Génesis 44:19-29

19 Mi señor preguntó a sus siervos, diciendo: "¿Tenéis padre o hermano?"

20 Y respondimos a mi señor: "Tenemos un padre ya anciano y un hermano pequeño, hijo de su vejez. Y su hermano ha muerto, así que sólo queda él de los hijos de su madre, y su padre lo ama."

21 Entonces tú dijiste a tus siervos: "Traédmelo para que yo lo vea."

22 Y nosotros respondimos a mi señor: "El muchacho no puede dejar a su padre, pues si dejara a su padre, éste moriría."

23 Tú, sin embargo, dijiste a tus siervos: "Si vuestro hermano menor no desciende con vosotros, no volveréis a ver mi rostro."

24 Aconteció, pues, que cuando subimos a mi padre, tu siervo, le contamos las palabras de mi señor.

25 Y nuestro padre dijo: "Regresad, compradnos un poco de alimento."

26 Mas nosotros respondimos: "No podemos ir. Si nuestro hermano menor va con nosotros, entonces iremos; porque no podemos ver el rostro del hombre si nuestro hermano no está con nosotros."

27 Y mi padre, tu siervo, nos dijo: "Vosotros sabéis que mi mujer me dio a luz dos hijos;

28 el uno salió de mi lado, y dije: 'Seguro que ha sido despedazado', y no lo he visto desde entonces.

29 "Y si también os lleváis a éste de mi presencia, y algo malo le sucede, haréis descender mis canas con dolor al Seol."

Génesis 44:19-29 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 44

This chapter relates the policy of Joseph in making an experiment of his brethren's regard and affection for Benjamin; he ordered his steward to put every man's money into his sack, and his silver cup in Benjamin's, and when they were got out of the city, to follow after them, and charge them with the theft, as he did; and having searched their sacks, as they desired he would, found the cup with Benjamin, which threw them into the utmost distress, and obliged them to return to Joseph, Ge 44:1-14; who charged them with their ill behaviour towards him; they acknowledge it, and propose to be his servants; but he orders them to depart to their father, retaining Benjamin in servitude, Ge 44:15-17; upon which Judah addressed him in a very polite and affectionate manner, and relates the whole story, both of what passed between Joseph and them, concerning Benjamin, the first time they were in Egypt, and between their father and them upon the same subject, when he directed them to go a second time thither to buy corn, and how he became a surety to his father for him, and therefore proposed to be his bondman now, not being able to see his father's face without Benjamin, Ge 44:18-34.