Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 42:13
And they said, Thy servants [are] twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest [is] this day with our father, and one [is] not.
13. We twelve brethren ] In this verse, as in Gen 42:32, it appears that Joseph’s brethren proffer this information of their own accord, in order to convince the ruler that they were simple private persons. According to J (Gen 43:7, Gen 44:19), Joseph extracted the information by direct questioning.
one is not ] See Gen 37:30.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 13. One is not.] An elliptical sentence, One is not alive.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
i.e. Is dead, as that phrase often signifies both in Scripture, as Gen 37:30; 44:20; Jer 31:15; Mat 2:17,18, and in other authors, as Homer, Euripides, &c. They concluded with great probability that he was dead, Gen 44:20, because for twenty years together they had heard nothing, either of him or from him; which may seem strange, considering the nearness of Egypt and Canaan: but this came to pass partly from his own long imprisonment, and afterwards from his great and high employment; partly, from his lothness to bring so much mischief to his father and brethren, as the discovery of his case might have produced; and principally, from the overruling providence of God, which for its own glorious design disposed of Josephs mind and affairs, so that he either did not send to his fathers house, or that the messages were intercepted, there being not then those conveniencies for mutual correspondencies which now there are. And it is not improbable that Joseph might be further acquainted with the mind of God in this matter by dreams, which may seem to have been familiarly afforded to him, together with the interpretation of them. See Gen 40:8; 41:16.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And they said, thy servants [are] twelve brethren,…. Or rather, “were twelve”, since one afterwards is said not to be:
the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; of Jacob, who dwelt there; this is said with the same view as before, to show the improbability of their being spies;
and, behold, the youngest [is] this day with our father: meaning Benjamin, whom Joseph was eager to hear of, and no doubt was glad to hear he was alive, and his father also, and that they were both together in the land of Canaan:
and one [is] not; is not in the land of the living, is dead; for so they thought Joseph was, who is the person intended, as appears from what both Reuben and Judah afterwards say, Ge 42:22; and yet he was before them, and was the person they were speaking to: this must be very striking and affecting to Joseph, who knew full well they meant himself.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
‘And they said, “We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. And behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not.”
They try to present a full picture of themselves so as to allay suspicion. They still think of their family in terms of twelve sons a sign that they have not just been able to dismiss Joseph from their minds. This would suggest a sense of guilt and regret.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Gen 42:13 And they said, Thy servants [are] twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest [is] this day with our father, and one [is] not.
Ver. 13. And one is not. ] They tell Joseph that Joseph is not. When God holds men’s eyes, they see not the truth that lies before them; “Who is blind as my servant?” Isa 42:19
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the sons. Heb “we [are]”. See note on Gen 42:11.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Thy servants: Gen 42:11, Gen 42:32, Gen 29:32-35, Gen 30:6-24, Gen 35:16-26, Gen 43:7, Gen 46:8-27, Exo 1:2-5, Num 1:1-54, Num 10:1-36, Num 26:1-65, 34:1-29; 1Ch 2:1 – 1Ch 8:40
one is not: Gen 42:36, Gen 42:38, Gen 37:30, Gen 44:20, Gen 44:28, Gen 45:26, Jer 31:15, Lam 5:7, Mat 2:16, Mat 2:18
Reciprocal: Gen 43:27 – Is your father well Gen 43:29 – of whom