Génesis 44:28-34

28 y el uno salió conmigo, y pienso de cierto que fue despedazado, y hasta ahora no le he visto;

29 y si tomareis también éste de delante de mí, y le aconteciere algún desastre, haréis descender mis canas con dolor a la sepultura.

30 Ahora, pues, cuando llegare yo a tu siervo mi padre, y el joven no fuere conmigo, porque su alma está ligada con el alma de él,

31 sucederá que cuando él no vea al joven, morirá: y tus siervos harán descender las canas de tu siervo nuestro padre con dolor a la sepultura.

32 Porque tu siervo salió por fiador por el joven con mi padre, diciendo: Si no te lo volviere, entonces yo seré culpable para mi padre todos los días;

33 te ruego pues que quede ahora tu siervo por el joven por siervo de mi señor, y que el joven vaya con sus hermanos.

34 Porque ¿cómo iré yo a mi padre sin el joven? No podré, por no ver el mal que sobrevendrá a mi padre.

Génesis 44:28-34 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.