Genesis 43:21-31

21 quibus emptis cum venissemus ad diversorium aperuimus sacculos nostros et invenimus pecuniam in ore saccorum quam nunc eodem pondere reportamus
22 sed et aliud adtulimus argentum ut emamus quae necessaria sunt non est in nostra conscientia quis eam posuerit in marsuppiis nostris
23 at ille respondit pax vobiscum nolite timere Deus vester et Deus patris vestri dedit vobis thesauros in sacculis vestris nam pecuniam quam dedistis mihi probatam ego habeo eduxitque ad eos Symeon
24 et introductis domum adtulit aquam et laverunt pedes suos deditque pabula asinis eorum
25 illi vero parabant munera donec ingrederetur Ioseph meridie audierant enim quod ibi comesuri essent panem
26 igitur ingressus est Ioseph domum suam obtuleruntque ei munera tenentes in manibus et adoraverunt proni in terram
27 at ille clementer resalutatis eis interrogavit dicens salvusne est pater vester senex de quo dixeratis mihi adhuc vivit
28 qui responderunt sospes est servus tuus pater noster adhuc vivit et incurvati adoraverunt eum
29 adtollens autem oculos Ioseph vidit Beniamin fratrem suum uterinum et ait iste est frater vester parvulus de quo dixeratis mihi et rursum Deus inquit misereatur tui fili mi
30 festinavitque quia commota fuerant viscera eius super fratre suo et erumpebant lacrimae et introiens cubiculum flevit
31 rursusque lota facie egressus continuit se et ait ponite panes

Genesis 43:21-31 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 43

This chapter informs us how that the famine continued in the land of Canaan, and the corn that Jacob's family had from Egypt being consumed, Jacob pressed his sons to go down for more, which they refused to do, unless Benjamin was sent with them, for whose safety Judah offered to become a surety, Ge 43:1-10; Jacob with reluctance was prevailed upon to let him go, and dismissed them with a present to the governor of Egypt, and with double money to buy corn with, and with his blessing upon them, Ge 43:11-14; upon which they set out for Egypt; and when they came into the presence of Joseph, he seeing Benjamin with them, ordered his steward to have them to his house, and get dinner ready, it being his pleasure that they should dine with him that day, Ge 43:15-17; this threw them into a fright, supposing they were going to be called to an account for the money they found in their sacks; wherefore they related to the steward very particularly the whole of that affair, who bid them not be uneasy, for he had had their money; and as a proof that things would go well with them, brought Simeon out to them, and treated them very kindly and gently, Ge 43:18-24; and having got their present ready against Joseph came home, they delivered it to him with great veneration and submission; who asked of the welfare of their father, and whether that was not their younger brother they spoke of, the sight of whom so affected him, that he was obliged in haste to retire to his chamber, and weep, Ge 43:25-30; and having washed his face, and composed himself, he returned and ordered dinner to be brought, which was set on different tables, one for himself and the Egyptians, and the other for his brethren, whom he placed according to their age, to their great surprise; and sent them messes from his table to each, and to Benjamin five times more than the rest, and they were so liberally entertained, that they became cheerful and merry, Ge 43:31-34.

The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.