for him by himselfe] There were three tables at least in the roome, one and the chiefe for Joseph as Viceroy to Pharaoh; another for his eleven brethren; and a third for the Nobles of Egypt invited by Joseph to the feast; so that they dined together in respect of the roome, not together in respect of the tables. ate bread] Bread is put for all things that are served in at a meale, or feast: See Annot. on Chap. 31. 54. It might seeme strange for so great a man as Joseph to entertaine strangers of no higher ranke then his brethren seemed to be, in that manner; but Josephs wisdome was such, and so well knowne, that most would conceive he had some good reason for it though they knew it not. abomination unto the Egyptians] Not onely because they were shepherds, as Chap. 46. 34. (for the Egyptians had flocks of sheepe, Genesis 47. Exodus 9:3. 17. whose milke they did eate, and weare their wooll, which might be as the Livery of servants, for they worshipped such cattell) But because they did feed upon such cattell as the Egyptians did worship; and though the Egyptians did feed on Buls and Oxen, they did not eat Kine, for they worshipped the females in honour of Isis, who the Poets faine was turned into a Cow, and afterwards returned againe to the forme she had before; but above all things the head of any beast was an abomination unto them, because upon the head they used to poure out all their imprecations, therefore that as most execrable was most abhorred by them; hence it is that they cannot indure to have sheepe, or kine to be killed though by way of sacrifice, and therefore such sacrifices were an abomination unto them, Exodus 8:26. and so were such as either did feed upon such creatures as they did honour, or on such, either in whole, or in par (especially the head) as they did abhorre. Besides it is the nature of the superstitious to condemne all others in respect of themselves, and to contemne them too (so did the Egyptians other Nations) as uncleane in respect of themselves.