Genesis 44:21 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.’

NIV: Then you said to your servants, 'Bring him down to me so I can see him for myself.'

NASB: Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me so that I may set my eyes on him.’

CSB: Then you said to your servants, 'Bring him to me so that I can see him.'

NLT: And you said to us, ‘Bring him here so I can see him with my own eyes.’

KJV: And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him.

NKJV: Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.’

Judah is making a plea to the Egyptian governor (Genesis 44:14–17). He speaks on behalf of his father Jacob, and his youngest brother Benjamin (Genesis 44:18–20). He reminds the vizier that he had demanded the brothers bring Benjamin to him so that he could look at him (Genesis 42:15). So far, he has not recognized that the man to whom he begs is his own brother, Joseph (Genesis 42:7–8), sold as a slave twenty years prior (Genesis 42:21–23).

At the time Joseph demanded to see Benjamin, Judah and his brothers thought this purpose was to prove they were not spies. Joseph's true motive in demanding to see Benjamin, however, was simply that he longed to set eyes on his brother again. He is also testing to see if his older brothers have changed since their despicable actions long ago (Genesis 37:24–28).

Genesis 44:14–34 explains how Joseph's brothers reacted to another test of character. The youngest, Benjamin, was discovered to have Joseph's own silver cup in his bags. This was secretly put there on Joseph's orders—and the brothers still do not know his identity. Joseph's intent seems to be a test of his brothers' growth: are they still as cruel and selfish as when they sold Joseph, himself, into Egyptian slavery? Benjamin's sentence is to become Joseph's slave while the rest are free to go. Instead, Judah offers to take Benjamin's place in order save his youngest brother and their old father, who will surely die of grief if Benjamin is lost.

Eleven of Jacob's sons enjoyed a meal as honored guests of an Egyptian governor. They are sent off the next morning with full sacks of grain. All seems well until the governor's house steward overtakes them on the road and accuses them of stealing the ruler's personal and valuable silver cup. The brothers don't know this governor is Joseph, their long-lost brother. Nor do they know he ordered the steward to place the cup in Benjamin's sack. This is part of Joseph's final test of his brothers and their moral growth. Seeking to rescue Benjamin from slavery, Judah makes a powerful speech to Joseph, offering to take Benjamin's place as a slave to save the boy and avoid grieving their father, Jacob.

Joseph maintained his hidden identity when his estranged brothers first arrived in Egypt (Genesis 42). When they returned a second time, he continued to test them and treated them to a fine meal (Genesis 43). Genesis 44 describes Joseph's final scheme to test the character of his brothers. Will they once again abandon a sibling into slavery? After a successful scheme by Joseph, Benjamin seems doomed to become a slave in Egypt. Judah boldly begs Joseph to keep him, instead. He offers himself in Benjamin's place. This finally overwhelms Joseph, who will break down and reveal himself in the next chapter.

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 5/2/2024 2:07:28 PM