And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.
I am Joseph. The emotions that now rose in the breast of himself, as well as his brethren-and chased each other in rapid succession-were many and violent. He was agitated by sympathy and joy;-they were astonished, confounded, terrified, and betrayed their terror by shrinking as far as they could from his presence. So "troubled" were they that he had to repeat his announcement of himself; and what kind, affectionate terms did he use. He spoke of their having sold him, not to wound their feelings, but to convince them of his identity; and then, to re-assure their minds, he traced the agency of an overruling Providence in his exile and present honour. Not that he wished them to roll the responsibility of their crime on God: no, his only object was to allay their deeply-agitated feelings, to encourage their confidence, and induce them to trust in the plans he had formed for the future comfort of their father and themselves.