Genèse 43:8

8 Et Juda dit à Israël, son père: Envoie l'enfant avec moi, et nous nous lèverons, et partirons; et nous vivrons et ne mourrons point, ni nous, ni toi, ni nos petits enfants.

Genèse 43:8 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 43:8

And Judah said unto Israel his father, send the lad with me,
and we will arise and go
Directly to Egypt for corn; Judah calls Benjamin a lad, because the youngest brother, and tenderly brought up by his father, who had an affectionate fondness for him as if he had been a child; otherwise he must be thirty two years of age, for he was seven years younger than Joseph, who was now thirty nine years of age; yea, Benjamin must have children of his own, who went with him and his father into Egypt, ( Genesis 46:21 ) ; for the computation of Benjamin's age, see ( Genesis 30:22 ) ( 31:41 ) ( 35:18 ) ( 37:2 ) ( Genesis 41:40 Genesis 41:53 Genesis 41:54 ) ( 45:6 ) ; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, [and] also our
little ones;
he argues, that if they with Benjamin went down to Egypt for corn, there was a possibility, yea, a probability that they would all live, even Benjamin also; but if not, they must all in course die, and Benjamin likewise; and therefore it was most prudent and advisable, for the sake of all their lives, of them and theirs, and for the sake of Benjamin among the rest, for whom Jacob was so particularly concerned, to let him go with them to Egypt for corn, since he must die if they did not go, and he could but die if he did go; and there was great likelihood, if not a certainty, he would not; at least Judah was confident he would not, as appears by what follows.

Genèse 43:8 In-Context

6 Et Israël dit: Pourquoi m'avez-vous fait ce tort, de déclarer à cet homme que vous aviez encore un frère?

7 Et ils répondirent: Cet homme s'est enquis avec soin de nous et de notre parenté, en disant: Votre père vit-il encore? Avez-vous encore un frère? Et nous le lui avons déclaré, d'après ces questions. Pouvions-nous savoir qu'il dirait: Faites descendre votre frère?

8 Et Juda dit à Israël, son père: Envoie l'enfant avec moi, et nous nous lèverons, et partirons; et nous vivrons et ne mourrons point, ni nous, ni toi, ni nos petits enfants.

9 Je réponds de lui; tu me le redemanderas. Si je ne te le ramène et ne le présente devant ta face, je serai coupable envers toi à toujours.

10 Car si nous n'avions pas différé, nous serions maintenant deux fois de retour.