Genesis 44:13

13 and they rend their garments, and each ladeth his ass, and they turn back to the city.

Genesis 44:13 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 44:13

Then they rent their clothes
In token of sorrow and distress, being at their wits' end, like distracted persons, not knowing what to do: this was usually done in the eastern countries when any evil befell, as did Jacob, ( Genesis 37:34 ) ; and as the Egyptians themselves did when mourning for their dead, as Diodorus Siculus ^F17 relates: and laded every man his ass;
put their sacks of corn on their asses again, having tied them up: and returned to the city;
to the metropolis, as Jarchi, which was either Tanis, that is, Zoan, or, as others think, Memphis: hither they returned to see how it would go with Benjamin, to plead his cause and get him released, that he might go with them, they being afraid to see their father's face without him; otherwise, could they have been content to have gone without him, they might have proceeded on in their journey, see ( Genesis 44:17 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 Bibliothec. l. 1. p. 65.

Genesis 44:13 In-Context

11 and they hasten and take down each his bag to the earth, and each openeth his bag;

12 and he searcheth -- at the eldest he hath begun, and at the youngest he hath completed -- and the cup is found in the bag of Benjamin;

13 and they rend their garments, and each ladeth his ass, and they turn back to the city.

14 And Judah -- his brethren also -- cometh in unto the house of Joseph, and he is yet there, and they fall before him to the earth;

15 and Joseph saith to them, `What [is] this deed that ye have done? have ye not known that a man like me doth diligently observe?'