\\INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 43\\

This chapter informs us how that the famine continued in the land of
Canaan, and the corn that Jacob's family had from Egypt being consumed,
Jacob pressed his sons to go down for more, which they refused to do,
unless Benjamin was sent with them, for whose safety Judah offered to
become a surety, \\#Ge 43:1-10\\; Jacob with reluctance was prevailed upon
to let him go, and dismissed them with a present to the governor of
Egypt, and with double money to buy corn with, and with his blessing
upon them, \\#Ge 43:11-14\\; upon which they set out for Egypt; and when
they came into the presence of Joseph, he seeing Benjamin with them,
ordered his steward to have them to his house, and get dinner ready, it
being his pleasure that they should dine with him that day,
\\#Ge 43:15-17\\; this threw them into a fright, supposing they were
going to be called to an account for the money they found in their sacks;
wherefore they related to the steward very particularly the whole of
that affair, who bid them not be uneasy, for he had had their money;
and as a proof that things would go well with them, brought Simeon out
to them, and treated them very kindly and gently, \\#Ge 43:18-24\\;
and having got their present ready against Joseph came home, they
delivered it to him with great veneration and submission; who asked of
the welfare of their father, and whether that was not their younger
brother they spoke of, the sight of whom so affected him, that he was
obliged in haste to retire to his chamber, and weep, \\#Ge 43:25-30\\;
and having washed his face, and composed himself, he returned and
ordered dinner to be brought, which was set on different tables, one
for himself and the Egyptians, and the other for his brethren, whom he
placed according to their age, to their great surprise; and sent them
messes from his table to each, and to Benjamin five times more than the
rest, and they were so liberally entertained, that they became cheerful
and merry, \\#Ge 43:31-34\\.