Page:The Story of Joseph and His Brethren.djvu/92

Rh with the Jews in the Lord's death, though they were not equally guilty. The Gentiles are mentioned by the Lord in connection with the subject of Judas selling Him. In the 20th chapter of Matthew, ver. 18, our Lord says—"Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn Him to death, and shall deliver Him to the Gentiles, to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify." This literally took place. The Jews condemned Jesus, and delivered Him into the hands of the Romans, who were Gentiles, who mocked Him, by putting on Him a purple robe and a thorny crown, and who scourged and crucified Him. The reason of this was, that the Jews at that time were subject to the Romans, and these "Gentiles" retained the power of execution in their own hands. When, therefore, the brethren sold Joseph, they delivered him unto the Gentiles. We do not, indeed, read of these Gentiles mocking and scourging Joseph; but they in their turn delivered him unto the Egyptians, who inflicted great suffering upon him.