6 8 IT חָי וְלֹא־יָכְלְוּ אֶחָיו לַעֲנוֹת אֹתוֹ כִּי נִבְהֲלוּ מִפָּנָיו : 4 וַיֹּאמֶר יוֹסֶף אֶל־אֶחָיו גְשׁוּ־נָא אֵלַי וַיִּגֶשֶׁוּ וַיֹּאמֶר אֲנִי יוֹסֵף אֲחִיכֶם אֲשֶׁר־מְכַרְתֶּם אֹתִי מִצְרָיְמָה: 5 וְעַתָּה אַל־תּעצבוּ וְאַל־יִחַר בְּעֵינֵיכֶם כִּי־מְכַרְתֶּם אֹתִי הֵנָּה כִּי לְמִחְלָה שְׁלָחַנִי אֱלֹהִים לִפְנֵיכֶס : 6 כִּי־זֶה שְׁנָתַיִם הָרָעָב בֶּקֶרֶב הָאָרֶץ וְעַד חָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים אֲשֶׁר אֵין־חָרִישׁ וְקָצִיר: 7 וַיִּשְׁלָחֵנִי אֱלֹהִים לִפְנֵיכֶם לָשׂוּם לָכֶם שְׁאֵרִית שלישי בָּאָרֶץ וּלְהַחֲיוֹת לָכֶם לִפְלֵיטָה גְדֹלָה: 8 וְעַתָּה לֹא־ אַתֶּם שְׁלַחְתֶּם אֹתִי הֵנָּה כִּי הָאֱלֹהִים וַיְשִׂימֵנִי לְאָב לפרעה וּלְאָדוֹן לְכָל־בֵּיתוֹ וּמשֶׁל בְּכָל־אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם: % מַהֲרוּ וְעַלוּ אֶל־־אָבִי וַאֲמַרְתֶּם אֵלָיו כֹּה אָמַר בִּנְךְ יוֹסֵף שָׁמַנִי אֱלֹהִים לְאָרְוֹן לְכָל־מִצְרָיִם רְדָה אֵלַי אַל־ תַּעַמְד: 10 נֶשַׁבְתָּ בְאֶרֶץ־גִשֶׁן וְהָיִיתָ קָרוֹב אֵלַי אַתָּה וּבָנֶיךָ וּבְנֵי בָנֶיךָ וְאנְךְ וּבְקָרְךָ וְכָל־־אֲשֶׁר־לָךְ : .in וְכִלְכַּלְתִּי אֶתְךְ שָׁם כִּי־עֲוֹד חָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים רָעָב פֶּן־ תִּגְרֵשׁ אַתָּה וּבֵיתְךְ וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר־לָךְ: 12 וְהִנֵּה עֵינֵיכֶם ראוֹת וְעֵינֵי אָחִי בִנְיָמִין כִּי־־פִי, הַמְדַבֵּר אֲלֵיכֶם,: וְהִגַּדְתֶּם לְאָבִי אֶת־כָּל־כְּבוֹדִי בְּמִצְרַיִם וְאֵת כָּל־ אֲשֶׁר רְאִיתֶם וּמָהַרְתֶּם וְהוֹרַדְתֶּם אֶת־אָבִי הֵנָּה: 14 וַיִּפֶל עַל־צַוְארֵי בִנְיָמִן־אָחִיו וַיְבָךְ וּבִנְיָמִן בָּכָה עַל־ צַוָּארָיו : 15 וַיְנַשֶׁק לְכָל־־אֶחָיו, וַיִּבְךְ עֲלֵהֶם וְאַחֲרֵי כֵן דְבְּרָוּ אֶחָיו אִתּוֹ : 16 וְהַקַל נִשְׁמַע בֵּית פַּרְעה לֵאמֹר בָּאוּ אֲחֵי יוֹסֵף וַיִּיטַב בְּעֵינֵי פַרְעֹה וּבְעֵינֵי עֲבָדָיו : 17 וַיֹּאמֶר פַּרְעה אֶל־יוֹסֵף אֲמַר אֶל־־אַחֶיךָ לֹאת עַשׂוּ טַעֲנוּ אֶת־בְּעֵירְכֶם וּלְכָוּ־בָאוּ אַרְצָה כְּנָעַן: 18 וּקְחָוּ אֶת־אֲבִיכֶם וְאֶת־בָּתֵּיכֶם וּבָאוּ אֵלָי וְאֶתְּנָה לָכֶם אֶת־ רביעי טוּב אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם וְאִכְלוּ אֶת־חֵלֶב הָאָרֶץ: 19 וְאַתָּה צוּיִתָה זָאת עֲשֶׂוּ קְחוּ־לָכֶם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם עֲגָלוֹת לְטַפְכֶם וְלִנְשֵׁיכֶם וּנְשָׂאתֶם אֶת־אֲבִיכֶם וּבָאתֶם : 20 וְעֵינְכֶם 13 shall bring down my grey hairs with sorrow to the grave. 30 Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us: (seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life) 31 It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the grey hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave. *32 "For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, t saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever. 33 Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad, a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren. 34 For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father. || CHAP. XLV. 1 Joseph maketh himself known to his brethren. 9 He sendeth for his father, 25 who is revived at the news. a 24 And it came to pass, when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. 25 And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food. 26 And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down; for we may not see the man's face, except our youngest brother be with us. 27 And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons. 28 And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since. 29 And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befal him, ye THEN Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me: and there stood no man by him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. 2 And he wept aloud: ¶ and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. 3 And Joseph said unto his brethren; I am Joseph: Doth my father yet live? and his brethren * Hence, says Judah, it is clear that you originally intended to find a cause of contention with us; for what occasion had you to enquire after our family, we came to buy corn and not to form a family alliance with you. Jarchi, It is the opinion of Jarchi, that Benjamin's death is here meant for he observes, that as his mother died on a journey, they dreaded for him also. But the learned Abarbanel observes that it alludes to their father if he should leave his father, his father would die. This explanation perfectly coincides with verse 29. "And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befal him, ye shall bring "down my grey hairs with sorrow to the grave." And this is the only reason that I am concerned for his safety, for as he was delivered into my care, it is proper that I should be particularly anxious for his return. Heb. Find my father. Heb. And he gave forth his voice in weeping. 23 IT T דָבָר בְּאָזְנֵי אֲדֹנִי וְאַל־־יִחַר אַפְּךָ בְּעַבְדֵךְ כִּי כָמְוֹךְ : כְּפַרְעה : 19 אֲדֹנִי שָׁאַל אֶת-עֲבָדָיו לֵאמֹר הִיש־לָכֶם אָב אוֹ־אָח : 20 וַבּאמֶר אֶל־אֲדֹנִי יֶשׁ־לָנוּ אָב זָקֵן וילד זֶקְנֵים קָטָן וְאָחִיו מֵת וַיִּנְתַר הָוּא לְבַדָּו לְאִמּוֹ וְאָבִיו אֲהֵבְוֹ : 21 וַתֹּאמֶר אֶל־עֲבָדֶיךְ הִורדהוּ אֵלָי וְאָשִׂימָה עֵינִי עָלֶיו : 22 וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל־אֲדֹנִי לֹא־יוּכַל הַנַּעַר לעזב אֶת־־אָבִיו וְעָזַב אֶת־־אָבִיו וָמֵת : 23 וַתֹּאמֶר אֶל־ עֲבָדֶיךְ אִם־לֹא יֵרֶד אֲחִיכֶם הַקָטָן אִתְּכֶס לֹא תִסְפְוּן לִרְאוֹת פָּנָי: 24 וַיְהִי כִּי עָלִינוּ אֶל־עַבְדְּךָ אָבִי וַבֹּגֶד־ אֵת דִּבְרֵי אֲדֹנִי : 25 וַיֹּאמֶר אָבִינוּ שֶׁבוּ שִׁבְרוּ־ לָנוּ מְעַט־אֹכֶל : 26 וַנֹאמֶר לֹא נוּכַל לֶרדת אס־יש אָחִינוּ הַקָּטָן אִתָּנוּ וְיָרַדְנוּ כִּי־לֹא נוּכַל לִרְאוֹת פְּנֵי הָאִישׁ וְאָחִינוּ הַקָטָן אֵינֶנָּוּ אִתָּנוּ : 27 וַיֹּאמֶר עַבְדְּךָ אָבִי אֵלֵינוּ אַתֶּם יִדְעתֶּם כִּי שְׁנַיִם יָלְדָה־לִי אִשְׁתִּי: 28 ויצא הָאֶחָד מֵאתִי וָאֹמַר אַךְ טָרָף טֶרֶף וְלֹא רְאִיתִיו עַד־הֵנָּה : 29 וּלְקַחְתֶּם גַּם־אֶת־זֶה מֵעִם פָּנַי וְקָרָהוּ אָסְוֹן וְהוֹרַדְתֶּם אֶת־שֵׁיבָתִי בְּרָעָה שְׁאָלָה: 30 וְעַתָּה כְּבֹאִי אֶל־עַבְדְּךָ אָבִי וְהַנַּעַר אֵינֶנּוּ אִתָּנוּ וְנַפְשׁוֹ קְשׁוּרָה בְנַפְשׁוֹ : 31 וְהָיָה כִּרְאוֹתוֹ כִּי־אֵין הַנַּעַר וָמֵת וְהוֹרִידוּ עֲבָדֶיךְ אֶת־שִׁיבַת עַבְדְּךָ אָבִינוּ בְּיָגוֹן שְׁאֲלָה: 32 : כִּי עַבְדְּךָ עָרֵב אֶת־הַבַּעַר מֵעָם אָבִי לֵאמֹר אִם־לֹא אֲבִיאֶבּוּ אֵלֶיךָ וְחָטָאתִי לְאָבִי כָּל־הַיָּמִים : 33 וְעַתָּה יִשֶׁב־נָא עַבְדְּךָ תַּחַת הַנַּעַר עֶבֶד לַאדֹנִי וְהַנַּעַר עַל עַם־אֶחָיו : 34 כִּי־אֵיךְ אֶעֶלֶה אֶל־אָבִי וְהַנַּעַר אֵינֶנּוּ אִתִּי פֶּן אֶרְאֵה מה בָלָע אֲשֶׁר יִמְצָא אֶת־־אָבִי : וְלֹא־יָכל יוֹסֵף לְהִתְאַפֵּק לְכָל הַנְצָבִים עָלָיו וַיִּקְרָא הוֹצִיאוּ כָל־אִישׁ מֵעָלַי וְלֹא־עָמַד אִישׁ אִתּוֹ בְּהִתְוַדְע יוֹסֵף אֶל־אֶחָיו : ויתן אֶת־־קלו בִּבְכִי וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ מִצְרַיִם וַיִּשְׁמַע בֵּית פַרְעה : 3 וַיֹּאמֶר יוֹסֵף אֶל־אֶחָיו אֲנִי יוֹסֵף הַעוֹר אָבִי שני ד 1 2 light, the men were sent away, they and their asses. 4 And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? 5 Is not this it, in which my lord drinketh; and whereby indeed he divineth? * ye have done evil in so doing. 6 ¶ And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words. 7 And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing. 8 Behold, the money which we found in our sacks mouths, we brought again unto thee § out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold? 9 With whom soever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bond-men. 10 And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless. || 11 Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack. 12 And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. 13 Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city. 14 ¶ And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house (for he was yet there) and they fell before him on the ground. 15 And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not, that such a man as I can certainly divine? 16 And Judah said, ¶ What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants; ** behold we are my lord's servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found. 17 And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father. 18 Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh, my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak *This might also be rendered, and whereby he certainly would try you; meaning, "whether you are honest or not:" as the same verb is rendered, in chap. xxx. ver. 27, "I have learned by experience." Hence, it is not probable, that we who restored that, which it was in our power to keep, and withal had so great an opportunity to conceal without any danger, or fear of detection, should steal what was likely to be discovered, attended with so much shame and hazard to ourselves. This as אחד מעשרה קל וחומר האומרים בתורה Jarchi observes, is For says he, it is no more than just that ye all should suffer, as being equally guilty, on account of your connexion. But no, I will moderate the condition which you propose. Thus he exempted the innocent, (as they were presumed to be,) and exchanged the deserved offered death of the guilty into slavery. Judah had persuaded his father, though very reluctant, to send Benjamin with him; besides which, he was as Josephus imagines, of a bold, enterprising, warm, and sanguine disposition; and being hurried by his natural impetuosity, undertook to plead the common cause of his father, his brother Benjamin, and the rest of his brethren.-Note, I do not know by what account Dr. Wright guesses Benjamin to be about twenty-four years old. He must have spoken at random; for, he was born in the way when Jacob came from Laban, as appears from chap. xxxv. ver. 9, and chap. xlviii. ver. 7. So that he was not above six or seven years less than Joseph, and in course, at that time, he must have been about thirty-two or thirty-three years old. ** We have here a fine picture of their firm belief in a Divine providence, for they observed, that although they were not guilty of this fact, yet were they guilty of many other sins, for which God was then punishing them, and to whose providence (say they) we therefore submit, and are ready to become thy bond servants together. |