Benjamin had come, and immediately a nat ural change took place in Joseph's conduct; the brother began to claim his rights in Joseph's bosom. Jacob was safe, and Benjamin was safe. Joseph's heart melted at the sight of Benjamin; 'And he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay and make ready, for these men shall dine with me at noon' (xliii :16). But guilt is always the ready parent of fear. Accord ingly the brothers expected nothing but being re duced to slavery. When taken to their own brother's house, they imagined they were being entrapped. A colloquy ensued between them and Joseph's steward, whence it appeared that the money put into their sacks, to which they now attributed their peril, was in truth a present from Joseph, designed, after his own brotherly manner, to aid his family in their actual necessities. Noon came, and with it Joseph, whose first question re garded home: lie asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? is he yet alive? And he lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son !"And Joseph made haste, for his bowels did yearn upon his brother, and he sought where to weep, and he entered into his chamber and wept there.' Does this look like harshness? (9) Eg3rptian. Customs. The connection brings into view an Egyptian custom, which is of more than ordinary importance, in consequence of its being adopted in the Jewish polity ; 'And they set on (food) for him by himself (Joseph), and for them by themselves (the brethren), and for the Egyptians which did eat with them, by them selves; because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination with the Egyptians' (verse 32). This passage is also interesting, as proving that Joseph had not, in his princely grandeur, become ashamed of his origin, nor consented to receive adoption into a strangc nation ; he was still a Hebrew, waiting, like Moses aftcr him, for thc proper scason to use his power for the good of his own people.
Other customs appear in this interesting nar rative: 'And they (the brothers) sat before him (Joseph), the first-born according to his birth right, and the youngest according to his youth.' And he sent messes (delicacies) unto them from before him; but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs' (Gen. xliii :32, 33). Fear had now given place to wonder, and wonder at length issued in joy and mirth (comp. verses 18, 33, 34). Thus ended the second act in the drama. Another now opens.
(10) The Silver Cup. Joseph, apparently with a view to ascertain how far his brethren were faithful to their father, hit upon a plan which would in its issue serve to show whether they would make any, and what, sacrifice, in order to fulfill their solemn promise of restoring Benja min in safety to Jacob. Accordingly he orders not only that every man's money (as before) should be put in his sack's mouth, but also that his 'silver cup, in which my lord drinketh, and whereby he divineth,' should ke put in the sack's mouth of the youngest. The brcthren leave, but
are soon overtaken by Joseph's steward, who charges them with having surreptitiously carried off this costly and highly-valued vessel. They on their part vehemently repel the accusation, adding, 'with whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondmen.' A search is made, and the cup is found in Benjamin's sack. Accordingly they return to the city. And now comes the hour of trial : Would they purchase their own lib eration by surrendering Benjamin? After a most touching interview, in which they prove them selves worthy and faithful, Joseph declares him self unable any longer to withstand the appeal of natural affection. On this occasion Judah, who is the spokesman, shows the deepest regard to his aged father's feelings, and entreats for the liberation of Benjamin even at the price of his own liberty. In the whole of literature we know of nothing more simple, natural, true, and impressive (xliv).
(11) Revelation of Identity. Most natural and impressive is the scene also which ensues, in which Joseph, after informing his brethren who he was, and inquiring, first of all, 'Is my father alive?' expresses feelings free from the slightest taint of revenge, and even shows how, under Divine Providence, thc conduct of his brothers had issued in good—`God sent me before you to preserve a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.' Five years had yet to ensue in which 'there would be neither earing nor harvest ;' and therefore the brethren were directed' to return home and bring Jacob down to Egypt with all speed. 'And he fell upon his brother Bcnjamin's neck and wept ; and Benjamin wept upon his neck. Moreover, he kissed all his brethren and wept upon them ; and after that his brethren talked with him' (xlv 15)• The news of these striking events was carried to Pharaoh, who being pleased with Joseph's con duct, gave directions that Jacob and his family should come forthwith into Egypt. The brethren departed, being well provided for—'And to his father Joseph sent ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way.' (12) Jacob Goes Down to Egypt. The intelli gence which they bore to their father was of such a nature that 'Jacob's heart fainted, for he be lieved them not.' When, however, he had re covered from the thus naturally told effects of his surprise, the venerable patriarch said, 'Enough; Joseph my son is yet alive; I will go and see him before I dic' (xlv :26, 28).
Accordingly Jacob and his family, to the num ber of threescore and ten souls, go down to Egypt, and by the express efforts of Joseph are allowed to settle in the district of Goshen, where Joseph met his father : 'And hc fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.' There Joseph 'nourished his fathcr and his brethren, and all his father's household, with bread, according to their families' (xlvii :12).