30 "The man who is lord over the land spoke harshly to us and treated us as though we were spying on the land.
30 The man, who is the lord of the land, spake roughly
30 "The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly to us and took us to be spies of the land.
30 "The man who runs the country spoke to us roughly and accused us of being spies.
30 "The man who is lord of the land spoke roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country.
30 "The man who is governor of the land spoke very harshly to us," they told him. "He accused us of being spies scouting the land.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 42:30
Commentary on Genesis 42:29-38
(Read Genesis 42:29-38)
Here is the report Jacob's sons made to their father. It troubled the good man. Even the bundles of money Joseph returned, in kindness, to his father, frightened him. He laid the fault upon his sons; knowing them, he feared they had provoked the Egyptians, and wrongfully brought home their money. Jacob plainly distrusted his sons, remembering that he never saw Joseph since he had been with them. It is bad with a family, when children behave so ill that their parents know not how to trust them. Jacob gives up Joseph for gone, and Simeon and Benjamin as in danger; and concludes, All these things are against me. It proved otherwise, that all these things were for him, were working together for his good, and the good of his family. We often think that to be against us, which is really for us. We are afflicted in body, estate, name, and in our relations; and think all these things are against us, whereas they are really working for us a weight of glory. Thus does the Lord Jesus conceal himself and his favour, thus he rebukes and chastens those for whom he has purposes of love. By sharp corrections and humbling convictions he will break the stoutness and mar the pride of the heart, and bring to true repentance. Yet before sinners fully know him, or taste that he is gracious, he consults their good, and sustains their souls, to wait for him. May we do thus, never yielding to discouragement, determining to seek no other refuge, and humbling ourselves more and more under his mighty hand. In due time he will answer our petitions, and do for us more than we can expect.