Genesis 44:1-4 NIV

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 44:1

And he commanded the steward of his house ,.... Whom the Targum of Jonathan again calls Manasseh, the eldest son of Joseph: saying, fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry ; this he ordered out of his great affection for them, and that his father and his family might have sufficient supply in this time of famine: and put every man's money in his sack's mouth ; not that which had been put into their sacks the first time, for the steward acknowledged his receipt of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 44:2

And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest ,.... Benjamin; this he ordered to be done, partly to put him in apparent danger, and try how his brethren would behave towards him in such circumstances, and thereby know how they stood affected to him; and partly that he might have an excuse for retaining him with him. This cup was valuable both for the matter of it, being of silver, and for the use of it, being what Joseph himself drank out of: and by the word used to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 44:3

As soon as the morning was light ,.... When it was break of day, before the sun rose: the men were sent away, they and their asses ; the men being refreshed with food, and their asses having provender given them, and saddled and loaded, they were handsomely and honourably dismissed. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 44:4

And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off ,.... Which perhaps was Tanis, the Zoan of the Scriptures; see Ezekiel 30:14 , margin: Joseph said unto his steward, up, follow after the men ; who no doubt was ready provided with men and horses, to go out and pursue when Joseph should give the orders, he being privy to Joseph's intentions, and with whom the scheme was concerted, and the secret was. Joseph appears to have been up very early this morning, and had... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 44:2

Put my cup in the sack's mouth of the youngest - The stratagem of the cup seems to have been designed to bring Joseph's brethren into the highest state of perplexity and distress, that their deliverance by the discovery that Joseph was their brother might have its highest effect. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 44:1

Verse 1 1.And he commanded the steward of his house. Here Moses relates how skillfully Joseph had contrived to try the dispositions of his brethren. We have said elsewhere that, whereas God has commanded us to cultivate simplicity, we are not to take this, and similar examples, as affording license to turn aside to indirect and crafty arts. For it may have been that Joseph was impelled by a special influence of the Spirit to this course. He had also a reason, of no common kind, for inquiring... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 44:2

Verse 2 2.And put my cup, the silver cup. It may seem wonderful that, considering his great opulence, Joseph had not rather drunk out of a golden cup. Doubtless, either the moderation of that age was still greater than has since prevailed, and the splendor of it less sumptuous; or else this conduct must be attributed to the moderation of the man, who, in the midst of universal license, yet was contented with a plain and decent, rather than with a magnificent style of living. Unless, perhaps, on... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 44:1-2

And he ( i.e. Joseph) commanded the steward of his house, —literally, him that was over his hoarse ( Genesis 43:15 )— saying, Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his sack's mouth (as before, but not this time as a test). And put my cup ,— גָּבִיעַ , from an unused root, גָּבַע , conveying the sense of elevation or roundness; hence a goblet or bowl, commonly of a large size ( Jeremiah 35:5 ), as distinguished from the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 44:1-34

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 44:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 44:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 44:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 44:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 44:2

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 44:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 44:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 44:1-2

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 44:1-34

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