Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 1.djvu/236

204 I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child? Note, (1.) It is an aggravation of the sin, that it was committed against admonitions. (2.) When we come to share with others in their calamities, it will be a comfort to us, if we have the testimony of our consciences for us, that we did not share with them in their iniquities, but, in our places, witnessed against them. This shall be our rejoicing in the day of evil, and take out the sting

II. Joseph's tenderness toward them upon this occasion. He retired from them to weep, v. 24. Though his reason directed that he should still carry himself as a stranger to them, because they were not as yet humbled enough; yet natural affection could not but work, for he was a man of a tender spirit. This represents the tender mercies of our God toward repenting sinners. See Jer. 31. 20. Since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still. See Judg. 10. 16.

III. The imprisonment of Simeon, v. 24. He chose him for the hostage, probably, because he remembered him to have been his most bitter enemy, or because he observed him now to be least humbled and concerned; he bound him before their eyes, to affect them all; or perhaps it is intimated that though he bound him with some severity before them, yet afterward, when they were gone, he took off his bonds.

IV. The dismission of the rest of them. They came for corn, and corn they had; and not only so, but every man had his money restored in his sack's mouth. Thus Christ, our Joseph, gives out supplies without money and without price. Therefore the poor are invited to buy, Rev. 3. 17, 18. This put them into great consternation, v. 28, Their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done to us? 1. It was really a merciful event; for I hope it will be allowed they had no wrong done to them, (when they had their money given them back,) but a kindness; yet they were thus terrified by it. Note, (1.) Guilty consciences are apt to take good providences in a bad sense, and to put wrong constructions even upon those things that make for them. They flee when none pursues. (2.) Wealth sometimes brings as much care along with it as want does, and more too. If they had been robbed of their money, they could not have been worse frightened than they were now, when they found their money in their sacks. Thus he whose ground brought forth plentifully, said, What shall I do? Luke l2. 17. 2. Yet, in their circumstances, it was very amazing. They knew that the Egyptians abhorred a Hebrew, (ch. 43. 32.) and therefore, since they could not expect to receive any kindness from them, they concluded that this was done with a design to pick a quarrel with them; the rather, because the man, the lord of the land, had charged them as spies. Their own consciences also were awake, and their sins set in order before them; and this puts them into confusion. Note, (1.) When men's spirits are sinking, evervthing helps to sink them. (2.) When the events of Providence concerning us are surprising, it is good to inquire what it is that God has done, and is doing with us, and to consider the operation of his hands.

29. And they came unto Jacob their father unto tho land of Canaan, and told him all that befell unto them, saying, 30. The man who is the lord of the land, spake roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country. 31. And we said unto him, We are true men; we are no spies: 32. We be twelve brethren, sons of our father; one is not, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan. 33. And the man, the lord of the country, said unto us, hereby shall I know that ye are true men; leave one of your brethren here with me, and take food for the famine of your households, and be gone: 34. And bring your youngest brother unto me: then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are true men: so will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffic in the land. 35. And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack: and when both they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid. 36. And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me. 27. And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again. 38. And he said, My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.

Here is,

1. The report which Jacob's sons made to their father, of the great distress they had been in in Egypt; how they had been suspected, and threatened, and obliged to leave Simeon a prisoner there, till they should bring Benjamin with them thither. Who would have thought of this, when they left home? When we go abroad, we should consider how many sad accidents, that we little think of, may befall us before we return home. We know not what a day may bring forth, we ought therefore to be always ready for the worst.

2. The deep impression this made upon the good man. The very bundles of money which Joseph returned, in kindness, to his father, frightened him; (v. 35.) for he concluded it was done with some mischievous design, or perhaps suspected his own sons to have committed some offence, and so to have run themselves into a praemunire—a penalty; which is intimated in what he says, (v. 36.) Me have ye bereaved. He seems to lay the fault upon them; knowing their characters, he feared they had provoked the Egyptians, and perhaps forcibly or fraudulently, brought home their money. Jacob is here much out of temper. (1.) He has very melancholy apprehensions concerning the present state of his family; Joseph is not, and Simeon is not; whereas Joseph was in honour, and Simeon in the way to it. Note, We often perplex ourselves with our own mistakes, even in matters of fact. True griefs may arise from false intelligence and suppositions, 2 Sam. 13. 31. Jacob gives up Joseph for gone, and Simeon and Benjamin as being in danger; and concludes, All these things are against me. It proved otherwise, that all these were for him, were working together for his good, and the good of his family; yet here he thinks them all against him. Note, Through our ignorance or mistake, and the weakness of our faith, we often apprehend that to be against us, which is really for us. We are afflicted in body,