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necessarily imply consciousness of particular guilt (see on 43⁹), and is certainly not meant as a confession of the wrong done to Joseph: at the same time we may be sure that that is the crime to which their secret thoughts gravitate (42^21ff..—17. Judah's proposal that all should remain as slaves is rejected by Joseph, who insists on separating Benjamin's fate from that of the rest. Did he purpose to retain him by his side, while sustaining the rest of the family in their homes?

18-34. Judah's plea for Benjamin.—The speech, which is the finest specimen of dignified and persuasive eloquence in the OT, is perhaps modelled on the style of forensic oratory to which the Hebrews were accustomed in public assemblies at the city gates (ct. the stilted oration of Tertullus in Ac. 24). Sincerity and depth of feeling are not more remarkable than the skilful selection and disposition of the points most likely to appeal to the governor: (1) a recital of the interview in which Joseph had insisted on Benjamin being brought down (^19-23); (2) a pathetic description of the father's reluctance to part with him, overcome only by the harsh necessity of hunger (^24-29); (3) a suggestion of the death-stroke which their return without Benjamin would inflict on their aged parent (^{30. 31}); and, lastly, (4) the speaker's personal request to be allowed to redeem his honour by taking Benjamin's punishment on himself (^32-34).—The Massoretes commence a new Parashah with v.¹⁸, rightly perceiving that Judah's speech is the turning-point in the relations between Joseph and his brethren.—19-23. On the divergent representations of J and E, see on p. 473 above.—20. to his mother] See p. 449.—28. The words of Jacob enable Judah to draw a veil over the brothers' share in the tragedy of Joseph.—and I have not seen him till now] Comp. the rugged pathos of Lowell's

"Whose comin' home there's them that wan't—
  No, not life-long—leave off awaitin'."

The simple words, with their burden of suppressed emotion,

18. (Hebrew characters)] G-K. § 161 c.—20. (Hebrew characters)] G (Hebrew characters).—24. (Hebrew characters)] [E]GVS (Hebrew characters) (so GS in ²⁷, and GSV] in ³⁰).—28. (Hebrew characters)] G (Greek characters).