Genesis 43:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry a present down to the man, a little balm and a little honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds.

NIV: Then their father Israel said to them, 'If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift--a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds.

NASB: Then their father Israel said to them, 'If it must be so, then do this: take some of the best products of the land in your bags, and carry down to the man as a gift, a little balsam and a little honey, labdanum resin and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds.

CSB: Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your packs and take them down to the man as a gift--a little balsam and a little honey, aromatic gum and resin, pistachios and almonds.

NLT: So their father, Jacob, finally said to them, 'If it can’t be avoided, then at least do this. Pack your bags with the best products of this land. Take them down to the man as gifts — balm, honey, gum, aromatic resin, pistachio nuts, and almonds.

KJV: And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:

NKJV: And their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best fruits of the land in your vessels and carry down a present for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds.

Finally, after much delay (Genesis 43:10) Jacob reaches a decision. He resisted sending his youngest, Benjamin, on a second trip to Egypt to buy food, even though that was the only way to buy grain and free another son, Simeon (Genesis 42:19–20, 24). Until now, Jacob had resisted, even if it meant abandoning the older brother (Genesis 42:38). One of the risks of returning to Egypt included the return-trip discovery of money, meant to pay for grain, still in the brothers' bags (Genesis 42:26–28). None of the family realize, yet, that the governor is their long-lost brother, Joseph (Genesis 42:8), and he ordered their money returned (Genesis 42:25).

Judah's argument to Jacob was that the alternative is starvation for them all (Genesis 43:3–9). That, along with Judah's pledge to take personal responsibility for Benjamin's safety, leads Jacob to realize he has no other reasonable choice. He will allow his older sons to take his beloved Benjamin with them as ordered by the Egyptian ruler.

Now that the decision is made, Jacob lays out a plan. The brothers will take with them a gift of choice regional products from Canaan to try to win over the Egyptian governor. The gift package includes fruit, balm, honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds. Jacob's tactic of softening a potential enemy with gifts resembles his approach to the reunion with Esau in Genesis 32:20–21.

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.