Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 44:34
For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad [be] not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.
For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad [be] not with me?…. Signifying that he must abide in Egypt, and chose to do it, and could not go up to the land of Canaan any more or see his father’s face without Benjamin along with him, to whom he was a surety for him:
lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father; see him die, or live a life of sorrow worse than death: this he could not bear, and chose rather to be a slave in Egypt, than to be the spectator of such an affecting scene. By this speech of Judah, Joseph plainly saw the great affection which his brethren, especially Judah, had for his father and his brother Benjamin, as well as the sense they had of their evil in selling him, which lay uppermost on their minds, and for which they thought themselves brought into all this trouble; wherefore he could no longer conceal himself from them, but makes himself known unto them, which is the principal subject of the following chapter.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Exo 18:8 .
REFLECTIONS
This Chapter opens to our view very profitable reflections. How soon was the joy of the children of Israel turned into mourning. And yet in the midst of both, their covenant GOD was carrying on one and the same plan of mercy towards them. Learn, my soul, in all the checquered circumstances of life to remember this, and both in prosperity and adversity to live upon an unchangeable GOD.
But chiefly let this Chapter, with all the events of it, lead me to JESUS. Whatever tends to detain me, or to bring me back to him, may I esteem a mercy! Dearest LORD! put thou the cup of salvation in my lot, and may it be my portion to be thy servant forever. I would cry unto thee as one of old; Give ear, O shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims shine forth. Before Ephraim, and Benjamin, and Manasseh, stir up that strength, and come, and save us. Turn us again, O GOD, and cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 44:34 For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad [be] not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.
Ver. 34. For how shall I go up, &c. ] Here love ascends, as fit it should. Judah, a man wise and well spoken, prefers his father’s life before his own liberty. He could not live to see the death of his aged father. A certain citizen of Toledo being condemned to die, his son ceased not with prayers and tears to entreat that he might be put to death instead of his father. This he obtained after much suit, and most gladly died for him. a At Gaunt in Flanders, when a father and his son were condemned to die together, the earl, desirous to make trial whether of the two were more loving, granted that he should live that would cut off the other’s head. And after much ado between them, the father, by many arguments, persuaded his son to be his executioner. b
a B. Fulgos, lib. v.
b Philip. Camerar., cent. i. cap. 92.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
see. Put by Metonymy (of Cause) for the feelings produced by seeing them. Note the Ellipsis “see [and grieve over] the evil, “&c.
come. Hebrew find. Evil is thus personified, by Figure of speech Prosopopoeia.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
lest: 1Sa 2:33, 1Sa 2:34, 2Ch 34:28, Est 8:6, Jer 52:10, Jer 52:11
come on: Heb. find, Exo 18:8, Job 31:29, Psa 116:3, Psa 119:143, *marg.
Reciprocal: Gen 21:16 – Let Gen 44:30 – When I 1Sa 25:24 – Upon 2Ki 25:7 – they slew Ecc 3:7 – and a time to speak Jer 39:6 – before Lam 3:51 – eye
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
44:34 For {h} how shall I go up to my father, and the lad [be] not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.
(h) Meaning, he would rather remain as their prisoner, than to return and see his father in sorrow.