Genesis 42:1

Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt,.... That is, to be sold there, or otherwise it being there, unless it could be bought, would have been of no avail to foreigners; wherefore the

Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another? Now when Jacob saw - learned from common rumour.

GENESIS CHAPTER 42 Jacob hearing there was corn in Egypt, sends all his sons thither but Benjamin, . They bow before Joseph, who knew them, but not they him; he treats them roughly, ; remembers his dreams; charges them for spies, . They, to vindicate themselves, declare that they were all sons of one father, and had a younger brother at home, . Joseph imprisons them, but releases all but Simeon, and sends the rest to fetch their brother, and so prove their words true, . Their consciences are awakened, and charge them with their sin against Joseph; they accuse one another, ,22. Joseph hears them; weeps; binds Simeon, ,24. Joseph orders their sacks to be filled with corn, and to return their money, ,26. In the way one finds his money in his sack; they are the more afraid, ,28. At home they relate to Jacob what happened to them, so far as to persuade Jacob to let Benjamin go, . He complains; Reuben undertakes for him; he cannot consent to let him go, . 1707 When Jacob saw, i.e. heard, as the word is used, ; as seeing is put for smelling, ; and for tasting, ; and for touching, . Why do ye look one upon another; like lazy, careless, and helpless persons, each one expecting relief from the other, but none offering either counsel or help for all our subsistence?

Genesis 42:1 Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?Ver. 1. Now when Jacob saw that there was corn.] A sale of corn. Heb., A breaking: so called, either because corn breaks famine; or, because it is broken and ground to make bread of; or, for that they made their bread in thin cakes and so broke it. Or lastly, because he that selleth it breaks the heap and gives part to the buyer. Why look ye one upon another?] As hopeless and helpless; or, as at your wits’ ends, and not knowing whither to turn you. Youth is one while witless, another while shiftless. Let days speak, and multitude of years teach wisdom. As at feasts, so at other meetings, old men should be vowels, young men mutes; or at most, but semivowels. Convivium sit simile Alphabeto, &c.

XLII. FIRST VISIT OF JOSEPH’S TO EGYPT.(1) When Jacob saw.—That is, learned, understood, that there was corn in Egypt. As we have seen (Genesis 37:25), there was a large caravan trade between Palestine and Egypt, and the report would gradually get abroad that food might be purchased there. Why do ye look . . . —In the second rainless season not only would the flocks and herds begin to languish, but the numerous retainers of Jacob and his sons would also become enfeebled from insufficient nourishment, and begin to die of low fever and those other diseases which follow in the train of famine. Jacob’s words, therefore, mean, Why are you irresolute, and uncertain what to do? And then he encourages them to take this journey as a possible means of providing for the wants of their households.

CHAPTER XLII Jacob sends his ten sons to Egypt to buy corn, 1-3; but refuses to permit Benjamin to go, 4. They arrive in Egypt, and bow themselves before Joseph, 5, 6. He treats them roughly and calls them spies, 7-10. They defend themselves and give an account of their family, 11-13. He appears unmoved, and puts them all in prison for three days, 14-17. On the third day he releases them on condition of their bringing Benjamin, 18-20. Being convicted by their consciences, they reproach themselves with their cruelty to their brother Joseph, and consider themselves under the displeasure of God, 21-23. Joseph is greatly affected, detains Simeon as a pledge for Benjamin, orders their sacks to be filled with corn, and the purchase money to be put in each man's sack, 24, 25. When one of them is going to give his ass provender he discovers his money in the mouth of his sack, at which they are greatly alarmed, 26-28. They come to their father in Canaan, and relate what happened to them in their journey, 29-34. On emptying their sacks, each man's money is found in his sack's mouth, which causes alarm both to them and their father, 35. Jacob deplores the loss of Joseph and Simeon, and refuses to let Benjamin go, though Reuben offers his two sons as pledges for his safety, 36-38. NOTES ON CHAP. XLII Verse 1. Jacob saw that there was corn] That is, Jacob heard from the report of others that there was plenty in Egypt. The operations of one sense, in Hebrew, are often put for those of another. Before agriculture was properly known and practised, famines were frequent; Canaan seems to have been peculiarly vexed by them. There was one in this land in the time of Abraham, Genesis 12:10; another in the days of Isaac, Genesis 26:1; and now a third in the time of Jacob. To this St. Stephen alludes, Acts 7:11: there was great affliction, and our fathers found no sustenance.

1–5. The Descent into Egypt 1. look one upon another] In silence, as if desperate. Jacob’s words indicate the energy and resourcefulness of the old man, as compared with the helpless despondency of the sons.

- Joseph and Ten of His Brethren 1. שׁבר sheber, “fragment, crumb, hence, grain.” בר bar “pure,” “winnowed,” hence, “corn” (grain). 6. שׁליט shallı̂yṭ, “ruler, governor, hence,” Sultan. Not elsewhere found in the Pentateuch. 25.

JOSEPH’S FIRST MEETING WITH HIS , Genesis 42:1-38. 1. Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt — He, perhaps, saw caravans returning from Egypt with grain, and he also heard (Genesis 42:2) that grain could there be had.