Genesis 42:6-9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 42:1-6

Though Jacob's sons were all married, and had families of their own, yet, it should seem, they were still incorporated in one society, under the conduct and presidency of their father Jacob. We have here, I. The orders he gave them to go and buy corn in Egypt, Gen. 42:1, 2. Observe, 1. The famine was grievous in the land of Canaan. It is observable that all the three patriarchs, to whom Canaan was the land of promise, met with famine in that land, which was not only to try their faith, whether... read more

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 42:6

And Joseph was the governor over the land ,.... Not the land of Canaan last mentioned, but the land of Egypt; under Pharaoh, he had the chief and sole authority, and especially in the affair of the corn, and the disposal of that: and he it was that sold to all the people of the land : of Egypt, and also to all that came out of other lands; not that he in person could do all this, but by those that acted under him: and Joseph's brethren came ; to Joseph to buy corn of him: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 42:7

And Joseph saw his brethren ,.... Among those that came to buy corn, and when they prostrated themselves before him: and he knew them ; some of them being at man's estate, and their beards grown when they sold him, and their habits and dress now being much the same it was then, and by them he knew the younger: but made himself strange unto them ; took no notice of them as his relations, but carried himself to them as he did to other foreigners, and yet more strangely: and spake... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 42:8

And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him. It being about twenty two years since they saw him, and then he was young, and his beard not grown, as now it was; and besides, he was clothed as a prince, and spoke the Egyptian language; and being in such great grandeur and splendour, and in such power and authority, and having such a retinue attending him, they never once thought of him, whom they supposed might be dead, having never heard of him all this time; or, however, it could not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 42:9

And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them ,.... Their bowing and prostrating themselves before him brought to his remembrance his dreams of their sheaves making obeisance to his, and of the sun, moon, and eleven stars, doing the same to him, Genesis 37:7 , and said unto them, ye are spies ; not believing they were, nor absolutely asserting that they were such; but this he said to try them, and what they would say for themselves, and in order to lead on to further... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 42:6

Joseph was the governor - שליט shallit , an intendant, a protector, from שלט skalat , to be over as a protector; hence שלטים shelatim , shields, or arms for protection and defense, 2 Samuel 8:7 ; and שלטון shilton , power and authority, Ecclesiastes 8:4 , Ecclesiastes 8:8 ; and hence the Arabic sultan , a lord, prince, or king, from salata , he obtained and exercised dominion, he ruled. Was it not from this very circumstance, Joseph being shallit , that all the... 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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 42:6

Verse 6 6.And Joseph was the governor (164) over the land. Moses connects the honor of Joseph with his fidelity and diligence. For although he was possessed of supreme authority, he nevertheless submitted to every possible laborious service, just as if he had been a hired servant. From which example we must learn, that as any one excels in honor, he is bound to be the more fully occupied in business; but that they who desire to combine leisure with dignity, utterly pervert the sacred order of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 42:7

Verse 7 7.He made himself strange unto them. It may be asked for what purpose Joseph thus tormented his brethren with threats and with terror. For if he was actuated by a sense of the injury received from them, he cannot be acquitted of the desire of revenge. It is, however, probable, that he was impelled neither by anger nor a thirst of vengeance, but that he was induced by two just causes to act as he did. For he both desired to regain his brother Benjamin, and wished to ascertain, — as if by... read more

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