Genesis 43

Ge 43:1-14.

PREPARATIONS FOR A

SECOND

JOURNEY TO

EGYPT.

2. their father said, . . . Go again, buy us a little

food--It was no easy matter to bring Jacob to agree to the only

conditions on which his sons could return to Egypt

(Ge 42:15).

The necessity of immediately procuring fresh supplies for the

maintenance of themselves and their families overcame every other

consideration and extorted his consent to Benjamin joining in a

journey, which his sons entered on with mingled feelings of hope and

anxiety--of hope, because having now complied with the governor's

demand to bring down their youngest brother, they flattered themselves

that the alleged ground of suspecting them would be removed; and of

apprehension that some ill designs were meditated against them.

11. take of the best fruits . . . a present--It is an

Oriental practice never to approach a man of power without a present,

and Jacob might remember how he pacified his brother

(Pr 21:14)

--balm, spices, and myrrh (see on

Ge 37:25),

honey--which some think was dibs, a syrup made from ripe

dates [BOCHART]; but others, the honey of Hebron,

which is still valued as far superior to that of Egypt;

nuts--pistachio nuts, of which Syria grows the best in the

world;

almonds--which were most abundant in Palestine.

12. take double money--the first sum to be returned, and another

sum for a new supply. The restored money in the sacks' mouth was a

perplexing circumstance. But it might have been done inadvertently by

one of the servants--so Jacob persuaded himself--and happy it was for

his own peace and the encouragement of the travellers that he took this

view. Besides the duty of restoring it, honesty in their case was

clearly the best, the safest policy.

14. God Almighty give you mercy before the man--Jacob is here

committing them all to the care of God and, resigned to what appears a

heavy trial, prays that it may be overruled for good.

Ge 43:15-30.

ARRIVAL IN

EGYPT.

15. stood before Joseph--We may easily imagine the delight with

which, amid the crowd of other applicants, the eye of Joseph would fix

on his brethren and Benjamin. But occupied with his public duties, he

consigned them to the care of a confidential servant till he should

have finished the business of the day.

16. ruler of his house--In the houses of wealthy Egyptians one

upper man servant was intrusted with the management of the house

(compare

Ge 39:5).

slay, and make ready--Hebrew, "kill a killing"--implying

preparations for a grand entertainment (compare

Ge 31:54;

1Sa 25:11;

Pr 9:2;

Mt 22:4).

The animals have to be killed as well as prepared at home. The heat of

the climate requires that the cook should take the joints directly from

the hands of the flesher, and the Oriental taste is, from habit, fond

of newly killed meat. A great profusion of viands, with an

inexhaustible supply of vegetables, was provided for the repasts, to

which strangers were invited, the pride of Egyptian people consisting

rather in the quantity and variety than in the choice or delicacy of

the dishes at their table.

dine . . . at noon--The hour of dinner was at

midday.

18. the men were afraid--Their feelings of awe on entering the

stately mansion, unaccustomed as they were to houses at all, their

anxiety at the reasons of their being taken there, their solicitude

about the restored money, their honest simplicity in communicating

their distress to the steward and his assurances of having received

their money in "full weight," the offering of their fruit present,

which would, as usual, be done with some parade, and the Oriental

salutations that passed between their host and them--are all described

in a graphic and animated manner.

Ge 43:31-34.

THE

DINNER.

31. Joseph said, Set on bread--equivalent to having dinner

served, "bread" being a term inclusive of all victuals. The table was a

small stool, most probably the usual round form, "since persons might

even then be seated according to their rank or seniority, and the

modern Egyptian table is not without its post of honor and a fixed

gradation of place" [WILKINSON]. Two or at most

three persons were seated at one table. But the host being the highest

in rank of the company had a table to himself; while it was so arranged

that an Egyptian was not placed nor obliged to eat from the same dish

as a Hebrew.

32. Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an

abomination--The prejudice probably arose from the detestation in

which, from the oppressions of the shepherd-kings, the nation held all

of that occupation.

34. took and sent messes . . . Benjamin's mess was five

times--In Egypt, as in other Oriental countries, there were, and

are, two modes of paying attention to a guest whom the host wishes to

honor--either by giving a choice piece from his own hand, or ordering

it to be taken to the stranger. The degree of respect shown consists in

the quantity, and while the ordinary rule of distinction is a double

mess, it must have appeared a very distinguished mark of favor bestowed

on Benjamin to have no less than five times any of his brethren.

they drank, and were merry with him--Hebrew, "drank

freely" (same as

So 5:1;

Joh 2:10).

In all these cases the idea of intemperance is excluded. The painful

anxieties and cares of Joseph's brethren were dispelled, and they were

at ease.