Genesis 43

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 43:1-2

The Second Visit of the Brothers - Joseph Makes Himself Known (Genesis 43:1 to Genesis 45:28 ) The Brothers Again Meet the Egyptian Vizier (Genesis 43:1-34 ) Genesis 43:1-2 ‘And the famine was sore in the land. And it happened that when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt their father said to them, “Go again. Buy us a little food.” ’ The famine continued and grew worse. No crops grew, those water holes which had survived the first onslaught now dried up, the... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 43:3-5

‘And Judah spoke to him, saying, “The Man did solemnly declare to us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face except your brother be with you.’ If you will send our brother with us we will go down and buy you food. But if you will not send him we will not go down, for the Man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face except your brother be with you.’ ” ’ Judah speaks up for his brothers. It is all right for Jacob, he does not have to face the Man. But they know what he is like and the terror he... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 43:6-7

‘And Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the Man whether you had yet a brother?” And they said, “The Man asked us firmly (literally - ‘asked us asking’) about ourselves and about our relatives, saying, ‘Is your father yet alive? Have you a brother?’ And we told him according to the tenor of these words. Could we possibly have known that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” In his grief and fear Jacob is being quite unreasonable. They had had no reason to withhold the... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 43:8-10

‘And Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. I will be surety for him. At my hand you will require him. If I do not bring him to you and set him before you I will have sinned against you for ever. For unless we had lingered surely we would now have returned a second time” ’ Judah realises how difficult it is for his father and he offers himself as the guarantee of Benjamin’s return.... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 43:11-14

‘And their father Israel said to them, “If it is so now, do it. Take of the choice fruits of the land in your vessels, and carry the Man down a present, a little balm and a little honey, spicery and myrrh, nuts and almonds. And take double the amount of silver in your hand, and carry again in your hand the silver that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight. Take also your brother and arise, go again to the Man, and El Shaddai (God Almighty) give you mercy before... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 43:15

‘And the men took that present, and they took double silver in their hand, and Benjamin, and rose up and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.’ They took what was necessary, the present, the double silver --- and Benjamin, the one whose value had delayed things for so long. The long and fearful journey is passed over in a sentence. The tension, the fears, the apprehension, and then the arrival. But at least they were brought into the Man’s presence and that was something. read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 43:16-18

‘And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and kill and make ready, for the men will dine with me at noon.” And the men were afraid because they were brought into Joseph’s house, and they said, “We have been brought in because of the silver that was returned in our sacks the first time, that he may seek occasion against us and fall on us and take us for bondmen, and our asses.” ’ When Joseph sees Benjamin his heart is full and he... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 43:19

‘And they came near to the steward of Joseph’s house and they spoke to him at the door of the house.’ Coming up to the great house they are filled with fear and as they approach the door they catch up with the steward and try to speak up on their own behalf, probably through an interpreter. read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 43:20-22

‘And said, “Oh my lord. We did indeed come down at the first time to buy food, and it happened that as we came to the lodging place that we opened our sacks and behold every man’s silver was in the mouth of his sack, our silver in full weight. And we have brought it again in our hand. And we have brought other silver down in our hand to buy food. We do not know who put the money in our sacks.” The brothers are trying to summarise the story as quickly as possible before they are brought into the... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 43:23

‘And he said, “Peace be to you. Don’t be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks. I had your money.” And he brought Simeon out to them.’ The reply suggests that the steward has been well coached by Joseph. He has been told exactly what to say when the obvious questions come up. “Peace be to you.” ‘Shalom’ - a standard greeting put in Hebrew form, possibly by the interpreter, although it may be that Joseph’s steward was familiar with their language and... read more

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 43:1-2

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 43:3-5

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 43:6-7

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 43:8-10

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 43:11-14

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 43:15

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 43:16-18

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 43:19

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 43:20-22

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 43:23

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