John Calvin Commentary Genesis 44:18

"Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh, my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord`s ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant; for thou art even as Pharaoh." — Genesis 44:18 (ASV)

Let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word. Judah humbly asks to be allowed to speak, because his narrative was about to be lengthy. And since nobles are offended and react angrily if anyone addresses them with too much familiarity, Judah begins by declaring that he is aware of the great honor Joseph had received in Egypt, to show that he was becoming bold not through rudeness, but through necessity.

Afterwards, he recounts how he and his brothers had departed from their father. There are two principal points in his speech: first, that they would cause a sorrow to their father that would prove fatal; and secondly, that he had bound himself individually, by a pledge, to bring the young man back.

Regarding his father's grief, it is a sign of remarkable filial piety that he wished to be put in Benjamin’s place and to undergo perpetual exile and slavery, rather than bring the miserable old man news that would cause his death.

He proves his sincerity by offering himself as a guarantee, so that he might free his brother. Because חטא (chata) among the Hebrews sometimes means to be at fault, and sometimes to be subject to a penalty, some translate the passage, “I shall have sinned against my father,” or, “I shall be accused of sin,” while others render it, “I shall be deemed guilty, because he will complain of having been deceived by my promise.” The latter meaning is more appropriate because, indeed, he would not escape disgrace and blame from his father for having cruelly betrayed a young man committed to his care.

CHAPTER 45.