Genesis 43:20

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 43:20

And said, O sir ,.... Or, "on me, my lord" F1 בי אדני "in me Domine mi", Montanus. , one said in the name of the rest, perhaps Judah, on me let the blame lie, if guilty of rudeness in making our address to thee; or as the Vulgate Latin version, "we pray, sir, that thou wouldest hear us"; and so Jarchi and Aben Ezra say the phrase is expressive of beseeching, entreating, and supplicating: we came indeed down at the first time to buy food ; not to spy the land but to buy corn,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 43:20

O sir, we came indeed - to buy food - There is a frankness now in the conduct of Joseph's brethren that did not exist before; they simply and honestly relate the whole circumstance of the money being found in their sacks on their return from their last journey. Afflictions from the hand of God, and under his direction, have a wonderful tendency to humble the soul. Did men know how gracious his designs are in sending such, no murmur would ever be heard against the dispensations of Divine... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 43:1-34

The second visit of Joseph's brethren to Egypt. I. The. SCENE IN JACOB 'S HOUSE AT HEBRON ( Genesis 43:1-15 ). 1. The second journey proposed . " Go again, buy us a little food." It was necessitated by the long continuance of the famine, and the complete consumption of the corn they had brought from Egypt on the previous occasion. 2. The second journey agreed on . 3. The second journey prepared for ( Genesis 43:11-13 ). Since it was inevitable... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 43:1-34

Lessons of life. I. The chief lesson of this chapter is the MINGLING TOGETHER OF THE PROVIDENTIAL GOVERNMENT OF GOD WITH HIS PURPOSE OF GRACE . It was part of the Divine plan that Jacob and his family should be settled for a long period in Egypt. It could only be brought about by the transference in some way of the point of attraction to Jacob's heart from Canaan to the strange land. Hence c, Jacob" is now "Israel," reminding us how the future is involved in all the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 43:19-22

And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house (literally, the man who was over Joseph ' s house ) , and they communed (or spake) with him at the door of the house ( i.e. before they entered), and said, O sir ,—literally, Pray, my lord; δεόμεθαπύριε ( LXX .)— we came indeed down at the first time to buy food: and it came to pass, when we came to the inn,— or halting-place ( vide Genesis 42:27 )— that we opened our sacks ,—this was not strictly accurate, as... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 43:1-34

- Joseph and His Eleven Brethren11. דבשׁ debash, “honey,” from the bee, or sirup from the juice of the grape. בטנים bôṭen, “pistachio nuts.” שׁקד shâqêd, “almond tree;” related: “awake.” The tree is also called לוּז lûz. Some refer the former to the fruit, the latter to the tree.The eleven brothers are now to bow down before Joseph.Genesis 43:1-10The famine was severe. The pressure began to be felt more and more. The twelve households had at length consumed all the corn they had purchased,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 43:1-34

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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Genesis 43:20

we came indeed. Hebrew "coming down, we came down". Figure of speech Polyptoton. See note on Genesis 26:28 read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 43:16-21

"And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, Bring the men into the house, and slay, and make ready; for the men shall dine with me at noon. And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men to Joseph's house. And the men were afraid, because they were brought to Joseph's house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for... read more

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