To each and all of them he gave a change of clothes, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five changes of clothes.
Joseph has just told his brothers who he is. Instead of punishing them, he sends them home loaded with gifts. All ten receive new clothes, and Benjamin receives far more. Two questions sit in the verse — why clothing at all, and why does the youngest get so much more?
Gifts far beyond the journey
Joseph gives far more than the road home required.
L. M. GrantJoseph gave them wagons and provisions for their journey, even including changes of clothing. But to Benjamin he gave five changes of clothing, and added to this three hundred pieces of silver. One wonders if Benjamin might have had a little difficulty in knowing how to handle this! But Joseph's heart was abounding in grace.
Why clothing, and not only food
Joseph sends the brothers home to tell of his glory. One writer notes that a messenger's life has to match his message.
Hamilton SmithBlessed as all this is, it is not enough for the service of the Lord. If the service is to be effective, the life of the servant must match the message he delivers. Joseph's dealing with his brothers shows this important truth clearly. He gave them provision for the way, and we also read, "To each and all of them he gave a change of clothes" (v. 22). They were not only to deliver a message about Joseph's glory. They themselves were to be witnesses of the change that the glory produced.
Clothing supplied from outside themselves
The brothers did not weave these garments. They wore what the ruler of Egypt handed them. One writer sees here a picture of the clothing God gives us in the risen Christ.
A. J. PollockThis is a sample of the clothing provided for us from the risen Joseph. It takes the whole of Adam's race to show how hideous and repulsive the character of the old man is. But the Lord Jesus Christ expressed fully in His own matchless person what man should be for God. He was the Second Man — the Lord from heaven.
A change of clothing appears elsewhere in Scripture too. There, God is the one who does the clothing.
Frederick W. GrantThat is the change of clothing. One moment you are a sinner in your sins before God. The next moment you are clothed with Christ before Him, as Christ is before His eyes. And notice, God does all that. He does not say to the sinner, take off your filthy garments and put on these. He says to those who stand by, "Take away the filthy garments from him." He does not say put on these new garments. He says, "I will clothe you with a change of clothing." God does all.
Benjamin's larger share
Benjamin receives far more than the other ten. Commentators look at his name for the reason he stands apart.
Morrish Bible DictionaryThe youngest son of Jacob by his beloved wife Rachel. She died as he was born. She named him BEN-ONI, meaning 'son of my sorrow,' but his father named him BENJAMIN, 'son of the right hand.' Gen. 35:18, 24. He is a picture of Christ in two ways. As Benjamin, Christ is exalted at God's right hand. As Ben-oni, He is rejected, and so the occasion of Israel's suffering in the last days. Rachel stands for Israel (Micah 5).
What such giving asks of the receiver
Nothing here was earned, and nothing could be repaid. That leaves the brothers only one fitting response.
F. B. HoleJoseph now gave them generosity beyond anything they had imagined. In the face of it, only one thing suited them: the obedience of faith. We read, "The sons of Israel did so." They did exactly as they were told. They received everything they needed, as verses 21-23 record. So they were sent off to their father with the instruction, "Do not quarrel on the way." There was quite rightly a little sting for their consciences in this. They had quarrelled badly over Joseph many years before. As forgiven men they were now to show an entirely different spirit.
Summary
- Given, not earned — the brothers earned none of it. They arrive with nothing to offer and leave loaded, because Joseph's heart was "abounding in grace."
- Given clothing — food alone would have carried them home. Joseph added clothing, so that the men who spoke of his glory also showed the change it had worked in them.
- Given from above — the garments came from the ruler's store, not their own. God clothes a person the same way: He takes off the filthy garments and puts on the new.
- Given most to Benjamin — the "son of the right hand" receives five changes of clothing and three hundred pieces of silver. His name points to Christ, exalted at God's right hand.
- Given, so obey — the gift was beyond anything they had imagined. Their only fitting answer was the obedience of faith: "The sons of Israel did so." Forgiven men, they were to travel home without quarrelling.