Genesis 44:13

13 Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city.

Genesis 44:13 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 44:13

Then they rent their clothes
In token of sorrow and distress, being at their wits' end, like distracted persons, not knowing what to do: this was usually done in the eastern countries when any evil befell, as did Jacob, ( Genesis 37:34 ) ; and as the Egyptians themselves did when mourning for their dead, as Diodorus Siculus ^F17 relates: and laded every man his ass;
put their sacks of corn on their asses again, having tied them up: and returned to the city;
to the metropolis, as Jarchi, which was either Tanis, that is, Zoan, or, as others think, Memphis: hither they returned to see how it would go with Benjamin, to plead his cause and get him released, that he might go with them, they being afraid to see their father's face without him; otherwise, could they have been content to have gone without him, they might have proceeded on in their journey, see ( Genesis 44:17 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 Bibliothec. l. 1. p. 65.

Genesis 44:13 In-Context

11 Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.

12 And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack.

13 Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city.

14 And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.

15 And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?