To Hear a Talk based on the Text below: MiKaetz
Genesis chapters 41 to 44 (ca. 55 minutes)
Mekaetz
This weeks section is called "MeKaetz" meaning "at the end" which expression occurs in the first verse of this section.
s.1
[Genesis 41:1] AND IT CAME TO PASS AT THE END OF TWO FULL YEARS, THAT PHARAOH DREAMED AND, BEHOLD, HE STOOD BY THE RIVER.
[Genesis 41:2] AND, BEHOLD, THERE CAME UP OUT OF THE RIVER SEVEN WELL FAVOURED KINE AND FATFLESHED; AND THEY FED IN A MEADOW.
"KINE" is an Old English word for "cattle". In Hebrew there is the word "Mikneh" which also means "cattle"
and the "Mi" prefix in "mikneh" is not part of the root son that in effect "kine" is Hebrew.
[Genesis 41:3] AND, BEHOLD, SEVEN OTHER KINE CAME UP AFTER THEM OUT OF THE RIVER, ILL FAVOURED AND LEANFLESHED; AND STOOD BY THE OTHER KINE UPON THE BRINK OF THE RIVER.
[Genesis 41:4] AND THE ILL FAVOURED AND LEANFLESHED KINE DID EAT UP THE SEVEN WELL FAVOURED AND FAT KINE. SO PHARAOH AWOKE.
[Genesis 41:5] AND HE SLEPT AND DREAMED THE SECOND TIME: AND, BEHOLD, SEVEN EARS OF CORN CAME UP UPON ONE STALK, RANK AND GOOD.
[Genesis 41:6] AND, BEHOLD, SEVEN THIN EARS AND BLASTED WITH THE EAST WIND SPRUNG UP AFTER THEM.
[Genesis 41:7] AND THE SEVEN THIN EARS DEVOURED THE SEVEN RANK AND FULL EARS. AND PHARAOH AWOKE, AND, BEHOLD, IT WAS A DREAM.
[Genesis 41:8] AND IT CAME TO PASS IN THE MORNING THAT HIS SPIRIT WAS TROUBLED; AND HE SENT AND CALLED FOR ALL THE MAGICIANS OF EGYPT, AND ALL THE WISE MEN THEREOF: AND PHARAOH TOLD THEM HIS DREAM; BUT THERE WAS NONE THAT COULD INTERPRET THEM UNTO PHARAOH.
[Genesis 41:9] THEN SPAKE THE CHIEF BUTLER UNTO PHARAOH, SAYING, I DO REMEMBER MY FAULTS THIS DAY:
[Genesis 41:10] PHARAOH WAS WROTH WITH HIS SERVANTS, AND PUT ME IN WARD IN THE CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD'S HOUSE, BOTH ME AND THE CHIEF BAKER:
[Genesis 41:11] AND WE DREAMED A DREAM IN ONE NIGHT, I AND HE; WE DREAMED EACH MAN ACCORDING TO THE INTERPRETATION OF HIS DREAM.
[Genesis 41:12] AND THERE WAS THERE WITH US A YOUNG MAN, AN HEBREW, SERVANT TO THE CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD; AND WE TOLD HIM, AND HE INTERPRETED TO US OUR DREAMS; TO EACH MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DREAM HE DID INTERPRET.
[Genesis 41:13] AND IT CAME TO PASS, AS HE INTERPRETED TO US, SO IT WAS; ME HE RESTORED UNTO MINE OFFICE, AND HIM HE HANGED.
[Genesis 41:14] THEN PHARAOH SENT AND CALLED JOSEPH, AND THEY BROUGHT HIM HASTILY OUT OF THE DUNGEON: AND HE SHAVED HIMSELF, AND CHANGED HIS RAIMENT, AND CAME IN UNTO PHARAOH.
s.2
[Genesis 41:15] AND PHARAOH SAID UNTO JOSEPH, I HAVE DREAMED A DREAM, AND THERE IS NONE THAT CAN INTERPRET IT: AND I HAVE HEARD SAY OF THEE, THAT THOU CANST UNDERSTAND A DREAM TO INTERPRET IT.
[Genesis 41:16] AND JOSEPH ANSWERED PHARAOH, SAYING, IT IS NOT IN ME: GOD SHALL GIVE PHARAOH AN ANSWER OF PEACE.
[Genesis 41:17] AND PHARAOH SAID UNTO JOSEPH, IN MY DREAM, BEHOLD, I STOOD UPON THE BANK OF THE RIVER:
[Genesis 41:18] AND, BEHOLD, THERE CAME UP OUT OF THE RIVER SEVEN KINE, FATFLESHED AND WELL FAVOURED; AND THEY FED IN A MEADOW:
[Genesis 41:19] AND, BEHOLD, SEVEN OTHER KINE CAME UP AFTER THEM, POOR AND VERY ILL FAVOURED AND LEANFLESHED, SUCH AS I NEVER SAW IN ALL THE LAND OF EGYPT FOR BADNESS:
[Genesis 41:20] AND THE LEAN AND THE ILL FAVOURED KINE DID EAT UP THE FIRST SEVEN FAT KINE:
[Genesis 41:21] AND WHEN THEY HAD EATEN THEM UP, IT COULD NOT BE KNOWN THAT THEY HAD EATEN THEM; BUT THEY WERE STILL ILL FAVOURED, AS AT THE BEGINNING. SO I AWOKE.
[Genesis 41:22] AND I SAW IN MY DREAM, AND, BEHOLD, SEVEN EARS CAME UP IN ONE STALK, FULL AND GOOD:
[Genesis 41:23] AND, BEHOLD, SEVEN EARS, WITHERED, THIN, AND BLASTED WITH THE EAST WIND, SPRUNG UP AFTER THEM:
[Genesis 41:24] AND THE THIN EARS DEVOURED THE SEVEN GOOD EARS: AND I TOLD THIS UNTO THE MAGICIANS; BUT THERE WAS NONE THAT COULD DECLARE IT TO ME.
MAGICIANS: We tend to associate this word with primitive peoples or with the pagans of ancient times. Not necessarily so. Our psychologists and other experts in some ways use systems of analysis not always different from those of the ancient sorcerers who also used psychology and induction. All major Government services consult astrologers. In the Second World War both sides used astrologers. All high-level government security forces and police investigating agencies refer to psychics.
The Russians were very big on this and invested heavily in it. In western countries referral to psychics does not determine decisions but rather these people are used to confirm hunches or point directions through confusing data input. Everyone has some psychic powers and in some people these are more developed than in others. A womans intuition very often really does exist. The Bible is against sorcery and witchcraft but it does not say that these do not exist.
It does say: FOR ALL THE GODS OF THE NATIONS ARE IDOLS: BUT THE LORD MADE THE HEAVENS [Psalms 96:5].
A person with psychic powers can very often reach high spiritual levels. If these experiences are not accompanied by knowledge of the truth the person in question is liable to be misled or to mislead him/herself. This happened in the past. Witches and wizards were sometimes people who had psychic powers and they had methods to enhance these powers. At all events these phenomena are sometimes linked with serious psychological disturbances and they are often associated with practices forbidden by the Bible. I would advise people involved with spiritualism or the like in any way to withdraw themselves and turn back to God alone as he reveals Himself in the Bible.
In the past the gift of Prophecy was quite common. The Prophetic period came to a pause at the same time as its counterpart, the attraction of idolatry, was diminished. One would balance the other.
In the future the gift of Prophecy will be renewed.
<<AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS AFTERWARD, THAT I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT UPON ALL FLESH; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS, YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS:
<<AND ALSO UPON THE SERVANTS AND UPON THE HANDMAIDS IN THOSE DAYS WILL I POUR OUT MY SPIRIT>> [Joel 2:28-29].
Joel was speaking about the Messianic Era but according to tradition even in the period leading up to the Messianic Era will there be a renewal of Prophecy.
[Genesis 41:25] AND JOSEPH SAID UNTO PHARAOH, THE DREAM OF PHARAOH IS ONE: GOD HATH SHEWED PHARAOH WHAT HE IS ABOUT TO DO.
We will see that the miracle connected with Joseph was not so much his correct interpretation of the dream. The miracle was rather that this interpretation was concealed and could only by revealed by Joseph.
[Genesis 41:26] THE SEVEN GOOD KINE ARE SEVEN YEARS; AND THE SEVEN GOOD EARS ARE SEVEN YEARS: THE DREAM IS ONE.
[Genesis 41:27] AND THE SEVEN THIN AND ILL FAVOURED KINE THAT CAME UP AFTER THEM ARE SEVEN YEARS; AND THE SEVEN EMPTY EARS BLASTED WITH THE EAST WIND SHALL BE SEVEN YEARS OF FAMINE.
[Genesis 41:28] THIS IS THE THING WHICH I HAVE SPOKEN UNTO PHARAOH: WHAT GOD IS ABOUT TO DO HE SHEWETH UNTO PHARAOH.
[Genesis 41:29] BEHOLD, THERE COME SEVEN YEARS OF GREAT PLENTY THROUGHOUT ALL THE LAND OF EGYPT:
[Genesis 41:30] AND THERE SHALL ARISE AFTER THEM SEVEN YEARS OF FAMINE; AND ALL THE PLENTY SHALL BE FORGOTTEN IN THE LAND OF EGYPT; AND THE FAMINE SHALL CONSUME THE LAND;
[Genesis 41:31] AND THE PLENTY SHALL NOT BE KNOWN IN THE LAND BY REASON OF THAT FAMINE FOLLOWING; FOR IT SHALL BE VERY GRIEVOUS.
[Genesis 41:32] AND FOR THAT THE DREAM WAS DOUBLED UNTO PHARAOH TWICE; IT IS BECAUSE THE THING IS ESTABLISHED BY GOD, AND GOD WILL SHORTLY BRING IT TO PASS.
[Genesis 41:33] NOW THEREFORE LET PHARAOH LOOK OUT A MAN DISCREET AND WISE, AND SET HIM OVER THE LAND OF EGYPT.
[Genesis 41:34] LET PHARAOH DO THIS, AND LET HIM APPOINT OFFICERS OVER THE LAND, AND TAKE UP THE FIFTH PART OF THE LAND OF EGYPT IN THE SEVEN PLENTEOUS YEARS.
[Genesis 41:35] AND LET THEM GATHER ALL THE FOOD OF THOSE GOOD YEARS THAT COME, AND LAY UP CORN UNDER THE HAND OF PHARAOH, AND LET THEM KEEP FOOD IN THE CITIES.
[Genesis 41:36] AND THAT FOOD SHALL BE FOR STORE TO THE LAND AGAINST THE SEVEN YEARS OF FAMINE, WHICH SHALL BE IN THE LAND OF EGYPT; THAT THE LAND PERISH NOT THROUGH THE FAMINE.
[Genesis 41:37] AND THE THING WAS GOOD IN THE EYES OF PHARAOH, AND IN THE EYES OF ALL HIS SERVANTS.
[Genesis 41:38] AND PHARAOH SAID UNTO HIS SERVANTS, CAN WE FIND SUCH A ONE AS THIS IS, A MAN IN WHOM THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS?
Joseph spoke the truth. This truth may have been recognized by those who heard it as what they themselves in their subconscious had realized but could not express. Words of truth strike true. The Ancient Egyptians in many ways were on a high level.
s.3
[Genesis 41:39] AND PHARAOH SAID UNTO JOSEPH, FORASMUCH AS GOD HATH SHEWED THEE ALL THIS, THERE IS NONE SO DISCREET AND WISE AS THOU ART:
Pharaoh was ruler of the land. In a sense he was the soul of the place ruled over. The dreams he had were expressing something in his subconscious that he was aware of but could not express. He therefore instinctively recognized the truth of the solutions of Joseph as soon as he heard them. Commentators point out that Egypt was a land of magicians and specialists in the occult and in the hidden aspects of the human psyche such as dreams. The dreams and their solutions are not so far apart. Part of the miracle in the revelation of Joseph was that this truth had been hidden from the wise men of Egypt in order to bring Joseph to the fore.
Joseph was a good man, a saint, who suffered because he told the truth, and because he refused to sin but through this suffering he was elevated. We should take note of this and bear it in mind. In Rabbinical Literature Joseph is referred to as Yosef HaTsadik i.e. Joseph the Righteous who did not succumb to sexual temptation and kept the faith with His God.
[Genesis 41:40] THOU SHALT BE OVER MY HOUSE, AND ACCORDING UNTO THY WORD SHALL ALL MY PEOPLE BE RULED: ONLY IN THE THRONE WILL I BE GREATER THAN THOU.
[Genesis 41:41] AND PHARAOH SAID UNTO JOSEPH, SEE, I HAVE SET THEE OVER ALL THE LAND OF EGYPT.
[Genesis 41:42] AND PHARAOH TOOK OFF HIS RING FROM HIS HAND, AND PUT IT UPON JOSEPH'S HAND, AND ARRAYED HIM IN VESTURES OF FINE LINEN, AND PUT A GOLD CHAIN ABOUT HIS NECK;
[Genesis 41:43] AND HE MADE HIM TO RIDE IN THE SECOND CHARIOT WHICH HE HAD; AND THEY CRIED BEFORE HIM, BOW THE KNEE: AND HE MADE HIM RULER OVER ALL THE LAND OF EGYPT.
'Bow the knee!' in Hebrew: Avreich!.
This could mean "Father" (i.e. counsellor) to the Ruler".
Alternately it means "Son of the Ruler" i.e. Deputy Ruler.
In Hebrew the word for a full-time Torah student is "Avreich", in plural "Avrachim".
The word "Avriech" derives from the Title given to Joseph by Pharoah:
Genesis 41:
42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph's hand;
and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his
neck. 43 And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried
out before him, 'Bow the knee!'
[Hebrew: Avreich!]
So he set him over all the land of Egypt.
The expression "BOW THE KNEE" translated from the Hebrew "Avreich" which could
be derived from a word-root meaning "bow the knee" BUT it may also be a title
and so the word is explained. Rabbinical Commentators took the term as a title
connoting an "Av-rach" (father-ruler) and related to the Aramaic "rica" meaning
ruler connected to the Germanic "reich" or rulership.
In Hebrew the letter "beit" is pronounced as either "b" or "v"
depending on the sentence structure, i.e. the sounds are interchangeable.
"Ab" or "Av" means "father".
In the Egyptian expression "avrach" however the "av" (ab) prefix means "his
father being" i.e. "his father being the ruler".
The title "Avrach therefore means "Son of the King". Joseph had become the
deputy monarch or viceroy of the Kingdom.
In Semitic dialects the "b" sound may be replaced by "p" and vice-versa e.g. in
Arabic "Shakespeare" is pronounced as "Shakesbeare". We thus have the Hebrew
"Av" becoming "Ap" in Welsh.
Similarly in Welsh we find the expression "ap" also being pronounced as "ab". "Ap"
actually means "father" but in names it is used in the sense of "have as
father" i.e. "son of".
This was also rendered as "map" corresponding to the Hebrew "Me [from]-Ab
[father]" i.e. "father".
In Linguistics Welsh is known as "P-Celtic" whereas Gaelic (of scotland and
Ireland) is "C-Celtic". This is because for some reason
amongst the C-Celts words once pronounced as "p" became "c".
This "Map" meaning "son of" is rendered as "Mac".
This gives us the prefixes "Mac-" and "Mc-" frequently found in Scottish and
Irish surnames.
[Genesis 41:44] AND PHARAOH SAID UNTO JOSEPH, I AM PHARAOH, AND WITHOUT THEE SHALL NO MAN LIFT UP HIS HAND OR FOOT IN ALL THE LAND OF EGYPT.
[Genesis 41:45] AND PHARAOH CALLED JOSEPH'S NAME ZAPHNATHPAANEAH; AND HE GAVE HIM TO WIFE ASENATH THE DAUGHTER OF POTIPHERAH PRIEST OF ON. AND JOSEPH WENT OUT OVER ALL THE LAND OF EGYPT.
ZAPHNATHPAANEAH or ZAPHNATH-PAANEAH meaning revealer of secrets, i.e. hidden-things (ZAPHNATH): - he will solve or open up, reveal solution (PAANEAH).
[Genesis 41:46] AND JOSEPH WAS THIRTY YEARS OLD WHEN HE STOOD BEFORE PHARAOH KING OF EGYPT. AND JOSEPH WENT OUT FROM THE PRESENCE OF PHARAOH, AND WENT THROUGHOUT ALL THE LAND OF EGYPT.
THIRTY YEARS he had been sold at the age of 17; 13 years he had spent in captivity through no fault of his own.
[Genesis 41:47] AND IN THE SEVEN PLENTEOUS YEARS THE EARTH BROUGHT FORTH BY HANDFULS.
[Genesis 41:48] AND HE GATHERED UP ALL THE FOOD OF THE SEVEN YEARS, WHICH WERE IN THE LAND OF EGYPT, AND LAID UP THE FOOD IN THE CITIES: THE FOOD OF THE FIELD, WHICH WAS ROUND ABOUT EVERY CITY, LAID HE UP IN THE SAME.
[Genesis 41:49] AND JOSEPH GATHERED CORN AS THE SAND OF THE SEA, VERY MUCH, UNTIL HE LEFT NUMBERING; FOR IT WAS WITHOUT NUMBER.
[Genesis 41:70] AND UNTO JOSEPH WERE BORN TWO SONS BEFORE THE YEARS OF FAMINE CAME, WHICH ASENATH THE DAUGHTER OF POTIPHERAH PRIEST OF ON BARE UNTO HIM.
His wife was an Egyptian. Nowadays we no longer use the old methods of racial classification but these methods are still considered pertinent to a degree. The problem with them is that environmental effects over a long period of time influence them. At all events according to the old methods people of British origin are 70% of Mediterranean type and 70% Nordic. The earliest skull shapes of Britain in its earliest civilized period were said to be identical with Egyptian ones.
The Egyptian culture was a very advanced one. There is a tendency to downplay it possibly due to unconscious prejudices.
Martin Bernal wrote a very important work Black Athens. In it he demonstrates the importance of Ancient Egypt and ancient Semitic civilization (i.e. Hebrew?) on Greek civilization. He shows how sheer racial prejudice caused objective scholars to ignore the evidence that Ancient Greece took much of its civilization from Egypt and the Middle East. Replies have been made to the claims of Bernal and perhaps he did exaggerate but it is hard to escape the impression that he had made a valid point. Bernal was only saying what the Greeks themselves admitted.<
[Genesis 41:51] AND JOSEPH CALLED THE NAME OF THE FIRSTBORN MANASSEH: FOR GOD, SAID HE, HATH MADE ME FORGET ALL MY TOIL, AND ALL MY FATHER'S HOUSE.
Adapted and summarized from Joseph
MANASSEH
THE NAME "MENASSEH" IN HEBREW ENCAPSULATES THE MEANING OF NORTH AMERICAN DEMOCRACY!
The Patriarch Joseph son of Israel had two sons, Ephraim and Menasseh, whose names testified to aspects of their national destiny:
"AND UNTO JOSEPH WERE BORN TWO SONS BEFORE THE YEARS OF FAMINE CAME, WHICH ASENATH THE DAUGHTER OF POTI PHERA PRIEST OF ON BARE UNTO HIM.
"AND JOSEPH CALLED THE NAME OF THE FIRSTBORN MANASSEH: FOR GOD HAS CAUSED ME TO FORGET [Hebrew: Nashani] ALL MY TROUBLES AND MY FATHER'S FAMILY (Genesis 41;70 51).
Rabbi Hirsch (in free translation) says:
[Genesisesis 41;51:`.."Forget" is not the only meaning of "Nosheh". "Nosheh" also means: to be the bearer of a claim, to be a creditor.
[Genesisesis 32;33:]`"Nosheh" ...to have body or property in another's trust. Thus the "NoSHeH" (Creditor) has passed to another person part of his property and as a result he demands something from him...a woman in the singular [Hebrew: "Ishah"] ...complements (her husband) and stands by his side as an equal. In the plural [i.e. in the plural name for women, "NoSHim"], however, is revealed the communal status of woman. The woman surrenders some of her rights to the man and these rights are represented by him. Only in the mass, in the life of the general whole group, do women reveal themselves as weak and lacking resourcefulness. Women, however, are "Noshim" (i.e. "creditors") with a claim [to be represented] on the husband who owes it to them [S.R. Hirsch on Genesis 32;33].
Rabbi Hirsch was basing himself on the assumption of Hebrew Law in which women were not counted in the aggregate as separate entities but as being represented by their husbands. They were therefore in sense electors of their husbands who represent them and are responsible to and for them. Rabbi Hirsch finds this same principle repeated in the use made of the name Menasseh which he says is derived from the same root-word. Noshe means to have a claim on the responsibility of another, or have a claim for representation: MeNasseh can mean make a representative responsible for; OR Menasseh as a noun or name can mean the principle of responsible representation.
The relevant verse regarding the name MENASSEH, Genesis 41;51, says:
<<And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God has caused me to forget [Hebrew: Nashani] all my troubles and my father's family (Genesis 41;70 51).
S.R. Hirsch on the above states that "nashani" does not mean "forget" in case of the name "Menasseh" (Genesis 41;51 continued) but rather delegated representation:
In the light of the above observations and the Commentary of Rabbi S.R. Hirsch, the verse (Genesis 41;512) may be re formulated and understood as saying:
"And he called the name of the firstborn Menasseh: for of all my troubles and [loss of] my father's family, God has made representative agents [Hebrew: "nashani"=] acting on my behalf and to whom I am obliged".
It should be remarked that in Hebrew a word root can connote both a direct action and its reversal. "Nasheh" can imply putting something of one's own in the domain of someone else and therefore having a claim on that person or alternately "nosheh" connotes the claim others have on oneself. The form "Menasseh" is a name indicating "nosheh" more in the affirmative active manner of making responsible representation for oneself.
"MENASSEH" actually means "RESPONSIBLE REPRESENTATION OBLIGATING THE REPRESENTED"!
Explanation of Rabbi Hirsch: In Hebrew a man is "ISH" and a woman is "Ishah" i.e. the feminine form of "ish" (man) is apparently "ishah" i.e. "woman". The normal feminine plural form is formed by adding the suffix " oth" and so the plural of "ishah" ("woman") should be "ishoth" but it is not so. Contrary to the usual format, the plural form of "ishah" in Hebrew is "noshim" which appears identical to the plural form of "Nosheh" and therefore may be understood to mean "creditors" and upon this anomaly Rabbi Hirsch based his interpretation to say that the women make their men representative of themselves with the men being obliged to the women in this matter.
On this subject see also:
3. Alexander Klienforth and Robert Munro: More Strong Evidence Justifying Brit-Am.
"Scottish Invention of America, Democracy and Human Rights"
This extract proves that the principle of Manasseh was very strong amongst the people of Scotland (many of whose descendants helped found the USA and determine its initial character) was present from the very beginning.
[Genesis 41:52] AND THE NAME OF THE SECOND CALLED HE EPHRAIM: FOR GOD HATH CAUSED ME TO BE FRUITFUL IN THE LAND OF MY AFFLICTION.
"EPHRAIM" MEANS A NATION OF ARISTOCRATS!
The second son of Joseph was named EPHRAIM whose name expresses the principle of nobility. Ephraim was to become the dominant Israelite Tribe in the British Isles. For better or for worse, Britain is distinguished from other nations by its monarchy and by its aristocrats.
"AND THE NAME OF THE SECOND CALLED HE EPHRAIM: FOR GOD HAS CAUSED ME TO BE FRUITFUL [Hebrew: "Hi- PhRa-Ni"] IN THE LAND OF MY AFFLICTION"
(Genesis 41:52).
The Hebrew word "hiphrani" translated above as, "caused me to be fruitful" based on the root "pri" (i.e. "fruit") may also be rendered as "powerful" and be linked to another root "PAR" meaning bull*x. The symbol of Joseph and Ephraim was a bull. "John Bull" is a nickname for England. [In Biblical Hebrew a word may be understood to have two roots, i.e. to deliberately connote two separate yet complementary meanings].
Someone who belonged to the Tribe of Ephraim was known as an Eprathite i.e. in Hebrew, an "Ephrathi". This was the usual application of the term. The name "Ephrathi" however could also denote a person living in Beth-Lehem of Judah! Beth-Lehem was in an area named "Ephrath".
Eben Shushan in his authoritative Hebrew dictionary ("HaMalon HaChadash", Jerusalem, 1979, in Hebrew) lists alternative meanings for the name "Ephrathi":
"#`EPHRATHI 1. [derived from Eprath meaning Beth lehem] a dweller of Ephrath: "Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Beth lehem Judah, whose name was Jesse.." (1 Samuel 17:12).
"`2. [derived from EPHRAIM] a member of the Tribe of Ephraim: "And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite.." (1 Kings 11:26).
"`3. [similised] aristocrat, honorable [so used due to the Tribe of Ephraim who were considered the greatest and most respected of Tribes]: "Every prince and great man that arose in Israel was given the name Ephrathi" (Pirkei de Rabbi Eliezer, 45).
"For they were Ephrathites, dwellers of the land and considered of refined character and humility" (Haromi, 28 530)
"You are the sons of great men, Ephrathites of high birth, sons of the high born" (Agnon..).'#"
In Talmudic (e.g. Yalkut Shimeoni 1 Samuel a;77) and Rabbinical Literature (Radak on 1 Samuel 1;1) "Ephrathi" is taken to mean someone from the Tribe of Ephraim or of noble birth or both.
Rabbi David Kimchi ("Radak" 1157 1236) quoted (in his Commentary on 1 Samuel 1;1) from much earlier sources concerning the meaning of "Ephrathi":
<<"In the mountain of Ephraim may be exegetically explained as (hinting at) greatness and importance. "Ephrathi" said Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi means "Dweller of the Palace" [i.e. nobleman] and there are those [who explain Ephrathi to mean] an extremely great person living in holiness in Mount Ephraim.
In Britain there exist two basic classes, Commoners and Nobility. Membership of the Aristocracy is acquired by birth though gifted and/or rich generous commoners may obtain an "honorary" title for the duration of their lifetime. The Legislature is comprised of the House of Commons and the House of Lords that has some limited veto rights. The Aristocracy to some extent overlaps with the ruling elite and has easier access to higher quality education and to economic advantage points. In practice the average Briton probably feels he has as many or more rights and privileges as anybody else, anywhere. Nevertheless, the British system is basically an aristocratic one with good and bad characteristics of its own. The British system at its best appears to instill in its members a certain unique sense of duty and order and the ability to overcome all odds. The linguistic meaning of "Ephraim" may be taken as not only an entity governed by Aristocrats but also one in which all are aristocratic.
In "Ephraim" we quote sources to the effect that even the "Commoners" consider themselves "aristocratic".
s.4
[Genesis 41:53] AND THE SEVEN YEARS OF PLENTEOUSNESS, THAT WAS IN THE LAND OF EGYPT, WERE ENDED.
[Genesis 41:54] AND THE SEVEN YEARS OF DEARTH BEGAN TO COME, ACCORDING AS JOSEPH HAD SAID: AND THE DEARTH WAS IN ALL LANDS; BUT IN ALL THE LAND OF EGYPT THERE WAS BREAD.
[Genesis 41:55] AND WHEN ALL THE LAND OF EGYPT WAS FAMISHED, THE PEOPLE CRIED TO PHARAOH FOR BREAD: AND PHARAOH SAID UNTO ALL THE EGYPTIANS, GO UNTO JOSEPH; WHAT HE SAITH TO YOU, DO.
[Genesis 41:56] AND THE FAMINE WAS OVER ALL THE FACE OF THE EARTH: AND JOSEPH OPENED ALL THE STOREHOUSES, AND SOLD UNTO THE EGYPTIANS; AND THE FAMINE WAXED SORE IN THE LAND OF EGYPT.
[Genesis 41:57] AND ALL COUNTRIES CAME INTO EGYPT TO JOSEPH FOR TO BUY CORN; BECAUSE THAT THE FAMINE WAS SO SORE IN ALL LANDS.
Joseph represents the Israelite whose identity is lost but who reforms society from within. A great deal of the progress achieved by the world throughout was due at least in part to the contributions of people of Israelite origin.
[Genesis 42:1] NOW WHEN JACOB SAW THAT THERE WAS CORN IN EGYPT, JACOB SAID UNTO HIS SONS, WHY DO YE LOOK ONE UPON ANOTHER?
[Genesis 42:2] AND HE SAID, BEHOLD, I HAVE HEARD THAT THERE IS CORN IN EGYPT: GET YOU DOWN THITHER, AND BUY FOR US FROM THENCE; THAT WE MAY LIVE, AND NOT DIE.
[Genesis 42:3] AND JOSEPH'S TEN BRETHREN WENT DOWN TO BUY CORN IN EGYPT.
[Genesis 42:4] BUT BENJAMIN, JOSEPH'S BROTHER, JACOB SENT NOT WITH HIS BRETHREN; FOR HE SAID, LEST PERADVENTURE MISCHIEF BEFALL HIM.
[Genesis 42:5] AND THE SONS OF ISRAEL CAME TO BUY CORN AMONG THOSE THAT CAME: FOR THE FAMINE WAS IN THE LAND OF CANAAN.
[Genesis 42:6] 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.
[Genesis 42:7] 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 COME YE? AND THEY SAID, FROM THE LAND OF CANAAN TO BUY FOOD.
[Genesis 42:8] AND JOSEPH KNEW HIS BRETHREN, BUT THEY KNEW NOT HIM.
He was aware of his origins but his brothers were not. Many are in the same situation today.
[Genesis 42:9] AND JOSEPH REMEMBERED THE DREAMS WHICH HE DREAMED OF THEM, AND SAID UNTO THEM, YE ARE SPIES; TO SEE THE NAKEDNESS OF THE LAND YE ARE COME.
[Genesis 42:10] AND THEY SAID UNTO HIM, NAY, MY LORD, BUT TO BUY FOOD ARE THY SERVANTS COME.
[Genesis 42:11] WE ARE ALL ONE MAN'S SONS; WE ARE TRUE MEN, THY SERVANTS ARE NO SPIES.
[Genesis 42:12] AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, NAY, BUT TO SEE THE NAKEDNESS OF THE LAND YE ARE COME.
[Genesis 42:13] 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 IS NOT.
[Genesis 42:14] AND JOSEPH SAID UNTO THEM, THAT IS IT THAT I SPAKE UNTO YOU, SAYING, YE ARE SPIES:
[Genesis 42:15] HEREBY YE SHALL BE PROVED: BY THE LIFE OF PHARAOH YE SHALL NOT GO FORTH HENCE, EXCEPT YOUR YOUNGEST BROTHER COME HITHER.
[Genesis 42:16] 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.
[Genesis 42:17] AND HE PUT THEM ALL TOGETHER INTO WARD THREE DAYS.
[Genesis 42:18] AND JOSEPH SAID UNTO THEM THE THIRD DAY, THIS DO, AND LIVE; FOR I FEAR GOD:
Truly great men everywhere fear God.
s.5
[Genesis 42:19] IF YE BE TRUE MEN, LET ONE OF YOUR BRETHREN BE BOUND IN THE HOUSE OF YOUR PRISON: GO YE, CARRY CORN FOR THE FAMINE OF YOUR HOUSES:
[Genesis 42:20] BUT BRING YOUR YOUNGEST BROTHER UNTO ME; SO SHALL YOUR WORDS BE VERIFIED, AND YE SHALL NOT DIE. AND THEY DID SO.
[Genesis 42:21] AND THEY SAID ONE TO ANOTHER, WE ARE VERILY GUILTY CONCERNING OUR BROTHER, IN THAT WE SAW THE ANGUISH OF HIS SOUL, WHEN HE BESOUGHT US, AND WE WOULD NOT HEAR; THEREFORE IS THIS DISTRESS COME UPON US.
[Genesis 42:22] AND REUBEN ANSWERED THEM, SAYING, SPAKE I NOT UNTO YOU, SAYING, DO NOT SIN AGAINST THE CHILD; AND YE WOULD NOT HEAR? THEREFORE, BEHOLD, ALSO HIS BLOOD IS REQUIRED.
[Genesis 42:23] AND THEY KNEW NOT THAT JOSEPH UNDERSTOOD THEM; FOR HE SPAKE UNTO THEM BY AN INTERPRETER.
[Genesis 42:24] AND HE TURNED HIMSELF ABOUT FROM THEM, AND WEPT; AND RETURNED TO THEM AGAIN, AND COMMUNED WITH THEM, AND TOOK FROM THEM SIMEON, AND BOUND HIM BEFORE THEIR EYES.
SIMEON according to tradition was the one who had initiated the idea of destroying Joseph.
[Genesis 42:25] 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.
[Genesis 42:26] AND THEY LADED THEIR ASSES WITH THE CORN, AND DEPARTED THENCE.
[Genesis 42:27] 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.
[Genesis 42:28] AND HE SAID UNTO HIS 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?
[Genesis 42:29] AND THEY CAME UNTO JACOB THEIR FATHER UNTO THE LAND OF CANAAN, AND TOLD HIM ALL THAT BEFELL UNTO THEM; SAYING,
[Genesis 42:30] THE MAN, WHO IS THE LORD OF THE LAND, SPAKE ROUGHLY TO US, AND TOOK US FOR SPIES OF THE COUNTRY.
[Genesis 42:31] AND WE SAID UNTO HIM, WE ARE TRUE MEN; WE ARE NO SPIES:
[Genesis 42:32] WE BE TWELVE BRETHREN, SONS OF OUR FATHER; ONE IS NOT, AND THE YOUNGEST IS THIS DAY WITH OUR FATHER IN THE LAND OF CANAAN.
[Genesis 42:33] 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:
[Genesis 42:34] AND BRING YOUR YOUNGEST BROTHER UNTO ME: THEN SHALL I KNOW THAT YE ARE NO SPIES, BUT THAT YE ARE TRUE MEN: SO WILL I DELIVER YOU YOUR BROTHER, AND YE SHALL TRAFFICK IN THE LAND.
[Genesis 42:35] 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 AND THEIR FATHER SAW THE BUNDLES OF MONEY, THEY WERE AFRAID.
[Genesis 42:36] AND JACOB THEIR FATHER SAID UNTO THEM, ME HAVE YE BEREAVED OF MY CHILDREN: JOSEPH IS NOT, AND SIMEON IS NOT, AND YE WILL TAKE BENJAMIN AWAY: ALL THESE THINGS ARE AGAINST ME.
[Genesis 42:37] AND REUBEN SPAKE UNTO HIS FATHER, SAYING, SLAY MY TWO SONS, IF I BRING HIM NOT TO THEE: DELIVER HIM INTO MY HAND, AND I WILL BRING HIM TO THEE AGAIN.
[Genesis 42:38] AND HE SAID, MY SON SHALL NOT GO DOWN WITH YOU; FOR HIS BROTHER IS DEAD, AND HE IS LEFT ALONE: IF MISCHIEF BEFALL HIM BY THE WAY IN THE WHICH YE GO, THEN SHALL YE BRING DOWN MY GRAY HAIRS WITH SORROW TO THE GRAVE.
[Genesis 43:1] AND THE FAMINE WAS SORE IN THE LAND.
[Genesis 43:2] AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN THEY HAD EATEN UP THE CORN WHICH THEY HAD BROUGHT OUT OF EGYPT, THEIR FATHER SAID UNTO THEM, GO AGAIN, BUY US A LITTLE FOOD.
[Genesis 43:3] AND JUDAH SPAKE UNTO HIM, SAYING, THE MAN DID SOLEMNLY PROTEST UNTO US, SAYING, YE SHALL NOT SEE MY FACE, EXCEPT YOUR BROTHER BE WITH YOU.
[Genesis 43:4] IF THOU WILT SEND OUR BROTHER WITH US, WE WILL GO DOWN AND BUY THEE FOOD:
[Genesis 43:5] 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 43:6] AND ISRAEL SAID, WHEREFORE DEALT YE SO ILL WITH ME, AS TO TELL THE MAN WHETHER YE HAD YET A BROTHER?
[Genesis 43:7] AND THEY SAID, THE MAN ASKED US STRAITLY OF OUR STATE, AND OF OUR KINDRED, SAYING, IS YOUR FATHER YET ALIVE? HAVE YE ANOTHER BROTHER? AND WE TOLD HIM ACCORDING TO THE TENOR OF THESE WORDS: COULD WE CERTAINLY KNOW THAT HE WOULD SAY, BRING YOUR BROTHER DOWN?
IS YOUR FATHER YET ALIVE? Israel Eldad in a Commentary (Hegionot Mikra) explained this to hint at Joseph feeling an arousal of ancestral connection which he may have somehow wished to hide from himself.
[Genesis 43:8] AND JUDAH SAID UNTO ISRAEL HIS FATHER, SEND THE LAD WITH ME, AND WE WILL ARISE AND GO; THAT WE MAY LIVE, AND NOT DIE, BOTH WE, AND THOU, AND ALSO OUR LITTLE ONES.
[Genesis 43:9] I WILL BE SURETY FOR HIM; OF MY HAND SHALT THOU REQUIRE HIM: IF I BRING HIM NOT UNTO THEE, AND SET HIM BEFORE THEE, THEN LET ME BEAR THE BLAME FOR EVER:
IF I BRING HIM NOT UNTO THEE: Judah was destined to remain faithful to the ancestral truth until the end of time. Most of Benjamin remained with Judah as part of the Jewish people.
[Genesis 43:10] FOR EXCEPT WE HAD LINGERED, SURELY NOW WE HAD RETURNED THIS SECOND TIME.
[Genesis 43:11] AND THEIR FATHER ISRAEL SAID UNTO THEM, IF IT MUST BE SO NOW, DO THIS; TAKE OF THE BEST FRUITS IN THE LAND IN YOUR VESSELS, AND CARRY DOWN THE MAN A PRESENT, A LITTLE BALM, AND A LITTLE HONEY, SPICES, AND MYRRH, NUTS, AND ALMONDS:
[Genesis 43:12] AND TAKE DOUBLE MONEY IN YOUR HAND; AND THE MONEY THAT WAS BROUGHT AGAIN IN THE MOUTH OF YOUR SACKS, CARRY IT AGAIN IN YOUR HAND; PERADVENTURE IT WAS AN OVERSIGHT:
[Genesis 43:13] TAKE ALSO YOUR BROTHER, AND ARISE, GO AGAIN UNTO THE MAN:
[Genesis 43:14] AND GOD ALMIGHTY GIVE YOU MERCY BEFORE THE MAN, THAT HE MAY SEND AWAY YOUR OTHER BROTHER, AND BENJAMIN. IF I BE BEREAVED OF MY CHILDREN, I AM BEREAVED.
[Genesis 43:15] AND THE MEN TOOK THAT PRESENT, AND THEY TOOK DOUBLE MONEY IN THEIR HAND AND BENJAMIN; AND ROSE UP, AND WENT DOWN TO EGYPT, AND STOOD BEFORE JOSEPH.
s.6
[Genesis 43:16] AND WHEN JOSEPH SAW BENJAMIN WITH THEM, 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.
[Genesis 43:17] AND THE MAN DID AS JOSEPH BADE; AND THE MAN BROUGHT THE MEN INTO JOSEPHS HOUSE.
[Genesis 43:18] AND THE MEN WERE AFRAID, BECAUSE THEY WERE BROUGHT INTO JOSEPH'S HOUSE; AND THEY SAID, BECAUSE OF THE MONEY THAT WAS RETURNED IN OUR SACKS AT THE FIRST TIME ARE WE BROUGHT IN; THAT HE MAY SEEK OCCASION AGAINST US, AND FALL UPON US, AND TAKE US FOR BONDMEN, AND OUR ASSES.
[Genesis 43:19] AND THEY CAME NEAR TO THE STEWARD OF JOSEPH'S HOUSE, AND THEY COMMUNED WITH HIM AT THE DOOR OF THE HOUSE,
[Genesis 43:20] AND SAID, O SIR, WE CAME INDEED DOWN AT THE FIRST TIME TO BUY FOOD:
[Genesis 43:21] AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN WE CAME TO THE INN, THAT WE OPENED OUR SACKS, AND, BEHOLD, EVERY MAN'S MONEY WAS IN THE MOUTH OF HIS SACK, OUR MONEY IN FULL WEIGHT: AND WE HAVE BROUGHT IT AGAIN IN OUR HAND.
[Genesis 43:22] AND OTHER MONEY HAVE WE BROUGHT DOWN IN OUR HANDS TO BUY FOOD: WE CANNOT TELL WHO PUT OUR MONEY IN OUR SACKS.
[Genesis 43:23] AND HE SAID, PEACE BE TO YOU, FEAR NOT: YOUR GOD, AND THE GOD OF YOUR FATHER, HATH GIVEN YOU TREASURE IN YOUR SACKS: I HAD YOUR MONEY. AND HE BROUGHT SIMEON OUT UNTO THEM.
[Genesis 43:24] AND THE MAN BROUGHT THE MEN INTO JOSEPH'S HOUSE, AND GAVE THEM WATER, AND THEY WASHED THEIR FEET; AND HE GAVE THEIR ASSES PROVENDER.
[Genesis 43:25] AND THEY MADE READY THE PRESENT AGAINST JOSEPH CAME AT NOON: FOR THEY HEARD THAT THEY SHOULD EAT BREAD THERE.
[Genesis 43:26] AND WHEN JOSEPH CAME HOME, THEY BROUGHT HIM THE PRESENT WHICH WAS IN THEIR HAND INTO THE HOUSE, AND BOWED THEMSELVES TO HIM TO THE EARTH.
[Genesis 43:27] AND HE ASKED THEM OF THEIR WELFARE, AND SAID, IS YOUR FATHER WELL, THE OLD MAN OF WHOM YE SPAKE? IS HE YET ALIVE?
IS HE YET ALIVE? i.e. is he still within me?
[Genesis 43:28] AND THEY ANSWERED, THY SERVANT OUR FATHER IS IN GOOD HEALTH, HE IS YETALIVE. AND THEY BOWED DOWN THEIR HEADS, AND MADE OBEISANCE.
[Genesis 43:29] AND HE LIFTED UP HIS EYES, AND SAW HIS BROTHER BENJAMIN, HIS MOTHER'S SON, AND SAID, IS THIS YOUR YOUNGER BROTHER, OF WHOM YE SPAKE UNTO ME? AND HE SAID, GOD BE GRACIOUS UNTO THEE, MY SON.
s.7
[Genesis 43:30] 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.
TO WEEP: Benjamin was his full brother, the son of both his father and mother whereas the others were his brothers only through their father. Joseph had been brought up very much alone. His mother was dead and his half-brothers disliked him. Joseph himself was negatively disposed towards his brothers. He brought bad reports about them that were evidently mistaken. Benjamin was his little brother possibly the only person he had ever felt really close to.
[Genesis 43:31] AND HE WASHED HIS FACE, AND WENT OUT, AND REFRAINED HIMSELF, AND SAID, SET ON BREAD.
[Genesis 43:32] AND THEY SET ON FOR HIM BY HIMSELF, AND FOR THEM BY THEMSELVES, AND FOR THE EGYPTIANS, WHICH DID EAT WITH HIM, BY THEMSELVES: BECAUSE THE EGYPTIANS MIGHT NOT EAT BREAD WITH THE HEBREWS; FOR THAT IS AN ABOMINATION UNTO THE EGYPTIANS.
[Genesis 43:33] AND THEY SAT BEFORE HIM, THE FIRSTBORN ACCORDING TO HIS BIRTHRIGHT, AND THE YOUNGEST ACCORDING TO HIS YOUTH: AND THE MEN MARVELLED ONE AT ANOTHER.
[Genesis 43:34] AND HE TOOK AND SENT MESSES UNTO THEM FROM BEFORE HIM: BUT BENJAMIN'S MESS WAS FIVE TIMES SO MUCH AS ANY OF THEIR'S. AND THEY DRANK, AND WERE MERRY WITH HIM.
[Genesis 44:1] 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.
[Genesis 44:2] 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.
[Genesis 44:3] AS SOON AS THE MORNING WAS LIGHT, THE MEN WERE SENT AWAY, THEY AND THEIR ASSES.
[Genesis 44:4] 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?
[Genesis 44:5] IS NOT THIS IT IN WHICH MY LORD DRINKETH, AND WHEREBY INDEED HE DIVINETH? YE HAVE DONE EVIL IN SO DOING.
[Genesis 44:6] AND HE OVERTOOK THEM, AND HE SPAKE UNTO THEM THESE SAME WORDS.
[Genesis 44:7] AND THEY SAID UNTO HIM, WHEREFORE SAITH MY LORD THESE WORDS? GOD FORBID THAT THY SERVANTS SHOULD DO ACCORDING TO THIS THING:
[Genesis 44:8] 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?
[Genesis 44:9] WITH WHOMSOEVER OF THY SERVANTS IT BE FOUND, BOTH LET HIM DIE, AND WE ALSO WILL BE MY LORD'S BONDMEN.
[Genesis 44:10] 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.
[Genesis 44:11] THEN THEY SPEEDILY TOOK DOWN EVERY MAN HIS SACK TO THE GROUND, AND OPENED EVERY MAN HIS SACK.
[Genesis 44:12] AND HE SEARCHED, AND BEGAN AT THE ELDEST, AND LEFT AT THE YOUNGEST: AND THE CUP WAS FOUND IN BENJAMIN'S SACK.
[Genesis 44:13] THEN THEY RENT THEIR CLOTHES, AND LADED EVERY MAN HIS ASS, AND RETURNED TO THE CITY.
[Genesis 44:14] AND JUDAH AND HIS BRETHREN CAME TO JOSEPH'S HOUSE; FOR HE WAS YET THERE: AND THEY FELL BEFORE HIM ON THE GROUND.
[Genesis 44:15] 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?
[Genesis 44:16] 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.
[Genesis 44:17] 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.
[Genesis 44:18] 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.