Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 42:6
And Joseph [was] the governor over the land, [and] he [it was] that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph’s brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him [with] their faces to the earth.
6 17. The first Interview with Joseph
6. governor ] The late, and not very common, word here used in the Hebrew ( shlt) denotes the position of “Grand Vizier 1 [59]
[59] On the “Grand Vizier” of Egypt, see Appendix E, The name of one of the Hyksos kings, Salatis, presents a resemblance to shlt, which has been remarked upon (Budge, Hist. Eg. iii. 146, note 1).
,” “the T’ate,” or chief officer of state: see note on Gen 41:42. It is akin to our word “Sultan,” and rendered “ruler” in Ecc 7:19; Ecc 10:5.
he it was that sold ] We need not suppose that Joseph in person always conducted the business transactions; but a group of foreign purchasers would be brought into his presence to be interrogated.
bowed down themselves ] Cf. Gen 42:9. Joseph’s dreams are fulfilled: see Gen 37:7; Gen 37:9-10.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 6. Joseph was the governor] shallit, an intendant, a protector, from skalat, to be over as a protector; hence shelatim, shields, or arms for protection and defence, 2Sa 8:7; and shilton, power and authority, Ec 8:4, Ec 8:8; and hence the Arabic [Arabic] sultan, a lord, prince, or king, from [Arabic] salata, he obtained and exercised dominion, he ruled. Was it not from this very circumstance, Joseph being shallit, that all the Mohammedan governors of Egypt, c., took the title of sultan?
Bowed down themselves before him] Thus fulfilling the prophetic dream, Ge 37:7-8, which they had taken every precaution to render null and void. But there is neither might nor counsel against the Lord.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He sold to the people; either,
1. By his ministers and commissioners appointed to that end, as men in Scripture and in all authors are said to do that which others do by their authority and command. Or,
2. He himself immediately contracted with the buyers, or at least with such as were foreigners; which he did upon prudential reasons; both because he would not have them to pry into the state of Egypt, Gen 42:12, and because he would by that opportunity understand the state of other lands, and improve that knowledge for his masters service.
Josephs brethren bowed down themselves before him; thus unwittingly fulfilling Josephs dream, Gen 37:7.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
6. Joseph was the governorinthe zenith of his power and influence.
he it was that soldthatis, directed the sales; for it is impossible that he could giveattendance in every place. It is probable, however, that he may havepersonally superintended the storehouses near the border of Canaan,both because that was the most exposed part of the country andbecause he must have anticipated the arrival of some messengers fromhis father’s house.
Joseph’s brethren came, andbowed down themselves before himHis prophetic dreams [Ge37:5-11] were in the course of being fulfilled, and the atrociousbarbarity of his brethren had been the means of bringing about thevery issue they had planned to prevent (Isa 60:14;Rev 3:9, last clause).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Joseph [was] the governor over the land,…. Not the land of Canaan last mentioned, but the land of Egypt; under Pharaoh, he had the chief and sole authority, and especially in the affair of the corn, and the disposal of that;
[and] he [it was] that sold to all the people of the land: of Egypt, and also to all that came out of other lands; not that he in person could do all this, but by those that acted under him:
and Joseph’s brethren came; to Joseph to buy corn of him:
and bowed down themselves before him, [with] their faces to the earth; not only bowed the knee as the Egyptians did, but prostrated their whole bodies, stretching out their hands and feet, and touching the ground with their faces, as was the manner of the eastern countries, at least some of them; and so of Canaan; and thus did they submit themselves to him in the most humble manner, and thereby, though without their knowledge, fulfilled his dream of their sheaves making obeisance to his sheaf, Ge 37:7.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Verses 6-8:
Jacob’s ten sons arrived in Egypt. To accomplish their mission, it was necessary that they present themselves before the official in charge, who was Joseph By Pharaoh’s appointment, Joseph was “governor” of Egypt, and was in charge of food distribution. “Governor” is shallit, one vested with despotic authority.
The scene is truly Oriental. A crowd of foreigners presented themselves before this powerful Egyptian official, and bowed in lowest obeisance. Jacob’s sons were among this number.
More than twenty years had elapsed since the last encounter between Joseph and his brothers. On that occasion, Joseph had pleaded in anguish that they not sell him into slavery. His pleas fell on deaf ears. Now their positions were dramatically reversed. Joseph held the power of life and death over his brothers. (See Lu 14:11; 18:14.)
Jacob’s sons did not recognize Joseph They saw him as a proud Egyptian official. He had assumed Egyptian manners and dress, and he conversed with them in the language of Egypt. But Joseph recognized his brothers immediately. They were grown men when he last saw them, and he was but a teen-aged boy. He understood their speech, but did not let them know this.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
6. And Joseph was the governor (164) over the land. Moses connects the honor of Joseph with his fidelity and diligence. For although he was possessed of supreme authority, he nevertheless submitted to every possible laborious service, just as if he had been a hired servant. From which example we must learn, that as any one excels in honor, he is bound to be the more fully occupied in business; but that they who desire to combine leisure with dignity, utterly pervert the sacred order of God. Let it be, moreover, understood, that the corn was sold by Joseph, not as if he measured it out with his own hands, or himself received the money for it, seeing that it was set to sale in many parts of the kingdom, and he could scarcely have attended to one single storehouse: but that the whole of the stores were under his power.
(164) השליט ( Hashalit) “Of the Hebrew Shallet and Shilton, is made in Arabic the name Sultan, a title whereby the chief rulers of Egypt and Babylon are still called.” — Ainsworth. — Ed
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(6) Josephs brethren came and bowed down themselves before him.Throughout the land of Egypt Joseph would sell by deputy, and only give general directions; but the arrival of so large a party as Josephs ten brethren, each probably with several attendants, would be reported to the governor in person, as certainly was the case with Abraham when he went into Egypt (Gen. 12:14-15). Such visits would happen only occasionally, and the arrival of foreigners was always a matter looked upon with suspicion, especially upon the Arabian frontier.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
6. The governor The word ( ) thus rendered occurs elsewhere only in the later Hebrew books Ezekiel, Daniel, and Ecclesiastes . It seems, says Keil, “to have been the standing title which the Shemites gave to Joseph as ruler in Egypt, and from this the later legend of Salatis, the first king of the Hyksos, arose . ” Josephus, Apion, 1: 14 .
He it was that sold Not that Joseph personally attended to all the details of the selling; but he had general oversight and authority; and when, as in the present instance, a large number of foreigners came to buy, he would be called upon to receive them in due form, and see that all was proper. He would not allow a general traffic in Egyptian grain to be carried on among foreign nations in such a time of famine.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And Joseph was the governor over the land, he it was who sold to all the people of the land, and Joseph’s brothers came and bowed themselves to him with their faces to the earth.’
It is probable that Joseph had arranged things in such a way that all Canaanites coming to buy food had to approach him. He would not of course be actually selling the food but would be on a seat of honour and approached by those who came, who would abase themselves to him before passing on to those who actually handled the transactions.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Gen 42:6. Joseph was the governor shalit, one who is appointed ruler, or governor: the Arabic word sultan comes from it.
And Joseph’s brethren came Hence, it seems very probable, that the names of all those strangers who came to AEgypt were brought to Joseph, either that such of them as he thought fit might be introduced to him, or that by such means he might be informed of his father’s family. Accordingly, as soon as his brethren arrived in the land, they were introduced to him, and unknowingly fulfilled his first dream, and that part of the second which related to themselves, and which must have strongly recurred to Joseph’s remembrance (see Gen 42:9.) when he saw them bowing down themselves before him, with their faces to the earth; which was the common method of salutation towards superiors in the eastern nations.
REFLECTIONS.The famine now began to be sensibly felt in Canaan. That land of promise had hitherto in many instances proved a land of dearth to every succeeding patriarch. Note; It is good to have the creature embittered, that we may be led to look to a better country; that is, a heavenly. Jacob, understanding there was corn in AEgypt, reproves his sons for their delay and despondence, and hastens them on their journey. Note; When difficulties overtake us, we must not lie down and despond, nor waste the time in useless debate, but exert our most vigorous efforts for relief. At his command, all, except Benjamin, immediately set off, and, arriving safely, are introduced to the governor, before whom they bow with profound obeisance. And now the dreams begin to be accomplished. Note; God’s counsels will take effect in their own time.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Gen 42:6 And Joseph [was] the governor over the land, [and] he [it was] that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph’s brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him [with] their faces to the earth.
Ver. 6. And Joseph was the governor. ] Of the Hebrew word here used, is made in Arabic the title Sultan, given at this day to the great Turk by his subjects; among whom the Arabic is now the learned language. Their Koran is written in it, and prohibited to be translated; which both preserves the tongue, they say, and conceals religion.
And Joseph’s brethren came, and bowed.] This those mockers little thought ever to have done to that dreamer. But the will of the Lord, that shall stand.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Gen 42:6-7
6Now Joseph was the ruler over the land; he was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. 7When Joseph saw his brothers he recognized them, but he disguised himself to them and spoke to them harshly. And he said to them, “Where have you come from?” And they said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.”
Gen 42:6 “And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down to him with their faces to the ground” Not only does this verse seem to fulfill Joseph’s dream of Gen 37:6-9, but also Gen 43:28; and Gen 44:14.
Gen 42:7 “he recognized them” The VERB “regard, “recognize” (BDB 647, KB 699) is used twice in Gen 42:7 (Hiphil IMPERFECT, Hithpael IMPERFECT) and twice in Gen 42:8 (Hiphil IMPERFECT, Hiphil PERFECT). They were still bearded and dressed in the traditional garb of the nomadic tribes. On the other hand Joseph was clean shaven, finely dressed, in a place of authority, and he spoke Egyptian. All of these things disguised him well from his brothers.
“he recognized. . .he disguised” Both of these VERBS come from the same root, .
1. recognized, BDB 647, KB 699, Hiphil IMPERFECT, cf. Gen 27:23; Gen 37:33; Gen 38:25-26; Gen 42:7-8 (twice); Deu 33:9
2. disguised (lit. “treat as a stranger”), BDB 649, KB 699, Hithpael IMPERFECT, cf. 1Ki 14:5-6
It is uncertain if there are two separate Hebrew roots or two usages.
NASB, NRSV,
TEV, NJBharshly”
NKJVroughly”
LXX”hard words”
AB”sternly”
The adjective (BDB 904) means “hard,” or “severe.” It is used in 1Sa 25:3 to describe Nabal’s personality. Here it describes the tone of Joseph’s voice (cf. 1Sa 20:10), as well as the content of his accusations (i.e., they were spies).
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
was. Hebrew “he [was]”.
bowed down. Compare Gen 37:7, Gen 37:8.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
governor: Shallit, an intendant, protector, ruler, from shalat, to be over or a protector, to rule. Hence the Arabic salita, to obtain and exercise dominion, rule; and sultan, ruler, lord, prince, and king. Gen 41:40, Gen 41:41, Gen 45:8, Gen 45:26, Psa 105:16-21, Act 7:10
he it was: Gen 41:55, Gen 41:56
bowed: Gen 18:2, Gen 19:1, Gen 37:7, Gen 37:9, Gen 44:14, Rev 3:9
Reciprocal: Gen 30:24 – And she Gen 32:13 – a present Gen 33:3 – bowed Gen 41:43 – ruler Gen 41:54 – and the dearth Gen 43:26 – bowed Gen 48:12 – he bowed himself Gen 49:8 – thy father’s Gen 50:18 – fell Pro 14:19 – General Pro 19:6 – will Hag 2:17 – with blasting
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 42:6. Josephs brethren came and bowed themselves before him Some have inferred from this that the names of all the strangers that came to buy corn in Egypt were brought to Joseph and registered; and such persons or families as were any way remarkable, were brought before him. Thus his brethren would of course be introduced to him: but, in general, he undoubtedly sold the corn by deputies. With their faces to the earth The common method of salutation in the eastern nations. Thus Josephs first dream was already fulfilled; their sheaves bowed to his sheaf.