Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
Genesis
Book: Genesis
Chapter: 42
Overview:
Jacob sends ten sons to buy
Corn.
(1-6) Joseph's treatment of
his brethren.
(7-20) Their remorse,
Simeon detained.
(21-24) The
Rest return with
Corn.
(25-28) Jacob refuses to send
Benjamin to
Egypt.
(29-38)
1-6 Jacob saw the
Corn his neighbours had bought in
Egypt, and
brought home. It is a spur to exertion to see others supplied.
Shall others get
Food for their souls, and shall we starve while
it is to be had? Having discovered where help is to be had, we
should apply for it without delay, without shrinking from
labour, or grudging expense, especially as regards our
never-dying souls. There is provision in
Christ; but we must
come to him, and seek it from him.
7-20 Joseph was hard upon his brethren, not from a
Spirit of
revenge, but to bring them to
Repentance. Not seeing his
Brother
Benjamin, he suspected that they had made away with him, and he
gave them occasion to speak of their
Father and
Brother.
God, in
his
Providence, sometimes seems harsh with those he loves, and
speaks roughly to those for whom yet he has great
Mercy in
store.
Joseph settled at last, that one of them should be left,
and the
Rest go home and fetch
Benjamin. It was a very
encouraging
Word he said to them, "I fear
God;" as if he had
said, You may be assured I will do you
No wrong; I dare not, for
I know there is one higher than I. With those that fear
God, we
may expect fair dealing.
21-24 The office of
Conscience is to bring to mind things long
since said and done. When the guilt of this
Sin of
Joseph's
brethren was fresh, they made
Light of it, and sat down to eat
Bread; but now, long afterward, their consciences accused them
of it. See the good of
Afflictions; they often prove the happy
means of awakening
Conscience, and bringing
Sin to our
remembrance. Also, the evil of guilt as to our brethren.
Conscience now reproached them for it. Whenever we think we have
wrong done us, we ought to remember the wrong we have done to
others.
Reuben alone remembered with comfort, that he had done
what he could to prevent the mischief. When we share with others
in their sufferings, it will be a comfort if we have the
Testimony of our consciences for us, that we did not share in
their evil deeds, but in our places witnessed against them.
Joseph retired to weep. Though his reason directed that he
should still carry himself as a
Stranger, because they were not
as yet humbled enough, yet natural
Affection could not but work.
25-28 The brethren came for
Corn, and
Corn they had: not only
So, but every
Man had his
Money given back. Thus
Christ, like
Joseph, gives out supplies without
Money and without price. The
poorest are invited to buy. But guilty consciences are apt to
take good providences in a bad sense; to
Put wrong meanings even
upon things that make for them.
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.