Genesis 43:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: They replied, "The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ What we told him was in answer to these questions. Could we in any way know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?"

NIV: They replied, "The man questioned us closely about ourselves and our family. ‘Is your father still living?’ he asked us. ‘Do you have another brother?’ We simply answered his questions. How were we to know he would say, ‘Bring your brother down here’?"

NASB: But they said, 'The man specifically asked about us and our relatives, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ So we answered his questions. Could we possibly know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?'

CSB: They answered, "The man kept asking about us and our family: ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ And we answered him accordingly. How could we know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother here’?"

NLT: The man kept asking us questions about our family,' they replied. 'He asked, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ So we answered his questions. How could we know he would say, ‘Bring your brother down here’?'

KJV: And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?

NKJV: But they said, “The man asked us pointedly about ourselves and our family, saying, ‘ Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ And we told him according to these words. Could we possibly have known that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?”

Judah and his brothers are defending themselves to their father Jacob. Jacob is blaming them for the choice in front of him: Allow his family to starve to death or send his beloved youngest son into hostile Egypt and risk losing him. The first time he sent his ten oldest sons to buy food (Genesis 42:1–2), they returned with one brother left as a captive and orders from the governor not to come back without their youngest brother, Benjamin (Genesis 42:19–20, 24). As the famine rages on (Genesis 43:1–2), he again wants them to purchase Egyptian grain. When Judah reminds that they will be jailed or killed if they don't bring Benjamin (Genesis 43:3–6), Jacob responds with bitterness and accusation (Genesis 43:6).

This is probably not the first time Jacob has made this criticism. He's upset the older brothers would even mention Benjamin to the Egyptians. Their defense, however, makes sense. The Egyptian ruler asked them directly about their family. What they claim here may or may not be literally true, however. In the earlier description of their encounter with the governor, he did not directly ask about Jacob or Benjamin—they seem to have volunteered those facts (Genesis 42:10–11). Scripture does not often record word-for-word transcripts of conversations, however, so their statement might have been in response to a question from the Egyptian governor.

The greater point is that they had no reason to lie to the Egyptians. How could they have suspected they'd be commanded to bring that brother back with them? The Egyptian ruler accused them of being spies. They rightly feared for their lives. They were desperately trying to prove their innocence as honest men. Why would they lie about facts that seemed so inconsequential?

What none of the men know is that this seemingly-irrational Egyptian governor was their long-lost brother, Joseph (Genesis 37:24–28; 42:8).

Genesis 43:1–15 describes how Jacob is forced to send his beloved son, Benjamin, to accompany his other sons to Egypt to buy more grain. If Benjamin doesn't go, they will not be allowed to purchase anything. This is by the order of the Egyptian governor, who the men do not realize is their long-lost brother, Joseph. Without grain, the family will starve. Jacob agrees, sending with his sons a gift for the man, along with double the amount of money needed to buy the grain. Finally, Jacob prays to God Almighty for his boys before allowing them to depart with his precious youngest son.

Jacob must send Benjamin with his brothers, back to Egypt, to buy more grain for the family. Without it, they will starve, but the Egyptian ruler will not sell them grain if they don't bring Benjamin as agreed. Speaking on behalf of his brothers, Judah finally convinces his father. Arriving in Egypt, they are honored as guests in Joseph's house. They present a gift to him—still not recognizing him as their estranged brother—and Joseph, after being overwhelmed with emotion, pays special attention to Benjamin.

In Genesis chapter 37, Jacob sends his favorite son, Joseph, to visit his brothers. Joseph does not come home. In chapter 42, Jacob sends ten of his sons on a mission, and once again the group returns short one son. The Egyptian governor keeps Simeon as collateral and commands the family to return with Benjamin. Only when forced with starvation does Jacob risk his youngest son. Joseph, still unrecognized by his brothers as the governor of Egypt, honors the men as guests in his home, paying special attention to Benjamin. After further tests in chapter 44, Joseph will finally reveal himself in chapter 45.

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.