Gen. 44 Joseph commands his steward to fill their sacks, restore every man’s money, and put his silver cup into Benjamin’s sack; sends them away, Gen. 44:1–3; thereby contriving to bring them back again: they are pursued, and charged with theft, Gen.

It seems to have been a large cup, and of great price, and much used by Joseph. In the sack’s mouth of the youngest, with design to discover their intentions and affections towards Benjamin, whether they did envy him, and would desert him in his danger, as they did Joseph; or would cleave to him;…

Amongst the several kinds of divination in use among the Egyptians and other heathens, this was one, to do it by a cup or bason, which they filled with water, and put in them plates of silver, or precious stones, in which certain characters were engraven, by which, and some words they used, they…

It is not probable that we who restored that which was in our power to keep, and to conceal without any danger, should steal that which was likely to be discovered with so much shame and hazard to ourselves.

This overdaring offer proceeded from hence, that they were all conscious of their own innocency, and did not suspect any fraud or artifice in the matter.

Thus he moderates the conditions which they proposed, exempting the innocent, and exchanging the deserved and offered death of the nocent into slavery.

Began at the eldest, to take off all their suspicion of his fraud. The cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. He found doubtless the money there, but he accused them not about that matter, both because they had an answer ready to that charge from his own mouth, Gen.

Being afraid and ashamed to go to their father without Benjamin, concerning whom they had received so severe a charge, and made such solemn promises and imprecations.

Judah speaks in the cause, as being one of the eldest, and a person of most gravity and discretion, and readiness of speech, and most eminently concerned for his brother. God hath found out the iniquity, viz. this iniquity, of which it seems some of us are guilty, and God hath discovered it.

Judah made a little nearer approach to him, that he might present his humble petition to him. In my lord’s ears, in thy hearing; for this phrase doth not necessarily imply that he whispered in his ears; as appears from Num. 14:28, Deut. 32:44, Judg. 17:2.

A little one; so they call him comparatively to themselves, who were much elder; and withal, to signify the reason why he came, not with them, because he was young and tender, and unfit for such a journey.

i.e. See him with my own eyes, and thereby be satisfied of the truth of what you say. Compare Gen. 42:15–16. Elsewhere this phrase signifies to show favour to a person, as Jer. 39:12, Jer. 40:4. But though that was Joseph’s intention, as yet he was minded to conceal it from them.

Quest. Why would Joseph expose his father to the hazard of his life, in parting with his dear child? Answ. Joseph supposed that to be but a pretence, and might fear lest his brethren had disposed of Benjamin as they did of him, and therefore could not bring him forth.

He calleth her my wife, by way of eminency, as Gen. 46:19, because she only was his wife by design and choice, whereas Leah was put upon him by fraud, and might have been refused by him, if he had so pleased; and the other two were given to him by Rachel and Leah.

The death of the child, which upon this occasion he will firmly believe, will unavoidably procure his death also.

Partly in compassion to our aged father, and partly for thy own advantage; because I can be more serviceable to thee than he, because of my greater strength and experience.