Genesis 44:18-34

18 Then Judah went up to him. He said, "Please, sir. Let me speak a word to you. Don't be angry with me, even though you are equal to Pharaoh himself.

19 You asked us, 'Do you have a father or a brother?'

20 We answered, 'We have an old father. A young son was born to him when he was old. His brother is dead. He's the only one of his mother's sons left. And his father loves him.'

21 "Then you said to us, 'Bring him down to me. I want to see him for myself.'

22 "We said to you, 'The boy can't leave his father. If he does, his father will die.'

23 "But you told us, 'Your youngest brother must come down here with you. If he doesn't, you won't see my face again.'

24 So we went back to my father. We told him what you had said.

25 "Then our father said, 'Go back. Buy a little more food.'

26 "But we said, 'We can't go down. We'll only go if our youngest brother goes there with us. We can't even see the man's face unless our youngest brother goes with us.'

27 "Your servant my father said to us, 'You know that my wife had two sons by me.

28 One of them went away from me. And I said, "He must have been torn to pieces." I haven't seen him since.

29 What if you take this one from me too and he is harmed? Then you would cause me to die as a sad old man. I would go down into the grave full of pain and suffering.'

30 "So now, what will happen if the boy isn't with us when I go back to my father? His life is closely tied up with the boy's life.

31 When he sees that the boy isn't with us, he'll die as a sad old man. Because of us, he'll go down into the grave full of sorrow.

32 "I promised my father I would keep the boy safe. I said, 'Father, I'll bring him back to you. If I don't, you can put the blame on me for the rest of my life.'

33 "Now then, please let me stay here. Let me be your slave in place of the boy. Let the boy return with his brothers.

34 How can I go back to my father if the boy isn't with me? Don't let me see the pain and suffering that would come to my father."

Genesis 44:18-34 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 44

This chapter relates the policy of Joseph in making an experiment of his brethren's regard and affection for Benjamin; he ordered his steward to put every man's money into his sack, and his silver cup in Benjamin's, and when they were got out of the city, to follow after them, and charge them with the theft, as he did; and having searched their sacks, as they desired he would, found the cup with Benjamin, which threw them into the utmost distress, and obliged them to return to Joseph, Ge 44:1-14; who charged them with their ill behaviour towards him; they acknowledge it, and propose to be his servants; but he orders them to depart to their father, retaining Benjamin in servitude, Ge 44:15-17; upon which Judah addressed him in a very polite and affectionate manner, and relates the whole story, both of what passed between Joseph and them, concerning Benjamin, the first time they were in Egypt, and between their father and them upon the same subject, when he directed them to go a second time thither to buy corn, and how he became a surety to his father for him, and therefore proposed to be his bondman now, not being able to see his father's face without Benjamin, Ge 44:18-34.