Then Judah came near unto him— After the terrible sentence which Joseph had passed, Genesis 44:17. Judah became more immediately interested, and was concerned to plead the cause of his brother; and every man, who reads to the close of this chapter, must confess, that Judah acts here the part both of the faithful brother and dutiful son, who, rather than behold his father's misery, in case of Benjamin's being left behind, submits to become a bondsman in his stead; and, indeed, there is such an air of candour and generosity runs through the whole strain of his speech; the sentiments are so tender and affecting, the expressions are so passionate, and flow so much from artless nature, that it is no wonder, if they came home to Joseph's heart, and forced him to throw off the mask, as we find he does in the next chapter. The phrase, for thou art even as Pharaoh, signifies, for thou art of power and authority equal to Pharaoh; and therefore thy anger is as much to be dreaded, as even that of the king himself, Proverbs 19:12. Josephus and Philo have both largely paraphrased this speech of Judah; but there needs nothing more than a bare perusal of them to see the infinite superiority of that before us, in which true nature speaks. Dr. Jackson's remarks upon it cannot be too well observed: "When one sees," says he,* "such passages related by men, who affect no art, and who lived long after the parties that first uttered them; we cannot conceive how all particulars could be so naturally and fully recorded, unless they had been suggested by his Spirit, who gives mouths and speech to men; who, being alike present to all successions, is able to communicate the secret thoughts of forefathers to their children, and put the very words of the deceased (never registered before) into the mouths or pens of their successors for many generations after; and that, as exactly and distinctly, as if they had been caught and written in characters of steel or brass, as they issued out of their mouth. For it is plain, every circumstance is here related with such natural specifications, as if Moses had heard them talk; and therefore could not have been thus represented to us, unless they had been written by His direction, who knows all things, as well fore-past, as present, or to come."
* On the Creed, b. i. c. 4.
REFLECTIONS.—Bitter was the distress which now harassed the minds of the sons of Jacob. What shall they say? To confess the charge, were to acknowledge guilt they did not believe; to deny it, were still more dangerous, as a reflection on the governor's justice. In this dilemma, Judah, as most engaged, with rhetoric such as distress and nature taught, addresses with humblest submission the supposed offended ruler; and pleads with arguments, which, I doubt not, filled Joseph's bosom with deeper agitation, than even Judah felt. Benjamin's youth, the only son of a beloved mother; another brother he had, but dead; the aged father's life is bound up in the darling boy; it was at his command he was brought with reluctance; extorted from his father: should they return without him, death would instantly seize the good old man, and they be accessary to it: himself had become surety for the lad, and begs now to exchange; himself the bondsman, if Benjamin might be free. The thought of his father's sorrow recurs upon him; he can never think of seeing his face without the lad: he therefore casts himself upon the mercy of the Judge, and waits with terrible suspense to receive that sentence, on which the happiness or misery of Jacob's family depended. Note; 1. Every good child will make his parent's comfort one great business of his life. 2. When we address a ruler, title and honour are his due.