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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 42:7-20

We may well wonder that Joseph, during the twenty years that he had now been in Egypt, especially during the last seven years that he had been in power there, never sent to his father to acquaint him with his circumstances; nay, it is strange that he who so often went throughout all the land of Egypt (Gen. 41:45, 46) never made an excursion to Canaan, to visit his aged father, when he was in the borders of Egypt, that lay next to Canaan. Perhaps it would not have been above three or four days?... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 42:11

We are all one man's sons ,.... Therefore not likely to be spies; it could hardly be thought that a single family should engage in such an affair; or that one man would, send his sons as spies, and especially all of them, it being a dangerous affair, and they being liable to be taken up and put to death; and as more families than one must be concerned in such an enterprise, it is reasonable to suppose, that if they had been spies they would have been of different families, and also not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 42:12

And he said unto them, nay ,.... This argument will not do, I am not to be put off with such words as these; if you can produce no better proof of your being honest men than this, or give no better account of yourselves, I must abide by it, that: to see the nakedness of the land ye are come ; this he urged in order to get a further account from them of their family and the state of it, which he was anxious to know. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 42:13

And they said, thy servants are twelve brethren ,.... Or rather, "were twelve", since one afterwards is said not to be: the sons of one man in the land of Canaan ; of Jacob, who dwelt there; this is said with the same view as before, to show the improbability of their being spies: and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father : meaning Benjamin, whom Joseph was eager to hear of, and no doubt was glad to hear he was alive, and his father also, and that they were both... 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 42:1-38

The first visit of Joseph's brethren to Egypt. I. THE JOURNEY TO EGYPT ( Genesis 42:1-5 ). 1. The famishing household . Although Canaan was the land of promise, and the family of Jacob the Church of God, yet neither was the one nor the other exempted from the pressure of that heavy famine which had fallen on all surrounding lands and peoples. It is not God's intention that his people should escape participating in the ills of life. Besides enabling them, collectively and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 42:1-38

God's trials of his people. The trial of Joseph is over. Now comes the trial of his brethren and of Jacob. The Spirit of God is at work in all their hearts. True men they were and yet sinful men. Before they can be made partakers of the blessing of Joseph they must pass through the fire. He who is appointed minister of grace to them is the instrument of their trials. Notice— I. The trial is one of CONSCIENCE . "We are verily guilty concerning our brother. "His blood is required."... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 42:10-12

And they said unto him. Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come . "They were not filled with resentment at the imputation" cast upon them by Joseph; "or, ff they were angry, their pride was swallowed up by fear" (Lawson). We are all one man's sons; we are true men , i.e. upright, honest, viri bonae fidei (Rosenmüller), rather than εἰρηνικοὶ ( LXX .), pacifici (Vulgate)— thy servants are no spies . It was altogether improbable that one man should send ten sons at the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 42:13

And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest —literally, the little one (cf. Genesis 9:24 )— is this day with our father, and one —literally, the one, i.e. the other one, ὁ δὲ ἕτερος ( LXX .)— is not — i.e. is dead (cf. Genesis 5:24 ; Genesis 37:30 )—in which statement have been seen a sufficient proof that Joseph's brethren had not yet truly repented of their cruelty towards him (Keil); an... read more

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