ible to them.
Moreover, all his previous communications had
been through an interpreter and, no doubt,
their amazement was increased by hearing him
address them in their own tongue.

Upon what ground did Joseph tell his brothers
that they should not blame themselves for
selling him into Egypt? Upon the ground that
God had brought good out of the evil they had
done.

Is he quite right in telling them that they
should not be grieved for the wrong they did
him? They were free agents; God did not will
that they should sin, though He brought good
out of it. From this point of view Joseph is
wrong. But he doubtless sees that his brothers
have long ago repented their action and does
not wish them to continue to blame themselves.
His assurance is no doubt prompted by a noble
generosity induced, to some extent, by Judah's
appeal.

What seems to be Joseph's dominating motive?
His love for his father. His repeated
references to him show this.

We can understand his desire to provide for his
father and Benjamin, but why for his brothers
who had wronged him? Partly for his father's
sake, perhaps. It was natural, in those
patriarchal days, that Jacob, if he migrated to
Egypt, should wish his family to do the same.
Besides, Joseph sees that his brothers are
changed men.

What inducements does he hold out to them? He
shows them that his own power in Egypt is
sufficient to protect them; he promises them
the fertile land of Goshen, with sufficient
food for themselves and their flocks and herds;
and he points out that five years of famine are
yet to be in the land, and that they must
inevitably suffer if the invitation is
rejected.

Joseph frequently draws attention to his power
in Egypt. Is he at all vain-glorious? No, he
does this to assure his brothers that the wrong
done him years before has had, through the
goodness of God, a beneficent result; to show
them that it has not been all suffering in his
long exile; and to induce his father to come
down to Egypt.

"After that his brethren talked with him."
About what would they