Genesis 42:18

18 Am dritten Tage aber sprach er zu ihnen: Wollt ihr leben, so tut also; denn ich fürchte Gott.

Genesis 42:18 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 42:18

And Joseph said unto them the third day
His heart yearning towards them, though he put on such an appearance; finding they could not come to an agreement among themselves who should go on the errand, he thought fit to recede from his former order, and to give them another: this do, and live:
meaning what he was about to say to them, which if they punctually observed and performed, it would be the means of saving their lives: [for] I fear God;
and therefore would not do either an unjust or cruel thing. This might have given them an him who he was: but there being among the Gentiles, in all nations, some few that feared God, they took no further notice of it than this, that they might expect just and equitable dealings by him; since, though he was in such an high place, he knew and owned there was one higher than he, to whom he was accountable.

Genesis 42:18 In-Context

16 Sendet einen unter euch hin, der euren Bruder hole; ihr aber sollt gefangen sein. Also will ich prüfen eure Rede, ob ihr mit Wahrheit umgeht oder nicht. Denn wo nicht, so seid ihr, bei dem Leben Pharaos! Kundschafter.

17 Und er ließ sie beisammen verwahren drei Tage lang.

18 Am dritten Tage aber sprach er zu ihnen: Wollt ihr leben, so tut also; denn ich fürchte Gott.

19 Seid ihr redlich, so laßt eurer Brüder einen gebunden liegen in eurem Gefängnis; ihr aber zieht hin und bringet heim, was ihr gekauft habt für den Hunger. {~}

20 Und bringt euren jüngsten Bruder zu mir, so will ich euren Worten glauben, daß ihr nicht sterben müßt. Und sie taten also.