Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 42:35

And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man’s bundle of money [was] in his sack: and when [both] they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid.

35. And it came to pass, &c.] This verse, interposed between the brethren’s report and their father’s reply, seems to emphasize the difficulty of their position; the money has been returned, and Simeon is a prisoner.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Verse 35. As they emptied their sacks] See Clarke on Ge 42:27.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

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.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

35. as they emptied their sacks,that, behold, every man’s . . . money was in his sackItappears that they had been silent about the money discovery at theresting-place, as their father might have blamed them for notinstantly returning. However innocent they knew themselves to be, itwas universally felt to be an unhappy circumstance, which might bringthem into new and greater perils.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

And it came to pass, as they emptied their sacks,…. Both those in which were the corn they had bought, and those in which were their provender for their cattle, and provision for themselves:

that, behold, every man’s bundle of money [was] in his sack; the same purse, and the same pieces of money, gold or silver, they had paid to the steward:

and when [both] they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid; the Targum of Jonathan adds,

“because of Simeon, whom they had left there;”

fearing that they should he charged with theft or fraud, and that Simeon would be put to death; they had opened their sacks before, and found their money in them, but put it up again as it was, in order to open them in their father’s presence, from whom they thought proper to conceal this circumstance, lest he should blame them for not returning to the governor with their money upon the first notice of it, when they had travelled but one day’s journey; wherefore they make no mention of it in the account of things that befell them, and express their surprise and fear upon finding it when they opened their sacks, as if they had known, nothing of it before; though it may be their fears were renewed and increased by what Jacob might observe to them, as the consequence of it, which they had not so thoroughly considered before.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

But when they emptied their sacks, and, to their own and their father’s terror, found their bundles of money in their separate sacks, Jacob burst out with the complaint, “ Ye are making me childless! Joseph is gone, and Simeon is gone, and will ye take Benjamin! All this falls upon me ” ( for as in Pro 31:29).

Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament

Verses 35-38:

When the brothers unloaded their provisions, they discovered in the sacks all the money they had paid for them. This added to their fear, along with all they had experienced.

Jacob’s reaction to the Egyptian official’s demand was to refuse to comply. Joseph and Simeon were “no more,” so far as Jacob knew they were dead. He feared the loss of Benjamin as well. His attitude was like many today. Jacob focused on his loss, rather than on what remained to him. Even though it meant that there would be no food-grain, he steadfastly refused to send Benjamin to Egypt.

Reuben, the first-born, offered his own sons as surety for Benjamin’s safety. But Jacob was adamant in his refusal to allow Benjamin to go to Egypt. Jacob’s attitude toward Benjamin would provide yet another test for the brothers. Jacob was willing to endanger the lives of the rest of his sons and their families, in showing preferential treatment toward Benjamin. Nothing must happen to this youngest son, even though it meant disaster for the others. This would test their attitude: were they willing to be unselfish and still show love to this brother?

God provides tests to determine attitudes, in the most vulnerable areas of one’s life. These tests are not for God’s benefit: He knows what we will do. They are for our benefit, to make us aware of specific needs in our life.

Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

35. As they emptied their sacks. Here, again, it appears how greatly they had been alarmed in their journey, seeing that each had not at least examined his sack, after money had been found in one. But these things are written to show that, as soon as men are smitten with fear, they have no particle of wisdom and of soundness of mind, until God tranquilizes them. Moreover, Joseph did not act with sufficient consideration, in that he occasioned very great grief to his father, whose poverty he really intended to relieve. Whence we learn that even the most prudent are not always so careful, but that something may flow from their acts which they do not wish.

Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary

‘And it happened as they emptied their sacks that, behold, every man’s bundle of silver was in his sack. And when they and their father saw the bundles of silver they were afraid.’

All the other sacks are now opened as they store the corn, and the remaining silver is found. Their silver has been returned. This could only mean one thing. Their status as traders was rejected. They were marked for destruction.

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett

Jacob’s Grief

v. 35. And it came to pass, as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man’s bundle of money was in his sack; and when both they and their father saw the bundles of money, the little sacks of silver with which they thought they had paid their grain, they were afraid. Surely the ruler of Egypt would now regard them as thieves. This fear was to have a wholesome effect, for it was intended to soften the hard hearts still more, just as the Lord even after conversion exhibits our sinfulness to us, in order that our knowledge of His grace may be all the sweeter.

v. 36. And Jacob, their father, said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away; all these-things are against me. The renewed grief over the disappearance of Joseph, the apparent loss of Simeon, and now the anguish concerning Benjamin caused Jacob to cry out in bitterness that he was being made childless, that he was losing his children, one after another.

v. 37. And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons if I bring him not to thee. He thus offered his dearest and best as hostages, as a guarantee for the safe return of Benjamin. Deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again.

v. 38. And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone; if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave, to the realm of the dead. That was Jacob’s decision at that time, and his sons could not get him to change his mind. Thus the Lord visits His children with manifold sorrows, but His chastisement always reveals His goodness.

Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann

Gen 42:35 And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man’s bundle of money [was] in his sack: and when [both] they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid.

Ver. 35. And it came to pass as they emptied. ] Calvin’s note on this text is, that Joseph was misunderstood, and ill-advised; for that intending to help his father, by sending back his money, he grieved and frighted him. But this might be Jacob’s fault more than Joseph’s. We many times mistake God himself, through self-guiltiness, as if he meant to kill us with kindness, which is a great unthankfulness. See my “Love Tokens,” p. 32.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Gen 42:35-38

35Now it came about as they were emptying their sacks, that behold, every man’s bundle of money was in his sack; and when they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were dismayed. 36Their father Jacob said to them, “You have bereaved me of my children: Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and you would take Benjamin; all these things are against me.” 37Then Reuben spoke to his father, saying, “You may put my two sons to death if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my care, and I will return him to you.” 38But Jacob said, “My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. If harm should befall him on the journey you are taking, then you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.”

Gen 42:35-38 The family discusses the situation and what to do. They decide to do nothing for the moment.

Gen 42:35 The difference between Gen 42:27 and Gen 42:35 is “one” of them in Gen 42:27 and “they” in Gen 42:35. This is not a doublet, but an intensification of the problem that had frightened them earlier (cf. Gen 42:28).

Gen 42:36 “You have bereaved me of my children; Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and you would take Benjamin; all these things are against me” Notice that Jacob takes the occurrences as a personal affront. There seems to be an implied accusation that the brothers were somehow involved in the loss of Joseph.

Gen 42:37 “Then Reuben spoke to his father, saying” This is really a dumb offer! Why would Jacob, because of the loss of his sons, kill his grandsons?! It was an attempt by Reuben to assure his father, but it did quite the opposite. Jacob would wait until (1) Judah’s offer in Gen 43:8-9 and (2) the reality of no food to finally allow Benjamin to go with them.

Gen 42:38 “Sheol” This is the OT term used for the place of the dead. The doctrine of the afterlife is somewhat veiled in the OT, but it is obvious that they believed in an afterlife where families were together.

It is true that it was a shadowy, joyless state, but a conscious state nonetheless. The term Sheol is translated by the term Hades in the NT. Apparently all human beings went to this holding place of the dead. For that reason the rabbis speculate that there is a righteous part and a wicked part of Hades. See Special Topic at Gen 15:15. See Special Topic: The Dead, Where Are They? (Sheol/Hades, Gehenna, Tartarus) .

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

1. Why did Joseph hide his identity?

2. Why did Joseph speak harshly to his brothers and accuse them of spying?

3. From this chapter what makes us think Jacob suspected something about Joseph’s death?

Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley

every man’s: Gen 42:27, Gen 42:28, Gen 43:21

Reciprocal: Gen 37:30 – General Gen 43:12 – mouth Gen 43:18 – the men Gen 43:20 – we came indeed down Gen 44:8 – the money

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge