Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Genesis Ch.44 / 50 Ch.s
GE:44
* Joseph's policy to stay his brethren, and try their affection
for Benjamin. (1-17) Judah's supplication to Joseph. (18-34)
#1-17 Joseph tried how his brethren felt towards Benjamin. Had
they envied and hated the other son of Rachel as they had hated
him, and if they had the same want of feeling towards their
father Jacob as heretofore, they would now have shown it. When
the cup was found upon Benjamin, they would have a pretext for
leaving him to be a slave. But we cannot judge what men are now,
by what they have been formerly; nor what they will do, by what
they have done. The steward charged them with being ungrateful,
rewarding evil for good; with folly, in taking away the cup of
daily use, which would soon be missed, and diligent search made
for it; for so it may be read, Is not this it in which my lord
drinketh, as having a particular fondness for it, and for which
he would search thoroughly? Or, By which, leaving it carelessly
at your table, he would make trial whether you were honest men
or not? They throw themselves upon Joseph's mercy, and
acknowledge the righteousness of God, perhaps thinking of the
injury they had formerly done to Joseph, for which they thought
God was now reckoning with them. Even in afflictions wherein we
believe ourselves wronged by men, we must own that God is
righteous, and finds out our sin.
#18-34 Had Joseph been, as Judah supposed him, an utter stranger
to the family, he could not but be wrought upon by his powerful
reasonings. But neither Jacob nor Benjamin need an intercessor
with Joseph; for he himself loved them. Judah's faithful
cleaving to Benjamin, now, in his distress, was recompensed long
afterwards by the tribe of Benjamin keeping with the tribe of
Judah, when the other tribes deserted it. The apostle, when
discoursing of the mediation of Christ, observes, that our Lord
sprang out of Judah, #Heb 7:14|; and he not only made
intercession for the transgressors, but he became a Surety for
them, testifying therein tender concern, both for his Father and
for his brethren. Jesus, the great antitype of Joseph, humbles
and proves his people, even after they have had some tastes of
his loving-kindness. He brings their sins to their remembrance,
that they may exercise and show repentance, and feel how much
they owe to his mercy.