Choice observations and explanations upon the Old Testament containing in them many remarkable matters, either not taken notice of, or mistaken by most, which are additionals to the large annotations made by some of the Assembly of Divines : to which are added some further and larger observations of his upon the whole book of Genesis perused and attested by the Reverend Bishop of Armagh, and Mr. Gataker Pastor of Rederith / by ... John Richardson ...

CHAP. XLII.

Verse 1. SAw] Heard, v. 2. so the people saw the voices, Exod. 20. 18. Jacob was as much assured of it as if he had seen it. And one eye-witnesse is of more credit then many eare-witnesses. And likely he saw it too by many Canaanites that bought and brought co••ne out of Egypt, Acts 7. 12.

corac] The word for corne signifies also break∣ing.

why] So negligent, or as men amazed helplesse, Acts 7. 11. gaze, as men destitute of counsel. Famine is a ter∣rible thing, 2 Kings 6. 25. Deut. 28. 57. Lam. 4. 10. Esay 9. 20. A famine in Canaan in the dayes of Abram, ch. 12. 10. of Isaac, ch. 26. 1. and now in Jacobs time, and, Acts 11. 28. Gods servants subject to common calamities, yet God provides for them, Psal. 37. 19.

V. 2. Get you down] Egypt lay lower then Canaan, ch. 45. 13, 9.

V. 4. But Benjamin] ••h. 37. 3. 35. 18. 42. 38.

V. 6. Governour] Ps. 105. 22. Of the Hebrew word Shal∣let and Shil••on, is made in Arabick Sultan, a title where∣by the chief Governours of Egypt and Babylon are still called.

and he it was that sold] Likely his Officers to the Na∣tives. But himself to Forreigners, that by sifting them he might informe himself of any danger to the land, to pre∣vent it of any meanes of good to the land, to ad∣vance it.

bowed down] So fulfilling his Prophetick dream, ch. 37. 7, 8, 9. So, ch. 43. 26, 28. 44. 14. 50. 18.

V. 7. He knew them, but] For many good reasons, he yet dissembles that he knew them, and yet discovers not himself unto them, to prevent sundry inconveniences, and to further good intents and purposes towards them.

spake roughly] They deserved no better of him. Though Joseph did it in a good intent, to a good purpose.

V. 9. Remembred the dreams So he did before. But now more usefully, he saw the time for the fulfilling of them.

spies, to see the nakednesse] Exod. 32. 25. Not by way of lying he speaks thus, but by way of questioning and exa∣mining, to bolt out other matters to other good purposes; so▪ v. 12. as a severe Inquisiter.

V. 11. All one mans sons] And therefore not likely to be spies. The spies were sent one of a tribe, Numb. 13. 2. And they dispersed themselves in all likeli∣hood and reason.

V. 13. One is not] Is dead, ch. 44. 20. 37. 30. Not in this world, ch. 5. 24. Heb 11. 5.

V. 14. This is it that I spake] This discovers it; pre∣tending another brother, or why should he alone be left be∣hinde? This not likely; and being false in this, ye are but spies sure.

V. 15. By the life of Pharaoh] Pharaoh liveth: a kinde of oath or swearing as the like phrase importeth, Jer. 5. 2: But more properly a kinde of vehement Asseveration, as, Ezech 33. 11. 1. Sam, 1. 26. 17. 55. 20. 3. 25. 26. and 2 Sam▪ 15. 21. 2 Kings 2. 2, 4. Or it may be a wish, Let, or, so let Pharaoh live, as, &c. No sufficient ground to charge upon Joseph, a sinful oath by the life of Pharaoh, yea, a grievous sin, Deut. 6. 13. compared with Mat. 4. 10. Jer. 5. 7.

Ye] Ye all, v. 16.

ye shall not] If ye go. The words are suspensive, imply∣ing a curse; so, ch. 14. 23.

V. 17. Into ward] God calls them by tribulation to re∣pentance for their sin, Heb 12. 10.

V. 18. I feare God] Chap. 20. 11. Nehem. 5. 15. Prov. 16. 6.

V. 20. Your youngest brother unto me] Cares most for him, and hopes his father will conceive no hurt towards him, by his bountiful dealing with them.

V. 21. And they said one to another] In the absence, or out of the hearing of the Interpreter.

guilty] Affliction as a rack forceth confession, and a guilty conscience, though likely sleeping afore, yet now up∣on twenty yeares after, galleth afresh, Hos. 5. 15. Job 36. 8, 9, 10.

therefore is this distresse] Divers wayes Joseph dealt now with them, as they had done with him, Judg. 1. 7, Mat. 7. 2. Jam. 2. 13.

V. 24. And wept] Ch. 43, 30, moved with their self-ac∣cusations, and his own natural affection, which was to o strong to be kept in by artificial disguises, but that in secret it must have vent.

Simeon, and bound him] That eldest of them that were most against him. Reuben most, and Judah next, were for him. And Simeon was chief in that bloody massacre of the Sichemites.

before their eyes] Though haply when they were gone, he might give him some more liberty, ch. 43. 23.

V. 25. Every mans money] Lest his father should be in want.

Thus did he unto them] Josoph did so, or his steward at his command. Thus Joseph rewards evil with good, Rom. 12. 17, 19. Mat. 5. 44.

V. 27. And as one of them] V. 35. What Judah saith, ch. 43. 21. as if they had all opened their sacks, and found their moneys in the Inne, ••is but a summing and cutting off particulars for brevity sake, to Josephs steward, as not a thing material to their present purpose, with him, and they speaking in haste.

V. 28. Failed them] Suspecting some plot laid for their ruine, or at least some danger to Simeon by it, Lev. 26. 36.

God hath done] They rightly acknowledge Gods hand and his Providence in it.

V. 35. Were afraid] Lest also they should be accused of theft, chap. 44. 5. Guilty consciences timorous, Lev. 26. 36.

V. 36. Against me] Heavy to me, though ye make light of them.

V. 37. My two sonnes] That is, slay two of my sonnes. For he had foure, ch. 46. 9. or my two sonnes here present, or most deare to me. A passionate speech, yet such as might make Jacob conceive he had some reason for his so confi∣dent undertaking for Benjamins return.

V. 38. For his brother is dead] Only brother by the mo∣ther, ch. 44. 20, 27, 28.

to the grave] See Annot. on ch. 37. 35. Here Jacob bewrayes too much passion, and too little faith and pati∣ence.