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by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.

CHAPTER XLIII.

1 AND the famine was sore in the land. And it came to pass, 2 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

from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. Ge. xliv. 29.

Bring down my gray hairs.] See chap. xxxvii. 35. and com. Do, therefore (since Joab slew Abner and Amasa), according to thy wisdom (said David to Solomon), and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace. 1 Ki. ii. 6. Now also, when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not, until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come. Ps. lxxi. 18. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if, by reason of strength, they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow, for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Ps. xc. 10. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Ec. i. 14. God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather, and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. Ec. ii. 26. I (Hezekiah) said, In the cutting off of my days I shall go to the gates of the grave; I am deprived of the residue of my years. Is. xxxviii. 10. And even to your old age I am he (that carried you Israel from the womb); and even to hoar hairs will I carry you. Is. xlvi. 4.

CHAP. XLIII.-1 The famine, &c.] See chap. xviii. 13. Seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said, and the dearth was in all lands. Ge. xli. 54. And all the countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn, because that the famine was so sore in all the lands. Ge. xli. 57. And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came, for the famine was in the land of Canaan. Ge. xlii. 5. All this (said the wise man) I considered in my heart, even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them. All things come alike to all; there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth

not; as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath. Ec. ix. 1, 2. Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine. La. v. 10. Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction; and our fathers found no sustenance. But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh. Ac. vii. 11, 12, 13. 2 Go again, &c.] If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food. We came indeed down at the first (said Joseph's brethren to his steward) to buy food. Ge. xliii. 4. 20. See chap. xlii. 1, 2.

and com.

Better is little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure, and trouble therewith. Pr. xv. 16. Pride goeth before destruction; and an haughty spirit before a fall. Pr. xvi. 18. She (a virtuous woman) considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. Pr. xxxi. 16. But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. 1 Ti. v. 8. Godliness with contentment is great gain; for we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out and having food and raiment, let us be therewith content. 1 Ti. vi. 6, 7, &.

3 The man did solemnly protest.] Hereby ye shall be proved (said Joseph); By the life of Pharaoh, ye shall not go forth hence except your youngest brother come hither. Ye are spies bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. Then shall I know that ye are true men. So will I deliver your brother (Simeon), and ye shall traffick in the land. Ge. xlii. 15-20. 33, 34. Thou saidst unto thy servants (said Joseph's brethren to him), Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more. Ge. xliv. 23 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people, which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. Ac. vii. 34.

See my face, &c.] See verse 5. And be (David) said (to Abner), Well; I will make a

with you. If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down 4 and buy thee food: But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go 5 down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so 6 ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother? And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our 7 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? And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with 8 me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones. I will be surety for him; 9

league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face. 2 Sa. iii. 13. And the king (David) said (when Joab brought Absalom to Jerusalem), Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king's face. So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face; and Absalom answered Joab (who had said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field of barley on fire?) Behold, I sent unto thee to come hither, that I may send thee to the king to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur? It had been good for me to have been there still. Now therefore let me see the king's face and if there be any iniquity in me kill me. 2 Sa. xiv. 24. 28. 32. And now behold (said Paul to the elders of Ephesus), I know that ye all among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God shall see my face no more; and they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. Ac. xx. 25. 37, 38.

brought the tidings of the Syrians' hasty flight from their camp), then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there; and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall into the host of the Syrians; if they save us alive we shall live, and if they kill us we shall but die. 2 Ki. vii. 4. And one of his (the king Jehoram's) servants answered and said (when he said that the Syrians had hid themselves), Let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city; behold, they are as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed, and let us send and see. 2 Ki. vii. 13. I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. Ps. cxviii. 17.

Also our little ones.] Now thou art commanded (said Pharaoh to Joseph, as his message to Joseph's brethren), this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt, for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. Ge. xlv. 19. Joseph went up to bury his father, and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, and the elders of his house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen. Ge. 1. 8. Now, therefore, fear ye not (said Joseph to his brethren), I will nourish you and your little ones: and he comforted them, and spake kindly unto And we them (or to their hearts). Ge. 1. 21. But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in (saith the Lord), and they shall know the land which ye have despised. Nu. xiv. 31. I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava; that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. Ezr. viii. 21.

5 We will not go down.] And he (Jacob) said, My son (Benjamin) shall not go down with you; for his brother (Joseph) is dead, and he is left alone. Ge. xlii. 38.

said (to our father), (said Judah to Joseph), We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down, for we may not see the man's face except our youngest brother be with us. Ge. xliv. 26. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Ex. xx. 12.

8 That we may live.] Behold, I have heard (said Jacob) that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence, that we may live, and not die. Ge. xlii. 2. and com. Let Reuben live, and not die (said Moses in blessing the children of Israel); and let not his men be few. De. xxxiii. 6. If we say, We will enter into the city (said the four leprous men at the gate of Samaria, and who

9 I will be surety for him.] 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. Ge. xlii. 37. and com. "Otherwise," ("if David did not tell who should sit on his throne after him") it shall come to pass (said Bath-sheba), when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son

of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, 10 and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever: For

except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second 11 time. 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,

1 Ki.

Solomon shall be accounted offenders. i. 21. Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me? (said Job, appealing from men to God). Job xvii. 3. Be surety for thy servant for good. Ps. cxix. 122. If he (Onesimus) hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account. I Paul have written it with mine own hand; I will repay it. Albeit I do not say to thee, how thou owest unto me, even thine own self besides. Phil. 18, 19. By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. He. vii. 22.

Of my hand, &c.] Surely your blood of your lives will I require, at the hand of every beast will I require it; and at the hand of man, at the hand of every man's brother, will I require the life of man. Ge. ix. 5. That which was torn of beasts (said Jacob to Laban) I brought not unto thee: I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night. Ge. xxxi. 39. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die, and thou (the watchman of the Lord) givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thine hand. Again, when a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered: but his blood will I require at thine hand. Ez. iii. 18. 20. If the watch man see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Ez. xxxiii. 6. 8. I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute; that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation.

Lu. xi. 50.

10 Lingered.] And while he (Lot) lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful

unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city (Sodom). Ge. xix. 16.

11 If it must be so, &c.] God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother (Simeon). If I he bereaved of my children, I am bereaved. Ge. xliii. 14. Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens (said Esther) will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king (to intercede for the Jews), which is not according to law: and if I perish, I perish. Es. iv. 16. And when he (Paul) would not be persuaded (but would go up to Jerusalem), we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem. Ac. xxi. 14.

Carry down the man a present.] And (Jacob) took a present for Esau his brother, two hundred she-goats and twenty he-goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams (this present he sent over before him). Ge. xxxii. 13, 14, 15. 21. with com. on verse 13. Behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead (when Joseph was thrown into the pit), with their camels bearing spicery, and balm, and myrrh, going to carry it down into Egypt. Ge. xxxvii. 25. And of Joseph he (Moses) said, Blessed of the Lord be his land, for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon. De. xxxill. 13, 14. Then said Saul to his servant (being sent to seek his father's asses), But be hold, if we go what shall we bring the man! For the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we? 1 Sa. ix. 7. And now this blessing which thine handmaid (Abigail the wife of Nabal) hath brought unto my lord (David), let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord. 1 Sa. xxv. 27. And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms, from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt. They brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life. 1 Ki. iv. 21. And they brought every man his present (to Solomon), vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year. 1 Ki. x. 25. There is a league between me and thee (said king Asa to Ben-hadad, king of Syria), and between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold: come and break thy league with Baasha, king of Israel, that he may depart from me. 1 AL.

spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds: And take double money in 12 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: Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the 13 man: And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he 14

xv. 19. And the king (Ben-hadad, of Syria), said unto Hazael, Take a present in thine hand, and go, meet the man of God (Elisha), and enquire of the Lord by him, saying, Shall I recover of this disease? 2 Ki. viii. 8. And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria. 2 Ki. xvi. 8. At that time (when Isaiah caused the shadow to return backward ten degrees in confirmation of Hezekiah's life being lengthened), Berodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent let ters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick. 2 Ki. xx. 12. Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee. Ps. Ixviii. 29. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents; the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Ps. lxxii. 10. Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain. Ps. lxxvi. 10. A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend. Pr. xvii. 18. Many will intreat the favour of the prince, and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. Pr. xix. 6. A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath. Pr. xxi. 14. The men of Dedan were thy merchants (Tyrus); many isles were the merchandise of thine hand: they brought thee for a present horns of ivory, and ebony. Ez. xxvii. 15.

A little balm.] A company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead, with their camels bearing spicery, and balm, and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt. Ge. xxxvii. 25. Is there no balm in Gilead? is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered? Je. viii. 22. Judah and the land of Israel, they were thy merchants (Tyrus). They traded in thy market, wheat of Minnith and Pannag, and honey, and oil, and balm. Ex. xxvii. 17.

Honey.] Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it; a land that floweth with milk and honey. Le. xx. 24.

Spices.] The weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold beside that he (Solomon) had of the merchantmen, and of the traffick of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country. 1 Ki. x. 15. And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour; and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices,

and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels. 2 Ch. xxxii. 27. How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices! Thy plants are spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices. Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Ca. iv. 10. 14. 16. I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey, &c. Ca. v. 1. Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe, or to a young hart, upon the mountains of spices. Ca. viii. 14.

12 Double money, &c.] Provide things honest in the sight of all men. Ro. xii. 17. Owe no man any thing but to love one another. Ro. xiii. 8. Avoiding this, that no man should blame us; providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but in the sight of men. 2 Co. viii. 20, 21. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Phi. iv. 8. This is the will of God: that no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter; because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you, and testified. 1 The. iv. 6. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 1 The. v. 21. We trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. He. xiii. 18.

The mouth of your sacks.] Then (after binding Simeon) Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack. And it came to pass as they (his brethren) 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. Ge. xlii. 25. 35.

13 Take also your brother.] See chap. xlii. 38. and com.

14 And God Almighty give you mercy.] I am the Almighty God (said the Lord to Abram): walk before me, and be thou perfect. And Abraham called the name Ge. xvii. 1. of that place (where he saw the ram, a substitute of Isaac, caught in a thicket by his horns) Deliver me, I Jehovah-jireh. Ge. xxii. 14. pray thee (O God of my father Abraham), from

may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be be15 reaved of my children, I am bereaved. And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph. 16 And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; 17 for these men shall dine with me at noon. And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph's house. 18 And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's

the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau. And he (the Lord) said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel; for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. Ge. xxxii. 11. 28. The Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy. Ge. xxxix. 21. Blessed be the God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's (Artaxerxes') heart, to beautify the house of the Lord, which is in Jerusalem. Ezr. vii. 27. O Lord, I beseech thee (said Nehemiah), let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man (Artaxerxes). For I was the king's cup-bearer. Ne. i. 11. Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me; and so will I (Esther) go in unto the king, which is not according to the law : and if I perish, I perish. Es. iv. 16. Commit thy way unto the Lord. Trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noon-day. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him; fret not thyself, because of him who prospereth in his way; because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Ps. xxxvii. 5, 6, 7. Shew us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation. Ps. lxxxv. 7. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endureth to all generations. Ps. c. 5. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord; even thy salvation, according to thy word. Ps. cxix. 41. When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. Pr. xvi. 7. The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord as the rivers of water he turneth it whithersoever he will. Pr. xxi. 1. Sing, O heavens, and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, 0 mountains: for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted. Is. xlix. 13. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. Lub. i. 50. And (God) delivered him (Joseph) out of all his afflictions. Ac. vii. 10. And when he (Paul) would not be persuaded (to shun Jerusalem), we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done. Ac. xxi. 14. Unto Timothy

(writes Paul), my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. Howbeit for this cause I (Paul) obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 1 Ti. i. 2. 16. To Titus (torites St. Peral), mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. Tit. i. 4. Grace be with you (writes St. John to the elect lady and her children), mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. 2 John 3.

If I be bereaved.] See verse 11, and com. and verse 14.

16 The ruler of his house.] And they (Joseph's brethren) came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door. Ge. xliii. 19. And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing Ig childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus ? Ge. xv. 2. and com.

Slay.] And Abraham gave a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. Ge. xxi. 8, and com. Then Jacob (having made the covenant with Laban) offered sacrifice upon the mount (at Galeed), and called his brethren to eat bread. Ge. xxxi. 54. Shall I then take my bread and my water (said Nabal to David's servants), and my flesh, that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men whom I know not whence they be? 1 Sa. xxv. 11.

18 The men were afraid.] And they (Joseph's brethren) said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother. And he (who found his money in his sack's mouth) said unto his brethren, My money is restored, and, lo, it is even in my sack; and their heart failed them. And when both they and their father saw the bundles of money they were afraid. Ge. xlii. 21. 28. 35. And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God. Ju. xiii. 22. A dreadful sound is in his (the wicked man's) ears;m prosperity the destroyer shall come upen him. He (the wicked man) believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, and be is waited for of the sword. Job xv. 21, 2

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