Genesis 43:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And when they had eaten the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.”

NIV: So when they had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, 'Go back and buy us a little more food.'

NASB: So it came about, when they had finished eating the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, 'Go back, buy us a little food.'

CSB: When they had used up the grain they had brought back from Egypt, their father said to them, "Go back and buy us a little food."

NLT: When the grain they had brought from Egypt was almost gone, Jacob said to his sons, 'Go back and buy us a little more food.'

KJV: And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food.

NKJV: And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, “Go back, buy us a little food.”

Jacob had previously refused to allow his sons to return to Egypt for a second purchase of food (Genesis 42:38). The Egyptian ruler had warned them, on threat of death, not to come back unless they brought their youngest brother with them (Genesis 42:19–20). Jacob was never subtle about his favoritism (Genesis 37:4; 42:28); he seemed willing to abandon the brother kept behind (Genesis 42:24) rather than to risk Benjamin.

Now, Jacob is forced to relent. His family is out of food—they will all die unless they buy grain from Egypt. He instructs his sons to go buy more, though he does not initially mention Benjamin. As Judah will point out in the following verses, they cannot return without Jacob's beloved youngest son in their company (Genesis 43:3–5).

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.

Accessed 5/9/2024 3:33:06 PM