For what reason? A. God in old times was sometimes pleased to make known his will by dreams; such dreams are no longer sent, since that will has been fully declared in the Gospel. What questions did Joseph ask them? What did he prove by these questions? A. His duty and affection to his father. What answer did Joseph's brethren make to him respecting their father? What did his brethren then do? What do you mean by "obeisance?" said, Is your father well? the old man of whom you spake? Is he yet alive? And they answered: Thy servant, our father, is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads and made obeisance. And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, and said, is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake? God be gracious unto thee, my son. And Joseph made haste, for his bowels did yearn upon his brother; and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there. A. Bowing down reve. rently. What did Joseph say, when he saw Benjamin ? What feelings did Joseph shew towards Benjamin ? What do you mean by that expression? A. That he had a brotherly love and pity for him. How far did the feelings of nature and affection overcome him? A. He entered into his chamber and wept there. Joseph and his Brethren. PART IV. What did Joseph order his steward to do? In whose sack was the silver cup to be placed? What was Joseph's object in this ? A. To see whether they - would from envy give up their youngest brother, or help him in his danger. When did they depart? What did Joseph do when they had gone a little way? What did the steward do? In whose sack was the cup found? Whither did they then return? What did they do? What did Joseph say should be done to the man in whose sack the cup was found? What was Judah's speech? . Joseph and his Brethren. PART IV. And Joseph ordered the steward of his house to fill the men's sacks with corn, and to put his silver cup in the sack's mouth of the youngest ; and as soon as the morning was light, they departed. And when they were gone a little-way,Joseph said unto his steward, follow after the men, and when thou dost overtake them, say, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good, in taking mylord's cup? And he overtook them and spake unto them these words, and searched and found the cup in Benjamin's sack. Then they returned 2 to the city, and fell down before Joseph on the ground: and he said, what is this that ye have done? The man in B What then was the proposal he made? A. To be a bondman or servant instead of his brother Benjamin. What longer do ? could Joseph no What do you mean by 66 not refrain himself?" A. Could not keep from making himself known. What was there in particular that would touch the feelings of Joseph in the speech of Judah? A. That part where he speaks of not daring to go up to his father without Benjamin; lest evil should come to his father. Tell me now what passed on Joseph's making himself known, and what he said. Why could they not answer him? Why were they troubled at his presence? A. Because they had used him ill. Whom did he tell them -that he was? whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant. Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh! my lord, lét thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word, and let not thy anger burn against me. When we came down at first, we said, we have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one, and his brother is dead, and he alone is left, and his father loveth him; and thou saidst, bring him down that I may see him: and we said unto my lord, the lad cannot leave his father; for if he should, his father would die. Now, therefore, when I come to thy servant, my father, as his life is bound up in the lad's life, it will come to pass, seeing that the lad is not with us, that he will surely die: and we shall bring down his grey hairs with sorrow to the grave. Now, therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide a bondman instead of the lad; and What did he tell them let him go up with his not to be? What particular marks of affection did Joseph shew to Benjamin ? brethren; for how shall I ფი up to my father if the lad be not with me? Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all that stood by him. And he wept aloud, and said unto his brethren, I am Joseph: doth my father yet. live? (And they could not answer him, for they were Where was the report of Joseph's brethren being brethren being come, heard? How did Pharaoh like this? What did Joseph's brethren then do? What did they tell their father? What did Jacob at first not do? How was he at last satisfied of the truth of their account? What did his spirit then do? What is meant by "his spirit reviving?" A. He again rejoiced in heart. What did Israel say ? What is meant by Israel? A. Jacob; God gave the name of Israel to Jacob. Now, having read the History of Joseph, what is particularly observable in his character, with respect to his conduct towards God? His piety? What towards his father? A. His dutiful affection. What towards his brethren? troubled at his presence.) I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt, Now, therefore, be not grieved or angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither for God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. And he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck and wept. And Benjamin fell upon his neck. And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying, Joseph's brethren are come; and it pleased Pharaoh well. And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan, unto Jacob their father, and told him, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob's heart fainted, for he believed them not. And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them; and when he saw the waggons which Joseph had sent to carry him, his spirit revived; and Israel said, It A. Love and forgiveness is enough; Joseph my son of injuries. What towards his master? What other virtues did he shew? A. His self-command, his prudence in good fortune, his patience in bad fortune is yet alive: I will go down and see him before I die. в 2 What may you observe respecting the conduct of Joseph's brethren ? A. That it was very wicked and unnatural. What did they after. .wards suffer? A. The terrors of a guilty conscience. Of what particular passions do we here see the fatal effects? A. Those of envy and jealousy. Which of these two evil passions made Joseph's brethren hate him, because his father loved him best? A. Jealousy. Which made them hate him, because they supposed he was to become greater than themselves? |