fold into Egypt, his brethren meeting him there, and all his family following him, and it is as inftructive, in a variety of respects, as it is interesting. 2. Jofeph was then feventeen years old, and therefore not equal to the care of cattle, like his brothers. He was committed to the care of the fons of his wives of inferior rank; the father perhaps, thinking that they would have lefs envy and jealoufy than the fons of Leah; and yet there were two of them viz. Reuben and Judah, who fhewed the most generosity and compassion. It is obfervable that the fons of Jacob are not celebrated for their piety, or virtue of any kind, which is an argument for the fimplicity and truth of the history. A defcendant of theirs, who had been at liberty to invent the story, would, no doubt, have represented their characters in a much more favourable light, 3. Coloured garments were fcarce and dear in those early times, and were worn only by perfons of fome diftinction. Cloth of this kind Martine the Benedictine fays was confidered by the heathens as proper for the Gods only, and too honourable for men. Several antient verfions render this, Because he was a wise and prudent son, the word in the original being with a flight variation the son of the elders or fenators. Benjamin was younger than Joseph fifteen years. 4. This envy of the brothers was not unnatural, and might have been forefeen, and obviated, by the fa ther. 5. This dream was prophetic; and the fimplicity of Jofeph appears in his telling it to his brothers, who would eafly perceive in it a meaning to their prejudice. 8. This 8. This fecond dream was to the difparagement of his father, as well as of his brothers, and for the fame reafon gave offence to them all. 11, He confidered it as fomething more than a common dream, and remembered and reflected upon it as fuch. Jofeph's own mother was then dead, but this term, as well as that of father, was used with more lattitude than with us, viz. for any elderly female relati-. tion It might refpect fome of his other wives. 12. This was about fifty miles from the place of Jacob's refidence. 20. This pit might have been one that was defigned to hold rain water, but was now empty.. 25. This appears to have been fuch a caravan as now croffes the fame deferts. Spices of various kinds were always the produce of Arabia, and were fure to find a market in Egypt, which did not produce them. What these spices were is uncertain. Bochart endeavours to prove that the word here rendered balm fignifies turpentine or rosin. Balm, he fays, was not known. in Palestine before the time of Solomon. The word tranflated spices, Aquila makes to be storax, 26. On this, and on other occafions, Judah feems to have had the most influence in the family. We shall fee more of this in the progrefs of the hiftory; and his defcendants maintained the fame afcendancy over the other tribes. 28. The fame perfons are here called both Ifhmacllites and Midianites. The caravan probably confift ed of both these people, and they were neighbours to each other, As ten of Jofephs brothers were prefent at this transaction, they agreed for two pieces each. If they were shekels, the whole fum was no more than L. 2. 6. 3 English money. 29. Reuben has been fuppofed to hope to ingratiate himself with his father, after the great offence he had given him. But his behaviour feems rather to have arifen from real affection, or at least an abhorrence of murder. 34. It pleafed God to exercise the patience of Jacob as he had done that of Abraham, Ifaac, and other excellent men, by fuffering them to afflict themselves for things which, feen in their true light, were not just caufes of affliction. 36. It is evident, that this perfon, called an eunuch, had a wife; but becaufe fuch offices as he held were generally entrusted to eunuchs, he had that name. Ch. XXXVIII. 1. The hiftory contained in this chapter is fo little to the credit of the founder of the principal tribe in Ifrael, that none of his defcendants would have invented it. Indeed it is related in fo natural and fimple a manner, as to vouch for its own truth. After this time, probably means fome time after Jofeph was fold into Egypt. Adullam was a city which afterwards fell to the lot of Judah; and in which there was a cave in which David concealed himself. 1 Sam. xxii. 1. 3. She called, SAM. So alfo, v. 29. 7. Perhaps his untimely death was confidered as a divine judgment; and from this his wickednefs might be inferred. No perfon, however, who had invented the ftory, would have mentioned it in this manner. 8. This 8. This custom of keeping up the family of a brother prevails in Indoftan; and there it appears to have been established before it was made one of the laws of Mofes. There widows without children have a claim not only on the brothers of their husband, but on the father, or any near relation capable of having chil dren. 10. The fin of Oman did not confift in the mere act of felf pollution, but in his disobedience to the law, and his fathers injunction. 12. Timnath was probably not far from Adullam, as this alfo was a city in the tribe of Judah, Jofh. xv. 7. The time of fheep fhearing was always confidered as a season of festivity, being a kind of harvest to the shep.* herd. 14. In general, prostitutes wore no vails, as all wo. men of character did; but it might be otherwife in those very early times. 16. She took his feal, or ring, and the ribbon or ftring, by which it was fufpended from his neck, as is the custom with fome Arabs at this day; and also his staff, as being things which he could not but know again. It is evident that her motive was the fame with that of Lot's daughters; not wantonnefs, but the defire of having a child, and of the family of her husband. 24. It appears from this that the heads of families were fupreme judges in it. By being burned no doubt means the punishment of death by burning. She was confidered as an adultrefs, in confequence of being be trothed. 26. He had not done her justice in with-holding his fon from her, belides ufing her as a harlot, 28. The word here rendered scarlet fignifies a worm colour, coming from an excrefcence of a kind of oak,, made by a fly, as the common galls are produced. The colour was a beautiful crimson, and retained its luftre for ages. 29. Perez fignifies a breach., 20. Zerah may fignify rising, as applied to the rifing of the fun; because he made his appearance first. Ch. XXXIX. 2. This phrafe does not imply any peculiar interpofition, but fuch a fecret direction of events as fhewed in the refult that there must have been fomething extraordinary in the cafe. Such was the profperity of Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, and of Laban while Jacob was, with him. Whether there be any vifible interpofition of providence or not, fuccefs is always to be ascribed to God; and whether this was provided for in the original plan of providence, or produced by real tho' invisible miracles, the author being the fame, our gratitude ought to make no difference. 4. It is no uncommon thing in the Eaft to commit the chief direction of men's affairs to flaves, and even that of kingdoms; fuch perfons being depended upon for attachment to their masters. The word fignifies attending on the person, which was a mark of favour. 9. It is evident that Jofeph had a strong sense of religion properly fo called upon his mind. He confidered adultery not only as an offence (against man, and a violation of the rules of fociety, but as an offence a |