Genesis 43:11-15

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 43:11

And their father said unto them ,.... Being in some measure convinced by their reasonings, and in part at least reconciled to let Benjamin go with them, there being nothing to be done, he perceived, unless he consented to it: if it must be so now, do this ; if nothing else will do but Benjamin must go, which after all he was reluctant to, then he advises them to do as follows: take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels ; such as were the peculiar produce of the land of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 43:12

And take double money in your hand ,.... Than what they carried before, either to buy as much more as they then did; or rather because of the greater scarcity of corn, as Jarchi observes, which made it doubly dearer; for this seems to be different from the money they are also bid to take in return for that found in their sacks, which was a third parcel, as follows: and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand ; that it might be ready to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 43:13

Take also your brother ,.... Their brother Benjamin, committing him into their hands and to their care, hereby declaring his consent and willingness that he should go with them: and arise, go again to the man ; the governor of Egypt, to buy corn of him. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 43:14

And God Almighty give you mercy before the man ,.... Who has the hearts of all men in his hands, kings, princes, governors, even those who are the most cruel and hardhearted, rough and severe in their tempers and dispositions, and such an one they had represented this man to be; one that had spoke roughly to them, and used them roughly: Jacob therefore sent him a present to soften his mind, and now he puts up a prayer to God, and dismisses his sons with his good wishes for them, that God... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 43:15

And the men took the present ,.... Their father directed them to: and they took double money in their hand ; besides what they found in their sacks mouths, which they also carried with them: and Benjamin ; they took him likewise with their father's leave: and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph ; presented themselves to him, and their petitions for more corn, as well as to answer to any questions that should be asked them. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 43:11

Carry down the man a present - From the very earliest times presents were used as means of introduction to great men. This is particularly noticed by Solomon: A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men, Proverbs 18:16 . But what was the present brought to Joseph on this occasion? After all the labor of commentators, we are obliged to be contented with probabilities and conjecture. According to our translation, the gifts were balm, honey, spices, myrrh, nuts, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 43:12

Double money - What was returned in their sacks, and what was farther necessary to buy another load. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 43:14

This verse may be literally translated thus: - "And God, the all-sufficient, shall give you tender mercies before the man, and send to you your other brother, and Benjamin; and I, as I shall be childless, so I shall be childless." That is, I will submit to this privation, till God shall restore my children. It appears that this verse is spoken prophetically; and that God at this time gave Jacob a supernatural evidence that his children should be restored. read more

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