And thy servant my father said unto us ,.... When thus pressed to let Benjamin go with them: ye know that my wife bare me two sons ; Rachel, by whom he had Joseph and Benjamin, and whom he calls his wife, she being his only lawful wife; Leah was imposed upon him, Genesis 29:20 ; and the other two were concubines, Genesis 30:4 . read more
And the one went out from, me ,.... Being sent by him to see how his brethren did, who were feeding his flocks at Shechem, and he had never returned to him to that day: and I said, surely he is torn in pieces ; by some wild beast; this he said on sight of his coat, being shown him all bloody: and I saw him not since ; now twenty two years ago; for though Joseph was not such a great way off his father, especially if he was at Memphis, as some think; yet what through his confinement as... read more
And if ye take this also from me ,.... His son Benjamin, as he perhaps suspected they had taken Joseph, and made away with him: and mischief befall him ; either in Egypt, or on the road, going or returning, any ill accident, especially death, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan, or what may issue in it: ye shall bring my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave ; it would be the means of his death, and while he lived he should be full of sorrow and grief; see Genesis 42:38 . read more
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 result of the plot ( Genesis 44:13-16 ). II. BENJAMIN 'S SENTENCE ( Genesis 44:17 ). 1. Exceedingly severe . He became a bondman. Remark upon the sadness of slavery, even when most mitigated. 2. Circumstantially... read more
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 human heart, Joseph felt quite sure that the only way to move Jacob from Canaan was to detain Benjamin. II. THE SANCTITY OF THE AFFECTIONS . Real religion their only safeguard in the world's hardening and perverting influences. Joseph did apparent ... read more
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's loss would be to Jacob. "When he seeth the lad is not with us he will die." 3. The noble sacrifice he proposes to make for Benjamin. "Let thy servant abide instead of the lad, a bondman to my lord." II. THE CAUSE OF IT . 1. The memory of... read more
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 and fairest to be found in the Old Testament" (Lange), "a more moving oration than ever orator pronounced" (Lawson), "one of the finest specimens of natural eloquence in the world" (Inglis). Without being distinguished by either brilliant imagination or highly poetic diction,... read more
- The Ten Brothers Were TestedJoseph has had the satisfaction of seeing his brother Benjamin safe and well. He has heard his brothers acknowledging their guilt concerning himself. He resolves to put their attachment to Benjamin, and the genuineness of their change of disposition, to a test that will at the same time expose Benjamin to no hazard.Genesis 44:1-5And my cup. - Besides returning each man’s money as before, a silver cup of Joseph’s is put in Benjamin’s bag, after which, when daylight... read more
Genesis 44:18-34 . And Judah said We have here a most pathetic speech which Judah made to Joseph on Benjamin’s behalf. Either Judah was a better friend to Benjamin than the rest, and more solicitous to bring him off; or he thought himself under greater obligations to endeavour it than they were, because he had passed his word to his father for his safe return. His address, as it is here recorded, is so very natural, and so expressive of his present passion, that we cannot but suppose Moses,... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 44:18-34
We have here a most ingenious and pathetic speech which Judah made to Joseph on Benjamin's behalf, to obtain his discharge from the sentence passed upon him. Perhaps Judah was a better friend to Benjamin than the rest were, and more solicitous to bring him off; or he thought himself under greater obligations to attempt it than the rest, because he had passed his word to his father for his safe return; or the rest chose him for their spokesman, because he was a man of better sense, and better... read more