Genesis 43:6

6 Israel said, "Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?"

Genesis 43:6 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 43:6

And Israel said
In answer to the speech of Judah: wherefore dealt ye [so] ill with me;
had done that which brought so much evil upon him, gave him so much grief and trouble, and threw him into such perplexity and distress, that he knew not what to do, or course to take: [as] to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?
which he thought was done imprudently and unadvisedly, and that there was no need of it; which, had it not been done, would have prevented this anxiety of mind he was now in, and the mischief he feared would follow.

Genesis 43:6 In-Context

4 If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food;

5 but if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, "You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.' "

6 Israel said, "Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?"

7 They replied, "The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, "Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?' What we told him was in answer to these questions. Could we in any way know that he would say, "Bring your brother down'?"

8 Then Judah said to his father Israel, "Send the boy with me, and let us be on our way, so that we may live and not die—you and we and also our little ones.