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Genesis 42:1
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Joseph’s Brothers Go to Egypt

1 When aJacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?”  
2 And he said, “Indeed I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down to that place and buy for us there, that we may alive and not die.”  
3 So Joseph’s ten brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt.
4 But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, a“Lest some calamity befall him.”  
5 And the sons of Israel went to buy grain among those who journeyed, for the famine was ain the land of Canaan.  
6 Now Joseph was governor aover the land; and it was he who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bbowed down before him with their faces to the earth.  
7 Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he acted as aa stranger to them and spoke roughly to them. Then he said to them, “Where do you come from?” And they said, “From the land of Canaan to buy food.”  
8 So Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.
9 Then Joseph aremembered the dreams which he had dreamed about them, and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see the1 nakedness of the land!”  
10 And they said to him, “No, my lord, but your servants have come to buy food.
11 We are all one man’s sons; we are honest men; your servants are not spies.”
12 But he said to them, “No, but you have come to see the nakedness of the land.”
13 And they said, “Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and in fact, the youngest is with our father today, and one ais no more.”  
14 But Joseph said to them, “It is as I spoke to you, saying, ‘You are spies!’
15 In this manner you shall be tested: aBy the life of Pharaoh, you shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here.  
16 Send one of you, and let him bring your brother; and you shall be1 kept in prison, that your words may be tested to see whether there is any truth in you; or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies!”  
17 So he1 put them all together in prison athree days.  
18 Then Joseph said to them the third day, “Do this and live, afor I fear God:  
19 If you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined to your prison house; but you, go and carry grain for the famine of your houses.
20 And bring your youngaest brother to me; so your words will be verified, and you shall not die.” And they did so.  
21 Then they said to one another, a“We are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; btherefore this distress has come upon us.”  
22 And Reuben answered them, saying, a“Did I not speak to you, saying, ‘Do not sin against the boy’; and you would not listen? Therefore behold, his blood is now brequired of us.”  
23 But they did not know that Joseph understood them, for he spoke to them through an interpreter.
24 And he turned himself away from them and awept. Then he returned to them again, and talked with them. And he took bSimeon from them and bound him before their eyes.  

The Brothers Return to Canaan

25 Then Joseph agave a command to fill their sacks with grain, to brestore every man’s money to his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. cThus he did for them.  
26 So they loaded their donkeys with the grain and departed from there.
27 But as aone of them opened his sack to give his donkey feed at the encampment, he saw his money; and there it was, in the mouth of his sack.  
Commentaries:
Matthew Henry
<< Genesis 41:57   Genesis 42:2 >>


Genesis 42:1-38

Jacob sends ten sons to buy corn. (1-6) Joseph's treatment of his brethren. (7-20) Their remorse, Simeon detained. (21-24) The rest return with corn. (25-28) Jacob refuses to send Benjamin to Egypt. (29-38) Verses 1-6 Jacob saw the corn his neighbours had bought in Egypt, and brought home. It is a spur to exertion to see others supplied. Shall others get food for their souls, and shall we starve while it is to be had? Having discovered where help is to be had, we should apply for it without delay, without shrinking from labour, or grudging expense, especially as regards our never-dying souls. There is provision in Christ; but we must come to him, and seek it from him. Verses 7-20 Joseph was hard upon his brethren, not from a spirit of revenge, but to bring them to repentance. Not seeing his brother Benjamin, he suspected that they had made away with him, and he gave them occasion to speak of their father and brother. God, in his providence, sometimes seems harsh with those he loves, and speaks roughly to those for whom yet he has great mercy in store. Joseph settled at last, that one of them should be left, and the rest go home and fetch Benjamin. It was a very encouraging word he said to them, "I fear God;" as if he had said, You may be assured I will do you no wrong; I dare not, for I know there is one higher than I. With those that fear God, we may expect fair dealing. Verses 21-24 The office of conscience is to bring to mind things long since said and done. When the guilt of this sin of Joseph's brethren was fresh, they made light of it, and sat down to eat bread; but now, long afterward, their consciences accused them of it. See the good of afflictions; they often prove the happy means of awakening conscience, and bringing sin to our remembrance. Also, the evil of guilt as to our brethren. Conscience now reproached them for it. Whenever we think we have wrong done us, we ought to remember the wrong we have done to others. Reuben alone remembered with comfort, that he had done what he could to prevent the mischief. When we share with others in their sufferings, it will be a comfort if we have the testimony of our consciences for us, that we did not share in their evil deeds, but in our places witnessed against them. Joseph retired to weep. Though his reason directed that he should still carry himself as a stranger, because they were not as yet humbled enough, yet natural affection could not but work. Verses 25-28 The brethren came for corn, and corn they had: not only so, but every man had his money given back. Thus Christ, like Joseph, gives out supplies without money and without price. The poorest are invited to buy. But guilty consciences are apt to take good providences in a bad sense; to put wrong meanings even upon things that make for them. Verses 29-38 Here is the report Jacob's sons made to their father. It troubled the good man. Even the bundles of money Joseph returned, in kindness, to his father, frightened him. He laid the fault upon his sons; knowing them, he feared they had provoked the Egyptians, and wrongfully brought home their money. Jacob plainly distrusted his sons, remembering that he never saw Joseph since he had been with them. It is bad with a family, when children behave so ill that their parents know not how to trust them. Jacob gives up Joseph for gone, and Simeon and Benjamin as in danger; and concludes, All these things are against me. It proved otherwise, that all these things were for him, were working together for his good, and the good of his family. We often think that to be against us, which is really for us. We are afflicted in body, estate, name, and in our relations; and think all these things are against us, whereas they are really working for us a weight of glory. Thus does the Lord Jesus conceal himself and his favour, thus he rebukes and chastens those for whom he has purposes of love. By sharp corrections and humbling convictions he will break the stoutness and mar the pride of the heart, and bring to true repentance. Yet before sinners fully know him, or taste that he is gracious, he consults their good, and sustains their souls, to wait for him. May we do thus, never yielding to discouragement, determining to seek no other refuge, and humbling ourselves more and more under his mighty hand. In due time he will answer our petitions, and do for us more than we can expect.


 
<< Genesis 41:57   Genesis 42:2 >>

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