am I; who art thou, my son ?" 19. And Jacob said unto his father, "I am Esau, thy first-born; I have done according

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thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, "sit and eat of my venison, that thy "soul may bless me." 20. And Isaac said unto his son, "How is it that thou "hast found it so quickly, my son?" And he said, (s) "Because the Lord "thy God brought it to me?" 21. And Isaac said unto Jacob, "Come near, I 66 pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son 66 Esau, or not." 22. And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father, and he felt him, and said, "The voice is Jacob's "voice, but the hands are the hands of "Esau." 23. And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: So he blessed him. 24. And he said, "Art thou my 66 very son Esau ?" And he said "I am." 25. And he said, "Bring it near to me, "and I will eat of my son's venison, "that my soul bless thee." may he brought it near to him, and he did. eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank. 26. And his father Isaac said. unto him, "Come near now, and kiss me, my son." 27. And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, "See, the smell of my son is "as the smell of a field, which the Lord "hath blessed. 28. Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and "the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine. 29. Let people serve

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(8) v. 20. 24. These are instances how one untruth brings on others. He who tells one falsehood, must expect to be drawn into many others to try to escape detection.

(t) v. 36. "Jacob," i. e. " a deceiver," "one who takes unfair advantage," "who "comes behind another, and takes him by "surprise" properly," one who takes "another by the heel;" and he had the

"thee, and nations bow down to thee; "be lord over thy brethren, and let thy "mother's sons bow down to thee: "cursed be every one that curseth thee, "and blessed be he that blesseth thee." 30. And it came to pass as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father,

that Esau his brother came in from his

hunting. 31. And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father; and said unto his father, "Let "my father arise, and eat of his son's "venison, that thy soul may bless me." 32. And Isaac his father said unto

him, "Who art thou?" And he said, "I am thy son, thy first-born Esau." 33. And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, "Who, where is he "that hath taken venison and brought "it me, and I have eaten of all before "thou camest, and have blessed him?

yea, and he shall be blessed." 34. And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, "Bless me, even me also, O my father." 35. And he said, " Thy brother came "with subtilty, and hath taken away "thy blessing.' 66 36. And he said, “ Is "not he rightly named (t) Jacob? for "he hath supplanted me these two "times: he took away my (u) birth"right; and behold, now he hath taken "away my blessing." And he said, "Hast thou not reserved a blessing for "me?" 37. And Isaac answered and said unto Esau," Behold, I have made him

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thy lord, and all his brethren 'have I "given to him for servants; and with “corn and wine have I sustained him : "and what shall I do now unto thee, 66 my son?" 38. And Esau said unto

name "Jacob," because at his birth his hand took hold of Esau's heel. Gen. xxv. 26.

1 Mede, 226.

(u) "Birthright." The manner in which this was obtained by Isaac is stated, Gen. xxv. 30. 34. Esau was faint, and applied to Jacob to feed him with some pottage Jacob had: Jacob made it a condition that Esau should surrender him his birthright, and Esau complied,

his father, "Hast thou but one blessing, 66 my father? bless me, even me also, "Omy father." And Esau lifted up his voice and wept. 39. And Isaac his father answered, and said unto him, "Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fat"ness of the earth, and of the dew "of heaven from above. 40. And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt

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serve thy brother: and it shall come "to pass, when thou shalt have the do"minion, that thou shalt break his yoke "from off thy neck." 41. And Esau liated Jacob; because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, "The days of "mourning for my father are at hand, "then will I slay my brother Jacob." 42. And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, "Behold, thy brother "Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort "himself, purposing to kill thee. 43. Now, "therefore, my son, obey my voice: "and arise, flee thou to Laban my "brother, to Haran. 44. And tarry "with him a few days, until thy bro"ther's fury turn away; 45. Until thy "brother's anger turn away from thee, "and he forget that which thou hast ، done to him: then I will send, and "fetch thee from thence. Why should "I be deprived also of you both in one "day?" 46. And Rebekah said to Isaac, "I am weary of my life, because "of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob "take a wife of the daughters of Heth, "such as these which are of the daugh،، ters of the land, what good shall my "life do me?"

"Get me this damsel to wife." 5. And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter, (now his sons were with his cattle in the field :) and Jacob held his peace, until they were come. 6. And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob, to commune with him. 7. And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it, and the men were grieved: and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel, in lying with Jacob's daughter: which thing ought not to be done. 8. And Hamor communed with them, saying, saying, "The soul of my son Shechem "longeth for your daughter: I pray

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you give her him to wife: 9. And "make ye marriages with us, and give "your daughters unto us; and take our "daughters unto you. 10. And ye ، shall dwell with us, and the land "shall be before you: dwell, and trade "you therein, and get you possessions "therein." 11. And Shechem said unto her father, and unto her brethren, "Let me find grace in your eyes, and ،، what ye shall say unto me, I will give. 12. Ask me never so much dowry and "gift, and I will give according as ye "shall say unto me: but give me the "damsel to wife." 13. And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, (because he had defiled Dinah their sister:) 14. And they said unto them, "We "cannot do this thing, to give our sister “ to one that is uncircumcised: for that were a reproach unto us. 15. But in ،، this will we consent unto you: if ye ،، will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised: 16. Then will we "give our daughters unto you, and we "will take your daughters to us, and ، we will dwell with and we

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will

"become one people. 17. But if ye will "not hearken unto us, to be circum"cised, then will we take our daughter, “ and we will be gone.” 18. And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor's son. 19. And the young deferred not to do the thing; because he had delight in Jacob's daughter: and he was more honourable than all the house of his father. the house of his father. 20. And Ha

man

mor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying, 21. "These men are peaceable with us, "therefore let them dwell in the land, "and trade therein: for the land, be"hold, it is large enough for them: let ❝ us take their daughters to us for wives, "and let us give them our daughters. "22. Only herein will the men consent "unto us, for to dwell with us, to be "one people, if every male among us "be circumcised, as they are circum"cised. 23. Shall not their cattle, and "their substance, and every beast of "their's be ours? only let us consent "unto them, and they will dwell with "us." 24. And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son, hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city: and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city. 25. And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, (v) Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males. 26. And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem's house; and went out. 27. The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister. 28. They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field. 29. And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house. 30. And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "Ye have troubled me, to make "me to stink among the inhabitants of "the land, amongst the Canaanites, and "the Perizzites: and I being few in "number, they shall gather them

(v) v. 25. Simeon and Levi." This perfidy and cruelty brought down upon them the denunciation of their father, when he called his sons together to tell them what should befall them in the last days, and when he pronounced over their younger brother Judah the important prophecy, "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah,

AND Joseph was brought down to Egypt: and Potiphar an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmaelites, which had brought him down thither. 2. And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man: and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3. And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. 4. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. 5. And it came to pass, from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake: and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. 6. And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat: and Joseph was a goodly person, and well-favoured. 7. And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, "Lie with me." 8. But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, "Behold, my master (w) wotteth not "what is with me in the house, and he "hath committed all that he hath to my "hand. 9. There is none greater in "this house than I; neither hath he "kept back any thing from me, but "thee, because thou art his wife: (x) how "then can I do this great wickedness,

"nor a lawgiver from between his feet, "until Shiloh come: and unto him shall "the gathering of the people be. Gen. xlix. "5, 6, 7. 10." On this prophecy see Newton, and 2. Hales, 168.

(w) v. 8. " Wotteth," i. e. "knoweth." (x) v. 9. For "how then," read "and "how." The original warrants it, and it

"and sin against God?" 10. And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. 11. And it came to pass, (y) about this time that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within. 12. And she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me:" and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out. 13. And it came to pass when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth, 14. That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, "See, he hath brought in an Hebrew "unto us, to mock us: he came in unto "me to lie with me, and I cried with a "loud voice. 15. And it came to pass, "when he heard that I lifted up my "voice, and cried, that he left his gar"ment with me, and fled, and got him "out." 16. And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home. 17. And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, "The Hebrew "servant which thou hast brought unto 66 us, came in unto me to mock me. 18. And it came to pass, as I lifted up

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my voice, and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out." 19. And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife which she spake unto him, saying, "After this manner did thy servant to "me;" that his wrath was kindled. 20. And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. 21. But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand, all the prison

is the most usual construction of the words. There are then two reasons given for Joseph's conduct, gratitude to his master, and duty towards God: the compliance would have been ungrateful and wicked. Kennic. Rem. 36.

(y) v. 11. For "about this time," read at a certain time."

ers that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. 23. The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.

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CHAP. XLII.

Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?" 2. And he said, "Behold I have heard "that there is corn in Egypt: get ye "down thither, and buy for us from "thence, that we may live, and not "die." 3. And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt. 4. But Benjamin, Joseph's (z) brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren: for he said, "Lest peradventure mischief "befall him." 5. And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came for the famine was in the land of Canaan. 6. And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land; and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth. 7. And Joseph saw his brethren: and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, "Whence

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come ye?" and they said, "From "the land of Canaan to buy food." 8. And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him. 9. And Joseph remembered (a) the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, "Ye are spies to see the nakedness of "the land you are come." 10. And they said unto him, "Nay, my lord, but to "buy food are thy servants come. "11. We are all one man's sons: we are "true men, thy servants are no spies."

(z) v. 4. "Joseph's brother." Joseph and Benjamin were the only children by Rachel, Jacob's favourite wife.

(a) v. 9. "The dreams which he dreamed "of them." They are recorded Gen. xxxvii. 7. 9. The one signified that he should be above his brethren, and his brethren make obeisance unto him; and

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12. And he said unto them, "Nay, but "to see the nakedness of the land you are come." 13. And they said, "Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons "of one man in the land of Canaan ; "and behold, the youngest is this day "with our father, and one (b) is not.” 14. And Joseph said unto them, "That "is it that I spake unto you, saying, "Ye are spies. 15. Hereby shall ye "be proved; by the life of Pharaoh ye "shall not go forth hence, except your "youngest brother come hither. "16. Send one of you, and let him "fetch your brother, and ye shall be "kept in prison, that your words "may be proved whether there be any "truth in you, or else by the life of "Pharaoh surely ye are spies." 17. And he put them altogether into ward, three days. 18. And Joseph said unto them the third day, "This do, and live: "for I fear (c) God. 19. If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be "bound in the house of your prisons : 66 go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses. 20. But bring your

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youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall "not die." And they did so. 21. And they said one to another, "We are verily guilty concerning (d) our brother, "in that we saw the anguish of his soul "when he besought us, and we would

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the other, that his father and mother, and also his brethren, should bow down themselves before him.

(b) v. 13. "Is not," i. e. " is dead.” (c) v. 18. "God." "Him whom you "worship, not the gods of the Egyptians." (d) v. 21. "Our brother," i. e. "Jo"seph." Some of them had proposed to kill him, because they were jealous of the extraordinary love his father showed him,

them, and wept, and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes. 25. Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way; and thus did he unto them. 26. And they laded their asses with the corn, and departed thence. 27. And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money for behold it was in his sack's mouth. 28. And he said unto his brethren, brethren, "My money is restored; and "lo, it is even in my sack:" and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, "What is this that God hath done unto us?" 29. And they came unto Jacob their father, unto the land of Canaan, and told him all that befel unto them, saying, 30. “The "man who is the lord of the land, spake roughly to us, and took us for spies "of the country. 31. And we said "unto him, We are true men; we are "no spies. 32. We be twelve brethren,

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sons of our father: one is not, and "the youngest is this day with our fa"ther in the land of Canaan. 33. And "the man, the lord of the country, said "unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye "are true men; leave one of your "brethren here with me, and take food "for the famine of your households, and "be gone. 34. And bring your young"est brother unto me: then shall I "know that you are no spies, but that you are true men: so will I deliver 'you your brother, and ye shall traffick "in the land." 35. And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack: and when both they

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and because of the dreams mentioned in the note to verse 9. Reuben (as an expedient to save him) recommended casting him into a pit in the wilderness: and at length, upon the suggestion of Judah, they sold him to the Ishmaelites, who carried him into Egypt.

(e) v. 21. Therefore, &c." A striking instance of the workings of conscience: imputing present distress to past sin.