Genesis 44:21

21 You told your servants, ‘Bring him down to me so I can see him.'

Genesis 44:21 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 44:21

And thou saidst unto thy servants, bring him down unto me,
&c.] Judah does not relate the reason of his order, which was to give proof that they were no spies, but as if Joseph designed to show favour to Benjamin, as undoubtedly he did: that I may set mine eyes upon him;
not barely see him, as Aben Ezra interprets it, though that would be, and was, very desirable by him, and agreeable to him; but he desired to set his eyes upon him, not only for his own pleasure, but for the good of Benjamin, as the Targum of Jonathan adds; he intimated that he should receive him kindly, show favour unto him, and use him well: the Septuagint version is, "and I will take care of him": Joseph's brethren had told him, that Benjamin was at home with their father, who they suggested was afraid to let him go with them, lest evil should befall him; wherefore to encourage him to let him go with them, Joseph promised to take care of him, that no hurt should be done to him, but he should be provided with everything that was proper and necessary; and this Judah improves into an argument with the governor in favour of Benjamin, that since he desired his coming, in order to show him a kindness, he hoped he would not detain him, and make a slave of him.

Genesis 44:21 In-Context

19 My master asked his servants, ‘Do you have a father or brother?'
20 And we said to my master, ‘Yes, we have an elderly father and a young brother, born when he was old. His brother is dead and he's his mother's only child. But his father loves him.'
21 You told your servants, ‘Bring him down to me so I can see him.'
22 And we said to my master, ‘The young man can't leave his father. If he leaves, his father will die.'
23 You said to your servants, ‘If your youngest brother doesn't come down with you, you'll never see my face again.'
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