Genesis 43

1 interim fames omnem terram vehementer premebat

2 consumptisque cibis quos ex Aegypto detulerant dixit Iacob ad filios suos revertimini et emite pauxillum escarum

3 respondit Iudas denuntiavit nobis vir ille sub testificatione iurandi dicens non videbitis faciem meam nisi fratrem vestrum minimum adduxeritis vobiscum

4 si ergo vis mittere eum nobiscum pergemus pariter et ememus tibi necessaria

5 si autem non vis non ibimus vir enim ut saepe diximus denuntiavit nobis dicens non videbitis faciem meam absque fratre vestro minimo

6 dixit eis Israhel in meam hoc fecistis miseriam ut indicaretis ei et alium habere vos fratrem

7 at illi responderunt interrogavit nos homo per ordinem nostram progeniem si pater viveret si haberemus fratrem et nos respondimus ei consequenter iuxta id quod fuerat sciscitatus numquid scire poteramus quod dicturus esset adducite vobiscum fratrem vestrum

8 Iudas quoque dixit patri suo mitte puerum mecum ut proficiscamur et possimus vivere ne moriamur nos et parvuli nostri

9 ego suscipio puerum de manu mea require illum nisi reduxero et tradidero eum tibi ero peccati in te reus omni tempore

10 si non intercessisset dilatio iam vice altera venissemus

11 igitur Israhel pater eorum dixit ad eos si sic necesse est facite quod vultis sumite de optimis terrae fructibus in vasis vestris et deferte viro munera modicum resinae et mellis et styracis et stactes et terebinthi et amigdalarum

12 pecuniamque duplicem ferte vobiscum et illam quam invenistis in sacculis reportate ne forte errore factum sit

13 sed et fratrem vestrum tollite et ite ad virum

14 Deus autem meus omnipotens faciat vobis eum placabilem et remittat vobiscum fratrem vestrum quem tenet et hunc Beniamin ego autem quasi orbatus absque liberis ero

15 tulerunt ergo viri munera et pecuniam duplicem et Beniamin descenderuntque in Aegyptum et steterunt coram Ioseph

16 quos cum ille vidisset et Beniamin simul praecepit dispensatori domus suae dicens introduc viros domum et occide victimas et instrue convivium quoniam mecum sunt comesuri meridie

17 fecit ille sicut fuerat imperatum et introduxit viros domum

18 ibique exterriti dixerunt mutuo propter pecuniam quam rettulimus prius in saccis nostris introducti sumus ut devolvat in nos calumniam et violenter subiciat servituti et nos et asinos nostros

19 quam ob rem in ipsis foribus accedentes ad dispensatorem

20 locuti sunt oramus domine ut audias iam ante descendimus ut emeremus escas

21 quibus emptis cum venissemus ad diversorium aperuimus sacculos nostros et invenimus pecuniam in ore saccorum quam nunc eodem pondere reportamus

22 sed et aliud adtulimus argentum ut emamus quae necessaria sunt non est in nostra conscientia quis eam posuerit in marsuppiis nostris

23 at ille respondit pax vobiscum nolite timere Deus vester et Deus patris vestri dedit vobis thesauros in sacculis vestris nam pecuniam quam dedistis mihi probatam ego habeo eduxitque ad eos Symeon

24 et introductis domum adtulit aquam et laverunt pedes suos deditque pabula asinis eorum

25 illi vero parabant munera donec ingrederetur Ioseph meridie audierant enim quod ibi comesuri essent panem

26 igitur ingressus est Ioseph domum suam obtuleruntque ei munera tenentes in manibus et adoraverunt proni in terram

27 at ille clementer resalutatis eis interrogavit dicens salvusne est pater vester senex de quo dixeratis mihi adhuc vivit

28 qui responderunt sospes est servus tuus pater noster adhuc vivit et incurvati adoraverunt eum

29 adtollens autem oculos Ioseph vidit Beniamin fratrem suum uterinum et ait iste est frater vester parvulus de quo dixeratis mihi et rursum Deus inquit misereatur tui fili mi

30 festinavitque quia commota fuerant viscera eius super fratre suo et erumpebant lacrimae et introiens cubiculum flevit

31 rursusque lota facie egressus continuit se et ait ponite panes

32 quibus adpositis seorsum Ioseph et seorsum fratribus Aegyptiis quoque qui vescebantur simul seorsum inlicitum est enim Aegyptiis comedere cum Hebraeis et profanum putant huiuscemodi convivium

33 sederunt coram eo primogenitus iuxta primogenita sua et minimus iuxta aetatem suam et mirabantur nimis

34 sumptis partibus quas ab eo acceperant maiorque pars venit Beniamin ita ut quinque partibus excederet biberuntque et inebriati sunt cum eo

Genesis 43 Commentary

Chapter 43

Jacob is persuaded to send Benjamin into Egypt. (1-14) Joseph's reception of his brethren, their fears. (15-25) Joseph makes a feast for his brethren. (26-34)

Verses 1-14 Jacob urges his sons to go and buy a little food; now, in time of dearth, a little must suffice. Judah urges that Benjamin should go with them. It is not against the honour and duty children owe their parents, humbly to advise them, and when needful, to reason with them. Jacob saw the necessity of the case, and yielded. His prudence and justice appeared in three things. 1. He sent back the money they had found in the sack. Honesty obliges us to restore not only that which comes to us by our own fault, but that which comes to us by the mistakes of others. Though we get it by oversight, if we keep it when the oversight is discovered, it is kept by deceit. 2. He sent as much again as they took the time before; the price of corn might be risen, or they might have to pay a ransom for Simeon. 3. He sent a present of such things as the land afforded, and as were scarce in Egypt, balm, and honey, &c. Providence dispenses not its gifts to all alike. But honey and spice will never make up the want of bread-corn. The famine was sore in Canaan, yet they had balm and myrrh, &c. We may live well enough upon plain food, without dainties; but we cannot live upon dainties without plain food. Let us thank God that what is most needful and useful, generally is most cheap and common. Though men value very highly their gold and silver, and the luxuries which are counted the best fruits of every land, yet in a time of famine they willingly barter them for bread. And how little will earthly good things stand us in stead in the day of wrath! How ready should we be to renounce them all, as loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ! Our way to prevail with man is by first prevailing with the Lord in fervent prayer. But, Thy will be done, should close every petition for the mercies of this life, or against the afflictions of this life.

Verses 15-25 Jacob's sons 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 bodily food. Joseph's steward had orders from his master to take them to his house. Even this frightened them. Those that are guilty make the worst of every thing. But the steward encouraged them. It appears, from what he said, that by his good master he was brought to the knowledge of the true God, the God of the Hebrews. Religious servants should take all fit occasions to speak of God and his providence, with reverence and seriousness.

Verses 26-34 Observe the great respect Joseph's brethren paid to him. Thus were Joseph's dreams more and more fulfilled. Joseph showed great kindness to them. He treated them nobly; but see here the early distance between Jews and gentiles. In a day of famine, it is enough to be fed; but they were feasted. Their cares and fears were now over, and they ate their bread with joy, reckoning they were upon good terms with the lord of the land. If God accept our works, our present, we have reason to be cheerful. Joseph showed special regard for Benjamin, that he might try whether his brethren would envy him. It must be our rule, to be content with what we have, and not to grieve at what others have. Thus Jesus shows those whom he loves, more and more of their need. He makes them see that he is their only refuge from destruction. He overcomes their unwillingness, and brings them to himself. Then, as he sees good, he gives them some taste of his love, and welcomes them to the provisions of his house, as an earnest of what he further intends for them.

Chapter Summary

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, Ge 43:1-10; 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 with, and with his blessing upon them, Ge 43:11-14; upon which they set out for Egypt; and when they came into the presence of Joseph, he seeing Benjamin with them, ordered his steward to have them to his house, and get dinner ready, it being his pleasure that they should dine with him that day, Ge 43:15-17; this threw them into a fright, supposing they were going to be called to an account for the money they found in their sacks; wherefore they related to the steward very particularly the whole of that affair, who bid them not be uneasy, for he had had their money; and as a proof that things would go well with them, brought Simeon out to them, and treated them very kindly and gently, Ge 43:18-24; and having got their present ready against Joseph came home, they delivered it to him with great veneration and submission; who asked of the welfare of their father, and whether that was not their younger brother they spoke of, the sight of whom so affected him, that he was obliged in haste to retire to his chamber, and weep, Ge 43:25-30; and having washed his face, and composed himself, he returned and ordered dinner to be brought, which was set on different tables, one for himself and the Egyptians, and the other for his brethren, whom he placed according to their age, to their great surprise; and sent them messes from his table to each, and to Benjamin five times more than the rest, and they were so liberally entertained, that they became cheerful and merry, Ge 43:31-34.