 1. 26: and eſt brother come hither. | T7-55+
r As ſure as Pharaohlives. It ſeems to be the form of an Oath inuſe among the Egyptians, as afterwards the Romans uſed to ſwear by the Name, Genious, Health and Life, of their Emperors. Com+ pare 1 Sam. r. 26.and 17. 55. 2 Kings 22. Ezek.33, 11. Andit is not {trange that Joſeph through humane infirmity was carried by the ſtream of the general praice of the Court, eſpecially when the law of God was not yet delivered concerning the appropriation of Oaths unto God. ;
16 Send one of you, and let him fetch your bros ther, and ye ſhall be Þ kept in priſon, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or elſe by the life of Pharaoh ſurely. ye are ſpies.
17 4nd heF put them all together into ward ſeyen 4 jp. dayes, thered;
18 And Joſeph ſaidunto them the third day, This do, andlive s : * for I fear Godr. * Neh. 5
5 I will ſpare your lives,and not puniſh you with death as Spies, 15. and you ſhall carry proviſions, that your family alſo may hve er. And therefore will not be cruel toyou, nor to your brother whom you ſhall live with me. This might haveraiſed ſome ſuſpicion concerning Joſeph. but that they knew there were divers among the Heathens who did own the true God,though they worſhipped Idols with him.
is It ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the houſe of your priſon * : go ye,carry corn for the famine of your houſes :
* In which you are now imprifoned,and are ſtill like to be fo, if _ you accept not this condition. 2
20 But * bring your youngeſt brother unto me, fo « cy,ugg ſhall your words be verified, and ye ſhall not die: and 43.5.
they did fox. |
# (7. e.) Reſolved and promiſed to do ſo. Theſe things are ofc ſaid to be done in Scripture, which were ſincerely refolved upon, as hath been noted before.
2t And they faid one to another , We are verily guilty x concerning our brother, in that we ſaw the an- 2uith of his foul, when hebefought us y, and we would - not hear: therefore is this diſtreſs come upon ns 2,
\x Thisis the juſt puniſhment of that great wickedneſs, whicle though we could cover from men, yer we now ſee and feel was known to God, who is now reckoning with us forit. Thus Divine Vengeance overtakes them, and Conſcience tortures them for a ſin committed above 20 years beforc,and their affliftion brings them to Repentance. y Compare Gen: 49. 23. Yet this paſſage is not men- tioned in that Hiſtory, chap.37. Learn hence,that the filence of the Scripture is no good Argument that ſuch or ſuch a thing was not ſaid or done, except in ſome ſpecial caſes. z He is inexorable to us, as we wereto him. | ; _
22 And Reuben anſwered them, ſaying, * Spake I * Chaps. not unto you, ſaying, Do not ſin againſt the child, and 37. #4 * ye would not hear? therefore behold alfo his blood # is required. Ny Es |
a The puniſhment of his blood or death occaſioned by us.
23 And they knew not that Joſeph underſtood them: for F he ſpake unto them by an Interpreter. + Heb, 24 And he turned: himſelf about from them, and ;urergrere wept 5, and returned to them again, and communed was be- with them, and took from them Simeon c, and bound #72 'am
him before their ey es 9.
b Tears partly of natural affetion and compaſſion fowards his brethren, now in great diſtreſs and anguiſh; and partly of joy to ſee the happy ſucceſs of his defign,and rigorous carriage, in bring» ing them to the ſight of their fins. c Whom he chuſeth ro punith, partly, becauſe next to Reuben he was the eldeſt, and as it may be * probably gzthered from his bloody diſpoſition, Gen: 34. 25. and 49. 6. the moſt fierce and forward againſt Joſeph, when Reuven wals for milder counſels, as we ſee here, ver. 22. and chap. 37. 29. and partly becaufe the detainmenrt of one of ſo perverſe and furious a temper would leaſt afflift his father, and moſt ſecure Benjamin, who | was to come with his Brethren. d That irmight make deeper im- preſſion upon their hard hearts, and make their repentance more
3 i
+ Heb:
bound.
25 Then
5
E=
25 Then Joſeph commanded to hil their ſacks with corn, and to reſtore every mans money inte his ſack, and to give themproviſion for the way, and thus did he
- _ unto them. 26 And they laded thcir aſſes with the corn, and de-
parted thence. : 27 And as one of them e opened hisſack, to give his aſs provender in the inn, he eſpiedhis money ; for be- hold, it as in his ſacks mouth.
" e And afterhim the reſt by hisexample and information did ſo,
as is affirmed, chap. 43. ver- 21. and itis not denied here. 28 And he {aid unto his brethren, My money 1s tHebwer reftored,and lo, it is even in my ſack ; and their heart F
97% > failedthem, and they were afraid f, ſaying one toano-
ther, What is this that God hath done unto us