The B'chai on behalf of Rabbi Chananel writes : Jacob said
unto his children, " Why are ye to be seen together ? Separate
yourselves one from another."

The Ramban writes: Jacob said, "Why should ye be seen
here ? Why will ye not go for corn ? "

The Midrash writes: Jacob told them, "Ye should not all
enter by one gate, lest ye be under the influence of an evil eye,
for ye are mighty and handsome people." ^

3 The brethren of Joseph were ten. It is said the brethren of
Joseph, and not " the sons of Jacob," because they had repented

' "l5ti' in Hebrew means corn, but by changing the punctuation of the
first letter and the vowel points of the word, "13t?' becomes "132'; the mean-
ing of the first is corn, and of the second hope ; thus completely altering
the sense of the text. Strange, that a Jewish transcriber of the Law would
rather chop off his hand than alter " one jot or one tittle " of a letter, but
the expounder of the Law constantly alters the true meaning of Scripture.
Thus, to this day, they "strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel" {Matt,
xxiii. 24). If they deal so with their sacred writings, what can fie expected
of them in their general literature ? " I would rather believe a Hottentot
than a Jew," said the late Captain Layard, who knew what he said, for he
had much dealing with our Hebrew brethren.
^ In consequence of being looked irpon with an evil eye, it is believed
the strong and handsome man may become weak and ugly.
