Genesis 42:38 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But he said, "My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is the only one left. If harm should happen to him on the journey that you are to make, you would bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol."

NIV: But Jacob said, "My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow."

NASB: But Jacob said, 'My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. If harm should happen to him on the journey you are taking, then you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.'

CSB: But Jacob answered, "My son will not go down with you, for his brother is dead and he alone is left. If anything happens to him on your journey, you will bring my gray hairs down to Sheol in sorrow."

NLT: But Jacob replied, 'My son will not go down with you. His brother Joseph is dead, and he is all I have left. If anything should happen to him on your journey, you would send this grieving, white-haired man to his grave. '

KJV: And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.

NKJV: 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.”

Despite Reuben's melodramatic offer (Genesis 42:37), Jacob refuses to risk Benjamin. His response to his sons' news (Genesis 42:29–35) is already bitter and angry (Genesis 42:36). Now, Jacob becomes almost vicious in his reaction. In essence, Jacob decides it is better to count Simeon as lost rather than risk losing his youngest son. Benjamin is the last child of his most beloved wife, Rachel (Genesis 35:16–19). Her other son, Joseph, is believed lost (Genesis 37:32–33).

Jacob showed such outrageous favoritism to Joseph that the older brothers became hatefully jealous (Genesis 37:3–4). This led them to sell Joseph into slavery, lying to Jacob about his fate (Genesis 37:28–31). Now, as one of his other sons is being held in Egypt, Jacob refers to Benjamin as "the only one left." This must have been a crushing remark. At best, Jacob means Benjamin is the last of Rachel's children left. And yet, prior history makes it almost certain he means much more than that. In grief and anger, Jacob openly declares his preference for Benjamin, and Joseph, beyond any of his other sons.

For their part, the brothers likely feel more guilt than self-pity. They know they are responsible for what is happening (Genesis 42:21–22). They expressed their conviction that what happened with the Egyptian ruler is God's punishment for their action. In that sense, they are responsible for the loss of Simeon, as well.

Jacob concludes with a statement of grand despair. He felt nearly-fatal grief over the loss of Joseph (Genesis 37:34–35); he is convinced the loss of Benjamin would kill him. The drastic famine will force him to change his plans (Genesis 43:1–2).

Genesis 42:29–38 explains the results of Jacob's sons first trip to Egypt to buy food during a famine. There, the governor allowed them to leave only after keeping leaving Simeon as security, and demanding they return with Benjamin, the youngest, to prove their honesty. They also discovered—to their horror—that the money they paid the governor for grain was still in their bags. They do not know the governor is their own brother, Joseph (Genesis 37:28). However, Jacob refuses to risk losing yet another son and forbids the men to take Benjamin to Egypt.

Genesis 42 describes the moment Joseph sees his brothers for the first time since they sold him into slavery over 20 years earlier. They have come to Egypt to buy grain, and they do not recognize him. He keeps his secret, speaking roughly to them and hinting they may be spies. He allows them to leave only if they promise to return with their youngest brother Benjamin. He keeps Simeon as collateral but sends them off with full sacks of grain for their family. He also secretly returns their money, something they are terrified to discover on the way home. Back in Canaan, Jacob responds to this terrible news with bitterness and vindictive blame.

Twenty years prior to the events of this chapter, Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery (Genesis 37:28). Miraculously, Joseph is now the governor of the nation of Egypt (Genesis 41:44). His brothers, who know nothing of Joseph's fate, have come to buy food during a terrible famine (Genesis 41:56–57). Joseph, probably and justifiably angry at his brothers, keeps his identity a secret, at first. Over the next several chapters, he will test, challenge, and chasten them. Yet there is no revenge involved; everything Joseph does furthers a long-term goal of rescuing the family from starvation.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.