If thou wilt send our brother with us ,.... Give orders for his going with us, and put him under our care: we will go down and buy thee food ; signifying, on the above condition, that they were ready and willing to take a journey into Egypt, and buy provisions for him and his family, otherwise not. read more
The second visit of Joseph's brethren to Egypt. I. The. SCENE IN JACOB 'S HOUSE AT HEBRON ( Genesis 43:1-15 ). 1. The second journey proposed . " Go again, buy us a little food." It was necessitated by the long continuance of the famine, and the complete consumption of the corn they had brought from Egypt on the previous occasion. 2. The second journey agreed on . 3. The second journey prepared for ( Genesis 43:11-13 ). Since it was inevitable... read more
Lessons of life. I. The chief lesson of this chapter is the MINGLING TOGETHER OF THE PROVIDENTIAL GOVERNMENT OF GOD WITH HIS PURPOSE OF GRACE . It was part of the Divine plan that Jacob and his family should be settled for a long period in Egypt. It could only be brought about by the transference in some way of the point of attraction to Jacob's heart from Canaan to the strange land. Hence c, Jacob" is now "Israel," reminding us how the future is involved in all the... read more
If thou wilt send —literally, if thou art sending, i.e. if thou art agreeable to send (cf. Genesis 24:42 , Genesis 24:49 ; 6:36 )— our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food: but (literally, and) if thou wilt not send him (a similar form of expression to the above, the two words יֵשׁ , being, and אַיִן , not being, including the substantive verb, and being conjoined with a participle for the finite verb), we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall... read more
- Joseph and His Eleven Brethren11. דבשׁ debash, “honey,” from the bee, or sirup from the juice of the grape. בטנים bôṭen, “pistachio nuts.” שׁקד shâqêd, “almond tree;” related: “awake.” The tree is also called לוּז lûz. Some refer the former to the fruit, the latter to the tree.The eleven brothers are now to bow down before Joseph.Genesis 43:1-10The famine was severe. The pressure began to be felt more and more. The twelve households had at length consumed all the corn they had purchased,... read more
Joseph and his brothers (42:1-45:28)When Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt to buy grain, Joseph recognized them but they did not recognize him (42:1-8). Rather than make himself known to them immediately, Joseph decided to test them to see if they had experienced any change of heart over the years. Joseph was not looking for revenge. His apparently harsh treatment of them, mixed with kindness, was designed to stir their consciences. They realized they were being punished for their unjust... read more
"And Judah spake unto him saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food: but if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down; for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you."The fact that Judah takes the leadership here, whereas, in the previous chapter Reuben had attempted to do so by his ridiculous proposal that Jacob... read more
Judah evidently took the lead and spoke for his brothers because Jacob had already refused Reuben (Genesis 42:37-38), Simeon was in Egypt, and Levi had previously forfeited his father’s confidence (ch. 34). As Reuben had done (Genesis 42:37), Judah offered to bear responsibility in Jacob’s place, but in contrast to Reuben, Judah took personal responsibility for Benjamin’s safety (Genesis 43:9). From this point on, Judah becomes the leader of Jacob’s sons (cf. Genesis 49:8-10; Matthew 1:2;... read more
The Second Visit to Egypt11. Balm] or ’balsam,’with healing properties. Honey] This was grape-honey, a syrup made of grapes and diluted with water for a drink. It is still exported from Hebron to Egypt. Syria is famous for its pistachio nuts and almonds which do not grow in Egypt.12. Double money] (1) to repay that put in the sack, and (2) to purchase fresh stores.18. Again the guilty conscience which dreads every fresh event. 30. Bowels] regarded as the seat of the affections by the Hebrews:... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 43:1-10
Here, 1. Jacob urges his sons to go and buy more corn in Egypt, Gen. 43:1, 2. The famine continued; and the corn they had bought was all spent, for it is meat that perisheth. Jacob, as a good master of a family, is in care to provide for those of his own house food convenient; and shall not God provide for his children, for the household of faith? Jacob bids them go again and buy a little food; now, in time of scarcity, a little must suffice, for nature is content with a little. 2. Judah urges... read more