Genesis 42:8-28 NIV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 42:26

And they laded their asses with the corn ,.... Cattle very fit to carry burdens, and no doubt they had each of them one at least: and departed thence ; from the place where Joseph was, and from the land of Egypt. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 42:27

And as one of them opened his sack ,.... According to the Targum of Jonathan and Jarchi, this was Levi; but Aben Ezra thinks it is more likely to be Reuben the firstborn, who was one, that is, the first of them: to give his ass provender in the inn ; at which they lay very probably the first night of their journey; a good man regards the life of his beast, and takes care of that as well as of himself, and generally in the first place: he espied his money ; the money which he paid for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 42:28

And he said unto his brethren, my money is restored ,.... The money paid for the corn is returned: and, lo, it is even in my sack ; this put them all upon opening their sacks, where every man found his money, though not expressed, see Genesis 43:21 , and their heart failed them ; through surprise and fear; or "went out" F3 ויצא לבם "et exiit cor eorum", Montanus, Drusius, Piscator, Schmidt. front them, as it were, they were ready to faint and swoon away: and they... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 42:9

Ye are spies - אתם מרגלים meraggelim attem , ye are footmen, trampers about, footpads, vagabonds, lying in wait for the property of others; persons who, under the pretense of wishing to buy corn, desire only to find out whether the land be so defenceless that the tribes to which ye belong (see Genesis 42:11 ;) may attack it successfully, drive out the inhabitants, and settle in it themselves; or, having plundered it, retire to their deserts. This is a frequent custom among the Arabs to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 42:11

We are all one man's sons - We do not belong to different tribes, and it is not likely that one family would make a hostile attempt upon a whole kingdom. This seems to be the very ground that Joseph took, viz., that they were persons belonging to different tribes. Against this particularly they set up their defense, asserting that they all belonged to one family; and it is on the proof of this that Joseph puts them, Genesis 42:15 , in obliging them to leave one as a hostage, and insisting... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 42:13

One is not - An elliptical sentence, One is not alive. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 42:15

By the life of Pharaoh - פרעה חי chey Pharaoh , Pharaoh liveth. As if he had said, As surely as the king of Egypt lives, so surely shall ye not go hence unless your brother come hither. Here therefore is no oath; it is just what they themselves make it in their report to their father, Genesis 43:3 ; : the man did solemnly protest unto us; and our translators should not have put it in the form of an oath, especially as the original not only will bear another version, but is absolutely... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 42:18

I fear God - ירא אני האלהים את eth haelohim ani yare , literally translated the passage runs thus, I also fear the gods; but the emphatic ה ha is probably added by Joseph, both here and in his conversation with Pharaoh, the more particularly to point out the eminence and perfection of the Supreme Being as contradistinguished from the gods of Egypt. He seems to say to his brethren, I am a worshipper of the true God, and ye have nothing to fear. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 42:21

We are verily guilty - How finely are the office and influence of conscience exemplified in these words! It was about twenty-two years since they had sold their brother, and probably their conscience had been lulled asleep to the present hour. God combines and brings about those favorable circumstances which produce attention and reflection, and give weight to the expostulations of conscience. How necessary to hear its voice in time, for here it may be the instrument of salvation; but if not... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 42:23

For he spake unto them by an interpreter - Either there was a very great difference between the two languages as then spoken, or Joseph, to prevent all suspicion, might affect to be ignorant of both. We have many evidences in this book that the Egyptians, Hebrews, Canaanites, and Syrians, could understand each other in a general way, though there are also proofs that there was a considerable difference between their dialects. read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 42:26

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 42:27

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 42:28

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 42:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 42:11

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 42:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 42:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 42:18

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 42:21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 42:23

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