And they came unto Jacob their father, unto the land of Canaan ,.... Without being pursued and fetched back, or retarded in their journey as they might fear: and told him all that befell unto them ; chiefly what befell them while in Egypt: saying , as follows. read more
The man, who is the lord of the land ,.... Of Egypt; not the king, but the deputy governor of it, whose authority under Pharaoh was very great, and reached to the whole land, and all political affairs, and especially what related to the corn, and the sale of it; he, say they: spake roughly to us ; gave them hard words, and stern looks, and used them in a very rough manner, see Genesis 42:7 , and took us for spies of the country ; laid such a charge against them, and treated them... read more
And we said unto him, we are true men ,.... Honest, upright men, not given to treacherous and treasonable practices, either in the country where they lived, or any other; they came to Egypt with no ill design upon the country, only to buy corn for the relief of their families in necessity: we are no spies ; or never were F5 לא היינו "non fuimus", Montanus; "nunquam fuimus", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Schmidt. : they had never been guilty of such practices, and never... read more
We be twelve brethren, sons of our father ,.... All brethren by the father's side, though not by the mother's, and by one father; they had been twelve, and were so now, though they knew it not, supposing that one was dead, as is next observed: one is not ; is not alive, but dead; the Targum of Jonathan is,"what is become of one we know not" and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan ; see Genesis 42:13 . read more
And the man, the lord of the country, said unto us, hereby shall I know that you are true men ,.... This will be a proof and demonstration of it: leave one of your brethren here with me ; as an hostage; they do not say "bound in the prison", Genesis 42:19 , as Joseph did, because they would not grieve their father, at least would not tell him of it at once, lest it should too much affect him: and take food for the famine of your household, and be gone ; that is, corn for... read more
And, bring your youngest brother unto me ,.... Their brother Benjamin: then shall I know that you are no spies, but that you are true men ; he knew they were no spies now, but true, honest, upright men, with respect to any designs upon the country; but then he should own and acknowledge them to be such, having such plain proof that what they said was true: so will I deliver your brother ; their brother Simeon, who was left bound; though this circumstance they also here... read more
Verse 29 29.And they came unto Jacob their father. Here is a long repetition of the former history, but it is not superfluous; because Moses wished to show how anxiously they made their excuse to their father for having left Simon in chains, and how strenuously they pleaded with him, that, for the sake of obtaining Simeon’s liberty, he should allow them to take their brother Benjamin: for this was greatly to the purpose. We know what a sharp dart is hunger: and yet, though the only method of... read more
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
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
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 42:29-38
Here is, 1. The report which Jacob's sons made to their father of the great distress they had been in in Egypt; how they had been suspected, and threatened, and obliged to leave Simeon a prisoner there, till they should bring Benjamin with them thither. Who would have thought of this when they left home? When we go abroad we should consider how many sad accidents, that we little think of, may befal us before we return home. We know not what a day may bring forth; we ought therefore to be... read more