Genesis 43:13-23

13 "Take your brother also, and arise, return to the man;
14 and may 1God Almighty 2grant you compassion in the sight of the man, so that he will release to you 3your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, 4if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved."
15 So the men took 5this present, and they took double the money in their hand, and Benjamin; then they arose and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.

Joseph Sees Benjamin

16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to his 6house steward *, "Bring the men into the house, and slay an animal and make ready; for the men are to dine with me at noon."
17 So the man did as Joseph said, and brought the men to Joseph's house.
18 Now the men were afraid, because they were brought to Joseph's house; and they said, "It is because * of the money that was returned in our sacks the first time that we are being brought in, that he may seek occasion against us and fall upon us, and take us for slaves with our donkeys."
19 So they came near to Joseph's house steward * *, and spoke to him at the entrance of the house,
20 and said, "Oh, my lord, we indeed came down the first time to buy food,
21 and it came about when we came to the lodging place, that we opened our sacks, and behold, 7each man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full. So 8we have brought it back in our hand.
22 "We have also brought down other money in our hand to buy food; we do not know who put our money in our sacks."
23 He said, "Be at ease, do not be afraid. 9Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money." Then 10he brought Simeon out to them.

Genesis 43:13-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 43

This chapter informs us how that the famine continued in the land of Canaan, and the corn that Jacob's family had from Egypt being consumed, Jacob pressed his sons to go down for more, which they refused to do, unless Benjamin was sent with them, for whose safety Judah offered to become a surety, Ge 43:1-10; Jacob with reluctance was prevailed upon to let him go, and dismissed them with a present to the governor of Egypt, and with double money to buy corn with, and with his blessing upon them, Ge 43:11-14; upon which they set out for Egypt; and when they came into the presence of Joseph, he seeing Benjamin with them, ordered his steward to have them to his house, and get dinner ready, it being his pleasure that they should dine with him that day, Ge 43:15-17; this threw them into a fright, supposing they were going to be called to an account for the money they found in their sacks; wherefore they related to the steward very particularly the whole of that affair, who bid them not be uneasy, for he had had their money; and as a proof that things would go well with them, brought Simeon out to them, and treated them very kindly and gently, Ge 43:18-24; and having got their present ready against Joseph came home, they delivered it to him with great veneration and submission; who asked of the welfare of their father, and whether that was not their younger brother they spoke of, the sight of whom so affected him, that he was obliged in haste to retire to his chamber, and weep, Ge 43:25-30; and having washed his face, and composed himself, he returned and ordered dinner to be brought, which was set on different tables, one for himself and the Egyptians, and the other for his brethren, whom he placed according to their age, to their great surprise; and sent them messes from his table to each, and to Benjamin five times more than the rest, and they were so liberally entertained, that they became cheerful and merry, Ge 43:31-34.

Cross References 10

  • 1. Genesis 17:1; Genesis 28:3; Genesis 35:11
  • 2. Psalms 106:46
  • 3. Genesis 42:24
  • 4. Genesis 42:36
  • 5. Genesis 43:11
  • 6. Genesis 44:1
  • 7. Genesis 42:27, 35
  • 8. Genesis 43:12, 15
  • 9. Genesis 42:28
  • 10. Genesis 42:24

Footnotes 6

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