1Ale hlad tížil zemi, 2a když dojedli zrní, které přinesli z Egypta, řekl jim otec: „Jděte a zase nám nakupte nějaké potraviny.“ 3Juda mu odpověl: „Ten muž nás výslovně varoval: ‘Nebudete ke mně uvedeni, pokud s vámi nebude váš bratr!’ 4Jsi-li ochoten s námi pustit našeho bratra, půjdeme tam a nakoupíme ti potraviny, 5ale když ho s námi nenecháš odejít, nepůjdeme tam, protože nám ten muž řekl: ‘Nebudete ke mně uvedeni, pokud s vámi nebude váš bratr.’“ 6Izrael řekl: „Proč jste mi způsobili bolest a říkali tomu muži, že máte ještě jednoho bratra?“ - 7„To je tím,“ odpověděli, „že se nás ten muž vyptával na nás a na naši rodinu a dotazoval se: ‘Je váš otec ještě naživu, máte ještě bratra?’ a my jsme podle toho odpovídali. Což jsme mohli vědět, že řekne: ‘Přiveďte svého bratra?’“ 8Tu Juda řekl svému otci Izraelovi: „Pusť toho hocha se mnou. Pojďme, vydejme se na cestu, abychom si zachránili život a abychom nezemřeli ani my, ani ty sám, ani všichni, o něž se musíme starat. 9Ručím za něho a po mně budeš požadovat účty; jestliže se mi stane, že ti ho nepřivedu nazpět a nepostavím ti ho opět na oči, ponesu za to po celý život vinu. 10Kdybychom se nebyli tolik omeškávali, byli bychom teď už podruhé nazpět!“ 11Jejich otec Izrael jim tedy řekl: „Protože to musí být, učiňte tedy toto: vezměte do svých zavazadel nejlepší plodiny naší země a přineste je tomu muži darem, trochu balzámu a trochu medu, něco tragantu a ladána, pistácie a mandle. 12Vezměte s sebou další peněžní obnos a doneste nazpět peníze, jež ležely nahoře ve vašich obilních pytlích: možná, že to byla nějaká mýlka. 13Vezměte svého bratra a odejděte, vraťte se k tomu muži. 14Kéž vám El Šadaj dopřeje, abyste u toho muže nalezli milosrdenství, a kéž vám dopřeje, abyste přivedli nazpět bratra, jehož jste tam zanechali, i Benjamina. A já nechť ztratím své děti, mám-li je ztratit!“ 15Našinci vzali tedy s sebou onen dar, dvakrát tolik peněz a Benjamina; odešli a dorazili do Egypta a objevili se před Josefem. 16Když je Josef uviděl i s Benjaminem, řekl správci svého domu: „Zaveď ty muže do domu, poraz dobytče a připrav je, neboť ti mužové se mnou budou v poledne obědvat.“ 17Muž učinil, jak mu Josef přikázal, a odvedl našince do Josefova domu. 18Našinci měli strach z toho, že je vedou do Josefova domu, a říkali si: „To nás sem vedou kvůli penězům, které se tehdy poprvé našly v našich obilních pytlích: přepadnou nás, vrhnou se na nás a uvrhnou nás do otroctví i s našimi osly.“ 19Přistoupili tedy k Josefovu správci a oslovili ho u vchodu do domu. 20Řekli: „Promiň, pane, přišli jsme sem poprvé nakoupit potraviny, 21a když jsme se pak utábořili na noc a otevřeli jsme své obilní pytle, hle, peníze každého z nás ležely nahoře v pytli, byly to naše peníze, dobře spočítané, a my je s sebou neseme nazpět. 22Na nákup potravin jsme přinesli další obnos. Nevíme, kdo nám dal do pytlů naše peníze.“ 23On však odpověděl: „Buďte klidní a nemějte strach! To váš Bůh a Bůh vašeho otce vám do pytlů vložil poklad, peníze od vás jsem v pořádku dostal,“ a přivedl jim Simeona. 24Ten muž zavedl našince do Josefova domu, přinesl jim vodu na umytí nohou a dal píci jejich oslům. 25Zatímco čekali, až Josef v poledne přijde, přichystali bratři dar, dozvěděli se totiž, že tam mají obědvat. 26Když se Josef vrátil do domu, dali mu dar, který měli s sebou, a klaněli se až k zemi. 27On je však přátelsky pozdravil a otázal se: „Jak se daří vašemu starému otci, o kterém jste mi vyprávěli, je dosud naživu?“ 28Oni odpověděli: „Tvému služebníku, našemu otci, se daří dobře, je dosud naživu,“ a poklekli a klaněli se. 29Josef pozvedl oči, spatřil svého bratra, syna své matky Benjamina a zeptal se: „Tak to je ten váš nejmladší bratr, o kterém jste mi vyprávěli?“ pak se obrátil přímo na něho: „Ať ti, synu, Bůh dá milost.“ 30A Josef spěšně vyšel, neboť se ho nad bratrem zmocnilo dojetí a do očí se mu draly slzy; vešel do svého pokoje a tam zaplakal. 31Pak si umyl obličej, vrátil se a přemáhaje se nařídil: „Prostírejte na stůl.“ 32Prostřeli jemu zvlášť, jim zvlášť i Egypťanům, kteří jedli u Josefa, zvlášť, neboť Egypťané nemohou stolovat společně s Hebreji: mají to v ošklivosti. 33Seděli tváří k němu, každý na svém místě od nejstaršího k nejmladšímu, a našinci pohlíželi s údivem jeden na druhého. 34On jim však dal přinést ze svého pokrmu čestné porce a Benjaminova porce pětkrát převyšovala porce ostatních. Také s ním popili a rozjařili se.
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary 1 Here, 1. Jacob urges his sons to go and buy more corn in Egypt,
Gen 43:1,
Gen 43:2. The famine continued; and the corn they had bought was all spent, for it is 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 again and 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, of which he, who was a witness to all that had passed in Egypt, was a more competent judge than Jacob could be. Joseph's protestation (
Gen 43:3) 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,
Gen 43:8,
Gen 43:9. Judah's conscience had lately smitten him for what he had done a great while ago against Joseph (
Gen 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 far as the case will admit; when he knew not how he could restore Joseph, he would make some amends for the irreparable injury he had done him by doubling his care concerning Benjamin.
11 Observe here, I. Jacob's persuasibleness. 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 (
Gen 43:11):
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 amongst 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 (
Gen 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 sacks' mouths, 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 is kept by deceit. In the stating of accounts, errors must be excepted, even those that make for us as well as those that make against us. Jacob's words furnish us with a favourable construction to put upon that which we are tempted to resent as an injury and affront; pass it by, and say,
Peradventure it was an oversight. 2. He sent double money, as much again as they took the time before, upon supposition that the price of corn might have risen, - or to show a generous spirit, that they might be the more likely to find generous treatment with
the man, the lord of the land. 3. He sent a present of such things as the land afforded, and as were scarce in Egypt -
balm and honey, etc. (
Gen 43:11), the commodities that Canaan exported,
Gen 37:25. Note, (1.) Providence dispenses its gifts variously. Some countries produce one commodity, others another, that commerce may be preserved. (2.) Honey and spice will never make up the want of bread-corn. The famine was sore in Canaan, and yet they had balm and myrrh, etc. We may live well enough upon plain food without dainties; but we cannot live upon dainties without plain food. Let us thank God that that which is most needful and useful is generally most cheap and common. (3.) A
gift in secret pacifies wrath, Prov 21:14. Jacob's sons were unjustly accused as spies, yet Jacob was willing to be at the expense of a present, to pacify the accuser. Sometimes we must not think it too much to buy peace even where we may justly demand it, and insist upon it as our right.
III. Jacob's piety appearing in his prayer:
God Almighty give you mercy before the man! Gen 43:14. Jacob had formerly turned an angry brother into a kind one with a present and a prayer; and here he betakes himself to the same tried method, and it sped well. Note, Those that would find mercy with men must seek it of God, who has all hearts in his hands, and turns them as he pleases.
IV. Jacob's patience. He concludes all with this:
If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved; If I must part with them thus one after another, I must acquiesce, and say,
The will of the Lord be done. Note, It is our wisdom to reconcile ourselves to the sorest afflictions, and make the best of them; for there is nothing got by striving with our Maker,
2Sam 15:25,
2Sam 15:26.
15 Jacob's sons, having got leave to take Benjamin with them, were observant of the orders their father had given them, and went down the second time into Egypt to buy corn. If we should ever know what a famine of the word means, let us not think it much to travel as far for spiritual food as they did for corporal food. Now here we have an account of what passed between them and Joseph's steward, who, some conjecture, was in the secret, and knew them to be Joseph's brethren, and helped to humour the thing; I rather think not, because no man was permitted to be present when Joseph afterwards made himself known to them,
Gen 45:1. Observe, 1. Joseph's steward has orders from his master (who was busy selling corn, and receiving money) to take them to his house, and make ready for their entertainment. Though Joseph saw Benjamin there, he would not leave his work at working-time, nor trust another with it. Note, Business must take place of civility in its season. Our needful employments must not be neglected, no, not to pay respect to our friends. 2. Even this frightened them:
They were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house, Gen 43:18. The just challenges of their own consciences, and Joseph's violent suspicions of them, forbade them to expect any favour, and suggested to them that this was done with a bad design upon them. Note, Those that are guilty and timorous are apt to make the worst of every thing. Now they thought they should be reckoned with about the money in the sacks' mouths, and should be charged as cheats, and men not fit to be dealt with, who had taken advantage of the hurry of the market to carry off their corn unpaid for. They therefore laid the case before the steward, that he, being apprized of it, might stand between them and danger; and, as a substantial proof of their honesty, before they were charged with taking back their money they produced it. Note, Integrity and uprightness will preserve us, and will clear themselves as the light of the morning. 3. The steward encouraged them (
Gen 43:23):
Peace be to you, fear not; though he knew not what his master drove at, yet he was aware these were men whom he meant no harm to, while he thus amused them; and therefore he directs them to look at the divine Providence in the return of their money:
Your God, and the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks. Observe, (1.) Hereby he shows that he had no suspicion at all of dishonesty in them: for of what we get by deceit we cannot say, God gives it to us. (2.) Hereby he silences their further enquiry about it. Ask not how it came thither; Providence brought it to you, and let that satisfy you. (3.) It appears by what he said that, by his good master's instructions, he was brought to the knowledge of the true God, the God of the Hebrews. It may justly be expected that those who are servants in religious families should take all fit occasions to speak of God and his providence with reverence and seriousness. (4.) He directs them to look up to God, and acknowledge his providence in the good bargain they had. We must own ourselves indebted to God, as
our God and the God of our fathers (a God in covenant with us and them) for all our successes and advantages, and the kindnesses of our friends; for every creature is that to us, and no more, which God makes it to be. The steward encouraged them, not only in words but in deeds; for he made very much of them till his master came,
Gen 43:24.
26 Here is, I. The great respect that Joseph's brethren paid to him. When they brought him the present,
they bowed themselves before him (
Gen 43:26); and again, when they gave him an account of their father's health,
they made obeisance, and called him,
Thy servant our father, Gen 43:28. Thus were Joseph's dreams fulfilled more and more: and even the father, by the sons,
bowed before him, according to the dream,
Gen 37:10. Probably Jacob had directed them, if they had occasion to speak of him to
the man, the lord of the land, to call him
his servant. II. The great kindness that Joseph showed to them, while they little thought it was a brotherly kindness. Here is,
1. His kind enquiry concerning Jacob:
Is he yet alive? - a very fit question to be asked concerning any, especially concerning old people; for we are dying daily: it is strange that we are
yet alive. Jacob had said many years before,
I will go to the grave to my son; but
he is yet alive: we must not die when we will.
2. The kind notice he took of Benjamin, his own brother. (1.) He put up a prayer for him:
God be gracious unto thee, my son, Gen 43:29. Joseph's favour, though he was the lord of the land, would do him little good, unless God were gracious to him. Many seek the ruler's favour, but Joseph directs him to seek the favour of the ruler of rulers. (2.) He shed some tears for him,
Gen 43:30. His natural affection to his brother, his joy to see him, his concern at seeing him and the rest of them in distress for bread, and the remembrance of his own griefs since he last saw him, produced a great agitation in him, which perhaps was the more uneasy because he endeavoured to stifle and suppress it; but he was forced to retire into his closet, there to give vent to his feeling by tears. Note, [1.] Tears of tenderness and affection are no disparagement at all, even to great and wise men. [2.] Gracious weepers should not proclaim their tears.
My soul shall weep in secret, says the prophet,
Jer 13:17.
Peter went out and wept bitterly. See
Matt 26:75.
3. His kind entertainment of them all. When his weeping had subsided so that he could refrain himself, he sat down to dinner with them, treated them nobly, and yet contrived every thing to amuse them.
(1.) He ordered three tables to be spread, one for his brethren, another for the Egyptians that dined with him (for so different were their customs that they did not care to eat together), another for himself, who durst not own himself a Hebrew, and yet would not sit with the Egyptians. See here an instance, [1.] Of hospitality and good house-keeping, which are very commendable, according as the ability is. [2.] Of compliance with people's humours, even whimsical ones, as bishop Patrick calls this of the Egyptians not eating with the Hebrews. Though Joseph was the lord of the land, and orders were given that all people should obey him, yet he would not force the Egyptians to eat with the Hebrews, against their minds, but let them enjoy their humours. Spirits truly generous hate to impose. [3.] Of the early distance between Jews and Gentiles; one table would not hold them.
(2.) He placed his brethren according to their seniority (
Gen 43:33), as if he
could certainly divine. Some think they placed themselves so, according to their custom; but, if so, I see not why such particular notice is taken of it, especially as a thing they marvelled at.
(3.) He gave them a very plentiful entertainment, sent messes to them from his own table,
Gen 43:34. This was the more generous in him, and the more obliging to them, because of the present scarcity of provisions. In a day of famine, it is enough to be fed; but here they were feasted. Perhaps they had not had such a good dinner for many months. It is said,
They drank and were merry; their cares and fears were now over, and they ate their bread with joy, concluding they were now upon good terms with the man, the lord of the land. If God accept our works,
our present, we have reason to be cheerful. Yet when we sit, as they here did, to eat with a ruler, we should consider what is before us, and not indulge our appetite, nor be desirous of dainties,
Prov 23:1-
Prov 23:3. Joseph gave them to understand that Benjamin was his favourite; for his mess was
five times as much as any of theirs, not as if he would have him eat so much more than the rest, for then he must eat more than would do him good (and it is no act of friendship, but rather an injury and unkindness, to press any either to eat or drink to excess), but thus he would testify his particular respect for him, that he might try whether his brethren would envy Benjamin his larger messes, as formerly they had envied himself his finer coat. And it must be our rule, in such cases, to be content with what we have, and not to grieve at what others have.
