Genesis 43:6

6 And Israel said, "Why dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?"

Genesis 43:6 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 43:6

And Israel said
In answer to the speech of Judah: wherefore dealt ye [so] ill with me;
had done that which brought so much evil upon him, gave him so much grief and trouble, and threw him into such perplexity and distress, that he knew not what to do, or course to take: [as] to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?
which he thought was done imprudently and unadvisedly, and that there was no need of it; which, had it not been done, would have prevented this anxiety of mind he was now in, and the mischief he feared would follow.

Genesis 43:6 In-Context

4 If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food.

5 But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down, for the man said unto us, `Ye shall not see my face, unless your brother be with you.'"

6 And Israel said, "Why dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?"

7 And they said, "The man asked us strictly about our state, and about our kindred, saying, `Is your father yet alive? Have ye another brother?' And we told him according to the tenor of these words. Could we certainly know that he would say, `Bring your brother down'?"

8 And Judah said unto Israel his father, "Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and thou, and also our little ones.