Genesis 42:19

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 42:19

If ye be true men ,.... As you say you are: let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison ; agree among yourselves which of you (for one of you must) remain in prison where you are: and the rest being set at liberty: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses ; Joseph, though he dealt with them after this manner to get what knowledge he could of his family, and to get sight of his brother, yet was concerned for the good of them and theirs, lest they should be... 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 42:18-20

And Joseph (whose bowels of mercy were already yearning towards them) said unto them the third day, This do, and live ;— i.e. this do that ye may live— for I fear God —literally, the Elohim I fear; the term Elohim being employed, since to have said Jehovah would have been to divulge, if not his Hebrew origin, at least his acquaintance with the Hebrew faith (Hengstenberg). At the same time its use would arrest them more than the preceding adjuration, By the life of Pharaoh! and,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 42:1-38

- Joseph and Ten of His Brethren1. שׁבר sheber, “fragment, crumb, hence, grain.” בר bar “pure,” “winnowed,” hence, “corn” (grain).6. שׁליט shallı̂yṭ, “ruler, governor, hence,” Sultan. Not elsewhere found in the Pentateuch.25. כלי kelı̂y, “vessel,” here any portable article in which grain may be conveyed. שׂק śaq, “sack,” the very word which remains in our language to this day. אמתחת 'amtachath “bag.”Twenty years, the period of Joseph’s long and anxious waiting, have come to an end. The dreams... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 42:1-38

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

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 42:18-20

"And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God: if ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in your prison-house; but go ye, carry grain for the famine of your houses: and bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.""This do, and live ... Your words shall be verified, and ye shall not die ..." From this it appears that the imprisonment of the alleged spies implied also that they were to be... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 42:18-24

Joseph’s profession of faith in God (Elohim) told his brothers that he realized he was under divine authority and therefore would be fair with them. His test guaranteed Benjamin’s safe passage to Egypt, something Joseph had every reason to worry about in view of his brothers’ treatment of himself. Earlier, when he saw only 10 brothers and not Benjamin, he probably wondered if the 10 had already done away with Benjamin.The brothers saw divine retribution in what had happened to them (Genesis... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 42:1-38

The First Visit of Joseph’s Brethren to Egypt1. When Jacob saw] The caravans which travelled from Egypt to Syria would bring the news to Hebron. 3. Dr. Thomson, in ’The Land and the Book,’ says he has often met large parties with their donkeys going from Palestine to Egypt in time of drought for food. Jacob’s sons no doubt took servants with them and many asses.8. Joseph, now a middle-aged man, was dressed as an Egyptian, and spoke in Egyptian through an interpreter (Genesis 42:23). His... read more

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