Holly Bible - KJV with Concise Commentaries by Z Selam - HTML preview
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down to eat bread; but now, long afterwards, their consciences reminded them of it.
(2.) The benefit of affliction; they often prove the happy and effectual means of awakening conscience, and bringing sin to our remembrance, Job 13:26.
(3.) The evil of guilt concerning our brethren; of all their sins, it was this that conscience now reproached them for. Whenever we think we have wrong done us, we ought to remember the wrong we have done to others, Ec 7:21, 22.
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.
Reuben alone remembered, with comfort, that he had been an advocate for his brother, and had done what he could to prevent the mischief they did him (Ge 42:22): Spoke I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child? Note,
(1.) It is an aggravation of any sin that it was committed against admonitions.
(2.) When we come to share with others in their calamities, it will be a comfort to us if we have the testimony of our consciences for us that we did not share with them in their iniquities, but, in our places, witnessed against them. This shall be our rejoicing in the day of evil, and shall take out the sting.
23 And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto
them by an interpreter.
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.
Joseph's tenderness towards them upon this occasion. He retired from them to weep, Ge 42:24. Though his reason directed that he should still carry himself as a stranger to them, because they were not as yet humbled enough, yet natural affection could not but work, for he was a man of a tender spirit. This represents the tender mercies of our God towards