estate, name, and relations; and we think all these things are against us, whereas these are really working for us the weight of glory. (2.) He is at present, resolved that Benjamin shall not go down. Reuben will undertake to bring him back in safety; (v. 37.) not so much as putting in, If the Lord will, not excepting the common disasters of travellers; but he foolishly bids Jacob slay his two sons, (which it is likely he was very proud of,) if he brought him not back; as if the death of two grandsons could satisfy Jacob for the death of a son. No, Jacob's present thoughts are, My son shall not go down with you. He plainly intimates a distrust of them, remembering that he never saw Joseph since he had been with them; therefore, "Benjamin shall not go with you, by the way in which you go; for ye will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. Note, It is bad with a family, when children conduct themselves so ill, that their parents know not how to trust them.
CHAP. XLIII.
Here the story of Joseph's brethren is carried on, and very particularly related. I. Their melancholy parting with their father Jacob in Canaan, v. 1..14. Their pleasant meeting with Joseph in Egypt, v. 15..34. For, in this chapter, nothing occurs there, but what was agreeable and pleasant.
1.AND the famine was sore in the land. 2. And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food. 3. And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. 4. If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food: 5. But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. 6. And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother? 7. And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? Have ye another brother? And we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down? 8. And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we and thou, and also our little ones. 9. I will be surety for him: of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever: 10. For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.
Here, 1. Jacob urges his sons to go and buy corn in Egypt, v. 1, 2. The famine continued; the corn they had bought, was all spent, for it was meat that perisheth. Jacob, as a good master of a family, is in care to provide for those of his own house, food convenient; and shall not God provide for his children, for the household of faith? Jacob bids them go buy a little food; now, in time of scarcity, a little must suffice, for nature is content with a little. 2. Judah urges him to consent that Benjamin should go down with them, how much soever it went against his feelings and previous determination. Note, it is not at all inconsistent with the honour and duty which children owe their parents, humbly and modestly to advise them, and, as occasion is, to reason with them: Plead with your mother, plead, Hos. 2. 2. (1.) He insists upon the absolute necessity they were under of bringing Benjamin with them; which he, who was a witness to all that had passed in Egypt; was a more competent judge of than Jacob could be. Joseph's protestation (v. 3. ) may be alluded to, to show upon what terms we must draw nigh to God; unless we bring Christ along with us in the arms of our faith, we cannot see the face of God with comfort. (2.) He engages to take all possible care of him, and to do his utmost for his safety, v. 8, 9. Judah's conscience had lately smitten him for what he had done a great while ago against Joseph; (ch. 42. 21.) and as an evidence of the truth of his repentance, he is ready to undertake, as far as a man could do it, for Benjamin's security. He will not only not wrong him, but will do all he can to protect him. This is restitution, as the case will admit; when he knew not how he could retrieve Joseph, he would make some amends for the irreparable injury he had done him, by doubling his care concerning Benjamin.
11. And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds: 12. And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight: 13. Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man: 14. And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.
Observe here,
I. Jacob's persuadableness. He would be ruled by reason, though they were his inferiors that urged it. He saw the necessity of the case; and, since there was no remedy, he consented to yield to the necessity, (v. 11.) "If it must be so now, take your brother. If no corn can be had, but upon those terms, we may as well expose him to the perils of the journey, as suffer ourselves and families, and Benjamin among the rest, to perish for want of bread:" Skin for skin, and all that a man has, even a Benjamin, the dearest of all, will he give for his life. No death so dreadful as that by famine, Lam. 4. 9. Jacob had said, (ch. 42. 38.) My son shall not go down; but now he is over-persuaded to consent. Note, It is no fault, but our wisdom and duty, to alter our purposes and resolutions, when there is a good reason for our so doing. Constancy is a virtue, but obstinacy is not. It is God's prerogative not to repent, and to make unchangeable resolves.
II. Jacob's prudence and justice, which appeared in three things. 1. He sent back the money which they had found in the sack's mouth, with this discreet construction of it, Peradventure it was an oversight. Note, Honesty obliges us to make restitution, not only of that which comes to us by our own fault, but of that which comes to us by the mistakes of others. Though we get it by oversight, if we keep it, when the oversight is discovered, it
