Free Bible Commentary
“Genesis 42:29-38”
Categories: Genesis“Then they went to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan and told him all that had happened to them, saying: ‘The man who is lord of the land spoke roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country. But we said to him, “We are honest men; we are not spies. We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no more, and the youngest is with our father this day in the land of Canaan.” Then the man, the lord of the country, said to us, “By this I will know that you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers here with me, take food for the famine of your households, and be gone. And bring your youngest brother to me; so I shall know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men. I will grant your brother to you, and you may trade in the land.”’ Then it happened as they emptied their sacks, that surprisingly each man’s bundle of money was in his sack; and when they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid. And Jacob their father said to them, ‘You have bereaved me: Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin. All these things are against me.’ Then Reuben spoke to his father, saying, ‘Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.’ But he said, ‘My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is left alone. If any calamity should befall him along the way in which you go, then you would bring down my gray hair with sorrow to the grave.’”
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“Then they went to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan and told him all that had happened to them…” (verse 29) When the ten sons of Jacob minus Simeon returned to the land of Canaan they reported to their father most of what had transpired during their stay in Egypt. What is recorded in today’s verses is a condensed version of that account. “The lord of the land spoke roughly to us….” (verse 30) Even though the brothers had been unfairly put into prison for the better part of three days, it was harsh words of the disguised Joseph that cut them to the heart and left the deeper impression. Never underestimate the power for good and for evil that resides within the words that we choose to use. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21). “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.” (Proverbs 15:1-2)
“Bring your youngest brother to me; so I shall know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men. I will grant your brother to you, and you may trade in the land.” (verse 34) Of course, Joseph knew that his brothers were not the most honest of men, but he also knew that they were not spies. But he greatly desired to see his little brother, Benjamin, and he also wanted to test the resolve of the men who had been overtaken by weakness and hatred two decades earlier to such a great degree that they would eagerly kill or sell a problem (person) in order to eliminate it. It also seems likely that Joseph was buying as much time as possible to properly process the turn of events mentally and decide how best to bring the matter to satisfactory closure.
“Then it happened as they emptied their sacks, that surprisingly each man’s bundle of money was in his sack; and when they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid.” (verse 35) “It is obvious that all the brothers must have dipped into their packs for food or fodder in the course of the six-day (or so) return journey. Therefore, each must have discovered his money long before reaching Canaan. As a matter of fact, that is what they tell Joseph on the next trip (43:21). We must assume, therefore, that they had prearranged to tell their father nothing of this and to stage the ‘discovery’ in his presence.” (Nahum Sarna)
“You have bereaved me: Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin. All these things are against me.” (verse 36) Even though Joseph had been abused and presumably killed, Simeon was locked away in an Egyptian jail cell, and Benjamin’s life was now suddenly imperiled, all Jacob could see was how everything was affecting him. “All these things are against me”—or in more familiar terms— “Everything always happens to me!” Of course, we can surely sympathize with the old man for the loss he had suffered, and for the potential of losing the one that was currently nearest and dearest to his heart. But it is a bit self-centered when we take life’s misfortunes to heart in such a personal way that we are blinded to fallout felt by others and only find the strength to say, “Woe is me!”.
“Then Reuben spoke to his father, saying, ‘Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.’” (verse 37) Of course this was an absurd and hollow proposal, but the oldest stepped forward in a feeble attempt at leadership to try and impress upon his grieving father how dire the situation would be if he did not allow Benjamin to depart. They were all as good as dead anyway if they did not return with their youngest brother to Egypt to get the food they required to stave off starvation. Jacob was neither impressed nor persuaded by Reuben’s interjection. His final word on the subject was, “My son shall not go down with you…” (verse 38) At least until the food ran out and he was forced to change his tune.
Please read Genesis 43:1-10 for tomorrow.
Have a great day!
-Louie Taylor
