Genesis 44:18-45:3

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 44:18

‘The Judah came near to him and said, “Oh my lord, let your servant I pray you speak a word in my lord’s ears. And do not let your anger burn against your servant for you are as Pharaoh.” Judah assures the great man that he recognises his greatness. Indeed he is depending on it. He is surely great enough to listen to a case that a lesser man may not be able to listen to. He is above accountability for he is as Pharaoh himself with total power. He begs that he will listen patiently to what he... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 44:1-34

Genesis 44. Benjamin is Accused of Stealing Joseph’ s Silver Cup, and Judah Pleads with Joseph to Punish him instead of Benjamin.— The narrative is from J. Joseph arranges this final test that he may be fully assured as to the true disposition of the brothers. At the same time, it is skilfully planned to prolong their suspense, swing them to and fro between hope and despair, and harrow them in their tenderest feelings. They have come safely through a rather perilous situation, Simeon has been... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 44:18

Judah made a little nearer approach to him, that he might present his humble petition to him. In my lord’s ears, in thy hearing; for this phrase doth not necessarily imply that he whispered in his ears; as appears from Numbers 14:28; Deuteronomy 32:44; Judges 17:2. Thou art even as Pharaoh; as thou representest his person, so thou art invested with his majesty and authority, and therefore thy word is a law; thou canst do with us what thou pleasest, either spare or punish us, and therefore we do... read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - Genesis 44:16-34

CRITICAL NOTES.—Genesis 44:21. That I may set mine eyes upon him.] An expression meaning the exercising of a tender care towards him. Thus (Jeremiah 29:12.) “Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm.” Heb. “Set thine eyes upon him.”MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.—Genesis 44:16-34JUDAH’S INTERCESSIONThere are some remarkable features in this intercession—I. It was able. Judah was the man of eloquence among his brethren. His eloquence proposed and carried out the measure of Joseph’s... read more

Chuck Smith

Chuck Smith Bible Commentary - Genesis 44:1-34

Chapter 44And so he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men's sacks ( Genesis 44:1 )Well, let's see. "And he sat them before him according to birthright."And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him ( Genesis 43:34 ).So they had a big party and they were merry. But he showed favoritism towards Benjamin. Sort of like family, you eat more than all the rest. And so he... read more

Joseph Sutcliffe

Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 44:1-34

Genesis 44:2. Put my cup. A splendid cup decorated with devices; in these cups the Egyptians fancied they could divine by the various refractions of light on its mouldings. Sometimes they put polished trinkets into the water, still more to vary the light. Joseph’s brethren having hated him because his father had given him the birthright, being the firstborn of Rachel, his beloved wife; and Benjamin having now inherited that blessing, he wished to try whether they secretly hated him from the... read more

Joseph Exell

The Biblical Illustrator - Genesis 44:16-34

Genesis 44:16-34And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord?--Judah’s intercessionI. IT WAS ABLE. II. IT WAS NOBLE. III. IT GAVE PROMISE OF FUTURE GREATNESS, IV. IT SUGGESTS SOME FEATURES OF OUR LORD’S INTERCESSION FOR US. V. IT SUGGESTS THE QUALITIES OF TRUE PRAYER. In true prayer the soul is stirred to its depths. “I would give very much,” says Luther, “if I could pray to cur Lord God as well as Judah prays to Joseph here; for it is a perfect specimen of prayer--the true feeling there... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 44:18

Gen 44:18 Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou [art] even as Pharaoh. Ver. 18. For thou art even as Pharaoh. ] This he saith the better to insinuate; for great men love to hear of their honour, and are tickled with their great titles. Paulus Jovius, writing of Pompey Colomia, Bishop of Reatino, saith, that when the said bishop, by the means of many great... read more

Samuel Bagster

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge - Genesis 44:18

Oh my Lord: "No paraphrase," says Dr. A. Clarke, "can heighten the effect of Judah's address to Joseph. To add, would be to diminish its excellence; to attempt to explain, would be to obscure its beauties; to clothe the ideas in other language than that of Judah, and his translators in our Bible, would ruin its energy, and destroy its influence. It is perhaps one of the most tender, affecting pieces of natural oratory ever spoken or penned, and we need not wonder to find that, when Joseph... read more

John Wesley

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Genesis 44:18

Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh.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 the rest, because he had passed his... read more

Group of Brands