Bible Commentaries
Genesis 43

Verse 1

43:1 And the {a} famine [was] sore in the land.

(a) This was a great temptation to Jacob to suffer such a great famine in the land where God had promised to bless him.

Verse 12

43:12 And take {b} double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry [it] again in your hand; peradventure it [was] an oversight:

(b) When we are in need or danger, God does not forbid us to use honest means to better our estate and condition.

Verse 14

43:14 And {c} God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be {d} bereaved [of my children], I am bereaved.

(c) Our main trust should be in God, not in worldly means.

(d) He speaks these words not so much in despair, but to make his sons more careful to return with their brother.

Verse 18

43:18 And the men were {e} afraid, because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.

(e) So the judgment of God weighed on their consciences.

Verse 23

43:23 And he said, Peace [be] to you, fear not: {f} your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.

(f) Despite the corruption of Egypt, Joseph taught his family to fear God.

Verse 29

43:29 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his {g} mother’s son, and said, [Is] this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son.

(g) For only these two were born of Rachel.

Verse 32

43:32 And they {h} set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that [is] an {i} abomination unto the Egyptians.

(h) To signify his dignity.

(i) The nature of the superstitions is to condemn all others in respect to themselves.

Verse 34

43:34 And he took [and sent] messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin’s mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, {k} and were merry with him.

(k) Sometimes this word means "to be drunken", but here it means that they had enough, and drank of the best wine.