This chapter relates the policy of Joseph in making an experiment of his brethren’s regard and affection for Benjamin; he ordered his steward to put every man’s money into his sack, and his silver cup in Benjamin’s, and when they were got out of the city, to follow after them, and charge them with…

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…

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…

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.

And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off Which perhaps was Tanis, the Zoan of the Scriptures; see , 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…

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…

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, .

And they said unto him, wherefore saith my lord these words? &c.] 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…

Behold, the money which we found in our sacks mouths; &c.] 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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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, ; and as the Egyptians themselves did when mourning for their dead, as Diodorus…

And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph’s house Judah is particularly mentioned because he was the principal spokesman, and was chiefly concerned for the safety of Benjamin, being his surety: for he was yet there; Joseph was yet at his own house, was not as yet gone to the granaries, to look…

And Joseph said unto them, what deed is this ye have done? &c.] An action so wicked, base, and ungrateful, attended with such aggravated circumstances, that it can scarcely be said how bad a one it is, and may be well wondered at, that men who had received such favours could ever be guilty of; this…

And Judah said, what shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? &c.] Signifying that they were nonplussed, confounded, knew not what to say; they could not acknowledge guilt, for they were not conscious of any, and yet could not deny the fact, the cup being found on one of them; and though…

And he said, God forbid that I should do so This would be doing an unjust thing, Joseph suggests, should he take them all for bondmen, for the offence of one: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; not die, as they had supposed, but become his servant: and as for you,…

Then Judah came near unto him Being the spokesman of his brethren, and the surety of Benjamin: he plucked up a spirit, put on courage, and drew nearer to the governor, and with much freedom and boldness, and in a very polite manner, addressed him: and said, O my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee,…

My lord asked his servants The first time they came down to Egypt to buy corn; he puts him in mind of what passed between them at that time: saying, have ye a father or a brother? which question followed upon their saying that they were the sons of one man, .

And we said unto my lord, we have a father Yet living in the land of Canaan: an old man; being one hundred and thirty years of age, ; and a child of his old age; who was born when he was near an hundred years of age: and a little one; not in stature, but in age, being the youngest son, and much…

And thou saidst unto thy servants, bring him down unto me, &c.] Judah does not relate the reason of his order, which was to give proof that they were no spies, but as if Joseph designed to show favour to Benjamin, as undoubtedly he did: that I may set mine eyes upon him; not barely see him, as Aben…

And we said unto my lord, the lad cannot leave his father, &c.] That is, his father will not be willing to part with him: for if he should leave his father, his father would die; with grief and trouble, fearing some evil was befallen him, and he should see him no more.

And thou saidst unto thy servants In answer to the representation of things made by them, and notwithstanding that: except your youngest brother come down with you, you shall see my face no more; which though not before related in the discourse, which passed between Joseph and his brethren, in…

And it came to pass, when we came unto thy servant my father, &c.] In the land of Canaan: we told him the words of my lord; what he had said to them, particularly respecting Benjamin.

And our father said After some time, when the corn was almost consumed they had bought in Egypt: go again, and buy us a little food; that may suffice fill the famine is over; see .

And we said, we cannot go down With any safety to their persons, which would be in danger, or with any profit to their families, since their end in going down to buy corn would not be answered: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down; let it be agreed to, that Benjamin go along…

And thy servant my father said unto us When thus pressed to let Benjamin go with them: ye know that my wife bare me two sons; Rachel, by whom he had Joseph and Benjamin, and whom he calls his wife, she being his only lawful wife; Leah was imposed upon him, ; and the other two were concubines, (Gen.

And the one went out from, me Being sent by him to see how his brethren did, who were feeding his flocks at Shechem, and he had never returned to him to that day: and I said, surely he is torn in pieces; by some wild beast; this he said on sight of his coat, being shown him all bloody: and I saw…

And if ye take this also from me His son Benjamin, as he perhaps suspected they had taken Joseph, and made away with him: and mischief befall him; either in Egypt, or on the road, going or returning, any ill accident, especially death, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan, or what may issue in…

Now therefore, when I come to thy servant my father That is, should he return to him in the land of Canaan with the rest of his brethren: and the lad be not with us; his brother Benjamin, so called here, and in the following verses, though thirty years of age and upwards, see ; seeing that his life…

It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die As soon as ever he sees us, without asking any question and observes that Benjamin is missing he will conclude at once that he is dead, which will so seize his spirits, that he will expire immediately: and thy…

For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father Which is another argument used for the release of Benjamin, though he should be detained for him, which he offers to be: saying, if I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame unto my father for ever; (See Gill on Gen. 43:9).

Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord Being, as Jarchi observes preferable to Benjamin for strength, for war, and for service: in this Judah was a type of Christ, from whose tribe he sprung, who became the surety of God’s Benjamins, his children…

For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? &c.] Signifying that he must abide in Egypt, and chose to do it, and could not go up to the land of Canaan any more or see his father’s face without Benjamin along with him, to whom he was a surety for him: lest peradventure I see the…