The Pulpit Commentary — Genesis — Section 537

and arise, go again unto the man; and God themselves), :Because of the money that Almighty-El Shaddai, the covenant God of was returned in our sacks at the first time Abraham (eh. xvii. 1), and of Jacob himself are we brought in; that he may seek oooa- (eh. xxxv. 11)-give yon mercy (literally, sion against us,-Iiterally, that he may roll bowels, hence very tender affection, the in ward himself upon us (cf. Job xxx. 14; Ps. xxii. parts beinl( regarded as the seat of the emo- 8 ; xxxvii. 6 ; Prov. xvi. 3). "To say a tions) before the man, that he may send man rolls himself upon another is the away-literally, and he shall send with you Eastern way of saying he falls upon him" (Kalisch), or for you (Keil)-your other (Roberts' 'Oriental Illustrations,' p. 49)- brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of and fall upon us, and take us for bond.men, my children, I am bereaved-literally, and I, and our asses. The brethren of Joseph if I am bereaved, I am bereaved, an expression were clearly apprehensive of some serious of the patriarch's acquiescence in the Divine stratagem to deprive them of liberty. will (cf. 2 Kings vii. 4; Esther iv. 16). Vers. 19-22.-And they came near to Ver. 15.-And the men took that present the steward of Joeeph's house (literally, the (which Jacob had specified), and they took man who was over Joseph}s house), and double money (literally, a <UJubling of the they communed (or spake) with him at the •mmey, i. e. the first money, and as much door of the house (i. e. before they entered), again for the new purchase ; the phrase is and said, O sir,-literally, Pray, my lord; different from that used in ver. 12, though 0Eoµ.E6<1 riJpu (LXX. )-we came indeed down the words are the same) in their hand, and at the first time to buy food ; and it came Benjamin (sc. they took with them); and rose to pass, when we came to the inn,-or halt- up, and went down to Egypt, and stood be- ing-place (vide eh. xlii. 27)-that we opened fore Joseph (i. e. in the corn-market). our sacks,-this was not strictly accurate, as Ver. 16.-And when (literally, and) Joseph only one sack had been opened at the way- saw Benjamin with them, he (literally, and side khan, while the others were not examined he) said to the ruler of his house,-literally, till they had reached home ; though, as an to him uho was over his house, i. e. the explanation of the difficulty, it has been steward (cf. eh. xxiv. 2; xxxix. 4; xliv. 1) suggested (vide Keil's 'Introduction,' vol. i. -Bring these men home (i. e. conduct these p. 109, note by Prof. Douglas) that all the men to my house, which was probably at sacks may have been, and probably were, some distance), and slay,-literally, slay a opened at the inn, but that only one man slaughter. The assertion that the narrator found his money in his sack's mouth, ns the is here guilty of an inaccuracy in represent- next clause explains - and, behold, every ing Joseph as having animal food prepared man's money was in the month of his sack, for himself and his guests (Bohlen) is refuted -literally, a man's mrmey in the mouth of by Herodotus (ii 37, 40) and by Wilkinson his sack, i. e. one of them found his money ('.Ancient Egyptians,' voL ii. eh. vii. pp. there, while the others discovered their 22, 23, ed. 1878), who says that "beef and money, which was not "in the sack's mouth," goose constituted the principal part of the but "in the sack" (eh. xiii. 35), only on animal food throughout Egypt," and that emptying their sacks at home-our mon~y accor<ling to the sculptures " a consider- in full weight (literally, according to ita able quantity of meat was served up at those weight) : and we have brought it again in repasts to which strangers were invited." our hand. And other money (i. e. the second " Though there was sca!cely o.n an_imal silver of ver. 12) have we brought down in which was not held sacred m some provmce, our hands to buy food ; we cannot tell who there was, perhaps with the only exception put our money in onr sacks. of the cow, none which was not killed and Ver. 23.-And he said, Peace be to you, eaten in other parts of the land" (Kalisch) feo.r not; your God (Elohi.m), and the God -and make ready ; for these men shall of your father,-an indication that Joseph'e dine with me at noon-literally, at the steward had been taught to fear and trust double liqhts (C 1Ji;!'1), i. e. at mid-day, the the God of the Hebrews (Wordsworth, time of greatest spiendonr. Murphy)-hath given yon treasure in your Vers. 17, 18.-And the man did as Joseph sacks: I had your money (Iitero.lly, your bade; and the man brought the men into money came to me). And he brought Joseph's house. And the men were afraid, Simeon out unto them. because they were brought into Joseph's Ver. 24.-And the man (Joseph's steward) house. " A more natural picture of the brought the men into Joseph'e house, and conduct of men from the country, when gave them water, and they washed their taken into the house of a superior, cannot feet (cf. eh. xviii. 4; x:xiv. 32); and he be drawn. When they are told to go inside gave their asses provender. they at once suspect that they are about to Ver. 25.-And they made ready the pre· be punished or confined " (Roberts' 1 Oriental aent against Joseph oa.me at noon; for Illustrations,' p. 49). And they said (sc. to they heard that they should eat bread OB. xtm. 1-34.) THE BOOK OF GENESIS. 485