Annotations.
COrne-to-sell] or sale of corne: so the Hebrew [unspec 1] Sheber, (which is breaking,) is here translated in Greeke, the selling of wheat: the Chaldee also so expresseth it. See Gen. 41 56. Iakob saw, that is, understood this, by the report of others; he heard it, vers. 2. So the people saw the voyces, Exod. 18. 20. one on another] or, on your selves: as negligent, or as men helplesse, none knowing what to doe. The Greeke translateth, why are ye slothfull: By the famine that came over all Egypt and Canaan, there was great affliction, that our fathers found no sustenance: Act. 7. 11. In Abrams dayes, Canaan was vexed with famine, Gen. 12. 10. againe in Isaaks time, Gen. 26. 1. and now in Iakobs. So God exercised the faith and patience of the Saints, in the common calamities of the world. The like was in Act. 11. 28.
Vers. 4. lest mischiefe] understand, I must take heed lest, &c. see Gen. 3. 22. For mischiefe, the [unspec 4] Chaldee putteth death: the word implyeth it, and lesser evill also, as appeareth by Exod. 21. 22. 23. 24. The Greeke calleth it, sicknesse.
Vers. 6. the ruler] he that had authority and po∣wer, in his hand; as the originall word signifieth, [unspec 6] Eccles. 8. 8. 4. and David confirmeth, Psal. 105. 22. Of the Hebrew Shallet, and Shilton, is made in A∣rabike the name Sultan, a title whereby the chiefe rulers of Egypt and Babylon are still called. bowed downe] so fulfilling the Oracle, in Gen. 37. 7. 8.
Vers. 7. made himselfe strange] in Greeke, he was allenated from them. The Chaldee expounds it, [unspec 7] hee bethought him what hee should speake with them. with them] or, unto them: for the scripture useth these phrases indifferently, as speake not with us in the Iewes language, 2 Kings 18. 26. or speake not unto us, Esay 36. 11. and, spake with him, 2 Chron. 10. 10. or, spake unto him, 1 King. 12. 10. and in Greeke, as, he spake with them, Mark. 6. 50. or, he spake unto them, Mat. 14. 27.
Vers. 9. spies] The Hebrew hath the signification [unspec 9] of footing, or going from place to place. The A∣postle in Greeke translateth it spies, Heb. 11. 31. nakedues] that is, the naked, weake, or ruined places; as the Chaldee explaineth it. The Greeke transla∣teth it footsteps. Ioseph dealeth with his brethren in sinne, as God doth with his children: who of∣ten estrangeth himselfe from them, dealeth rough∣ly, and counteth them unto him as his enemies, Iob. 19. 11. and 13. 24.
Vers. 11. true] or upright, honest men. The Greeke [unspec 11] saith, peaceable.
Vers. 13. is not] that is, he is dead: as the phrase [unspec 13] signifieth, Matt. 2. 16. 18. and so it is expounded in Gen. 44. 20.
Vers. 15. as Pharoah liveth] a kind of asseverati∣on [unspec 15] or swearing, (as the like phrase of God mani∣festeth, Ier. 5. 2.) which sometime is joyned with the name of God, as 1 Sam. 20. 3. as the Lord li∣veth, and as thy soule liveth: so 2 Kings 2. 2. 4. 6. 2 Sam. 15. 21. 1 Sam. 25. 26. And to sweare by the kings-life, was a great oath in Egypt. The Greeke translateth, by the health of Pharaoh. It may also be read as a wish; so Pharaoh live: and is likewise an earnest asseveration. if ye goe] that is, yee shall not goe; as the Greeke explaineth it: see Gen. 14. 23. yongest] Hebrew, little: so after, in vers. 20. 32. 34.
Vers. 16. be ye in bonds] you shall be bound, or pri∣soners. [unspec 16] In Greeke, be ye led-away, untill your words be manifest, whether ye speake-truth or not.
Vers. 17. put them altogether] Hebrew, gathered [unspec 17] them. ward] or prison: called the house of ward (or custodie) vers. 19. and so by the Chaldee here. Here God by tribulation, calleth the Patriarchs to repentarice for their sinnes: he chasteneth us for our profit, that we might bee partakers of his holinesse; Heb. 12. 10.
Vers. 18. the third day] of which number, divers [unspec 18] things are observed, on Gen. 22. 4.
Vers. 19. bring] to your families. corne] for [unspec 19] the famine: or, after the Hebrew phrase, the break∣ing of the famine; meaning corne: as Gen. 41. 56. The Chaldee saith, corne which wanteth in your houses.
Ver. 21. guilty] the Greeke translateth in sinne. [unspec 21] our brother] Ioseph they meane, who besought them when they sold him into Egypt, Gen. 37. Thus by afflictions they are brought to acknow∣ledge their sinne committed about 13. yeeres be∣fore, which their consciences did now accuse them of. So God saith, I will goe and returne to my place, till they acknowledge their guiltinesse, and seeke my face: in their affliction they will seeke mee earely: Hos. 5. 15. distresse] or anguish, the Greeke translateth, we despised the tribulation.
Vers. 22. is required] that is, God punisheth us [unspec 22] for killing our brother: as is threatned, Gen. 9. 5. After may yeeres, the guilt of innocent blood could not be remoued out of their hearts; but the memory is renued upon this their trouble.
Verse 23. heard] that is, understood: as Gen. [unspec 23] 11. 7.
Vers. 24. weps] shewing his love and naturall