Genesis 42:29-38

29 veneruntque ad Iacob patrem suum in terra Chanaan et narraverunt ei omnia quae accidissent sibi dicentes

30 locutus est nobis dominus terrae dure et putavit nos exploratores provinciae

31 cui respondimus pacifici sumus nec ullas molimur insidias

32 duodecim fratres uno patre geniti sumus unus non est super minimus cum patre versatur in terra Chanaan

33 qui ait nobis sic probabo quod pacifici sitis fratrem vestrum unum dimittite apud me et cibaria domibus vestris necessaria sumite et abite

34 fratremque vestrum minimum adducite ad me ut sciam quod non sitis exploratores et istum qui tenetur in vinculis recipere possitis ac deinceps emendi quae vultis habeatis licentiam

35 his dictis cum frumenta effunderent singuli reppererunt in ore saccorum ligatas pecunias exterritisque simul omnibus

36 dixit pater Iacob absque liberis me esse fecistis Ioseph non est super Symeon tenetur in vinculis Beniamin auferetis in me haec mala omnia reciderunt

37 cui respondit Ruben duos filios meos interfice si non reduxero illum tibi trade in manu mea et ego eum restituam

38 at ille non descendet inquit filius meus vobiscum frater eius mortuus est ipse solus remansit si quid ei adversi acciderit in terra ad quam pergitis deducetis canos meos cum dolore ad inferos

Genesis 42:29-38 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.