Genesis 45:24 So he sent his brothers away, and they departed: and he said to them, See that you fall not out by the way. g: — How well he knew human nature! They were going home with news which would reveal to their father that they had been the cause of their brother's disappearance, and had imposed on him with a deliberate falsehood; and for anything they knew, he might turn upon them and upbraid them with their cruelty and deceit. What so likely, therefore, as that they should begin to accuse each other — that crimination should lead to recrimination, and words to blows? Reuben might say again, "It was not my fault, for I sought to save his life, and I went back to the pit hoping to find him and restore him to our father." Judah might respond, "But for me he would have died, and it is to my happy suggestion to sell him to the Ishmaelites that we are indebted for all the good fortune that seems now to be coming to us"; while the rest, conscious of their share in the nefarious transaction, might have sought to still the upbraidings of their consciences by uttering bitter things against each other. All that might have happened on their journey home, and so Joseph was not giving unnecessary counsel when he said, "See that ye fall not out by the way." And they heeded his advice, for they reached home in peace; and it may be that, so far from quarrelling, they spent some of their time as they rode in conversing on the marvellous manner in which, in spite of their antagonism, and without their consciousness of anything in the least degree out of the way, the dreams of their brother had been fulfilled, and they had done obeisance at his feet. (W. M. Taylor, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way. |
    |