Génesis 42:38

38 Y él dijo: No descenderá mi hijo con vosotros; que su hermano ha muerto, y él solo ha quedado; y si le aconteciere algún desastre en el camino por donde vais, haréis descender mis canas con dolor hasta el Seol

Génesis 42:38 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 42:38

And he said, my son shall not go down with you
He gives a peremptory denial; this was his then present resolution and determination: for his brother is dead;
meaning Joseph, Benjamin's own brother by father and mother's side; him he supposed to be dead, such circumstances being related and produced, which made it highly probable, and he had not heard anything of him for twenty two years: and he is left alone;
Benjamin being the only surviving child of his dearly beloved Rachel, as he thought: if mischief befall him by the way in which ye go;
that is, to Egypt, whether by thieves and robbers, or by the fatigue of the journey, or by any means whatever, so that he loses his life. All the Targums interpret this mischief of death: then shall ye bring down my gray heirs with sorrow to the grave;
the sense is, should this be the case he should never lift up his head, or have any more comfort in this world, but should pass his time with continual sorrow until his gray head was laid in the grave, or till he came to the state of the dead.

Génesis 42:38 In-Context

36 Entonces su padre Jacob les dijo: Me habéis privado de mis hijos; José no aparece, ni Simeón tampoco, y a Benjamín le llevaréis; sobre mí son todas estas cosas

37 Y Rubén habló a su padre, diciendo: Harás morir a mis dos hijos, si no te lo devolviere; entrégalo en mi mano, que yo lo devolveré a ti

38 Y él dijo: No descenderá mi hijo con vosotros; que su hermano ha muerto, y él solo ha quedado; y si le aconteciere algún desastre en el camino por donde vais, haréis descender mis canas con dolor hasta el Seol