Genesis 42

4 mischief. Jacob may have suspected that Joseph had had foul play at his brothers’ hands, and feared their jealousy of Rachel’s remaining son. Benjamin was probably now from twenty-two to twenty-five years old.

6 earth. According to Joseph’s dream of the sheaves bowing down (xxxvii. 7). See ver. 9.

7 unto them. Possibly to bring his brethren to repentance, and to learn the real state of his father’s family.

8 knew not him. It was full twenty years since they had sold him; and his rank and dress added to his disguise.

9. Sples. No uncommon danger in the times. Cp. Numb. xxi. 32; Josh. ii. 1.

14. That is it, etc. A Hebrew form of speech conveying a strong assertion, to be found, with slight variations, in many parts of the Bible. See Matt. xxvii. 11.

15. By the life of Pharaoh. It is still common in the East to protest “by the head,” or the life “of the king”; and the king himself does the same, as did Pharaoh (xli. 44). In the New Testament the commandment is, “Swear not at all” (Matt. v. 34).

18. I fear God. Meaning, “My religion will lead me to deal justly with you.” A declaration likely to awaken their consciences, and to make them regard their present sufferings as a Divine retribution: see ver. 21.

24. Simeon. The instigator of the massacre at Shechem (xxxiv. 25) is likely to have been the harshest in the scene at Dothan (xxxvii. 20).

25 their sacks. Rather, “their vessels” (R.V.). Beside the large sacks, they had smaller bags containing food for their journey.

27 in the inn. Eastern inns, called khans, are merely large open courts, surrounded with piazzas: no food is provided; but the travellers attend to their own wants.

28 failed them. An uneasy conscience is soon alarmed. It appears from ver. 35 that only one sack had been opened on the way home; when they found the money in the rest, their apprehensions were renewed.

36 bereaved. Upon me falls the bereavement; against me are all these things.

38 to the grave. Cp. his lamentation over Joseph (xxxvii. 35) and see 1 Kings ii. 6.