Genesis 43:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones.

NIV: Then Judah said to Israel his father, 'Send the boy along with me and we will go at once, so that we and you and our children may live and not die.

NASB: So Judah said to his father Israel, 'Send the boy with me and we will arise and go, so that we may live and not die, we as well as you and our little ones.

CSB: Then Judah said to his father Israel, "Send the boy with me. We will be on our way so that we may live and not die--neither we, nor you, nor our dependents.

NLT: Judah said to his father, 'Send the boy with me, and we will be on our way. Otherwise we will all die of starvation — and not only we, but you and our little ones.

KJV: And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.

NKJV: Then Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones.

When Jacob's ten oldest sons went to buy grain during a famine (Genesis 42:1–2), they came back with a missing brother (Genesis 42:24) and a command from the Egyptian governor. To prove they were not liars, they had to return with their youngest brother, Benjamin (Genesis 42:19–20). Judah and his brothers know any trip to Egypt to buy grain will fail if they don't take Benjamin along. Jacob has resisted this, preferring to abandon Simeon rather than risk his favorite son. He continues to blame his older sons for putting him into this situation (Genesis 42:6).

Jacob doesn't want to risk losing the only remaining son of his beloved late wife Rachel. However, the only alternative is to allow the family to starve to death. So, Judah asks outright that Jacob entrust Benjamin—"the boy"—to his personal safekeeping in order that all of them might survive this famine. In the following verse, Judah will offer his own life as a pledge of safety for Benjamin (Genesis 43:9).

This is an interesting turn of events, as Judah was among the brothers who wanted to kill Joseph, Jacob's former favorite son, out of jealousy, some twenty years prior (Genesis 37:18–20). Judah then hit on the idea of selling Joseph as a slave, instead (Genesis 37:26–28). What neither Judah nor the other brothers know is that the Egyptian governor is that very Joseph (Genesis 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.