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Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

Genesis 42

Genesis 42:1

GENESIS CHAPTER 42 Jacob hearing there was corn in Egypt, sends all his sons thither but Benjamin, GENESIS 42:1. They bow before Joseph, who knew them, but not they him; he treats them roughly, GENESIS 42:6; remembers his dreams; charges them for spies, GENESIS 42:9. They, to vindicate themselves, d... [ Continue Reading ]

Genesis 42:2

I HAVE HEARD: this word explains the word _saw,_ GENESIS 42:1. GET YOU DOWN; for Egypt was lower than Canaan; whence, on the contrary, they are said to _go up_ to Canaan, GENESIS 45:9. THAT WE MAY LIVE, AND NOT DIE; an emphatical repetition of the same thing, used here to make them more sensible of... [ Continue Reading ]

Genesis 42:6

HE SOLD TO THE PEOPLE; either, 1. By his ministers and commissioners appointed to that end, as men in Scripture and in all authors are said to do that which others do by their authority and command. Or, 2. He himself immediately contracted with the buyers, or at least with such as were foreigners;... [ Continue Reading ]

Genesis 42:7

HE SPAKE ROUGHLY UNTO THEM; partly, to bring their sin to remembrance; partly, to get the knowledge of the true state of his father and family; and partly, to further the following design, and make way for his and their greater happiness.... [ Continue Reading ]

Genesis 42:8

Because his visage was much altered by his beard, and by other things, it being about twenty years since they saw him; and his Egyptian language, and habit, and carriage, together with the great dignity of his place, prevented all suspicions concerninging their brother.... [ Continue Reading ]

Genesis 42:9

This he saith, not because they were so, or he thought them to be so, but that he might search out the truth of their affair, speaking too much like a courtier or politician. THE NAKEDNESS OF THE LAND, i.e. the weak parts of it, and where it may be best assaulted or surprised.... [ Continue Reading ]

Genesis 42:11

WE ARE ALL ONE MAN'S SONS, and therefore not spies; for it is not likely either that a father would venture so many sons upon so hazardous an employment, or that such a work would have been trusted in the hands of one family only. WE ARE TRUE MEN, who honestly and truly mean what we pretend, and hav... [ Continue Reading ]

Genesis 42:13

i.e. Is dead, as that phrase often signifies both in Scripture, as GENESIS 37:30, GENESIS 44:20 JEREMIAH 31:15 MATTHEW 2:17,18, and in other authors, as Homer, Euripides, &c. They concluded with great probability that he was dead, GENESIS 44:20, because for twenty years together they had heard nothi... [ Continue Reading ]

Genesis 42:14

This justifies my accusation; for it is not probable that one man should have so many sons, all grown up and living together in one family, and that he should expose them all to the perils of such a journey.... [ Continue Reading ]

Genesis 42:15

BY THE LIFE OF PHARAOH, as sure as Pharaoh lives. It seems to be the form of an oath in use among the Egyptians, as afterwards the Romans used to swear by the name, genius, health, and life of their emperors. Compare 1 SAMUEL 1:26, 1 SAMUEL 17:55 2 KINGS 2:2 EZEKIEL 33:11. And it is not strange that... [ Continue Reading ]

Genesis 42:18

I will spare your lives, and not punish you with death as spies, and you shall carry provisions, that your family also may live; FOR I FEAR GOD, and therefore will not be cruel to you, nor to your brother whom you shall leave with me. This might have raised some suspicion concerning Joseph, but that... [ Continue Reading ]

Genesis 42:20

i.e. Resolved and promised to do so. Those things are oft said to be done in Scripture which were sincerely resolved upon, as hath been noted before.... [ Continue Reading ]

Genesis 42:21

This is the just punishment of that great wickedness, which though we could cover from men, yet we now see and feel was known to God, who is now reckoning with us for it. Thus Divine vengeance overtakes them, and conscience tortures them for a sin committed above twenty years before, and their affli... [ Continue Reading ]

Genesis 42:24

HE TURNED HIMSELF AND WEPT TEARS, partly of natural affection and compassion towards his brethren, now in great distress and anguish; and partly of joy, to see the happy success of his design and rigorous carriage, in bringing them to the sight of their sins. He chooseth to punish SIMEON, partly, be... [ Continue Reading ]

Genesis 42:28

THEY WERE AFRAID, lest this should be a design to entrap, and so destroy them. Whoever were the instruments, they knew that God was the chief author of this occurrent, and wisely reflect upon his providence in it, and their own guilt which provoked him against them.... [ Continue Reading ]

Genesis 42:35

i.e. Their fear returned upon them with more violence, having now more leisure to consider things, and their wise and experienced father suggesting new matters to them, which might more deeply affect them.... [ Continue Reading ]

Genesis 42:36

SIMEON IS NOT; he gave him up for lost, as being, as he thought, in the power of a cruel enemy. ALL THESE THINGS ARE AGAINST ME; I am the great sufferer in all these things: you carry yourselves as if you were neither concerned nor affected with them.... [ Continue Reading ]

Genesis 42:37

SLAY MY TWO SONS, two of the four mentioned GENESIS 46:9. An absurd proposition, neither fit for him to make, nor for Jacob to accept.... [ Continue Reading ]

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