16 And Judah H3063 said, H559 What shall we say H559 unto my lord? H113 what shall we speak? H1696 or how shall we clear ourselves? H6663 God H430 hath found out H4672 the iniquity H5771 of thy servants: H5650 behold, we are my lord's H113 servants, H5650 both we, and he also H1571 with whom H834 H3027 the cup H1375 is found. H4672
With whomsoever of thy servants H5650 it be found, H4672 both let him die, H4191 and we also will be my lord's H113 bondmen. H5650
O Lord, H136 righteousness H6666 belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion H1322 of faces, H6440 as at this day; H3117 to the men H376 of Judah, H3063 and to the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem, H3389 and unto all Israel, H3478 that are near, H7138 and that are far off, H7350 through all the countries H776 whither thou hast driven H5080 them, because of their trespass H4604 that they have trespassed H4603 against thee.
O LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel, H3478 thou art righteous: H6662 for we remain H7604 yet escaped, H6413 as it is this day: H3117 behold, we are before H6440 thee in our trespasses: H819 for we cannot stand H5975 before H6440 thee because of this.
For G1722 with G3739 what G1063 judgment G2917 ye judge, G2919 ye shall be judged: G2919 and G2532 with G1722 what G3739 measure G3358 ye mete, G3354 it shall be measured G488 to you G5213 again. G488
By this H2063 therefore shall the iniquity H5771 of Jacob H3290 be purged; H3722 and this is all the fruit H6529 to take away H5493 his sin; H2403 when he maketh H7760 all the stones H68 of the altar H4196 as chalkstones H1615 that are beaten in sunder, H5310 the groves H842 and images H2553 shall not stand up. H6965
A man H120 that doeth violence H6231 to the blood H1818 of any person H5315 shall flee H5127 to the pit; H953 let no man stay H8551 him.
For, behold, we were binding H481 H8432 sheaves H485 in the field, H7704 and, lo, my sheaf H485 arose, H6965 and also stood upright; H5324 and, behold, your sheaves H485 stood round about, H5437 and made obeisance H7812 to my sheaf. H485
And now, O our God, H430 what shall we say H559 after H310 this? for we have forsaken H5800 thy commandments, H4687
And Adonibezek H137 said, H559 Threescore and ten H7657 kings, H4428 having their thumbs H931 H3027 and their great toes H7272 cut off, H7112 gathered H3950 their meat under my table: H7979 as I have done, H6213 so God H430 hath requited H7999 me. And they brought H935 him to Jerusalem, H3389 and there he died. H4191
And he brought H7126 his household H1004 man H1397 by man; H1397 and Achan, H5912 the son H1121 of Carmi, H3756 the son H1121 of Zabdi, H2067 the son H1121 of Zerah, H2226 of the tribe H4294 of Judah, H3063 was taken. H3920
But the children H1121 of Israel H3478 committed H4603 a trespass H4604 in the accursed thing: H2764 for Achan, H5912 the son H1121 of Carmi, H3756 the son H1121 of Zabdi, H2067 the son H1121 of Zerah, H2226 of the tribe H4294 of Judah, H3063 took H3947 of the accursed thing: H2764 and the anger H639 of the LORD H3068 was kindled H2734 against the children H1121 of Israel. H3478
For thy servant H5650 became surety H6148 for the lad H5288 unto H5973 my father, H1 saying, H559 If I bring H935 him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame H2398 to my father H1 for ever. H3117
And Judah H3063 said H559 unto Israel H3478 his father, H1 Send H7971 the lad H5288 with me, and we will arise H6965 and go; H3212 that we may live, H2421 and not die, H4191 both we, and thou, and also our little ones. H2945 I will be surety H6148 for him; of my hand H3027 shalt thou require H1245 him: if H518 I bring H935 him not H518 unto thee, and set H3322 him before thee, H6440 then let me bear the blame H2398 for ever: H3117
And they said H559 one H376 to another, H251 We are verily H61 guilty H818 concerning our brother, H251 in that H834 we saw H7200 the anguish H6869 of his soul, H5315 when he besought H2603 us, and we would not hear; H8085 therefore is this distress H6869 come H935 upon us. And Reuben H7205 answered H6030 them, saying, H559 Spake I H559 not unto you, saying, H559 Do not sin H2398 against the child; H3206 and ye would not hear? H8085 therefore, behold, also his blood H1818 is required. H1875
And when they saw H7200 him afar off, H7350 even before he came near H7126 unto them, they conspired H5230 against him to slay H4191 him. And they said H559 one H376 to another, H251 Behold, this H1976 dreamer H1167 H2472 cometh. H935 Come H3212 now therefore, and let us slay H2026 him, and cast H7993 him into some H259 pit, H953 and we will say, H559 Some evil H7451 beast H2416 hath devoured H398 him: and we shall see H7200 what will become of his dreams. H2472 And Reuben H7205 heard H8085 it, and he delivered H5337 him out of their hands; H3027 and said, H559 Let us not kill H5221 H5315 him. And Reuben H7205 said H559 unto them, Shed H8210 no blood, H1818 but cast H7993 him into this pit H953 that is in the wilderness, H4057 and lay H7971 no hand H3027 upon him; that he might rid H5337 him out of their hands, H3027 to deliver H7725 him to his father H1 again. H7725 And it came to pass, when Joseph H3130 was come H935 unto his brethren, H251 that they stript H6584 H853 Joseph H3130 out of H854 his coat, H3801 his coat H3801 of many colours H6446 that was on him; And they took H3947 him, and cast H7993 him into a pit: H953 and the pit H953 was empty, H7386 there was no water H4325 in it. And they sat down H3427 to eat H398 bread: H3899 and they lifted up H5375 their eyes H5869 and looked, H7200 and, behold, a company H736 of Ishmeelites H3459 came H935 from Gilead H1568 with their camels H1581 bearing H5375 spicery H5219 and balm H6875 and myrrh, H3910 going H1980 to carry it down H3381 to Egypt. H4714 And Judah H3063 said H559 unto his brethren, H251 What profit H1215 is it if we slay H2026 our brother, H251 and conceal H3680 his blood? H1818 Come, H3212 and let us sell H4376 him to the Ishmeelites, H3459 and let not our hand H3027 be upon him; for he is our brother H251 and our flesh. H1320 And his brethren H251 were content. H8085 Then there passed H5674 by Midianites H4084 merchantmen; H582 H5503 and they drew H4900 and lifted up H5927 Joseph H3130 out of the pit, H953 and sold H4376 Joseph H3130 to the Ishmeelites H3459 for twenty H6242 pieces of silver: H3701 and they brought H935 Joseph H3130 into Egypt. H4714
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Genesis 44
Commentary on Genesis 44 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 44
Joseph, having entertained his brethren, dismissed them; but here we have them brought back in a greater fright than any they had been in yet. Observe,
Gen 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, after his corn was delivered to him. If Benjamin had stolen it, it had been the basest piece of dishonesty and ingratitude that could be and if Joseph, by ordering it to be there, had designed really to take advantage against him, it had been in him most horrid cruelty and oppression; but it proved, in the issue, that there was no harm done, nor any designed, on either side. Observe,
Gen 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 spirit, and had a greater command of language than any of them. His address, as it is here recorded, is so very natural and so expressive of his present feelings that we cannot but suppose Moses, who wrote it so long after, to have written it under the special direction of him that made man's mouth.