Genesis 44:13

13 And they rent their garments, and laid each man his sack on his ass, and returned to the city.

Genesis 44:13 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 44:13

Then they rent their clothes
In token of sorrow and distress, being at their wits' end, like distracted persons, not knowing what to do: this was usually done in the eastern countries when any evil befell, as did Jacob, ( Genesis 37:34 ) ; and as the Egyptians themselves did when mourning for their dead, as Diodorus Siculus ^F17 relates: and laded every man his ass;
put their sacks of corn on their asses again, having tied them up: and returned to the city;
to the metropolis, as Jarchi, which was either Tanis, that is, Zoan, or, as others think, Memphis: hither they returned to see how it would go with Benjamin, to plead his cause and get him released, that he might go with them, they being afraid to see their father's face without him; otherwise, could they have been content to have gone without him, they might have proceeded on in their journey, see ( Genesis 44:17 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 Bibliothec. l. 1. p. 65.

Genesis 44:13 In-Context

11 And they hasted, and took down every man his sack on the ground, and they opened every man his sack.

12 And he searched, beginning from the eldest, until he came to the youngest; and he found the cup in Benjamin's sack.

13 And they rent their garments, and laid each man his sack on his ass, and returned to the city.

14 And Judas and his brethren came in to Joseph, while he was yet there, and fell on the ground before him.

15 And Joseph said to them, What is this thing that ye have done? know ye not that a man such as I can surely divine?