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 believe that it was a supernatural occurrence, but of auspicious omen, and not, as they had imagined, a calamity.—The notice of Simeon's release is here inserted as the most convenient place, from E.—24. Cf. 24$32$.—25. they had heard, etc.] In conversation with the steward (cf. v.$16$).

26-34. At Joseph's table.—27, 28. Joseph's courteous inquiries as to their welfare and that of their father are a studied prelude to—29-31, his profound emotion at the sight of Benjamin,—his (full) brother, the son of his mother. The disparity in age must have been great : one wonders whether the narrative does not presuppose that Benjamin had been born since Joseph had been lost.—30, 31. For the second time (42$24$) Joseph's affection finds relief in tears, and again he restrains himself, that he may carry out his plan.—The interlude reveals, as Gu. remarks, a power of psychological observation which is absent from the oldest legends.—32-34. The feast brings two more surprises: the arrangement of the brothers in the order of seniority (see on 42$24$); and the special favour shown to Benjamin.—32 affords an interesting glimpse of Egyptian manners. Joseph's isolation at table was perhaps due to his having been admitted a member of the priestly caste (41$45$), which kept itself apart from the laity (Kn-Di.). The Egyptian exclusiveness in intercourse with foreigners, which would have been perfectly intelligible to the later Jews, evidently struck the ancient Israelites as peculiar (Gu.). Cf. Her. ii. 41.—34. The custom of honouring a guest by

24. ] G om.—25. ] G more easily (of Joseph).

26. ] On Dagh. or Mappiq in, see G-K. § 14 d.—] G pr. .—27. ] noun? or adj.? See G-K. § 141 c$4$.—28. After Athnach [E]G ins. ,—a parallel to the benediction on Benj. ($29$): clumsy in expression and hardly original.—29. ] G + ,—an interesting and perhaps correct addition.—] for (as Is. 30$19$); see G-K. § 67 n.—30. ] 'hastily sought,' though an intermediate clause between the complementary vbs. is very unusual.—] [E] .—32. ] Better : so Vns. Ba.—G adds , in mistaken accommodation to 46$34$.—34. ] GS .—] = 'shares' or 'times,' 47$24$, 2 Ki. 11$7$, 2 Sa. 19$44$, Neh. 11$1$, Dn. 1$20$ † .—] hardly 'got drunk': of convivial drinking, Hag. 1$6$, Ca. 5$1$.