With the words "Why do ye look at one another!" viz., in such a helpless and undecided manner. Jacob exhorted his sons to fetch corn from Egypt, to preserve his family from starvation. Joseph's ten brothers went, as t…
1Viendo Jacob que en Egipto había alimentos, dijo a sus hijos: ¿Por qué os estáis mirando?
2Y dijo: He aquí, yo he oído que hay víveres en Egipto; descended allá, y comprad de allí para nosotros, para que podamos vivir, y no muramos.
3Y descendieron los diez hermanos de José a comprar trigo en Egipto.
4Mas Jacob no envió a Benjamín, hermano de José, con sus hermanos; porque dijo: No sea que le acontezca algún desastre.
5Vinieron los hijos de Israel a comprar entre los que venían; porque había hambre en la tierra de Canaán.
6Y José era el señor de la tierra, quien le vendía a todo el pueblo de la tierra; y llegaron los hermanos de José, y se inclinaron a él rostro a tierra.
7Y José, cuando vio a sus hermanos, los conoció; mas hizo como que no los conocía, y les habló ásperamente, y les dijo: ¿De dónde habéis venido? Ellos respondieron: De la tierra de Canaán, para comprar alimentos.
8José, pues, conoció a sus hermanos; pero ellos no le conocieron.
9Entonces se acordó José de los sueños que había tenido acerca de ellos, y les dijo: Espías sois; por ver lo descubierto del país habéis venido.
10Ellos le respondieron: No, señor nuestro, sino que tus siervos han venido a comprar alimentos.
11Todos nosotros somos hijos de un varón; somos hombres honrados; tus siervos nunca fueron espías.
12Pero José les dijo: No; para ver lo descubierto del país habéis venido.
13Y ellos respondieron: Tus siervos somos doce hermanos, hijos de un varón en la tierra de Canaán; y he aquí el menor está hoy con nuestro padre, y otro no parece.
14Y José les dijo: Eso es lo que os he dicho, afirmando que sois espías.
15En esto seréis probados: Vive Faraón, que no saldréis de aquí, sino cuando vuestro hermano menor viniere aquí.
16Enviad a uno de vosotros y traiga a vuestro hermano, y vosotros quedad presos, y vuestras palabras serán probadas, si hay verdad en vosotros; y si no, vive Faraón, que sois espías.
17Entonces los puso juntos en la cárcel por tres días.
18Y al tercer día les dijo José: Haced esto, y vivid: Yo temo a Dios.
19Si sois hombres honrados, quede preso en la casa de vuestra cárcel uno de vuestros hermanos, y vosotros id y llevad el alimento para el hambre de vuestra casa.
20Pero traeréis a vuestro hermano menor, y serán verificadas vuestras palabras, y no moriréis. Y ellos lo hicieron así.
21Y decían el uno al otro: Verdaderamente hemos pecado contra nuestro hermano, pues vimos la angustia de su alma cuando nos rogaba, y no le escuchamos; por eso ha venido sobre nosotros esta angustia.
22Entonces Rubén les respondió, diciendo: ¿No os hablé yo y dije: No pequéis contra el joven, y no escuchasteis? He aquí también se nos demanda su sangre.
23Pero ellos no sabían que los entendía José, porque había intérprete entre ellos.
24Y se apartó José de ellos, y lloró; después volvió a ellos, y les habló, y tomó de entre ellos a Simeón, y lo aprisionó a vista de ellos.
25Después mandó José que llenaran sus sacos de trigo, y devolviesen el dinero de cada uno de ellos, poniéndolo en su saco, y les diesen comida para el camino; y así se hizo con ellos.
26Y ellos pusieron su trigo sobre sus asnos, y se fueron de allí.
27Pero abriendo uno de ellos su saco para dar de comer a su asno en el mesón, vio su dinero que estaba en la boca de su costal.
28Y dijo a sus hermanos: Mi dinero se me ha devuelto, y helo aquí en mi saco. Entonces se les sobresaltó el corazón, y espantados dijeron el uno al otro: ¿Qué es esto que nos ha hecho Dios?
29Y venidos a Jacob su padre en tierra de Canaán, le contaron todo lo que les había acontecido, diciendo:
30Aquel varón, el señor de la tierra, nos habló ásperamente, y nos trató como a espías de la tierra.
31Y nosotros le dijimos: Somos hombres honrados, nunca fuimos espías.
32Somos doce hermanos, hijos de nuestro padre; uno no parece, y el menor está hoy con nuestro padre en la tierra de Canaán.
33Entonces aquel varón, el señor de la tierra, nos dijo: En esto conoceré que sois hombres honrados: dejad conmigo uno de vuestros hermanos, y tomad para el hambre de vuestras casas, y andad,
34y traedme a vuestro hermano el menor, para que yo sepa que no sois espías, sino hombres honrados; así os daré a vuestro hermano, y negociaréis en la tierra.
35Y aconteció que vaciando ellos sus sacos, he aquí que en el saco de cada uno estaba el atado de su dinero; y viendo ellos y su padre los atados de su dinero, tuvieron temor.
36Entonces su padre Jacob les dijo: Me habéis privado de mis hijos; José no parece, ni Simeón tampoco, y a Benjamín le llevaréis; contra mí son todas estas cosas.
37Y Rubén habló a su padre, diciendo: Harás morir a mis dos hijos, si no te lo devuelvo; entrégalo en mi mano, que yo lo devolveré a ti.
38Y él dijo: No descenderá mi hijo con vosotros, pues su hermano ha muerto, y él solo ha quedado; y si le aconteciere algún desastre en el camino por donde vais, haréis descender mis canas con dolor al Seol.
CARL FRIEDRICH KEIL AND FRANZ DELITZSCH OLD TESTAMENT COMMENTARY
I
Versículo 7
I. Joseph recognised his brothers at once; but they could not recognise a brother who had not been s…
Joseph recognised his brothers at once; but they could not recognise a brother who had not been seen for 20 years, and who, moreover, had not only become thoroughly Egyptianized, but had risen to be a great lord. And he acted as a foreigner (יתנכּר) towards them, speaking harshly, and asking them whence they had come. In Gen 42:7, according to a truly Semitic style of narrative, we have a condensation of what is more circumstantially related in Gen 42:8-17.
II
Versículo 9
II. As the sight of his brethren bowing before him with the deepest reverence reminded Joseph of his …
As the sight of his brethren bowing before him with the deepest reverence reminded Joseph of his early dreams of the sheaves and stars, which had so increased the hatred of his brethren towards him as to lead to a proposal to kill him, and an actual sale, he said to them, "Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land (i.e., the unfortified parts of the kingdom which would be easily accessible to a foe) ye are come;" and persisted in this charge notwithstanding their reply, "nay, my lord, but (ו see Ges. 155, 1b) to buy food are thy servants come. We are all one man's sons (נחנוּ for אנחנוּ, only in Exo 16:7-8; Num 32:32; Sa2 17:12; Lam 3:42): honest (כּנים) are we; thy servants are no spies." Cum exploratio sit delictum capitale, non est verisimile; quod pater tot filios uno tempore vitae periculo expositurus sit (J. Gerhard). But as their assertion failed to make any impression upon the Egyptian lord, they told him still more particularly about their family (Gen 42:13.): "Twelve are thy servants, brothers are we, sons of a man in the land of Canaan; and behold the youngest is now with our father, and one is no more (אימנּוּ as in Gen 5:24). Joseph then replied, "That is it (הוּא neut. like Gen 20:16) that I spake unto you, saying ye are spies. By this shall ye be proved: By the life of Pharaoh! ye shall not (אם, like Gen 14:23) go hence, unless your youngest brother come hither. Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother; but he shall be in bonds, and your words shall be proved, whether there be truth in you or not. By the life of Pharaoh! ye are truly spies!" He then had them put into custody for three days. By the coming of the youngest brother, Joseph wanted to test their assertion, not because he thought it possible that he might not be living with them, and they might have treated him as they did Joseph (Kn.), but because he wished to discover their feelings towards Benjamin, and see what affection they had for this son of Rachel, who had taken Joseph's place as his father's favourite. And with his harsh mode of addressing them, Joseph had no intention whatever to administer to his brethren "a just punishment for their wickedness towards him," for his heart could not have stooped to such mean revenge; but he wanted to probe thoroughly the feelings of their hearts, "whether they felt that they deserved the punishment of God for the sin they had committed," and how they felt towards their aged father and their youngest brother.
(Note: Joseph nihil aliud agit quam ut revelet peccatum fratrum hoc durissimo opere et sermone. Descendunt enim in Aegyptum una cum aliis emtum frumentum, securi et negligentes tam atrocis delicti, cujus sibi erant conscii, quasi nihil unquam deliguissent contra patrem decrepitum aut fratrem innocentem, cogitant Joseph jam diu exemtum esse rebus humanis, patrem vero rerum omnium ignarum esse. Quid ad nos? Non agunt poenitentiam. Hi silices et adamantes frangendi et conterendi sunt ac aperiendi oculi eorum, ut videant atrocitatem sceleris sui, idque ubi perfecit Joseph statim verbis et gestibus humaniorem se praebet eosque honorifice tractat. - Haec igitur atrocitas scelerum movit Joseph ad explorandos animos fratrum accuratius, ita ut non solum priorum delictorum sed et cogitationum pravarum memoriam renovaret, ac fuit sane inquisitio satis ingrata et acerba et tamen ab animo placidissimo profecta. Ego durius eos tractassem. Sed haec acerbitas, quam prae se fert, non pertinet ad vindicandum injuriam sed ad salutarem eorum poenitentiam, ut humilientur. Luther.)
Even in the fact that he did not send the one away directly to fetch Benjamin, and merely detain the rest, but put the whole ten in prison, and afterwards modified his threat (Gen 42:18.), there was no indecision as to the manner in which he should behave towards them - no "wavering between thoughts of wrath and revenge on the one hand, and forgiving love and meekness on the other;" but he hoped by imprisoning them to make his brethren feel the earnestness of his words, and to give them time for reflection, as the curt "is no more" with which they had alluded to Joseph's removal was a sufficient proof that they had not yet truly repented of the deed.
III
Versículo 18
III. On the third day Joseph modified his severity. "This do and live," i.e., then ye shall live: "I f…
On the third day Joseph modified his severity. "This do and live," i.e., then ye shall live: "I fear God." One shall remain in prison, but let the rest of you take home "corn for the famine of your families," and fetch your youngest brother, that your words may be verified, and ye may not die, i.e., may not suffer the death that spies deserve. That he might not present the appearance of despotic caprice and tyranny by too great severity, and so render his brethren obdurate, Joseph stated as the reason for his new decision, that he feared God. From the fear of God, he, the lord of Egypt, would not punish or slay these strangers upon mere suspicion, but would judge them justly. How differently had they acted towards their brother! The ruler of all Egypt had compassion on their families who were in Canaan suffering from hunger; but they had intended to leave their brother in the pit to starve! These and similar thoughts could hardly fail to pass involuntarily through their minds at Joseph's words, and to lead them to a penitential acknowledgement of their sin and unrighteousness. The notion that Joseph altered his first intention merely from regard to his much afflicted father, appears improbable, for the simple reason, that he can only have given utterance to the threat that he should keep them all in prison till one of them had gone and fetched Benjamin, for the purpose of giving the greater force to his accusation, that they were spies. But as he was not serious in making this charge, he could not for a moment have thought of actually carrying out the threat. "And they did so:" in these words the writer anticipates the result of the colloquy which ensued, and which is more fully narrated afterwards. Joseph's intention was fulfilled. The brothers now saw in what had happened to them a divine retribution: "Surely we atone because of our brother, whose anguish of soul we saw, when he entreated us and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us." And Reuben reminded them how he had warned them to no purpose, not to sin against the boy - "and even his blood...behold it is required" (cf. Gen 9:5); i.e., not merely the sin of casting him into the pit and then selling him, but his death also, of which we have been guilty through that sale. Thus they accused themselves in Joseph's presence, not knowing that he could understand; "for the interpreter was between them." Joseph had conversed with them through an interpreter, as an Egyptian who was ignorant of their language. "The interpreter," viz., the one appointed for that purpose; בּינות like Gen 26:28. But Joseph understood their words, and "turned away and wept" (Gen 42:24), with inward emotion at the wonderful leadings of divine grace, and at the change in his brothers' feelings. He then turned to them again, and, continuing the conversation with them, had Simeon bound before their eyes, to be detained as a hostage (not Reuben, who had dissuaded them from killing Joseph, and had taken no part in the sale, but Simeon, the next in age). He then ordered his men to fill their sacks with corn, to give every one (אישׁ as in Gen 15:10) his money back in his sack, and to provide them with food for the journey.
IV
Versículo 26
IV. Thus they started with their asses laden with the corn. On the way, when they had reached their h…
Thus they started with their asses laden with the corn. On the way, when they had reached their halting-place for the night, one of them opened his sack to feed the ass, and found his money in it. מלון, camping-place for the night, is merely a resting-place, not an inn, both here and in Exo 4:24; for there can hardly have been caravanserais at that time, either in the desert or by the desert road. אמתחת: an antiquated word for a corn-sack, occurring only in these chapters, and used even here interchangeably with שׂק.
V
Versículo 28
V. When this discovery was made known to the brethren, their hearts sank within them. They turned tr…
When this discovery was made known to the brethren, their hearts sank within them. They turned trembling to one another, and said, "What is this that God hath done to us!" Joseph had no doubt had the money returned, "merely because it was against his nature to trade with his father and brethren for bread;" just as he had caused them to be supplied with food for the journey, for no other reason than to give them a proof of his good-will. And even if he may have thought it possible that the brothers would be alarmed when they found the money, and thrown into a state of much greater anxiety from the fear of being still further accused by the stern lord of Egypt of cheating or of theft, there was no reason why he should spare them this anxiety, since it could only help to break their hard hearts still more. At any rate, this salutary effect was really produced, even if Joseph had no such intention. The brothers looked upon this incomprehensible affair as a punishment from God, and neglected in their alarm to examine the rest of the sacks.
VI
Versículo 29
VI. On their arrival at home, they told their father all that had occurred.
On their arrival at home, they told their father all that had occurred.
VII
Versículo 35
VII. But when they emptied their sacks, and, to their own and their father's terror, found their bundl…
But when they emptied their sacks, and, to their own and their father's terror, found their bundles of money in their separate sacks, Jacob burst out with the complaint, "Ye are making me childless! Joseph is gone, and Simeon is gone, and will ye take Benjamin! All this falls upon me" (כּלּנה for כּלּן as in Pro 31:29).
VIII
Versículo 37
VIII. Reuben then offered his two sons to Jacob as pledges for Benjamin, if Jacob would entrust him to …
Reuben then offered his two sons to Jacob as pledges for Benjamin, if Jacob would entrust him to his care: Jacob might slay them, if he did not bring Benjamin back-the greatest and dearest offer that a son could make to a father. But Jacob refused to let him go. "If mischief befell him by the way, he would bring down my grey hairs with sorrow into Sheol" (cf. Gen 37:35).
Antiguo Testamento
Genesis — Capítulo 42
With the words "Why do ye look at one another!" viz., in such a helpless and undecided manner. Jacob exhorted his sons to fetch corn from Egypt, to preserve his family from starvation. Joseph's ten brothers went, as t…
Texto — Reina-Valera 1960
1Viendo Jacob que en Egipto había alimentos, dijo a sus hijos: ¿Por qué os estáis mirando?
2Y dijo: He aquí, yo he oído que hay víveres en Egipto; descended allá, y comprad de allí para nosotros, para que podamos vivir, y no muramos.
3Y descendieron los diez hermanos de José a comprar trigo en Egipto.
4Mas Jacob no envió a Benjamín, hermano de José, con sus hermanos; porque dijo: No sea que le acontezca algún desastre.
5Vinieron los hijos de Israel a comprar entre los que venían; porque había hambre en la tierra de Canaán.
6Y José era el señor de la tierra, quien le vendía a todo el pueblo de la tierra; y llegaron los hermanos de José, y se inclinaron a él rostro a tierra.
7Y José, cuando vio a sus hermanos, los conoció; mas hizo como que no los conocía, y les habló ásperamente, y les dijo: ¿De dónde habéis venido? Ellos respondieron: De la tierra de Canaán, para comprar alimentos.
8José, pues, conoció a sus hermanos; pero ellos no le conocieron.
9Entonces se acordó José de los sueños que había tenido acerca de ellos, y les dijo: Espías sois; por ver lo descubierto del país habéis venido.
10Ellos le respondieron: No, señor nuestro, sino que tus siervos han venido a comprar alimentos.
11Todos nosotros somos hijos de un varón; somos hombres honrados; tus siervos nunca fueron espías.
12Pero José les dijo: No; para ver lo descubierto del país habéis venido.
13Y ellos respondieron: Tus siervos somos doce hermanos, hijos de un varón en la tierra de Canaán; y he aquí el menor está hoy con nuestro padre, y otro no parece.
14Y José les dijo: Eso es lo que os he dicho, afirmando que sois espías.
15En esto seréis probados: Vive Faraón, que no saldréis de aquí, sino cuando vuestro hermano menor viniere aquí.
16Enviad a uno de vosotros y traiga a vuestro hermano, y vosotros quedad presos, y vuestras palabras serán probadas, si hay verdad en vosotros; y si no, vive Faraón, que sois espías.
17Entonces los puso juntos en la cárcel por tres días.
18Y al tercer día les dijo José: Haced esto, y vivid: Yo temo a Dios.
19Si sois hombres honrados, quede preso en la casa de vuestra cárcel uno de vuestros hermanos, y vosotros id y llevad el alimento para el hambre de vuestra casa.
20Pero traeréis a vuestro hermano menor, y serán verificadas vuestras palabras, y no moriréis. Y ellos lo hicieron así.
21Y decían el uno al otro: Verdaderamente hemos pecado contra nuestro hermano, pues vimos la angustia de su alma cuando nos rogaba, y no le escuchamos; por eso ha venido sobre nosotros esta angustia.
22Entonces Rubén les respondió, diciendo: ¿No os hablé yo y dije: No pequéis contra el joven, y no escuchasteis? He aquí también se nos demanda su sangre.
23Pero ellos no sabían que los entendía José, porque había intérprete entre ellos.
24Y se apartó José de ellos, y lloró; después volvió a ellos, y les habló, y tomó de entre ellos a Simeón, y lo aprisionó a vista de ellos.
25Después mandó José que llenaran sus sacos de trigo, y devolviesen el dinero de cada uno de ellos, poniéndolo en su saco, y les diesen comida para el camino; y así se hizo con ellos.
26Y ellos pusieron su trigo sobre sus asnos, y se fueron de allí.
27Pero abriendo uno de ellos su saco para dar de comer a su asno en el mesón, vio su dinero que estaba en la boca de su costal.
28Y dijo a sus hermanos: Mi dinero se me ha devuelto, y helo aquí en mi saco. Entonces se les sobresaltó el corazón, y espantados dijeron el uno al otro: ¿Qué es esto que nos ha hecho Dios?
29Y venidos a Jacob su padre en tierra de Canaán, le contaron todo lo que les había acontecido, diciendo:
30Aquel varón, el señor de la tierra, nos habló ásperamente, y nos trató como a espías de la tierra.
31Y nosotros le dijimos: Somos hombres honrados, nunca fuimos espías.
32Somos doce hermanos, hijos de nuestro padre; uno no parece, y el menor está hoy con nuestro padre en la tierra de Canaán.
33Entonces aquel varón, el señor de la tierra, nos dijo: En esto conoceré que sois hombres honrados: dejad conmigo uno de vuestros hermanos, y tomad para el hambre de vuestras casas, y andad,
34y traedme a vuestro hermano el menor, para que yo sepa que no sois espías, sino hombres honrados; así os daré a vuestro hermano, y negociaréis en la tierra.
35Y aconteció que vaciando ellos sus sacos, he aquí que en el saco de cada uno estaba el atado de su dinero; y viendo ellos y su padre los atados de su dinero, tuvieron temor.
36Entonces su padre Jacob les dijo: Me habéis privado de mis hijos; José no parece, ni Simeón tampoco, y a Benjamín le llevaréis; contra mí son todas estas cosas.
37Y Rubén habló a su padre, diciendo: Harás morir a mis dos hijos, si no te lo devuelvo; entrégalo en mi mano, que yo lo devolveré a ti.
38Y él dijo: No descenderá mi hijo con vosotros, pues su hermano ha muerto, y él solo ha quedado; y si le aconteciere algún desastre en el camino por donde vais, haréis descender mis canas con dolor al Seol.
CARL FRIEDRICH KEIL AND FRANZ DELITZSCH OLD TESTAMENT COMMENTARY
Versículo 7
I. Joseph recognised his brothers at once; but they could not recognise a brother who had not been s…
Versículo 9
II. As the sight of his brethren bowing before him with the deepest reverence reminded Joseph of his …
Versículo 18
III. On the third day Joseph modified his severity. "This do and live," i.e., then ye shall live: "I f…
Versículo 26
IV. Thus they started with their asses laden with the corn. On the way, when they had reached their h…
Versículo 28
V. When this discovery was made known to the brethren, their hearts sank within them. They turned tr…
Versículo 29
VI. On their arrival at home, they told their father all that had occurred.
Versículo 35
VII. But when they emptied their sacks, and, to their own and their father's terror, found their bundl…
Versículo 37
VIII. Reuben then offered his two sons to Jacob as pledges for Benjamin, if Jacob would entrust him to …