Genesis 43

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 43

Chapter 43 Here the story of Joseph's brethren is carried on, and very particularly related. I. Their melancholy parting with their father Jacob in Canaan, Gen. 43:1-14. II. Their pleasant meeting with Joseph in Egypt, Gen. 43:15-34 For on this occasion nothing occurs there but what is agreeable and pleasant. read more

Matthew Henry

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 43:11-14

Observe here, I. Jacob's persuasibleness. He would be ruled by reason, though they were his inferiors that urged it. He saw the necessity of the case; and, since there was no remedy, he consented to yield to the necessity (Gen. 43:11): ?If it must be so now, take your brother. If no corn can be had but upon those terms, we may as well expose him to the perils of the journey as suffer ourselves and families, and Benjamin amongst the rest, to perish for want of bread.? Skin for skin, and all... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 43:15-25

Jacob's sons, having got leave to take Benjamin with them, were observant of the orders their father had given them, and went down the second time into Egypt to buy corn. If we should ever know what a famine of the word means, let us not think it much to travel as far for spiritual food as they did for corporal food. Now here we have an account of what passed between them and Joseph's steward, who, some conjecture, was in the secret, and knew them to be Joseph's brethren, and helped to humour... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 43:26-34

Here is, I. The great respect that Joseph's brethren paid to him. When they brought him the present, they bowed themselves before him (Gen. 43:26); and again, when they gave him an account of their father's health, they made obeisance, and called him, Thy servant our father, Gen. 43:28. Thus were Joseph's dreams fulfilled more and more: and even the father, by the sons, bowed before him, according to the dream, Gen. 37:10. Probably Jacob had directed them, if they had occasion to speak of him... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 43

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 43 This chapter informs us how that the famine continued in the land of Canaan, and the corn that Jacob's family had from Egypt being consumed, Jacob pressed his sons to go down for more, which they refused to do, unless Benjamin was sent with them, for whose safety Judah offered to become a surety, Genesis 43:1 ; Jacob with reluctance was prevailed upon to let him go, and dismissed them with a present to the governor of Egypt, and with double money to buy corn... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 43:1

And the famine was sore in the land. In the land of Canaan; it increased yet more and more: this is observed for the sake of what follows, showing the reason and necessity of Jacob's sons taking a second journey into Egypt. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 43:2

And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt ,.... Which, in so numerous a family as Jacob's was, having so many children, grandchildren, and servants, what nine men on so many asses could bring with them must be consumed in a short time, how long cannot be said; no doubt they lived sparingly on it in such a time of scarcity, to make it last as long as they could, and perhaps only he, his children and grandchildren, might eat of it; the servants,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 43:3

And Judah spake unto him ,.... Reuben the eldest son had met with a repulse already, Genesis 42:36 ; Simeon the next was now in Egypt, Genesis 42:24 , and Levi, perhaps on account of the affair of Shechem, Genesis 34:25 , did not yet stand well in his father's favour and affection; wherefore Judah being next, with the consent of his brethren, undertakes to manage the affair with him, who had doubtless an interest in him, as well as authority among his brethren, and was a prudent man,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 43:4

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

Group of Brands