(Deuteronomy 4:2 [KJV]) Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I
command you.
(Proverbs 30:5, 6 [KJV]) Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
(Isaiah 28:10 [KJV])
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
(Isaiah 28:13 [KJV])
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
(2 Peter 1:20 [KJV])
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
All of the studies, book or topical, found here, are done with research with mainly two things: The KING JAMES BIBLE and a plain old, 1828 Webster's Dictionary. Why? Outside of actually studying secular and Jewish history, archaeology, one needs nothing more. You do not need foreign, dead languages that no one speaks, lexicons, concordances or commentaries, because they differ not only with one another and with the KING JAMES BIBLE, but they create division, confusion, debate, and unbelief. We do not need them. That Word of God written and preserved for us in our own language is supposed to be enough, like the Old Testament was for the Jews, and the New Testament for the early Christians in Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, German, etc. There are studies within as tangents on words, subjects found within the two testaments, as to broaden the scope of the study, to learn more, deeper truths. This is not an intellectual site with PhDs, theologians, and no worldly wisdom.. Check everything out, everything. Not just here, but with everything you read and see and hear. Be Bereans:
(Acts 17:11 [KJV])
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Always research for yourself, use all of the context, and never privately interpret!
Genesis Chapter 44: THE WAY TO JACOB THE FATHER
Here, Joseph's brethren, on orders from Joseph, and orders from Jacob their father, fulfill Joseph's request to bring their youngest brother, Joseph's brother Benjamin, plus the money Joseph returned, plus more money, plus gifts because they simply think Joseph is an Egyptian ruler. This is not for bribery as, the last time, they got food for money; it is just that the money was returned, so the food was a gift, providence from God. They think that they are just making sure everything goes well, Simeon is released and they get more, much needed food.
Both Jacob and Joseph's entire life stories begin with deception of the father, through treacherous brothers
Both end up with a twenty year period of separation with that younger brother in a foreign land, Jacob with Rachel, Leah, Laban in Haran, etc. and Joseph with
Potiphar in Egypt (left age 17, 30 in prison, plus seven years of famine before the brethren came for food to Joseph under Pharaoh
Both lives conclude with reconciliation with the brethren, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brethren
(Genesis 44:1-2 [AKJV/PCE])
And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his sack's mouth. And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.
Because they had not brought their brother and Joseph's brother Benjamin and their father and Joseph's father Jacob the first time, because they had not brought Jacob the second time, this was they way to put enough fear into them for the third time, to get Jacob there to see Joseph
This is Benjamin's sack, who will then be with Joseph, reunited, staying while they go and get their father
This is necessary, because God wanted all of them there, not just Simeon, not just Benjamin, not just the other brethren, but the entire family into Egypt
It must be said and remembered that this was probably an army of men sent to bring back the brethren with Benjamin, to overwhelm them
It must be further said and remembered that Joseph has a way here to get Benjamin to stay, his father to be brought to him, without them knowing who he is, without their permission, without using any force, but them doing it willingly, because God is on his side and gives him wisdom
(Genesis 44:3 [AKJV/PCE])
As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.
Step one, allow them to get away, so that it is "a crime" against the ruler to have "taken his cup"
They cannot have taken it while still there, so they had to be dismissed, get a distance
(Genesis 44:4-5 [AKJV/PCE])
And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.
Step two, bring them back to Joseph
Joseph knows the guilt will work to get what is needed, Benjamin to stay, them going to bring his father Jacob, once and for all, for the final, finest reunion
(Genesis 44:6-8 [AKJV/PCE])
¶ And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words. And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing: Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks' mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold?
Taken unawares, they have no real defense, except that they had no real motive, just overwhelming evidence against them by possession of stolen goods
(Genesis 44:9-10 [AKJV/PCE])
With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondmen. And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless.
This is quite the opposite behavior from before, when they wanted to kill their own brother
(Genesis 44:11-12 [AKJV/PCE])
Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack. And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack.
Step three, arrest the "criminal"
(Genesis 44:13 [AKJV/PCE])
Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city.
Rending one's clothes is a sign of sorrow, mourning, maybe even remorse, not anger
(Genesis 44:14 [AKJV/PCE])
¶ And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.
Making obeisance, are we?
This time is not just for respect of the ruler, but a cry for mercy, grace
(Genesis 44:15 [AKJV/PCE])
And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?
Step Four, detainment of Benjamin, conditional release of the others, one condition: BRING YOUR FATHER
JUDAH SPEECH, PLEA FOR MERCY, GRACE
One notable thing in Judah's entire speeh to Joseph here is his respect out of what had to be abject fear because, every time they came with money to get food, they got food-and their money! His words are "my lord", "thy servant", "thy servants", "his (Joseph's) servants", "thy servant my father"
(Genesis 44:16 [AKJV/PCE])
And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord's servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found.
Bowing over, the plea process begins
(Genesis 44:17 [AKJV/PCE])
And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.
Congratulations, this is your opportunity of a lifetime: you are released on bail
(Genesis 44:18 [AKJV/PCE])
¶ Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh.
Judah and Reuben were the only two on Joseph's side when they all wanted to kill him, when he begged them to spare Joseph and instead sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites instead, which is how Joseph wound up here, as their ruler
(Genesis 37:26 [AKJV/PCE])
And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.
(Genesis 44:19 [AKJV/PCE])
My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother? And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him.
This was providence, God having them say this, so that they did not get to discover who Joseph was, or else he could have corrected them if they lied, and they would have asked how he knew, then an explanation, etc.
(Genesis 44:23 [AKJV/PCE])
And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him. And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die. And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more.
They are going with, "You made us do this!"
"We were just following your orders"
(Genesis 43:5 [AKJV/PCE])
But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.
(Genesis 44:24 [AKJV/PCE])
And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food.
This is all just a repeat of the previous account of what happened
(Genesis 44:26-29 [AKJV/PCE])
And we said, 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. And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons: And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since: And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.
To not see Joseph's face meant to not get food
No brother, no Joseph. No Joseph, no food, so far as they knew
This is because God is preparing them to go into Egypt and using Joseph and this will be what is needed
A reason, probably a main reason, that Jacob would not send Benjamin with them, is a lack of trust that they would bring him back alive, safely
(Genesis 44:30-32 [AKJV/PCE])
Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life; It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave. For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever.
Judah is doing the guilt trip thing, hoping it will work
It will work because, unbeknownst to Judah, it is Joseph, and Jacob means the world to this man
(Genesis 44:33 [AKJV/PCE])
Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren.
Judah is saying that it is better for my father if I do not return than Benjamin
It must be remembered that Joseph and Benjamin are the only two children of Jacob and Rachel, the daughter of Laban who Jacob loved, wanted and worked for many years for
Leah, Rachel's sister, gave birth to all of the other children of Jacob, the other tribes of Israel (Jacob)
JACOB AND RACHEL: JOSEPH AND BENJAMIN
(Genesis 29:17 [AKJV/PCE])
Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. ¶ And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.
And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid. And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?
And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.
And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
(Genesis 30:23-24 [AKJV/PCE])
And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach: And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.
(Genesis 35:17-18 [AKJV/PCE])
And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also. And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Ben-oni: but his father called him Benjamin.
(Genesis 44:34 [AKJV/PCE])
For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.
What Judah does not know is that Joseph for sure knows that they cannot go up without Benjamin
The implied answer to this question is, "I can't", because Judah is not really asking how he can; he knows he can't
Links to studies by book or topic are on the top menu.
