431 Now the famine was severe in the land . 2 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 ." 3 Judah spoke to him, however, saying , " The man solemnly warned us, 'You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.' 4 "If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food . 5 "But if you do not send him, we will not go down ; for the man said to us, 'You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.' " 6 Then Israel said , "Why did you treat me so badly by telling the man whether you still had another brother ?" 7 But they said , "The man questioned particularly about us and our relatives , saying , ' Is your father still alive ? Have you another brother ?' So we answered his questions . Could we possibly know that he would say , 'Bring your brother down '?" 8 Judah said to his father Israel , "Send the lad with me and we will arise and go , that we may live and not die , we as well as you and our little ones . 9 " I myself will be surety for him; you may hold e me responsible e for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame before you forever e . 10 "For if we had not delayed , surely by now we could have returned twice ."
11 Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so , then do this : take some of the best products of the land in your bags , and carry down to the man as a present , a little balm and a little honey , aromatic gum and myrrh , pistachio nuts and almonds . 12 "Take double the money in your hand , and take back in your hand the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks ; perhaps it was a mistake . 13 "Take your brother also, and arise , return to the man ; 14 and may God Almighty grant you compassion in the sight of the man , so that he will release to you your other brother and Benjamin . And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children , I am bereaved ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 43:1-14
Commentary on Genesis 43:1-14
(Read Genesis 43:1-14)
Jacob urges his sons to go and buy a little food; now, in time of dearth, a little must suffice. Judah urges that Benjamin should go with them. It is not against the honour and duty children owe their parents, humbly to advise them, and when needful, to reason with them. Jacob saw the necessity of the case, and yielded. His prudence and justice appeared in three things. 1. He sent back the money they had found in the sack. Honesty obliges us to restore not only that which comes to us by our own fault, but that which comes to us by the mistakes of others. Though we get it by oversight, if we keep it when the oversight is discovered, it is kept by deceit. 2. He sent as much again as they took the time before; the price of corn might be risen, or they might have to pay a ransom for Simeon. 3. He sent a present of such things as the land afforded, and as were scarce in Egypt, balm, and honey, &c. Providence dispenses not its gifts to all alike. But honey and spice will never make up the want of bread-corn. The famine was sore in Canaan, yet they had balm and myrrh, &c. We may live well enough upon plain food, without dainties; but we cannot live upon dainties without plain food. Let us thank God that what is most needful and useful, generally is most cheap and common. Though men value very highly their gold and silver, and the luxuries which are counted the best fruits of every land, yet in a time of famine they willingly barter them for bread. And how little will earthly good things stand us in stead in the day of wrath! How ready should we be to renounce them all, as loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ! Our way to prevail with man is by first prevailing with the Lord in fervent prayer. But, Thy will be done, should close every petition for the mercies of this life, or against the afflictions of this life.