Genesis 43:14

14 May God Almighty make the man compassionate toward you so that he may send back our other brother and Benjamin with you. But me, if I'm left childless, then I'm left childless."

Genesis 43:14 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 43:14

And God Almighty give you mercy before the man
Who has the hearts of all men in his hands, kings, princes, governors, even those who are the most cruel and hardhearted, rough and severe in their tempers and dispositions, and such an one they had represented this man to be; one that had spoke roughly to them, and used them roughly: Jacob therefore sent him a present to soften his mind, and now he puts up a prayer to God, and dismisses his sons with his good wishes for them, that God would incline the heart of the governor to show kindness to them, and let them have corn, nor use any of them ill: particularly, that he may send away your other brother and Benjamin;
release Simeon, and send him and Benjamin aiming with them when they returned: if I be bereaved [of my children], I am bereaved;
this he said, not as utterly despairing of their return, but as expressive of his patient submission to the divine will, be it as it may be.

Genesis 43:14 In-Context

12 Take twice as much silver with you, and take back the silver returned in the top of your sacks. It might have been a mistake.
13 And take your brother, get ready, and go back to the man.
14 May God Almighty make the man compassionate toward you so that he may send back our other brother and Benjamin with you. But me, if I'm left childless, then I'm left childless."
15 So the men took this gift. They took twice as much silver with them, together with Benjamin. They left, traveled down to Egypt, and received an audience with Joseph.
16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the manager of his household, "Bring the men to the house and slaughter an animal and prepare it because the men will have dinner with me at noon."

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Heb El Shaddai or God of the Mountain
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