Genesis 44:29 - Printer Friendly

ESV: If you take this one also from me, and harm happens to him, you will bring down my gray hairs in evil to Sheol.’

NIV: If you take this one from me too and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in misery.'

NASB: If you also take this one from me, and harm happens to him, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.’

CSB: If you also take this one from me and anything happens to him, you will bring my gray hairs down to Sheol in sorrow.'

NLT: Now if you take his brother away from me, and any harm comes to him, you will send this grieving, white-haired man to his grave. ’

KJV: And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.

NKJV: But if you take this one also from me, and calamity befalls him, you shall bring down my gray hair with sorrow to the grave.’

Judah is describing his father's response to risking his youngest and favorite son, Benjamin. This is part of his plea to an Egyptian governor (Genesis 44:18–28), who has demanded Benjamin remain behind as a slave (Genesis 44:17), after finding his personal silver cup in Benjamin's bag (Genesis 44:12–14). Jacob had said that if any harm were to come to Benjamin, his only remaining son by his beloved wife Rachel (Genesis 35:24), Judah and his brothers would be responsible for bringing Jacob's gray hairs "to evil in sheol" (Genesis 42:38).

At this point in Israel's history, sheol was used as a generic term for the afterlife. Judah is making it abundantly clear to that losing his beloved Benjamin would kill their father. He does not know that the man he speaks to is also a son of Jacob (Genesis 42:7–8). This is Joseph, the long-lost one sold into slavery by Judah and the other nine older brothers twenty years prior (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 5/6/2024 1:58:58 AM