he knew them, but they] Some of them were at mans estate when they sold him, and by them he might guesse at the rest, especially hearing, and understanding their speech one to another; but he being then but seventeene yeares old, and now very neere fourtie, was so changed in countenance, and language, (speaking the Egyptian Tongue) in habit, and condition (being nobleman-like, which they little looked for, having sold him for a slave) that they could not know him. made himselfe strange unto them] This dissembling was more sutable to the condition of an heathen Courtier, then to the qualification of a true Israelite in whom is no guile. John 1:47. and is therefore to be taken rather as an example of Caution, then of Imitation: But this strangenesse was kept with the better decorum, because he had so ordered the sale of eorne, that whereas he imployed others to sell to the natives, he himselfe sold unto strangers, for which purpose he appointed a peculiar place to furnish them, and that was the chiefe Citie of the Kingdome. spake roughly] They deserved no better entertainement at his hands, who dealt roughly with him, and had no pitie on the anguish of his soule when he besought them to spare him, 5: 21. but Joseph did not this by way of grudge, or revenge, but to make them the more sensible of their owne ill dealing with him, and of his kindnesse to them, when he discovered himselfe unto them.