that which here immediately
follows, where it is used of the buying of wine and milk. The buying of
necessary provisions is commonly designated by the _Kal_; the selling
by the _Hiphil_. In Gen. xli. 26, the selling too is designated by the
_Kal_. He who causes that one can break or appease, may himself also be
designated as he who breaks or appeases. This verb, so very peculiar,
and the noun [Hebrew: wbr], occur in a certain accumulation, in the
history of Joseph only; elsewhere, their occurrence is sporadic only.
It is then to the hunger of Israel in ancient times, and to its being
appeased by Joseph, that the double [Hebrew: wbrv] alludes; and from
this circumstance also the fact is to be explained, that it is first
used in reference to food; comp. [Hebrew: wbrv vaklv] in our verse,
with [Hebrew: wbr akl] in Gen. xlii. 7-10. Christ is the true Joseph,
who puts an end to the hunger and thirst of the people of God, by
offering true food and true drink.--The word "eat" suggests substantial
food, bread in contrast to the drink by which it is surrounded on both
sides; compare John vi. 35: [Greek: ego eimi ho artos tes zoes. ho
erchomenos pros me ou me peinase] [Hebrew: wbrv] [Greek: kai ho
pisteuon eis eme ou me dipsese popote]. Ver. 55: [Greek: he gar
sarx mou alethos esti brosis, kai to hima mou alethos esti posis]. From
the sequel (comp. vers. 6, 7), it appears that the thrice repeated
_coming_ and the _buying_ are accomplished by true repentance, the
[Greek: metanoia], which is the indispensable condition of the
participation in the salvation. In John vi. 35, the words: [Greek: ho
erchomenos pros me] are explained by: [Greek: ho pisteuon eis eme].
Faith is the soul of repentance.--The circumstance that the [Pg 345]
buying is done without money, intimates that the blessings of salvation
are a pure gift of divine grace. These blessings of salvation are first
designated by water; afterwards, by _wine_ and _milk_,--thus
approximating to those passages in which the blessings of the Kingdom
of Christ appear under the image of a rich repast, to which the members
of the Kingdom are invited as guests, Ps. xxii. 26-30; Matt. viii. 11,
xxii. 2; Luke xiv. 16; Rev. xix. 9.--Some Rationalistic interpreters
understand, by the offered blessings, the salutary admonitions of the
Prophet; but decisive against these are vers. 3 and 11, according to
which it is not present, but future blessings, not words, but real
things which are spoken