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the steward. Heb. him that was over his house. Ge 24:2 Ge 43:16 Ge 43:19
Fill the. Ge 42:25 Ge 43:2 Isa 3:1
18 Judah's humble supplication to Joseph.
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divineth. or, maketh trial. Ge 44:15 Ge 30:27 Le 19:26 1Ki 20:33 2Ki 21:6
In the East, there is an ancient tradition, that there was a Cup which possessed the strange property of representing in it the whole world, and all the things which were then doing. The cup is called {Jami Jemsheed,} "the cup of Jemsheed," a very ancient king of Persia; and they say that it was discovered, filled with the elixir of immortality, when digging to lay the foundations of Persepolis. The Persian poets are full of allusions to this cup, which they style {Jem jehan nima,} the cup shewing the universe; and to it they ascribe all the prosperity of their ancient monarchs. Many of the Mahometan princes and governors affect still to have information by means of a cup. Now, though it cannot be admitted that Joseph practised divination, yet, according to the superstition of those times, supernatural influence might be attributed to HIS CUP.
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Ge 34:25-31 Ge 35:22 Ge 37:18-32 Ge 38:16-18 Jos 22:22-29 2Sa 20:20 2Ki 8:13 Pr 22:1 Ec 7:1 Heb 13:18
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the money. Ge 42:21 Ge 42:27 Ge 42:35 Ge 43:12 Ge 43:21 Ge 43:22
how then. Ge 44:7 Ex 20:15 De 5:19 Mt 19:18 Ro 13:9 Jas 2:10 Jas 2:11
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both. Ge 31:32 Job 31:38-40 Ps 7:3-5 Ac 25:11
and we. Ge 43:18
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began. Ge 43:33
and the cup. Ge 44:26-32 Ge 42:36-38 Ge 43:14
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What. Ge 44:4 Ge 44:5 Ge 3:13 Ge 4:10
wot ye not. Ge 21:26 Ge 39:8 Ex 32:1
divine. or, make trial. Ge 44:5
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Judah. Ge 44:32 Ge 43:8 Ge 43:9
What shall we say. De 25:1 Ezr 9:10 Ezr 9:15 Job 40:4 Pr 17:15 Isa 5:3 Da 9:7 Ac 2:37
God hath. Ge 37:18-28 Ge 42:21 Ge 42:22 Nu 32:23 Jos 7:1 Jos 7:18 Jude 1:7 Pr 28:17 Mt 7:2 Lu 12:2
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let thy. Ge 18:30 Ge 18:32 2Sa 14:12 Job 33:31 Ac 2:29
anger. Ex 32:22 Es 1:12 Ps 79:5
as Pharaoh. Ge 41:40 Ge 41:44 Pr 19:12 Da 3:15 Da 3:19-23 Da 5:19 Joh 5:22
Oh my Lord."No paraphrase," says Dr. A. Clarke, "can heighten the effect of Judah's address to Joseph. To add, would be to diminish its excellence; to attempt to explain, would be to obscure its beauties; to clothe the ideas in other language than that of Judah, and his translators in our Bible, would ruin its energy, and destroy its influence. It is perhaps one of the most tender, affecting pieces of natural oratory ever spoken or penned: and we need not wonder to find that, when Joseph heard it, he could not refrain himself, but wept aloud. His soul must have been insensible beyond what is common to human nature, had he not immediately yielded to a speech so delicately tender, and so powerfully impressive."
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we said.Every word in this verse is simplicity and pathos itself. No man of the least sensibility can read it without great emotion. Indeed the whole speech is exquisitely beautiful, and perhaps the most complete pattern of genuine natural eloquence extant in any language. When we read this generous speech, we forgive Judah all the past, and cannot refuse to say, "Thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise." Ge 49:8
a child. Ge 35:18 Ge 37:3 Ge 37:19 Ge 43:7 Ge 43:8 Ge 46:21
and his brother. Ge 37:33-35 Ge 42:36 Ge 42:38
he alone. Ge 44:27-29 Lu 7:12
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we told him. Ge 42:29-34
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when he. 1Sa 4:17 1Sa 4:18 2Co 7:10 1Th 4:13
servants shall. Ge 44:29 Ge 37:26 Ge 37:27 Ge 37:35 1Sa 22:22
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I pray thee. Ex 32:32 Ro 5:7-10 Ro 9:3
therefore.What must Benjamin have felt when he heard his brother conclude his speech by a proposal which could never have been thought of if it had not been actually made! Perhaps the annals of the whole world do not produce an instance of so heroic and disinterested affection in any mere man.
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King James Version (1769) with Apocrypha · Crosswire Bible Society / eBible.org (standard text of 1769) · Public Domain
Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · public domain