Bereshis 42:12

12 And he said unto them, Lo, but to see the ervat ha’aretz ye came.

Bereshis 42:12 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 42:12

And he said unto them, nay
This argument will not do, I am not to be put off with such words as these; if you can produce no better proof of your being honest men than this, or give no better account of yourselves, I must abide by it, that, to see the nakedness of the land ye are come;
this he urged in order to get a further account from them of their family and the state of it, which he was anxious to know.

Bereshis 42:12 In-Context

10 And they said unto him, Lo, adoni, but to buy okhel are thy avadim come.

11 We are all bnei ish echad; we are truthful ones, thy avadim are no meragelim.

12 And he said unto them, Lo, but to see the ervat ha’aretz ye came.

13 And they said, Thy avadim are Shneym Asar Achim, the bnei ish echad in Eretz Kena’an; and, hinei, the katon is today with Avinu, and one is not.

14 And Yosef said unto them, That is it just as I spoke unto you, Ye are meragelim;