Genesis 42:1

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 Genesis 42:1. 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.