Genesis 42:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he said, “Behold, I have heard that there is grain for sale in Egypt. Go down and buy grain for us there, that we may live and not die.”

NIV: He continued, 'I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.'

NASB: Then he said, 'Look, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down there and buy some for us from that place, so that we may live and not die.'

CSB: Listen," he went on, "I have heard there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us so that we will live and not die."

NLT: I have heard there is grain in Egypt. Go down there, and buy enough grain to keep us alive. Otherwise we’ll die.'

KJV: And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.

NKJV: And he said, “Indeed I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down to that place and buy for us there, that we may live and not die.”

News has reached Jacob and his large clan (Genesis 35:23–26) that grain can be purchased in Egypt. The whole world is caught in the grip of a terrible famine, and only Egypt has food (Genesis 41:53–54). Jacob seems frustrated with his sons, who are not taking the obvious action: going to Egypt to buy grain (Genesis 42:1). It is unclear why the sons have hesitated to take this action.

What none of Jacob's family know is that Egypt has grain only because of their lost brother, Joseph (Genesis 41:34–36; 55–57). Jacob believes his son is dead (Genesis 37:31–34), but he was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers (Genesis 37:28).

Genesis 42:1–17 contains the unlikeliest of reunions: that between Joseph and his ten oldest brothers (Genesis 37:28). They have been sent by Jacob to Egypt to buy grain during a terrible famine (Genesis 41:53–54). They don't recognize their brother, now an Egyptian ruler. Joseph knows them but keeps the secret; he responds harshly to avoid breaking the illusion. He then puts them in prison for three days, saying they might be spies. All the while, he has a plan in mind.

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.

Accessed 5/6/2024 9:10:53 AM