more then all] That is, more then any of them all. the sonne of his old age] (Genesis 44:20.) He was 91. yeares old at the birth of Joseph; now that parents love their young children better then the elder, there may be many reasons, aFirst, to be parents in old age argueth the continuance of Gods blessing, and of their good and strong constitution, when it was most like to faile for ever. Secondly, they more value such an issue, because they exspect no more of that kinde, and that makes it more deare because more rare. Object. But Benjamin was younger. Sol. First, this is to be understood in respect of his elder brethren; and for Benjamin he was not yet come to any proofe to gaine so much of his fathers affection. Thirdly, in the youngest they looke that the memory should hold out longest, and naturall affection gaineth strength in its course, so that the further it goeth the stronger it groweth. Fourthly, the young children are commonly more conversant with old men, since they keepe home, whereas the bigger children are much abroad. Fifthly, their innocency breeds acceptation without exception, whereas the elder children commit faults, it may be crimes, (as Reuben did, Genesis 35:22.) to grieve the hearts of their parents, and shorten their lives. Sixthly, Old fathers decline towards the infirmitie of young children, (as the Proverbe hath it, once a man, and twice a child) and are commonly more tender, and kinde to those who are by their tendernesse more apt to be exposed to injuries by others. Object. But Benjamin he was younger then Joseph, and so was he also son of Jacobs elder age. Answ. True, there was somewhat there besides the reasons here alleadged which made Joseph so beloved of Jacob; as that he was the long desired issue of his beloved mother Rachel, and her first borne that tooke away the great griefe of her former barrennesse, and left no matter of mis-hap behind to afflict the heart of the father, as the birth of Benjamin, with the death of his mother had done, and he was beautifull like her; and certainly, there appeared in young Joseph the presages of very vertuous acts, and employments of great importance. a coat of many colours] (2 Samuel 13:18.) Or, pices; And it might be both, wherein both pieces and colours were so mingled, as might make most for delight and decencie in the eye: the Greek word Poikilon, used by the Lxx. and the other Greek word Polymita, by the Latines, sound both to the same sense, the one signifieth varied, the other varied in particular by pieces of severall colours. This coat is here mentioned both as an Argument of Jacobs love to Joseph, and as an occasion of his brothers hate, and a colour and cover for their bloody plot from the eyes of their father. Some curiously inquire concerning the matter of Josephs coat, whether it were silke, or of divers kinds of threads, (which afterward was forbidden by the Law to be made of linen and woollen, Leviticus 19:19.) and concerning the making of it, whether it were long, or with sleeves or no; but as there is no need of such nicetie, so can there be no good satisfaction given unto it. It is of more use to note that as Jacob loved him better, so he shewed his love unto him by such outward signes, as set him out unto his brethren as an object of envie: it had been better Jacob had loved him more, and shewed it lesse; it is a part of prudence in parents, so to governe their affections, or themselves in the expression of them, that they give no cause of grudge, or malignant emulation among their children, Ephesians 6:4.