live, and not die. 3. And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt. 4. But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him. 5. And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan. 6. And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.
Though Jacob's sons were all married, and had families of their own, yet, it should seem, they were still incorporated in one society, under the conduct and presidency of their father Jacob.
We have, here,
I. The orders he gave them to go and buy corn in Egypt, v. 1, 2. Observe, 1. The famine was grievous in the land of Canaan. It is observable that all the three Patriarchs, to whom Canaan was the land of promise, met with famine in that land; which was not only to try their faith, whether they could trust God, though he should slay them, though he should starve them, but to teach them to seek the better country, that is, the heavenly, Heb. 11. 14..16. We have need of something to wean us from this world, and make us long for a better. 2. Still when there was famine in Canaan, there was corn in Egypt. Thus Providence orders it, that one place should be a succour and supply to another; for we are all brethren. The Egyptians, the seed of the accursed Ham, have plenty, when God's blessed Israel want. Thus God, in dispensing common favours, often crosses hands; yet observe, the plenty Egypt now had, was owing, under God, to Joseph's prudence and care: if his brethren had not sold him into Egypt, but respected him according to his merits, who knows but he might have done the same thing for Jacob's family, which now he had done for Pharaoh, and the Egyptians might then have come to them to buy corn; but those who drive away from among them wise and good men, know not what they do. 3. Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt; he saw the corn that his neighbours had brought there and brought home. It is a spur to exertion, to see where supplies are to be had, and to see others supplied. Shall others get food for their souls, and shall we starve while it is to be had? 4. He reproved his sons for delaying to provide corn for their families, Why do ye look one upon another? Note, When we are in trouble and want, it is folly for us to stand looking upon one another, that is, to stand desponding and despairing, as if there were no hope, no help; to stand disputing either which shall have the honour of going first, or which shall have the safety of coming last; to stand deliberating and debating what we shall do, and doing nothing; to stand dreaming under a spirit of slumber, as if we had nothing to do, and to stand delaying, as if we had time to command. Let it never be said, "We left that to be done to-morrow, which we could as well have done to-day." 5. He quickened them to go to Egypt, Get you down thither. Masters of families must not only pray for daily bread for their families, and food convenient, but must lay out themselves with care and industry to provide it.
II. Their obedience to these orders, v. 3, They went down to buy corn; they did not send their servants, but very prudently went themselves to lay out their own money. Let none think themselves too great or too good to take pains. Masters of families should see with their own eyes, and take heed of leaving too much to servants. Only Benjamin went not with them, for he was his father's darling. To Egypt they came, among others, and having a considerable cargo of corn to buy, they were brought before Joseph himself, who, probably, expected they would come; and according to the laws of courtesy, they bowed down themselves before him, v. 6. Now their empty sheaves did obeisance to his full ones. Compare this with Isa. 60. 14. and Rev. 3. 9.
7. And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. 8. And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him. 9. And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. 10. And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come. 11. We are all one man's sons; we are true men; thy servants are no spies. 12. And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. 13. And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not. 14. And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies. 15. Hereby ye shall be proved: by the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither. 16. Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies. 17. And he put them altogether into ward three days. 18. And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God. 19. If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses: 20. But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.
We may well wonder that Joseph during the 20 years that he had now been in Egypt, especially during the last 7 years that he had been in power there, never sent to his father to acquaint him with his circumstances; nay it is strange that he who so often went throughout all the land of Egypt, (ch. 41. 45, 46.) never made an excursion to Canaan, to visit his aged father, when he was in the borders of Egypt, that lay next to Canaan; perhaps it would not have been above three or four days journey for him in his chariot. It is a probable conjecture, that his whole management of himself in this affair was by special direction from Heaven, that the purpose of God concerning Jacob and his family might be accomplished. When Joseph's brethren came, he
