Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1889 Excerpt: ...while the substance, incorrectly rendered in A. V. myrrh, is the odorous greenish resin ladanum, which exudes from the branches of the cislus, a shrub of the rock-rose family, with white or rose-coloured flowers. Judah, influenced by compassion, with which probably cupidity was mingled, proposes to sell Joseph as a slave, rather than take his life. This is the first historic instance of the sale of a man, though slavery is, probably, as ancient as war, being a substitute for the murder of captives. 'And they sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty (shekels of) silver, ' that is, about ten ounces of silver in weight, 29 Arid Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes. 30 And he returned unto his brethren, and said. The child ' is not; and I, whither shall I go? 31 And they tookc Joseph's coatj and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood; 32 And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brou.'ht it to their father; and saia, This have we found: know now whether it hi thy son's coat or no. 33 And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; about twelve dollars and a half at the present valuation "--Newhall. 30. Whither shall I go--" It is a cry of distracting anxiety, which sounds touchingly mournful and pathetic in the Hsbrew, from the repetition and alliteration. Reuben afterwards reminds his brethren, in the day of their distress, of the earnestness with which he had plea.led for Joseph. Chap, xlii, 22. Only Reuben and Judah show any trace of humanity in this dark transaction, and they seem, on their return to their father, to be bound by the ban of silence. It is Reuben and Judah, also, that are afterwards foremost to take responsibility, and bear the blame, wh?n they all s...