Génesis 44:13

13 Entonces ellos rasgaron sus vestidos, y cargó cada uno su asno, y volvieron a la ciudad

Génesis 44:13 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 44:13

Then they rent their clothes
In token of sorrow and distress, being at their wits' end, like distracted persons, not knowing what to do: this was usually done in the eastern countries when any evil befell, as did Jacob, ( Genesis 37:34 ) ; and as the Egyptians themselves did when mourning for their dead, as Diodorus Siculus ^F17 relates: and laded every man his ass;
put their sacks of corn on their asses again, having tied them up: and returned to the city;
to the metropolis, as Jarchi, which was either Tanis, that is, Zoan, or, as others think, Memphis: hither they returned to see how it would go with Benjamin, to plead his cause and get him released, that he might go with them, they being afraid to see their father's face without him; otherwise, could they have been content to have gone without him, they might have proceeded on in their journey, see ( Genesis 44:17 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 Bibliothec. l. 1. p. 65.

Génesis 44:13 In-Context

11 Ellos entonces se dieron prisa, y derribaron cada uno su costal en tierra, abrieron cada uno su costal

12 Y buscó; desde el mayor comenzó, y acabó en el menor; y la copa fue hallada en el costal de Benjamín

13 Entonces ellos rasgaron sus vestidos, y cargó cada uno su asno, y volvieron a la ciudad

14 Y llegó Judá con sus hermanos a casa de José, que aún estaba allí, y se postraron delante de él en tierra

15 Y les dijo José: ¿Qué obra es ésta que habéis hecho? ¿No sabéis que un hombre como yo sabe adivinar