the Third Week after Easter
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Myles Coverdale Bible
Genesis 44:11
Bible Study Resources
Encyclopedias:
- InternationalParallel Translations
Then they hurried, and took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.
Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.
Then each man quickly brought down his sack to the ground, and each one opened his sack.
Then every brother quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it.
So each man quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it.
Then every man quickly lowered his sack to the ground and each man opened his sack [confident the cup would not be found among them].
Then they hurried, each man lowered his sack to the ground, and each man opened his sack.
Then at once euery man tooke downe his sacke to the grounde, and euery one opened his sacke.
Then they hurried, each man brought his sack down to the ground, and each man opened his sack.
Each of the brothers quickly put his sack on the ground and opened it.
Then each hurried to put his pack down on the ground, and each one opened his pack.
And they hasted and laid down every man his sack on the ground, and opened every man his sack.
Then every brother quickly opened his sack on the ground.
Then each man quickly lowered his sack to the ground, and each man opened his sack.
Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.
So they quickly lowered their sacks to the ground, and each man opened his sack.
So each one quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it.
And they hurried, and each one brought down his sack to the earth. And each one opened his sack.
Then they hasted, and took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.
Then every man quickly got his bag down and undid it.
And at once euery man toke downe his sacke to the ground, and euery man opened his sacke.
Then they hastened, and took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.
Then they speedily tooke downe euery man his sacke to the ground, and opened euery man his sacke.
And they hasted, and took down every man his sack on the ground, and they opened every man his sack.
Then they hasted, and took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.
So each one quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it.
And so thei diden doun hastili the sackis on erthe, and alle openyden tho whiche he souyte;
and they hasten and take down each his bag to the earth, and each openeth his bag;
Then they hurried, and took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.
Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.
Then they hurried, and took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.
Then each man speedily let down his sack to the ground, and each opened his sack.
They all quickly took their sacks from the backs of their donkeys and opened them.
Then each man put his bag down on the ground in a hurry and opened it.
Then each one quickly lowered his sack to the ground, and each opened his sack.
So they hastened and took down each man his sack to the ground, - and opened each man his sack.
Then they speedily took down their sacks to the ground, and every man opened his sack.
Then every man quickly lowered his sack to the ground, and every man opened his sack.
They outdid each other in putting their bags on the ground and opening them up for inspection. The steward searched their bags, going from oldest to youngest. The chalice showed up in Benjamin's bag.
Then they hurried, each man lowered his sack to the ground, and each man opened his sack.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Reciprocal: Genesis 42:27 - the inn
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground,.... To be opened and examined, and this they did in all haste, as having a clear conscience, and being confident that nothing could be found upon them, and desirous of having the affair issued as soon as possible, that the steward might have full satisfaction, and they proceed on in their journey:
and opened every man his sack; showing neither reluctance nor fear, being conscious of their innocence.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
- The Ten Brothers Were Tested
Joseph has had the satisfaction of seeing his brother Benjamin safe and well. He has heard his brothers acknowledging their guilt concerning himself. He resolves to put their attachment to Benjamin, and the genuineness of their change of disposition, to a test that will at the same time expose Benjamin to no hazard.
Genesis 44:1-5
And my cup. - Besides returning each man’s money as before, a silver cup of Joseph’s is put in Benjamin’s bag, after which, when daylight comes, they are dismissed. They are scarcely out of the town when Joseph’s steward is ordered to overtake them, and charge them with stealing the cup. “And whereby indeed he divineth.” Divining by cups, we learn from this, was a common custom in Egypt (Herodotus ii. 83). It is here mentioned to enhance the value of the cup. Whether Joseph really practised any sort of divination cannot be determined from this passage.
Genesis 44:6-12
The cup is found in Benjamin’s bag. “Spake unto them these words.” The words of Joseph, supplying of course the mention of the cup which is expressed in the text only by the pronoun this. “We brought back to thee.” Silver that we might have retained, and to which you made no claim when we tendered it, we brought back. How or why should we therefore, steal silver? “Now also according to your words let it be.” He adopts their terms with a mitigation. He with whom the cup is found shall become a slave for life, and the rest be acquitted. The steward searches from the oldest to the youngest. The cup is found where it was put.
Genesis 44:13-17
“They rent their garments;” the natural token of a sorrow that knows no remedy. “And Judah went.” He had pledged himself for the safety of Benjamin to his father. And he was yet there; awaiting no doubt the result which he anticipated. “They fell before him on the earth.” It is no longer a bending of the head or bowing of the body, but the posture of deepest humiliation. How deeply that early dream penetrated into the stern reality! “Wot ye not that such a man as I doth certainly divine?” Joseph keeps up the show of resentment for a little longer, and brings out from Judah the most pathetic plea of its kind that ever was uttered. “The God,” the great and only God, “hath found out the iniquity of thy servants;” in our dark and treacherous dealing with our brother. “Behold, we are servants to my lord.” He resigns himself and all to perpetual bondage, as the doom of a just God upon their still-remembered crime. “He shall be my servant; and ye, go up in peace to your father.” Now is the test applied with the nicest adjustment. Now is the moment of agony and suspense to Joseph. Will my brothers prove true? says he within himself. Will Judah prove adequate to the occasion? say we. His pleading with his father augured well.
Verse 18-34
“And Judah came near unto him.” He is going to surrender himself as a slave for life, that Benjamin may go home with his brothers, who are permitted to depart. “Let thy servant now speak a word in the ears of my lord.” There is nothing here but respectful calmness of demeanor. “And let not thine anger burn against thy servant.” He intuitively feels that the grand vizier is a man of like feelings with himself. He will surmount the distinction of rank, and stand with him on the ground of a common humanity. “For so art thou as Pharaoh.” Thou hast power to grant or withhold my request. This forms, the exordium of the speech. Then follows the plea. This consists in a simple statement of the facts, which Judah expects to have its native effect upon a rightly-constituted heart. We will not touch this statement, except to explain two or three expressions. A young lad - a comparative youth. “Let me set mine eyes upon him” - regard him with favor and kindness. “He shall leave his father and he shall die.” If he were to leave his father, his father would die. Such is the natural interpretation of these words, as the paternal affection is generally stronger than the filial. “And now let thy servant now abide instead of the lad a servant to my lord.” Such is the humble and earnest petition of Judah. He calmly and firmly sacrifices home, family, and birthright, rather than see an aged father die of a broken heart.
