Genesi 42:2-12

2 Poi disse: "Ecco, ho sentito dire che c’è del grano in Egitto; scendete colà per comprarcene, onde possiam vivere e non abbiamo a morire".

3 E dieci de’ fratelli di Giuseppe scesero in Egitto per comprarvi del grano.

4 Ma Giacobbe non mandò Beniamino, fratello di Giuseppe, coi suoi fratelli, perché diceva: "Che non gli abbia a succedere qualche disgrazia!"

5 E i figliuoli d’Israele giunsero per comprare del grano in mezzo agli altri, che pur venivano; poiché nel paese di Canaan c’era la carestia.

6 Or Giuseppe era colui che comandava nel paese; era lui che vendeva il grano a tutta la gente del paese; e i fratelli di Giuseppe vennero, e si prostrarono dinanzi a lui con la faccia a terra.

7 E Giuseppe vide i suoi fratelli e li riconobbe, ma fece lo straniero davanti a loro, e parlò loro aspramente e disse loro: "Donde venite?" Ed essi risposero: "Dal paese di Canaan per comprar de’ viveri".

8 E Giuseppe riconobbe i suoi fratelli, ma essi non riconobbero lui.

9 E Giuseppe si ricordò de’ sogni che aveva avuti intorno a loro, e disse: "Voi siete delle spie! Siete venuti per vedere i luoghi sforniti del paese!"

10 Ed essi a lui: "No, signor mio; i tuoi servitori son venuti a comprar de’ viveri.

11 Siamo tutti figliuoli d’uno stesso uomo; siamo gente sincera; i tuoi servitori non son delle spie".

12 Ed egli disse loro: "No, siete venuti per vedere i luoghi sforniti del paese!"

Genesi 42:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 42

This chapter relates how that Jacob having heard there was corn in Egypt, sent all his sons but Benjamin thither to buy corn, Ge 42:1-5; and coming before Joseph, they bowed to him, and he knowing them, though they knew not him, spoke roughly to them, and charged them with being spies, Ge 42:6-9; they in their defence urged that they were the sons of one man in Canaan, with whom their youngest brother was left, on which Joseph ordered them to send for him, to prove them true men, Ge 42:10-16; and put them all into prison for three days, and then released them, and sent them away to fetch their brother, Ge 42:17-20; this brought to mind their treatment of Joseph, and they confessed their guilt to each other, which Joseph heard, and greatly affected him, they supposing he understood them not, and before he dismissed them bound Simeon before their eyes, whom he retained till they returned, Ge 42:21-24; then he ordered his servants to fill their sacks with corn, and put each man's money in his sack, which one of them on the road found, opening his sack for provender, filled them all with great surprise and fear, Ge 42:25-28; upon their return to Jacob they related all that had befallen them, and particularly that the governor insisted on having Benjamin brought to him, Ge 42:29-34; their sacks being opened, all their money was found in them, which greatly distressed them and Jacob also, who was very unwilling to let Benjamin go, though Reuben offered his two sons as pledges for him, and himself to be a surety, Ge 42:35-38.