The famine continuing, Jacob desires his sons to go again to Egypt and buy some food, Gen 43:1, Gen 43:2. Judah shows the necessity of Benjamin's accompanying them, without whom it would be useless to return to Egypt,…
2y aconteció que cuando acabaron de comer el trigo que trajeron de Egipto, les dijo su padre: Volved, y comprad para nosotros un poco de alimento.
3Respondió Judá, diciendo: Aquel varón nos protestó con ánimo resuelto, diciendo: No veréis mi rostro si no traéis a vuestro hermano con vosotros.
4Si enviares a nuestro hermano con nosotros, descenderemos y te compraremos alimento.
5Pero si no le enviares, no descenderemos; porque aquel varón nos dijo: No veréis mi rostro si no traéis a vuestro hermano con vosotros.
6Dijo entonces Israel: ¿Por qué me hicisteis tanto mal, declarando al varón que teníais otro hermano?
7Y ellos respondieron: Aquel varón nos preguntó expresamente por nosotros, y por nuestra familia, diciendo: ¿Vive aún vuestro padre? ¿Tenéis otro hermano? Y le declaramos conforme a estas palabras. ¿Acaso podíamos saber que él nos diría: Haced venir a vuestro hermano?
8Entonces Judá dijo a Israel su padre: Envía al joven conmigo, y nos levantaremos e iremos, a fin de que vivamos y no muramos nosotros, y tú, y nuestros niños.
9Yo te respondo por él; a mí me pedirás cuenta. Si yo no te lo vuelvo a traer, y si no lo pongo delante de ti, seré para ti el culpable para siempre;
10pues si no nos hubiéramos detenido, ciertamente hubiéramos ya vuelto dos veces.
11Entonces Israel su padre les respondió: Pues que así es, hacedlo; tomad de lo mejor de la tierra en vuestros sacos, y llevad a aquel varón un presente, un poco de bálsamo, un poco de miel, aromas y mirra, nueces y almendras.
12Y tomad en vuestras manos doble cantidad de dinero, y llevad en vuestra mano el dinero vuelto en las bocas de vuestros costales; quizá fue equivocación.
13Tomad también a vuestro hermano, y levantaos, y volved a aquel varón.
14Y el Dios Omnipotente os dé misericordia delante de aquel varón, y os suelte al otro vuestro hermano, y a este Benjamín. Y si he de ser privado de mis hijos, séalo.
15Entonces tomaron aquellos varones el presente, y tomaron en su mano doble cantidad de dinero, y a Benjamín; y se levantaron y descendieron a Egipto, y se presentaron delante de José.
16Y vio José a Benjamín con ellos, y dijo al mayordomo de su casa: Lleva a casa a esos hombres, y degüella una res y prepárala, pues estos hombres comerán conmigo al mediodía.
17E hizo el hombre como José dijo, y llevó a los hombres a casa de José.
18Entonces aquellos hombres tuvieron temor, cuando fueron llevados a casa de José, y decían: Por el dinero que fue devuelto en nuestros costales la primera vez nos han traído aquí, para tendernos lazo, y atacarnos, y tomarnos por siervos a nosotros, y a nuestros asnos.
19Y se acercaron al mayordomo de la casa de José, y le hablaron a la entrada de la casa.
20Y dijeron: Ay, señor nuestro, nosotros en realidad de verdad descendimos al principio a comprar alimentos.
21Y aconteció que cuando llegamos al mesón y abrimos nuestros costales, he aquí el dinero de cada uno estaba en la boca de su costal, nuestro dinero en su justo peso; y lo hemos vuelto a traer con nosotros.
22Hemos también traído en nuestras manos otro dinero para comprar alimentos; nosotros no sabemos quién haya puesto nuestro dinero en nuestros costales.
23Él les respondió: Paz a vosotros, no temáis; vuestro Dios y el Dios de vuestro padre os dio el tesoro en vuestros costales; yo recibí vuestro dinero. Y sacó a Simeón a ellos.
24Y llevó aquel varón a los hombres a casa de José; y les dio agua, y lavaron sus pies, y dio de comer a sus asnos.
25Y ellos prepararon el presente entretanto que venía José a mediodía, porque habían oído que allí habrían de comer pan.
26Y vino José a casa, y ellos le trajeron el presente que tenían en su mano dentro de la casa, y se inclinaron ante él hasta la tierra.
27Entonces les preguntó José cómo estaban, y dijo: ¿Vuestro padre, el anciano que dijisteis, lo pasa bien? ¿Vive todavía?
28Y ellos respondieron: Bien va a tu siervo nuestro padre; aún vive. Y se inclinaron, e hicieron reverencia.
29Y alzando José sus ojos vio a Benjamín su hermano, hijo de su madre, y dijo: ¿Es este vuestro hermano menor, de quien me hablasteis? Y dijo: Dios tenga misericordia de ti, hijo mío.
30Entonces José se apresuró, porque se conmovieron sus entrañas a causa de su hermano, y buscó dónde llorar; y entró en su cámara, y lloró allí.
31Y lavó su rostro y salió, y se contuvo, y dijo: Poned pan.
32Y pusieron para él aparte, y separadamente para ellos, y aparte para los egipcios que con él comían; porque los egipcios no pueden comer pan con los hebreos, lo cual es abominación a los egipcios.
33Y se sentaron delante de él, el mayor conforme a su primogenitura, y el menor conforme a su menor edad; y estaban aquellos hombres atónitos mirándose el uno al otro.
34Y José tomó viandas de delante de sí para ellos; mas la porción de Benjamín era cinco veces mayor que cualquiera de las de ellos. Y bebieron, y se alegraron con él.
ADAM CLARKE BIBLE COMMENTARY
I
Versículo 8
I. Send the lad with me - As the original is not ילד yeled, from which we have derived our word lad,…
Send the lad with me - As the original is not ילד yeled, from which we have derived our word lad, but נער naar, it would have been better had our translators rendered it by some other term, such as the youth, or the young man, and thus the distinction in the Hebrew would have been better kept up. Benjamin was at this time at least twenty-four years of age, some think thirty, and had a family of his own. See Gen 46:21.
That we may live, and not die - An argument drawn from self-preservation, what some have termed the first law of nature. By your keeping Benjamin we are prevented from going to Egypt; if we go not to Egypt we shall get no corn; if we get no corn we shall all perish by famine; and Benjamin himself, who otherwise might live, must, with thee and the whole family, infallibly die.
II
Versículo 9
II. Let me bear the blame for ever - וחטאתי לך כל הימים - re vechatathi lecha col haiyamim, then shal…
Let me bear the blame for ever - וחטאתי לך כל הימים - re vechatathi lecha col haiyamim, then shall I sin against thee all my days, and consequently be liable to punishment for violating my faith.
III
Versículo 11
III. Carry down the man a present - From the very earliest times presents were used as means of introd…
Carry down the man a present - From the very earliest times presents were used as means of introduction to great men. This is particularly noticed by Solomon: A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men, Pro 18:16. But what was the present brought to Joseph on this occasion? After all the labor of commentators, we are obliged to be contented with probabilities and conjecture. According to our translation, the gifts were balm, honey, spices, myrrh, nuts, and almonds.
Balm - צרי tsori is supposed to signify resin in general, or some kind of gum issuing from trees.
Honey - דבש debash has been supposed to be the same as the rob of grapes, called in Egypt dibs. Others think that honey, in the common sense of the term, is to be understood here: we know that honey was plentiful in Palestine.
Spices - נכאת nechoth is supposed to mean gum storax, which might be very valuable on account of its qualities as a perfume.
Myrrh - לט lot, supposed by some to mean stacte; by others to signify an ointment made of myrrh.
Nuts - בטנים botnim, by some rendered pistachio nuts, those produced in Syria being the finest in the world; by others, dates; others, walnuts; others, pine apples; others, the nuts of the terebinth tree.
Almonds - שקדים shekedim, correctly enough translated, and perhaps the only article in the collection of which we know any thing with certainty. It is generally allowed that the land of Canaan produces the best almonds in the east; and on this account they might be deemed a very acceptable present to the governor of Egypt. Those who wish to see this subject exhausted must have recourse to the Physica Sacra of Scheuehzer.
IV
Versículo 12
IV. Double money - What was returned in their sacks, and what was farther necessary to buy another load.
Double money - What was returned in their sacks, and what was farther necessary to buy another load.
V
Versículo 14
V. This verse may be literally translated thus: - "And God, the all-sufficient, shall give you tende…
This verse may be literally translated thus: - "And God, the all-sufficient, shall give you tender mercies before the man, and send to you your other brother, and Benjamin; and I, as I shall be childless, so I shall be childless." That is, I will submit to this privation, till God shall restore my children. It appears that this verse is spoken prophetically; and that God at this time gave Jacob a supernatural evidence that his children should be restored.
VI
Versículo 16
VI. Slay, and make ready - טבח טבח teboach tebach, slay a slaying, or make a great slaughter - let pr…
Slay, and make ready - טבח טבח teboach tebach, slay a slaying, or make a great slaughter - let preparations be made for a great feast or entertainment. See a similar form of speech, Pro 9:2 (note); Sa1 25:11 (note); and Gen 31:54 (note).
VII
Versículo 18
VII. And the men were afraid - A guilty conscience needs no accuser. Every thing alarms them; they now…
And the men were afraid - A guilty conscience needs no accuser. Every thing alarms them; they now feel that God is exacting retribution, and they know not what the degrees shall be, nor where it shall stop.
Fall upon us - התגלל עלינו hithgolel alainu, roll himself upon us. A metaphor taken from wrestlers; when a man has overthrown his antagonist, he rolls himself upon him, in order to keep him down.
And our asses - Which they probably had in great number with them; and which, if captured, would have been a great loss to the family of Jacob, as such cattle must have constituted a principal part of its riches.
VIII
Versículo 20
VIII. O sir, we came indeed - to buy food - There is a frankness now in the conduct of Joseph's brethre…
O sir, we came indeed - to buy food - There is a frankness now in the conduct of Joseph's brethren that did not exist before; they simply and honestly relate the whole circumstance of the money being found in their sacks on their return from their last journey. Afflictions from the hand of God, and under his direction, have a wonderful tendency to humble the soul. Did men know how gracious his designs are in sending such, no murmur would ever be heard against the dispensations of Divine Providence.
IX
Versículo 23
IX. And he said - The address of the steward in this verse plainly proves that the knowledge of the t…
And he said - The address of the steward in this verse plainly proves that the knowledge of the true God was in Egypt. It is probable that the steward himself was a Hebrew, and that Joseph had given him intimation of the whole affair; and though he was not at liberty to reveal it, yet he gives them assurances that the whole business would issue happily.
I had your money - כספכם בא אלי caspechem ba elai, your money comes to me. As I am the steward, the cash for the corn belongs to me. Ye have no reason to be apprehensive of any evil; the whole transaction is between myself and you; receive therefore the money as a present from the God of your father, no matter whose hands he makes use of to convey it. The conduct of the steward, as well as his words, had a great tendency to relieve their burdened minds.
X
Versículo 24
X. Brought the men into Joseph's house, etc. - This is exactly the way in which a Hindoo receives a …
Brought the men into Joseph's house, etc. - This is exactly the way in which a Hindoo receives a guest. As soon as he enters, one of the civilities is the presenting of water to wash his feet. So indispensable is this, that water to wash the feet makes a part of the offering to an image.
XI
Versículo 27
XI. And he asked them of their welfare - This verse may be thus translated: "And he asked them concer…
And he asked them of their welfare - This verse may be thus translated: "And he asked them concerning their prosperity; and he said, is your father prosperous, the old man who ye told me was alive? And they said, Thy servant our father prospers; he is yet alive."
XII
Versículo 29
XII. He lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin - They were probably introduced to him succes…
He lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin - They were probably introduced to him successively; and as Benjamin was the youngest, he would of course be introduced last.
God be gracious unto thee, my son! - A usual salutation in the east from the aged and superiors to the younger and inferiors, which, though very emphatic and expressive in ancient times, in the present day means no more than "I am your humble servant," or "I am exceedingly glad to see you;" words which among us mean-just nothing. Even in David's time they seem to have been, not only devoid of meaning, but to be used as a cloak for the basest and most treacherous designs: They bless with their mouths, but they curse inwardly. Hence Joab salutes Amasa, kisses him with apparent affection, and stabs him in the same moment! The case of Judas, betraying the Son of man with a kiss, will not be forgotten.
XIII
Versículo 32
XIII. They set on for him by himself, etc. - From the text it appears evident that there were three tab…
They set on for him by himself, etc. - From the text it appears evident that there were three tables, one for Joseph, one for the Egyptians, and one for the eleven brethren.
The Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews - There might have been some political reason for this, with which we are unacquainted; but independently of this, two may be assigned. 1. The Hebrews were shepherds; and Egypt had been almost ruined by hordes of lawless wandering bandits, under the name of Hycsos, or King-shepherds, who had but a short time before this been expelled from the land by Amasis, after they had held it in subjection for 259 years, according to Manetho, committing the most wanton cruelties. 2. The Hebrews sacrificed those animals which the Egyptians held sacred, and fed on their flesh. The Egyptians were in general very superstitious, and would have no social intercourse with people of any other nation; hence we are informed that they would not even use the knife of a Greek, because they might have reason to suspect it had cut the flesh of some of those animals which they held sacred. Among the Hindoos different castes will not eat food cooked in the same vessel. If a person of another caste touch a cooking vessel, it is thrown away. Some are of opinion that the Egyptian idolatry, especially their worship of Apis under the figure of an ox, was posterior to the time of Joseph; ancient monuments are rather against this opinion, but it is impossible to decide either way. The clause in the Alexandrian Septuagint stands thus, Βδελυγμα γαρ εστιν τοις Αιγυπτιοις [πας ποιμην προβατων,] "For [every shepherd] is an abomination to the Egyptians;" but this clause is probably borrowed from Gen 46:34, where it stands in the Hebrew as well as in the Greek. See Clarke on Gen 46:34 (note).
XIV
Versículo 33
XIV. The first-born according to his birthright - This must greatly astonish these brethren, to find t…
The first-born according to his birthright - This must greatly astonish these brethren, to find themselves treated with so much ceremony, and at the same time with so much discernment of their respective ages.
XV
Versículo 34
XV. Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs - Sir John Chardin observes that "in Pers…
Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs - Sir John Chardin observes that "in Persia, Arabia, and the Indies, there are several houses where they place several plates in large salvers, and set one of these before each person, or before two or three, according to the magnificence of each house. This is the method among the Hindoos; the dishes are not placed on the table, but messes are sent to each individual by the master of the feast or by his substitute. The great men of the state are always served by themselves, in the feasts that are made for them; and with greater profusion, their part of each kind of provision being always Double, Treble, or a Larger proportion of each kind of meat." The circumstance of Benjamin's having a mess Five times as large as any of his brethren, shows the peculiar honor which Joseph designed to confer upon him. See several useful observations on this subject in Harmer's Observ., vol. ii., p. 101, etc., Edit. 1808.
1. The scarcity in Canaan was not absolute; though they had no corn, they had honey, nuts, almonds, etc. In the midst of judgment, God remembers mercy. If there was scarcity in Canaan, there was plenty in Egypt; and though his providence had denied one country corn, and accumulated it in the other, his bounty had placed in the former money enough to procure it from the latter. How true is the saying, "It is never ill with any but it might be worse!" Let us be deeply thankful to God that we have any thing, seeing we deserve no good at his hands.
2. If we examine our circumstances closely, and call to remembrance the dealings of God's providence towards us, we shall find that we can sing much both of mercy and of judgment. For one day of absolute unavoidable want, we shall find we had three hundred and sixty-four, if not of fullness, yet of a competency. Famines, though rarely happening, are everywhere recorded; innumerable years of abundance are scarcely ever registered! Such is the perverseness and ingratitude of man!
Antiguo Testamento
Genesis — Capítulo 43
The famine continuing, Jacob desires his sons to go again to Egypt and buy some food, Gen 43:1, Gen 43:2. Judah shows the necessity of Benjamin's accompanying them, without whom it would be useless to return to Egypt,…
Texto — Reina-Valera 1960
1El hambre era grande en la tierra;
2y aconteció que cuando acabaron de comer el trigo que trajeron de Egipto, les dijo su padre: Volved, y comprad para nosotros un poco de alimento.
3Respondió Judá, diciendo: Aquel varón nos protestó con ánimo resuelto, diciendo: No veréis mi rostro si no traéis a vuestro hermano con vosotros.
4Si enviares a nuestro hermano con nosotros, descenderemos y te compraremos alimento.
5Pero si no le enviares, no descenderemos; porque aquel varón nos dijo: No veréis mi rostro si no traéis a vuestro hermano con vosotros.
6Dijo entonces Israel: ¿Por qué me hicisteis tanto mal, declarando al varón que teníais otro hermano?
7Y ellos respondieron: Aquel varón nos preguntó expresamente por nosotros, y por nuestra familia, diciendo: ¿Vive aún vuestro padre? ¿Tenéis otro hermano? Y le declaramos conforme a estas palabras. ¿Acaso podíamos saber que él nos diría: Haced venir a vuestro hermano?
8Entonces Judá dijo a Israel su padre: Envía al joven conmigo, y nos levantaremos e iremos, a fin de que vivamos y no muramos nosotros, y tú, y nuestros niños.
9Yo te respondo por él; a mí me pedirás cuenta. Si yo no te lo vuelvo a traer, y si no lo pongo delante de ti, seré para ti el culpable para siempre;
10pues si no nos hubiéramos detenido, ciertamente hubiéramos ya vuelto dos veces.
11Entonces Israel su padre les respondió: Pues que así es, hacedlo; tomad de lo mejor de la tierra en vuestros sacos, y llevad a aquel varón un presente, un poco de bálsamo, un poco de miel, aromas y mirra, nueces y almendras.
12Y tomad en vuestras manos doble cantidad de dinero, y llevad en vuestra mano el dinero vuelto en las bocas de vuestros costales; quizá fue equivocación.
13Tomad también a vuestro hermano, y levantaos, y volved a aquel varón.
14Y el Dios Omnipotente os dé misericordia delante de aquel varón, y os suelte al otro vuestro hermano, y a este Benjamín. Y si he de ser privado de mis hijos, séalo.
15Entonces tomaron aquellos varones el presente, y tomaron en su mano doble cantidad de dinero, y a Benjamín; y se levantaron y descendieron a Egipto, y se presentaron delante de José.
16Y vio José a Benjamín con ellos, y dijo al mayordomo de su casa: Lleva a casa a esos hombres, y degüella una res y prepárala, pues estos hombres comerán conmigo al mediodía.
17E hizo el hombre como José dijo, y llevó a los hombres a casa de José.
18Entonces aquellos hombres tuvieron temor, cuando fueron llevados a casa de José, y decían: Por el dinero que fue devuelto en nuestros costales la primera vez nos han traído aquí, para tendernos lazo, y atacarnos, y tomarnos por siervos a nosotros, y a nuestros asnos.
19Y se acercaron al mayordomo de la casa de José, y le hablaron a la entrada de la casa.
20Y dijeron: Ay, señor nuestro, nosotros en realidad de verdad descendimos al principio a comprar alimentos.
21Y aconteció que cuando llegamos al mesón y abrimos nuestros costales, he aquí el dinero de cada uno estaba en la boca de su costal, nuestro dinero en su justo peso; y lo hemos vuelto a traer con nosotros.
22Hemos también traído en nuestras manos otro dinero para comprar alimentos; nosotros no sabemos quién haya puesto nuestro dinero en nuestros costales.
23Él les respondió: Paz a vosotros, no temáis; vuestro Dios y el Dios de vuestro padre os dio el tesoro en vuestros costales; yo recibí vuestro dinero. Y sacó a Simeón a ellos.
24Y llevó aquel varón a los hombres a casa de José; y les dio agua, y lavaron sus pies, y dio de comer a sus asnos.
25Y ellos prepararon el presente entretanto que venía José a mediodía, porque habían oído que allí habrían de comer pan.
26Y vino José a casa, y ellos le trajeron el presente que tenían en su mano dentro de la casa, y se inclinaron ante él hasta la tierra.
27Entonces les preguntó José cómo estaban, y dijo: ¿Vuestro padre, el anciano que dijisteis, lo pasa bien? ¿Vive todavía?
28Y ellos respondieron: Bien va a tu siervo nuestro padre; aún vive. Y se inclinaron, e hicieron reverencia.
29Y alzando José sus ojos vio a Benjamín su hermano, hijo de su madre, y dijo: ¿Es este vuestro hermano menor, de quien me hablasteis? Y dijo: Dios tenga misericordia de ti, hijo mío.
30Entonces José se apresuró, porque se conmovieron sus entrañas a causa de su hermano, y buscó dónde llorar; y entró en su cámara, y lloró allí.
31Y lavó su rostro y salió, y se contuvo, y dijo: Poned pan.
32Y pusieron para él aparte, y separadamente para ellos, y aparte para los egipcios que con él comían; porque los egipcios no pueden comer pan con los hebreos, lo cual es abominación a los egipcios.
33Y se sentaron delante de él, el mayor conforme a su primogenitura, y el menor conforme a su menor edad; y estaban aquellos hombres atónitos mirándose el uno al otro.
34Y José tomó viandas de delante de sí para ellos; mas la porción de Benjamín era cinco veces mayor que cualquiera de las de ellos. Y bebieron, y se alegraron con él.
ADAM CLARKE BIBLE COMMENTARY
Versículo 8
I. Send the lad with me - As the original is not ילד yeled, from which we have derived our word lad,…
Versículo 9
II. Let me bear the blame for ever - וחטאתי לך כל הימים - re vechatathi lecha col haiyamim, then shal…
Versículo 11
III. Carry down the man a present - From the very earliest times presents were used as means of introd…
Versículo 12
IV. Double money - What was returned in their sacks, and what was farther necessary to buy another load.
Versículo 14
V. This verse may be literally translated thus: - "And God, the all-sufficient, shall give you tende…
Versículo 16
VI. Slay, and make ready - טבח טבח teboach tebach, slay a slaying, or make a great slaughter - let pr…
Versículo 18
VII. And the men were afraid - A guilty conscience needs no accuser. Every thing alarms them; they now…
Versículo 20
VIII. O sir, we came indeed - to buy food - There is a frankness now in the conduct of Joseph's brethre…
Versículo 23
IX. And he said - The address of the steward in this verse plainly proves that the knowledge of the t…
Versículo 24
X. Brought the men into Joseph's house, etc. - This is exactly the way in which a Hindoo receives a …
Versículo 27
XI. And he asked them of their welfare - This verse may be thus translated: "And he asked them concer…
Versículo 29
XII. He lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin - They were probably introduced to him succes…
Versículo 32
XIII. They set on for him by himself, etc. - From the text it appears evident that there were three tab…
Versículo 33
XIV. The first-born according to his birthright - This must greatly astonish these brethren, to find t…
Versículo 34
XV. Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs - Sir John Chardin observes that "in Pers…