Genesis 42:2

2 I hear that there is grain in Egypt; go there and buy some to keep us from starving to death." ¹

Genesis 42:2 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 42:2

And he said, behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt,
&c.] This explains what is meant by the phrase he saw, one sense being put for another: get ye down thither;
as fast as you can without delay; Egypt lay lower than Canaan, and therefore they are bid to go down, as when they went from thence to Canaan they are said to go up, ( Genesis 45:25 ) ; and buy for us from thence, that we may live, and not die;
which shows the famine was very pressing, since, unless they could buy corn from Egypt they could not live, but must die.

Genesis 42:2 In-Context

1 When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, "Why don't you do something?

2 I hear that there is grain in Egypt; go there and buy some to keep us from starving to death."

3 So Joseph's ten half brothers went to buy grain in Egypt,

4 but Jacob did not send Joseph's full brother Benjamin with them, because he was afraid that something might happen to him.

5 The sons of Jacob came with others to buy grain, because there was famine in the land of Canaan.

Cross References

• 1. 42.2Acts 7.12.