And he took, and sent messes— In ancient times it was the custom, when all the meat was set upon the table, for the master of the feast to distribute their portion to every one. Joseph not only ranged his brothers in proper rank according to their age, which must have greatly astonished them, but, in the same order, sent each of them a mess, and to Benjamin, in token of his particular favour and nearer alliance, he sent five times as much as to any of the rest. Whether this was done merely as a distinguishing mark of kindness to Benjamin, or as a trial of his brethren's temper, to see whether they would look upon him with the same envious eyes as they had formerly done upon Joseph himself, it is certain that they were thus prepared for the opening of the plot, and would be more inclined to give credit to his words, when he discovered himself to them.
Were merry with him— The Vulgate renders this very coarsely, inebriati sunt cum eo. The Hebrew signifies only, to drink heartily, in a middle, or indifferent sense. Song of Solomon 5:1.Haggai 1:6. In like manner the Greek μεθυομαι, by which the LXX often render שׁכר shecar, primarily signifies, to drink heartily, though not to drunkenness, and is plainly used in this sense in John 2:10.
REFLECTIONS.—At dinner Joseph returns: his brethren renew their lowly obeisance, and, in their father's name, bow down before him as his servants. The sight of Benjamin awakens all his tenderness. With a heart melted with love (and how could he refrain?) he inquires after the good old man: Is he alive? And now unable longer to endure the moving scene, after an affectionate blessing on the lad, he hastens to his chamber, to give vent in tears to those tender passions, which burst involuntarily from his throbbing heart. When thus the commotion in his bosom was somewhat abated, he washes, and returns to entertain them. The tables are spread severally for him, them, and the AEgyptians; and while they wonder at the disposition made according to their several ages, they are nobly entertained, forget their fears and cares, and are merry with him. Benjamin is distinguished by a peculiar mess, but it seems neither to awaken their suspicion of the cause, nor jealousy of the favour. Note; 1. The tenderest passions possess the noblest souls. 2. A prayer for a blessing upon the soul, is a better gift than even Benjamin's distinguished mess: in such charity, a poor man may be very rich. 3. If others, weak or scrupulous, choose not to eat bread in communion with us, after our manner, we should learn, as Joseph with the AEgyptians, to bear with them in love.