Genesis 42:37-38 NIV

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 42:37

And Reuben spoke unto his father ,.... Being the eldest son, it most property lay upon him to make answer to his father in the name of his brethren, and to offer a word of comfort to him: saying, slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee ; meaning not Simeon, who was in Egypt, but Benjamin, whom it was proposed to take thither, and whom Jacob was very loath to part with; and to persuade him to it Reuben offers to him, and gives him leave to slay his two sons, or rather two of his sons... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 42:38

And he said, my son shall not go down with you ,.... He gives a peremptory denial; this was his then present resolution and determination: for his brother is dead ; meaning Joseph, Benjamin's own brother by father and mother's side; him he supposed to be dead, such circumstances being related and produced, which made it highly probable, and he had not heard anything of him for twenty two years: and he is left alone ; Benjamin being the only surviving child of his dearly beloved... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 42:37

Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee - What a strange proposal made by a son to his father, concerning his grandchildren! But they show the honesty and affection of Reuben's heart; he felt deeply for his father's distress, and was determined to risk and hazard every thing in order to relieve and comfort him. There is scarcely a transaction in which Reuben is concerned that does not serve to set his character in an amiable point of view, except the single instance mentioned Genesis... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 42:38

He is left alone - That is, Benjamin is the only remaining son of Rachel; for he supposed Joseph, who was the other son, to be dead. Shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow - Here he keeps up the idea of the oppressive burden mentioned Genesis 42:36 , to which every occurrence was adding an additional weight, so that he felt it impossible to support it any longer. The following observations of Dr. Dodd on this verse are very appropriate and judicious: "Nothing can be more... read more

John Calvin

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

Verse 38 38.My son shall not go down with you. Again we see, as in a lively picture, with what sorrow holy Jacob had been oppressed. He sees his whole family famishing: he would rather be torn away from life than from his son: whence we gather that he was not iron-hearted: but his patience is the more deserving of praise, because he contended with the infirmity of the flesh, and did not sink under it. And although Moses does not give a rhetorical amplification to his language, we nevertheless... 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 42:37

And Reuben spake unto his father, saying (Reuben was probably actuated by an ardent brotherly affection, which prompted him to endeavor to recover Simeon, as formerly he had sought to deliver Joseph), Slay my two sons —as Reuben had four sons ( Genesis 46:9 ), he first be understood as meaning two of my sons (Ainsworth, Murphy), either the two then present (Junius) or the two oldest (Mercerus)— if I bring him ( i.e. Benjamin) not to thee. Reuben's proposal, though in one sense "the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 42:38

And he ( i.e. Jacob) said, My son shall not go down with you; —not because he could not trust Reuben after the sin described in Genesis 35:22 (Wordsworth), or because he could not assent to Reuben's proposal (Ainsworth), but because of what is next stated— for his brother ( i.e. by the same mother, viz; Joseph) is dead (cf. Genesis 35:13 ; Genesis 37:33 ; Genesis 44:28 ), and he is left alone :— i.e. he alone (of Rachel's children) is left as a survivor— if mischief... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 42:29-38

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 42:37

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 42:38

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 42:37

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 42:38

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

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 42:1-38

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 42:1-38

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 42:37

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 42:38

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