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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 44:1-17

Joseph heaps further kindnesses upon his brethren, fills their sacks, returns their money, and sends them away full of gladness; but he also exercises them with further trials. Our God thus humbles those whom he loves and loads with benefits. Joseph ordered his steward to put a fine silver cup which he had (and which, it is likely, was used at his table when they dined with him) into Benjamin's sack's mouth, that it might seem as if he had stolen it from the table, and put it here himself,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 44:5

Is not this it , in which my lord drinketh ,.... Which was for his own particular use, and so the more ungrateful in them to take it: and whereby indeed he divineth ? according to our version and others, Joseph is here represented by his steward as a diviner or soothsayer, and so he might be thought to be by the Egyptians, from being such an exact interpreter of dreams, foretelling things to come, and that he made his divinations by the silver cup; and we are told that the Assyrians,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 44:6

And he overtook them ,.... Their asses being laden with corn could not travel very fast, and he and his attendants being mounted on swift horses: and he spake unto them these same words ; that Joseph had ordered him to say, and so what follows particularly, Genesis 44:10 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 44:7

And they said unto him, wherefore saith my lord these words ?.... One of them, in the name of the rest, perhaps Judah, made answer, as astonished at the charge laid against them, suggesting that there was not the least foundation for it, and were quite surprised to hear anything of this kind alleged against them: God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing ; expressing the utmost detestation of such a fact, as being what they could never be guilty of. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 44:8

Behold, the money which we found in our sacks mouths ;.... Upon their return from Egypt, the first time they went thither for corn: we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan ; which was a full proof of their honesty: they might have kept it until it was called for and demanded of them, but of themselves they brought it with them, as being money not their own; and they did not wait to be examined about it when they came to Egypt again, but of their own accord related the story... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 44:9

With whomsoever of thy servants it be found ,.... The silver cup: both let him die ; which was rashly said, since they might have thought the cup might be put in one of their sacks unknown to them, as their money had been before; and besides, death was a punishment too severe for such a crime, and therefore is by the steward himself moderated; but this they said the more strongly to express their innocence: and we also will be my lord's bondmen ; his servants, as long as they lived:... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 44:10

And he said, now also let it be according unto your words ,.... Not according to the full extent of their words, but according to a part of them; that be only should be a servant that was found guilty; so moderating the punishment which they had fixed, and were willing to submit to, and therefore could not object to what he next proposes: he with whom it is found shall be my servant ; speaking in the name of Joseph, whom he represented, and who had directed him what to say: and ye... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 44:11

Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground ,.... To be opened and examined, and this they did in all haste, as having a clear conscience, and being confident that nothing could be found upon them, and desirous of having the affair issued as soon as possible, that the steward might have full satisfaction, and they proceed on in their journey: and opened every man his sack ; showing neither reluctance nor fear, being conscious of their innocence. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 44:12

And he searched ,.... To the bottom of them, not content to look into the mouth of them being opened, but rummaged them, and searched deeply into them to find the cup, which was the thing charged upon them he was solicitous to find; as for the money in the sack's mouth he took no notice of that, nor is there any mention of it: and began at the oldest ; at Reuben, as the Targum of Jonathan expresses it: the steward might know their different ages in course, by the order in which they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 44:13

Then they rent their clothes ,.... In token of sorrow and distress, being at their wits' end, like distracted persons, not knowing what to do: this was usually done in the eastern countries when any evil befell, as did Jacob, Genesis 37:34 ; and as the Egyptians themselves did when mourning for their dead, as Diodorus Siculus F17 Bibliothec. l. 1. p. 65. relates: and laded every man his ass ; put their sacks of corn on their asses again, having tied them up: and returned to... read more

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