Genesis 42:2

2 He continued, "I've heard there's grain in Egypt. Go down there. Buy some for us. Then we'll live and not die."

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 Jacob found out that there was grain in Egypt. So he said to his sons, "Why do you just keep looking at each other?"

2 He continued, "I've heard there's grain in Egypt. Go down there. Buy some for us. Then we'll live and not die."

3 So ten of Joseph's brothers went down to Egypt to buy grain there.

4 But Jacob didn't send Joseph's brother Benjamin with them. He was afraid Benjamin might be harmed.

5 Israel's sons were among the people who went to buy grain. There wasn't enough food in the land of Canaan.