Genesis 42:1

1 And Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?

Genesis 42:1 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 42:1

Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt
That is, to be sold there, or otherwise it being there, unless it could be bought, would have been of no avail to foreigners; wherefore the Septuagint version is, that there was a sale ^F23 there, a sale of corn; the word has the signification of "breaking" ^F24 in it, because that bread corn is broke in the mill, or is broken from the heap when sold or distributed, or because when eaten it breaks the fast. Now Jacob had either seen persons passing by with corn, of whom he inquired from whence they had it, who replied, from Egypt; or he understood by the report of others that corn was to be bought there; though some of the Jewish writers would have it, as Jarchi observes, that he saw it by the revelation of the Holy Spirit: Jacob said unto, his sons, why do ye look one upon another?
like persons in surprise, distress and despair, at their wits' end, not knowing what to do, what course to take, and which way to turn themselves, and scarce able to speak to one another, and consult with each other what was proper to be done; for it seems not so agreeable that they should be charged as idle persons, careless and unconcerned, indifferent and inactive; but rather, if the other sense is not acceptable, the meaning may be, "why do ye look?" ^F25 here and there, in the land of Canaan, where it is to no purpose to look for corn; look where it is to be had.

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FOOTNOTES:

F23 (rby) (prasiv) Sept. "frumentum venale", Schmidt; so Ainsworth, and the Targum of Jonathan.
F24 "Fractio", Montanus, Munster, Piscator.
F25 (wartt hml) "ut quid circumspicitis", Schmidt.

Genesis 42:1 In-Context

1 And Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?

2 And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down thither and buy [grain] for us from thence, in order that we may live, and not die.

3 And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy [grain] out of Egypt.

4 But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest mischief may befall him.

5 So the sons of Israel came to buy [grain] among those that came; for the famine was in the land of Canaan.