| Geneva Study Bible And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, {k} and were merry with him. (k) Sometimes this word means to be drunken, but here it means that they had enough, and drank of the best wine. Wesley's Notes 43:34 They drank and were merry - Their cares and fears were now over, and they eat their bread with joy, concluding they were now upon good terms with the man, the lord of the land. If God accept our works, our present, we have reason to be chearful. King James Translators' Notes were...: Heb. drank largely Scofield Reference Notes [1] But Benjamin's mess Cf. See Scofield Note: "Gen 35:18". It is important to observe that Benjamin now becomes prominent. Joseph is peculiarly the type of Christ in His first advent, rejection, death, resurrection, and present exaltation among the Gentiles, but unrecognized of Israel. As the greater Benjamin, "Son of sorrow," but also "Son of my right hand," He is to be revealed in power in the Kingdom Gen 1:26-28. See Scofield Note: "Zech 12:8". It is then, and not till then, that Israel is to be restored and converted. See Scofield Note: "Dt 30:3". Typically Gen 45:1,2 anticipates the revelation prophetically described, Ezek 20:33-36 Hos 2:14-23 at which time the Benjamin type of Christ will be fulfilled. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 34. took and sent messes . Benjamin's mess was five times-In Egypt, as in other Oriental countries, there were, and are, two modes of paying attention to a guest whom the host wishes to honor-either by giving a choice piece from his own hand, or ordering it to be taken to the stranger. The degree of respect shown consists in the quantity, and while the ordinary rule of distinction is a double mess, it must have appeared a very distinguished mark of favor bestowed on Benjamin to have no less than five times any of his brethren. they drank, and were merry with him-Hebrew, "drank freely" (same as So 5:1; Joh 2:10). In all these cases the idea of intemperance is excluded. The painful anxieties and cares of Joseph's brethren were dispelled, and they were at ease. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 43:26-34 Observe the great respect Joseph's brethren paid to him. Thus were Joseph's dreams more and more fulfilled. Joseph showed great kindness to them. He treated them nobly; but see here the early distance between Jews and gentiles. In a day of famine, it is enough to be fed; but they were feasted. Their cares and fears were now over, and they ate their bread with joy, reckoning they were upon good terms with the lord of the land. If God accept our works, our present, we have reason to be cheerful. Joseph showed special regard for Benjamin, that he might try whether his brethren would envy him. It must be our rule, to be content with what we have, and not to grieve at what others have. Thus Jesus shows those whom he loves, more and more of their need. He makes them see that he is their only refuge from destruction. He overcomes their unwillingness, and brings them to himself. Then, as he sees good, he gives them some taste of his love, and welcomes them to the provisions of his house, as an earnest of what he further intends for them. | 
