36 matching verse commentaries
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
My lord asked his servants,.... The first time they came down to Egypt to buy corn; he puts him in mind of what passed between them at that time: saying, have ye a father or a brother? which question followed upon their saying that they were the sons of one man, Genesis 42:11.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And we said unto my lord, we have a father,.... Yet living in the land of Canaan: an old man; being one hundred and thirty years of age, Genesis 47:9; and a child of his old age; who was born when he was near an hundred years of age: and a little one; not in stature, but in age, being the youngest son, and much younger than they: so they...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And thou saidst unto thy servants, bring him down unto me,.... Judah does not relate the reason of his order, which was to give proof that they were no spies, but as if Joseph designed to show favour to Benjamin, as undoubtedly he did: that I may set mine eyes upon him; not barely see him, as Aben Ezra interprets it, though that would be, and was,...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And we said unto my lord, the lad cannot leave his father,.... That is, his father will not be willing to part with him: for [if] he should leave his father, [his father] would die; with grief and trouble, fearing some evil was befallen him, and he should see him no more.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And thou saidst unto thy servants,.... In answer to the representation of things made by them, and notwithstanding that: except your youngest brother come down with you, you shall see my face no more; which though not before related in the discourse, which passed between Joseph and his brethren, in express terms, yet might be justly inferred from...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And it came to pass, when we came unto thy servant my father,.... In the land of Canaan: we told him the words of my lord; what he had said to them, particularly respecting Benjamin.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And our father said,.... After some time, when the corn was almost consumed they had bought in Egypt: go again, [and] buy us a little food; that may suffice fill the famine is over; see Genesis 43:1.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And we said, we cannot go down,.... With any safety to their persons, which would be in danger, or with any profit to their families, since their end in going down to buy corn would not be answered: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down; let it be agreed to, that Benjamin go along with us, to Egypt, and then no difficulty will...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And thy servant my father said unto us,.... When thus pressed to let Benjamin go with them: ye know that my wife bare me two [sons]; Rachel, by whom he had Joseph and Benjamin, and whom he calls his wife, she being his only lawful wife; Leah was imposed upon him, Genesis 29:20; and the other two were concubines, Genesis 30:4.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And the one went out from, me,.... Being sent by him to see how his brethren did, who were feeding his flocks at Shechem, and he had never returned to him to that day: and I said, surely he is torn in pieces; by some wild beast; this he said on sight of his coat, being shown him all bloody: and I saw him not since; now twenty two years ago; for...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And if ye take this also from me,.... His son Benjamin, as he perhaps suspected they had taken Joseph, and made away with him: and mischief befall him; either in Egypt, or on the road, going or returning, any ill accident, especially death, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan, or what may issue in it: ye shall bring my gray hairs with sorrow to...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Now therefore, when I come to thy servant my father,.... That is, should he return to him in the land of Canaan with the rest of his brethren: and the lad [be] not with us; his brother Benjamin, so called here, and in the following verses, though thirty years of age and upwards, see Genesis 43:8; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life;...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad [is] not [with us], that he will die,.... As soon as ever he sees us, without asking any question and observes that Benjamin is missing he will conclude at once that he is dead, which will so seize his spirits, that he will expire immediately: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father,.... Which is another argument used for the release of Benjamin, though he should be detained for him, which he offers to be: saying, if I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame unto my father for ever; [See comments on Genesis 43:9].
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord,.... Being, as Jarchi observes preferable to Benjamin for strength, for war, and for service: in this Judah was a type of Christ, from whose tribe he sprung, who became the surety of God's Benjamins, his children who are beloved by him, and as dear to him as...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad [be] not with me?.... Signifying that he must abide in Egypt, and chose to do it, and could not go up to the land of Canaan any more or see his father's face without Benjamin along with him, to whom he was a surety for him: lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father; see him die,...