Genesis 42

Jacob hearing, that there was Corn to be had in Egypt, sends all his sons thither, but Benjamin; v. 1, etc. They bow before Joseph, whom they knew not, but he them well enough; he speaks harshly to them, and imprisons them for Spies, 6. Yet at last conditioning, they should bring Benjamin to him, and keeping Simon in custody, he lets them return home with Corn and their money to boot: in the mean time, their sin committed on Joseph, awakes and checks them, 18. By the way homeward, one finds his money in his Sack, 27. At home they tell Jacob what happened to them, and find all their money returned, 29. They labour hard to persuade Jacob, that he would let Benjamin go back with them to Egypt, but he makes great complaint, and cannot resolve on it, 36.

1. When Jacob saw, [i.e. heard and understood, by common fame, and observed by what was bought and brought thence] that there was Corn in Egypt, [or, provision, victual. The Hebrew word comes from a root signifying to break, it being provision and victual, but especially bread, which breaks the force of hunger and famine.] then said Jacob to his sons; why look yee one upon another? [as men destitute of help and advice, who sit musing and plodding, wasting much time, but come to no certain resolution, nor set about the work before them.]

2. Moreover he said; behold I have heard, that there is Corn in Egypt: go yee down thither, and buy us (corn) thence, that we may live, and not die.

3. Then Josephs ten brethren went down for to buy Corn out of Egypt.

4. Yet Benjamin, Josephs brother, Jacob did not send with his brethren: for he said, [viz. by himself, i.e. he thought thus. See abo. Ch. 20. On v. 11.] lest peradventure mischief [i.e. some deadly accident such as befell his brother Joseph before, whom he still supposed to be dead.] meet him.

5. Thus Israel’s sons came to buy, among those that came there: [Heb. in the midst of the coming, i.e. together with, or, in company along with others, that were coming from the land of Canaan for to buy provision. The reason is presently given in the words following.] for there was famine in the land of Canaan.

6. Joseph now was Ruler over that land; he sold to all people of the land: and Joseph’s brethren came, and bowed themselves before him: [to show him Civil honour and respect. See above chapter 18. On verse 2. And compare herewith, the former dreams of Joseph, chapter 37. 7, 8.] (with) the faces to the ground.

7. When Joseph saw his brethren, he knew them; but he showed himself strange towards them, [thereby the better to discover their state and condition, especially that of his father and brother.] and spoke harsh with them; [see below verse 9, 11, 12. This he did, partly to understand the truth the better, how it fared with his father, and his brother Benjamin; partly to rouze them up to an acknowledgement of the sin, they had committed against him.] and said to them; whence come yee? And they said; out of the land of Canaan, to buy food.

8. And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew him not.

9. Then Joseph remembered the dreams, which he had dreamt of them; and he said to them, yee are Spies, yee are come to view, where the land is bare. [Heb. the bareness, or, nakedness of the land, i.e. to see where the Country lies most open and naked, or is least provided and fenced, for an enemy to invade the same, or to surprise some places, or to over-run the land to spoil and plunder it.]

10. And they said to him; No my Lord, but thy servants are come to buy food.

11. We are all of us the sons of one man, we are honest; thy servants are no Spies.

12. And he said to them: No; but yee are come to view, where the land is bare.

13. And they said; we thy servants were twelve brethren, one man’s sons in the land of Canaan: [here now Joseph begins to learn, what he aimed at by all this strict examination.] and behold, the least [Heb. the little (one) i.e. the youngest, viz. Benjamin. Compare above chapter 19. On verse 31.] is this day with our Father: yet the one, he is no (more). [meaning Joseph, whom they held to be dead, as appears below verse 22. And ch. 44. 20.]

14. Then said Joseph to them: that is it; that I spoke unto you, saying; Ye are Spies. [They having made mention already, of two other brethren, whereof the one should be alive yet; he is the more eager to press his former charge upon them, seeking by that means, to get his brother Benjamin to him.]

15. Herein shall ye be tried: [i.e. By this I shall see, whether yee speak the truth, and deal uprightly with me, or whether ye are Spies indeed.] (as true as) Pharao liveth; [Heb. Pharao’s life, or, Pharao liveth. This is an imperfect speech, which may be supplied thus; as sure as it is that Pharao lives, so certain is that which I tell you. Compare 1 Samuel 1:26. Others take these words to be an oath, made after the manner of the Egyptians, by Pharao’s life; so that Joseph, out of human frailty, (as may happen to good men) should have followed them therein.] if yee shall go forth hence.

16. Send one of you to fetch your brother: but be yee prisoners, [Heb. bound, i.e. as for you, ye shall remain my prisoners the while in this place.] and your words shall be tried, whether the truth be with you: and if not, (as true as) Pharao lives, [See the Note on the verse fore-going,] then yee are Spies.

17. And he put them together [Heb. gathered them] into custody for three days.

18. And, on the third day, Joseph said to them: do this, then yee shall live: [i.e. do what I shall tell you; then shall yee take care for your lives, and welfare, that ye may not be taken for Spies, and suffer accordingly.] I fear God.

19. If ye be honest, let one of your brethren [Heb. one brother of you, or, your brother one] be bound in the house of your custody: and go your ways, bring [or, carry] the Corn for the famine of your houses. [Heb. the Corn of the famine of your houses; i.e. that which is needful for the famine of your households and families.]

20. And bring your least brother unto me, so shall your words be made true, and ye shall not die: and they did so.

21. Then said they the one to the other; Verily, we are guilty in (regard of) our brother, [Oth. However, howbeit: as if they said; though we seek to hide it, yet we find and feel now, that God comes to call us to an account for it.] whose souls distress we saw, when he entreated us for mercy, but we hearkened not unto him: [this passage is not rehearsed indeed by Moseh, above chapter 37. But here they confess it themselves, that it was thus.] therefore comes this distress comes this distress upon us.

22. And Ruben answered them, saying; did not I tell it you, when I said; Sin not in this youth, but ye hearkened not: and his blood also, it is sought? [By the blood, is understood the guilt and punishment of his death. See 1 Kings 2:32, 33, etc. thus, to seek, or, require blood, is to punish and avenge it. See 2 Chron. 24. 22. Ezech. 3. 18. Luke 11:50. It seems they all thought that Joseph was dead now, though they had made Ruben believe it formerly, when he came to draw him out of the pit and found him not, they having sold him away. See above chapter 37. 29.]

23. And they knew not, that Joseph heard [i.e. understood what they said; see above chapter 11. On ver. 7.] for there was an interpreter between them. [Joseph made show, as if he did not understand the Hebrew tongue, for to be the less suspected or discovered by his brethren.]

24. Then he turned himself about from them, and wept: [partly; out of natural affection, being of the same blood and birth with them; and partly for the discourse and debates sake which his brethren had together concerning him.] afterwards, he turned to them again, and spoke to them, and took Simeon, [the eldest but one among the sons of Jacob: whom some conceive to have been the rudest against Joseph, as he had been the principal in the murder of Sichem. Ruben the eldest is spared, for having been less guilty in the case of Joseph, and being the fittest man, to conduct his brethren home again.] and bound him [viz. by his servant or guard, upon his order.] before their eyes.

25. And Joseph gave charge to fill their sacks [The Hebrew word signifies all manner of vessels, sacks, bags, packs, or the like; wherein something is put in, or packet up.] with Corn, and to return them their money [Heb. Their silverlings, or monies] to every one in his sack, and to give them provision for the way; and they did so to them. [or, thus he did unto them.]

26. And they laded their Corn upon their asses; and went from thence.

27. When one (of them) opened his sack, for to give his ass provender in the Inn, he saw his money, for, behold it was in the mouth of the sack.

28. And he said to his brethren ; My money is returned withal, loe it is in my sack: then their heart failed them, [Heb. Their heart went out, i.e. the vigour of their heart forsook it, as it happens in fainting and swooning. Compare 1 Kings 10:5. And the Annotation.] and they were frighted, [see above chapter 7. On verse 33.] saying one to another; [Heb. The man to his brother.] What is this (that) God hath done to us? [or, how hath and all the former, lately happened to them, that God was displeased with them.]

29. And they came into the land of Canaan, to Jacob their Father: and they have him to understand all what happened to them [besides what they concealed, not to frighten their father too much.] saying:

30. That man, the Lord of that land, spoke harsh with us: and he held us [Heb. He gave, delivered, or, put us] as Spies of the land.

31. But we said to him; we are honest, we are no Spies.

32. We were twelve brethren, our father’s sons; the one is no (more) and the least is to day with our father in the land of Canaan.

33. And that man, the LORD of that land, said to us, Hereby shall I acknowledge, that ye re honest: leave one of your brethren with me, and take for the famine of your houses, [Heb. Take the famine of your houses. See above verse 19.] and go your way.

34. And bring your least brother with you, then shall I know, that ye are no Spies, but that ye are honest: your brother I shall restore unto you, and ye shall traffique in this land. [See above chapter 34. Verse 10.]

35. And it came to pass, when they emptied their sacks, behold then every one had the bundle of his money in his sack; and they saw the bundles of their money, they and their father, and they were afraid. [viz. lest they should be charged with theft, or cheating. Compare below chapter 43. 18.]

36. Then said Jacob their father to them; Ye bereave me of children: Joseph he is not, and Simeon, he is not; [He counts him likewise already lost, fearing he would not easily get free again out of his prison, and might perhaps be in danger of his life there.] now ye will take away Benjamin; all these things are against me.

37. Then said Ruben to his Father, saying; put to death [This Proposition was altogether unlawful and unnatural, therefore Jacob doth not accept thereof] two of my sons, [viz. two of four, namely below, ch. 46. 9.] if I do not bring him to thee back again. Give (or put) him into my hand, and I shall bring him again to thee.

38. But he said; My son shall not go down with you: for his brother is dead [as he conceived. See above cha. 37. On verse 33. And 35.] and he is left over alone [viz. of the children of Rachel.] if a mischief [see above v. 4.] should meet him on the way, which ye shall go, yee would make my grey hairs [Heb. My grainess, (canities)] to go down into the grave [see above cha. 37. On v. 35.] with grief.