Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 43:11
And their father Israel said unto them, If [it must be] so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:
11. do this ] Jacob yields, but, true to the character of a shrewd man of the world, he advises that the formidable Grand Vizier should be propitiated with a suitable present.
choice fruits ] The Hebrew word, zimrah, occurs only in this passage in the Pent. (cf. Amo 5:23): LXX = “fruits”; Lat. optimi fructus. The meaning is probable, though only conjectural. Some think that it may be from the Hebrew root zmr, “to make melody,” cf. mizmr, “a psalm”: hence Targ. Onkelos, “What is praiseworthy in the land.” It has been suggested that “the melody of the land” would mean “the produce of the land celebrated in song.” Cf. Jer 51:41.
vessels ] i.e. baggage, receptacles of various kinds, e.g. “sacks” (Gen 42:25); cf. 1Sa 9:7.
balm ] See Gen 37:25.
honey ] Possibly the material known in Syria and Palestine as dibs, which is the Arabian word for “grape juice boiled down to a syrup.” The Hebrew word d’bash, however, means real “honey,” and it is natural to suppose that a gift of real honey from the country would be a more acceptable offering to the Egyptian ruler. Cf. 1Ki 14:3.
spicery and myrrh ] See Gen 37:25.
nuts ] That is, pistachio nuts. The fruit of the pistacia vera, a rare tree in Palestine, regarded as a delicacy.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 11. Carry down the man a present] From the very earliest times presents were used as means of introduction to great men. This is particularly noticed by Solomon: A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men, Pr 18:16. But what was the present brought to Joseph on this occasion? After all the labour of commentators, we are obliged to be contented with probabilities and conjecture. According to our translation, the gifts were balm, honey, spices, myrrh, nuts, and almonds.
Balm] tsori is supposed to signify resin in general, or some kind of gum issuing from trees.
Honey] debash has been supposed to be the same as the rob of grapes, called in Egypt dibs. Others think that honey, in the common sense of the term, is to be understood here: we know that honey was plentiful in Palestine.
Spices] nechoth is supposed to mean gum storax, which might be very valuable on account of its qualities as a perfume.
Myrrh] lot, supposed by some to mean stacte; by others to signify an ointment made of myrrh.
Nuts] botnim, by some rendered pistachio nuts, those produced in Syria being the finest in the world; by others, dates; others, walnuts; others, pine apples; others, the nuts of the terebinth tree.
Almonds] shekedim, correctly enough translated, and perhaps the only article in the collection of which we know any thing with certainty. It is generally allowed that the land of Canaan produces the best almonds in the east; and on this account they might be deemed a very acceptable present to the governor of Egypt. Those who wish to see this subject exhausted must have recourse to the Physica Sacra of Scheuehzer.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Of all which see Gen 37:25. The
nuts were of that kind which we call pistaches, as some Hebrew and other expositors render the word; for that was both an excellent fruit, and peculiar to Judea and Syria, and well agreeing with the
almonds which here follow.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
11. take of the best fruits . . . apresentIt is an Oriental practice never to approach a man ofpower without a present, and Jacob might remember how he pacified hisbrother (Pr 21:14) balm,spices, and myrrh (see on Ge 37:25),
honeywhich some thinkwas dibs, a syrup made from ripe dates [BOCHART];but others, the honey of Hebron, which is still valued as farsuperior to that of Egypt;
nutspistachio nuts, ofwhich Syria grows the best in the world;
almondswhich were mostabundant in Palestine.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And their father said unto them,…. Being in some measure convinced by their reasonings, and in part at least reconciled to let Benjamin go with them, there being nothing to be done, he perceived, unless he consented to it:
if [it must be] so now, do this; if nothing else will do but Benjamin must go, which after all he was reluctant to, then he advises them to do as follows:
take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels; such as were the peculiar produce of the land of Canaan, and the best of it; for which it was most famous, and praised, as the word used signifies; these Jacob advises to take and put into their sacks they carried to bring back their corn in:
and carry down the man a present; the great man and governor of Egypt, whose name was not known, little thinking it was his son Joseph; this he proposed to be done, in order to procure his friendship, that he might carry it kindly and respectfully to them, release Simeon, and send back Benjamin with them. The present consisted of the following things,
a little balm: or rosin, of which there was great quantity in and about Gilead; [See comments on Jer 8:22]:
and a little honey; the land of Canaan in general is called a land flowing with milk and honey; and some parts of it were famous for it, as the, parts about Ziph, called from thence the honey of Ziphim i: this is the first time mention is made of “honey” in Scripture. Some say k Bacchus was the inventor of it. Justin l makes a very ancient king of a people in the country, now called Spain, to whom he gives the name of Gorgoris, to be the first that found out the way of gathering honey; but by this it appears to be of a more early date. Dr. Shaw m thinks, that not honey, properly so called, is meant, but a kind of “rob” made of the juice of grapes, called by the Arabs “dibsa”, a word near in sound with, and from the same root as this. And who further observes, that Hebron alone (the place were Jacob now was) sends every year to Egypt three hundred camel loads, i.e. near two thousand quintals of this rob: and Leo Africanus says n, there is but little honey to be found in Egypt, wherefore it made this part of the present the more acceptable:
spices; of various sorts, a collection of them; though it is thought, by Bochart and others, that the “storax” is particularly meant; the best of that sort being, as Pliny o says in Judea. The Targum and Jarchi take it to be “wax”, as do also other Jewish writers:
and myrrh; the liquor called “stacte”, that drops from the myrrh tree. Some will have this “lot”, as the word is, the same with “ladanum”; one should rather think that it should be the lotus or lote tree, the fruit of which, Pliny p says, is the size of a bean, and of a saffron colour, and Herodotus q says, it is sweet like a date; but that it was frequent in Egypt, and needed not be carried there. The Targum renders it “chestnuts”, and so Ben Melech, as it does what follows,
nuts, and almonds, the oil of nuts, and the oil of almonds: the former design not common, but the pistachio nuts, as Jarchi observes from R. Machir; and these, as Pliny r says, were well known in Syria, and were good for food and drink, and against the bites of serpents; and, as Bochart s observes, are frequently mentioned by naturalists along with almonds, and as like unto them.
i Misn. Machshirin, c. 5. sect. 9. k “Et a Baccho mella reperta ferunt”, Ovid. Fast. l. 3. l E Trogo, l. 44. c. 4. m Travels, p. 339. No. 6. Ed. 2. n Descriptio Africae, l. 8. p. 682. o Nat. Hist. l. 12. c. 25. p Ib. l. 13. c. 17. q Melpomene, sive, l. 4. c. 177. Vid. Euterpe, sive, l. 2. c. 92. r Nat. Hist. l. 13. c. 5. s Canaan, l. 1. c. 10. col. 389.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds: After this, the old man gave way to what could not be avoided, and let Benjamin go. But that nothing might be wanting on his part, which could contribute to the success of the journey, he suggested that they should take a present for the man, and that they should also take the money which was brought back in their sacks, in addition to what was necessary for the corn they were to purchase; and he then commended them to the mercy of Almighty God. “ If it must be so, yet do this ( belongs to the imperative, although it precedes it here, cf. Gen 27:37): take of the prize (the most choice productions) of the land-a little balm and a little honey ( the Arabian dibs, either new honey from bees, or more probably honey from grapes, – a thick syrup boiled from sweet grapes, which is still carried every year from Hebron to Egypt), gum-dragon and myrrh (vid., Gen 37:25), pictachio nuts and almonds.” , which are not mentioned anywhere else, are, according to the Samar. vers., the fruit of the pistacia vera , a tree resembling the terebinth, – long angular nuts of the size of hazel-nuts, with an oily kernel of a pleasant flavour; it does not thrive in Palestine now, but the nuts are imported from Aleppo.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
| Joseph’s Brethren Again Sent to Egypt. | B. C. 1707. |
11 And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds: 12 And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight: 13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man: 14 And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.
Observe here, I. Jacob’s persuasibleness. He would be ruled by reason, though they were his inferiors that urged it. He saw the necessity of the case; and, since there was no remedy, he consented to yield to the necessity (v. 11): “If it must be so now, take your brother. If no corn can be had but upon those terms, we may as well expose him to the perils of the journey as suffer ourselves and families, and Benjamin amongst the rest, to perish for want of bread.” Skin for skin, and all that a man has, even a Benjamin, the dearest of all, will he give for his life. No death so dreadful as that by famine, Lam. iv. 9. Jacob had said (ch. xlii. 38), My son shall not go down; but now he is over-persuaded to consent. Note, It is no fault, but our wisdom and duty, to alter our purposes and resolutions when there is a good reason for our so doing. Constancy is a virtue, but obstinacy is not. It is God’s prerogative not to repent, and to make unchangeable resolves.
II. Jacob’s prudence and justice, which appeared in three things:–1. He sent back the money which they had found in the sacks’ mouths, with this discreet construction of it, Peradventure it was an oversight. Note, Honesty obliges us to make restitution, not only of that which comes to us by our own fault, but of that which comes to us by the mistakes of others. Though we get it by oversight, if we keep it when the oversight is discovered, it is kept by deceit. In the stating of accounts, errors must be excepted, even those that make for us as well as those that make against us. Jacob’s words furnish us with a favourable construction to put upon that which we are tempted to resent as an injury and affront; pass it by, and say, Peradventure it was an oversight. 2. He sent double money, as much again as they took the time before, upon supposition that the price of corn might have risen,–or that if it should be insisted upon they might pay a ransom for Simeon, or his prison-fees,–or to show a generous spirit, that they might be the more likely to find generous treatment with the man, the lord of the land. 3. He sent a present of such things as the land afforded, and as were scarce in Egypt–balm and honey, c. (<i>v. 11), the commodities that Canaan exported, ch. xxxvii. 25. Note, (1.) Providence dispenses its gifts variously. Some countries produce one commodity, others another, that commerce may be preserved. (2.) Honey and spice will never make up the want of bread-corn. The famine was sore in Canaan, and yet they had balm and myrrh, c. We may live well enough upon plain food without dainties but we cannot live upon dainties without plain food. Let us thank God that that which is most needful and useful is generally most cheap and common. (3.) A gift in secret pacifies wrath, Prov. xxi. 14. Jacob’s sons were unjustly accused as spies, yet Jacob was willing to be at the expense of a present, to pacify the accuser. Sometimes we must not think it too much to buy peace even where we may justly demand it, and insist upon it as our right.
III. Jacob’s piety appearing in his prayer: God Almighty give you mercy before the man! v. 14. Jacob had formerly turned an angry brother into a kind one with a present and a prayer; and here he betakes himself to the same tried method, and it sped well. Note, Those that would find mercy with men must seek it of God, who has all hearts in his hands, and turns them as he pleases.
IV. Jacob’s patience. He concludes all with this: “If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved; If I must part with them thus one after another, I must acquiesce, and say, The will of the Lord be done.” Note, It is our wisdom to reconcile ourselves to the sorest afflictions, and make the best of them; for there is nothing got by striving with our Maker, 2Sa 15:25; 2Sa 15:26.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Verses 11-14:
Israel (Jacob) finally agreed to permit Benjamin to accompany his sons to Egypt. He instructed that they take an array of expensive luxury items to “the man” in Egypt. This included an assortment of fruits, likely dried raisins, figs, and dates. There is no inconsistency in this, with the prevalence of the famine for the past two or three years. A famine of food grain would not necessarily imply a famine of fruit. Neither is it implied that the fruit existed in abundance. The fact that the fruit harvest may have been small would make the gift all the more valuable.
Included in the gifts were aromatic spices and ointments particularly prized in the ancient world. “Balm” is balsam. “Honey” is debash, a condiment prepared by boiling down new wine to a third or half. It was likely not the honey made by bees, because Egypt excels in production of this item. Spices and myrrh were included, because of their rarity and value. “Nuts,” botim, the pistacia nut which is very palatable to Orientals. The almond tree appears not to have been indigenous to Egypt, but it flourished in Palestine and Syria.
Israel further directed that they take “double money, literally “money of a second or the same amount.” This was not twice the amount, but the same as before. In addition, they were to carry the money found in their sacks and offer to return it, in the event it was given them by oversight.
Israel had evidently been to God in prayer. He was willing to entrust not only Benjamin, his brother Simeon, but all his sons to the protection of Divine Providence. “God Almighty” is “El Shaddadi,” the Covenant-God of Abraham (Ge 17:1) and of Jacob himself (Ge 35:11). His parting words indicated his resignation to the will of God.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
11. Take of the best fruits (167) Though the fruits which Moses enumerates were, for the most part, not very precious, because the condition of holy Jacob was not such that he could send any royal present; yet, according to his slender ability, he wished to appease Joseph. Besides we know that fruits are not always estimated according to their cost. And now, having commanded his sons to do what he thought necessary, he has recourse to prayer, that God would give them favor with the governor of Egypt. We must attend to both these points whenever we are perplexed in any business; for we must not omit any of those things which are expedient, or which may seem to be of use; and yet we must place our reliance upon God. For the tranquillity of faith has no affinity with indolence: but he who expects a prosperous issue of his affairs from the Lord, will, at the same time, look closely to the means which are in his power, and will apply them to present use. Meanwhile, let the faithful observe this moderation, that when they have tried all means, they still ascribe nothing to their own industry. At the same time, let them be certainly convinced that all their endeavors will be in vain, unless the Lord bless them. It is to be observed, also, in the form of his supplication, that Jacob regards the hearts of men as subject to the will of God. When we have to deal with men, we too often neglect to look unto the Lord, because we do not sufficiently acknowledge him as the secret governor of their hearts. But to whatever extent unruly men may be carried away by violence, it is yet certain that their passions are turned by God in whatever direction he pleases, so that he can mitigate their ferocity as often as he sees good; or can permit those to become cruel, who before were disposed to mildness. So Jacob, although his sons had found an austere severity in Joseph, yet trusts that his heart will be so in the hand of God, that it shall be suddenly mounded to humanity. Therefore, as we must hope in the Lord, when men deal unjustly with us, and must pray that they may be changed for the better; so, on the other hand, we must remember that, when they act with severity towards us, it is not done without the counsel of God.
(167) Literally, “Fruits of the song;” alluding to the songs which were sung over the ingathering of harvest. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(11) The best fruits.Heb., the song, that is, whatever in the land is most celebrated in song.
In your vessels.The word used in Gen. 42:25, where see Note. Concerning this present two remarks must be made; the first, that it proves that though there was not rain enough in Palestine to bring the corn to perfection, yet that there was some small supply, sufficient to maintain a certain amount of vegetation; and but for this Jacob could not have kept his cattle alive (Gen. 47:1). And next, the smallness of the present does not so much show that Jacob had very simple ideas respecting the greatness of the king of Egypt, as that there was a scarcity even of these fruits. Probably the trade in them had ceased, and therefore even a moderate quantity would be welcome. For the words rendered balm, spices and myrrh really balsam, gum-tragacanth and ladanum), see Note on Gen. 37:25.
Honey.As both the honey made by bees and date honey were common in Egypt, many suppose that this was grape-honey, prepared by boiling down the juice of ripe grapes to a third of its original quantity. Hebron is famous for its preparation, and even in modern times three hundred camel loads used to be exported thence annually into Egypt. Diluted with water it forms a very grateful drink, and it is also largely eaten with bread, as we eat butter.
Nuts.That is, pistachio nuts, the fruit of the pistachio, vera. As the tree delights in dry, rocky situations, it will not grow in Egypt. It has an oily kernel, both palatable in itself and also much used for making savoury meats. These and the almonds, which also do not grow well in Egypt, would be acceptable gifts.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
11. Take of the best fruits Hebrews, take of the song of the land; the products celebrated in song . This suggests the answer to the objection that these fruits should be had in Canaan in such a time of dearth . The items of the present here named were luxuries, which might have been preserved from previous years . “Almost all of them,” says Kalisch, “require for their growth heat rather than moisture; and some develop themselves to the greatest advantage in dry years and in a dry soil . ” So these may have grown and been abundant when the grains all failed . On balm, spices, and myrrh, see note on Gen 37:25, where it will be noticed that the Ishmaelite caravan carried these same articles into Egypt . The honey ( ) here mentioned was probably the grape honey, manufactured by art, not by the bees; a sort of molasses or syrup, called by the modern Arabs dibs .
Nuts Probably the nuts of the pistachio tree, which somewhat resembles the terebinth. The Septuagint here translates the word by terebinth. The pistachio nut is said to be of an aromatic taste, and a favourite but not common fruit in the East. The almond tree was common in Palestine, but not in Egypt; its blossoms and fruit much resemble those of the peach tree.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And their father Israel said to them, “If it is so now, do it. Take of the choice fruits of the land in your vessels, and carry the Man down a present, a little balm and a little honey, spicery and myrrh, nuts and almonds. And take double the amount of silver in your hand, and carry again in your hand the silver that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight. Take also your brother and arise, go again to the Man, and El Shaddai (God Almighty) give you mercy before the Man that he may release to you your other brother and Benjamin. And if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.” ’
“If it is so, now do it.” We would say, ‘if it must be so’. Jacob is very reluctant but accepts the inevitable. The prospect of starvation leaves them with no alternative. He suggests they take with them a gift. This was a normal courtesy when approaching a high official and a sign of good breeding.
“The choice fruits (literally ‘strength”) of the land.’ These have not been quite so badly affected by the famine. They grow on bushes and trees which are less susceptible. The honey is wild bees’ honey which was used then instead of sugar (see Eze 27:17).
They must also take double the silver so as to replace that which was sent back as it must surely have been an oversight. That is all they can hope. The alternative would leave them with no hope anyway.
“El Shaddai give you mercy before the man -.” He prays that the One Who promised they would become a company of nations protect them before the high official of that great nation Egypt.
The meaning of ‘El Shaddai’ is not yet apparent to us but the LXX translates it as ‘the Almighty’. Whenever God is mentioned under the name of El Shaddai it is in relation to many nations, not just to the family tribe. To Abraham in Genesis 17 ‘you shall be the father of a multitude of nations (hamon goyim)’, and Ishmael is a part of that covenant, to Isaac as he blesses Jacob in Gen 28:3 ‘that you may be a company of peoples’ (liqhal ‘amim), to Jacob at Bethel in Gen 35:11 ‘a nation and a company of nations (uqhal goyim) shall be of you’, and again to Jacob in Gen 48:4 reference is made to ‘a company of peoples’ (liqhal ‘amim). It is in recognition of this fact that Jacob now speaks of El Shaddai when he sends his sons back to Egypt to obtain the release of Simeon and entrusts them with Benjamin (Gen 43:14). It is Yahweh as El Shaddai, the sovereign God over the whole world, who has the power to prevail over the great governor of Egypt. This may also be why Isaac used this title of Yahweh when he sent his son into a foreign land.
“That he may release to you your other brother and Benjamin.” How little the other brothers mean to him compared with Benjamin is made clear here. He does not even mention Simeon’s name. His release is of secondary importance. What matters is that Benjamin is not held. We can see now why the brothers had not mentioned the release of Simeon as an argument. They knew their father’s thoughts.
“And if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.” A final note of resignation. His hand has been forced by the famine. He may even lose all his children but he can do nothing about it. The choice is to risk that or the death for all.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jacob Permits Benjamin to go
v. 11. And their father Israel said unto them, if it must be so now, do this: take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, v. 12. And take double money in your hand, v. 13. Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man; v. 14. and God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Gen 43:11. Take of the best fruits Of the most rare and excellent productions of the land of Canaan; in the Hebrew, of the praise of the land. The authors of the Universal History observe, that “it is to be feared the generality of our expositors have not been very happy in their translation of some of the presents which Jacob sent into AEgypt; which has induced some learned critics, of a later date, to endeavour to give us a more rational account of them.” Such were the honey, nuts, and almonds, which could be no great rarities in AEgypt; nor indeed any of the others, except the balm, which was that of Gilead, and of great price all the world over, a small quantity of which was a present worth accepting; but as for resin and wax, as many of our interpreters have rendered it, they could not be worth sending.
Bochart, indeed, in the place above quoted, thinks that it was either resin or turpentine, rather than balm of Gilead; because Gilead was on one side Jordan, and Jacob was then at some small distance from it on the other: but that does not prove that there was none to be bought there, or to be sent for upon such an occasion. He adds, indeed, that Josephus affirms balm to have been unknown in Judea till the queen of Sheba brought some of it to Solomon from Arabia Felix; but Josephus may be mistaken. Besides, how came Gilead to be so famous for it afterwards? The queen hardly brought the trees thither; and if Solomon had sent for them afterwards, he would have planted them, in all likelihood, nearer to him; but whatever it was, it is plain that resin and turpentine could not be a present worth Joseph’s acceptance. The next is honey, which was indeed very much admired by the ancients, as well Jews as Gentiles, for a delicious food; but, unless that of Canaan was better than ordinary, it was scarcely worth sending to an AEgyptian prime minister, since it is not probable that that country was without it. It is most likely, therefore, that they were dates, which are called by the same name, debash, as the Jewish doctors observe, and which, when fully ripe, yield a sort of honey not inferior to the other. The Arabic calls dates duboos, and the honey of them dibo, or dibis, to this day; and it is plain that Judea abounded in palm-trees of all sorts, more especially about Jericho, if we may believe Josephus and Pliny. The next is what we translate spices; but the Hebrew word, nekath, rather signifies storax than spices, being a noble aromatic gum, which was put into all precious spicy ointments. Myrrh, or, as it is in the original, lot, is rather the stacte or laudanum of the Chaldee and Septuagint, the last name coming nearer the Hebrew word. It is thought to be the gum of the cypress-tree, and was one of the aromatics in the perfume prescribed by GOD to Moses. The word botnim, which our version renders nuts, signifies, according to Maimonides and Kimchi, pistaches, a sort of almonds very much esteemed by the ancients, not only for their taste, but also for their stomachic and alexipharmic quality. Theophrastus and Diascorides join the almonds with these, as fruits of the same kind.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Gen 43:11 And their father Israel said unto them, If [it must be] so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:
Ver. 11. If it must be so now, &c. ] Perplexity is blind and untractable. Let the mind but settle, and it will soon yield to a reasonable motion, if seasonable, especially, as this of Judah was: for, besides the weightiness of his words, necessity now spake for him, that most powerful orator.
Take of the best fruits.
A little balm, and a little honey.
a Ex carmine, vel melodia, vel modulatione, vel denique Psalmo. – Isa. lxv. 8.
b E , . – Aelian.
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Gen 43:11-15
11Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the best products of the land in your bags, and carry down to the man as a present, a little balm and a little honey, aromatic gum and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. 12Take double the money in your hand, and take back in your hand the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was a mistake. 13Take your brother also, and arise, return to the man; 14and may God Almighty grant you compassion in the sight of the man, so that he will release to you your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.” 15So the men took this present, and they took double the money in their hand, and Benjamin; then they arose and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.
Gen 43:11-14 Jacob/Israel realizes the necessity and directs his older male children.
1. do this, Gen 43:11, BDB 793, KB 889, Qal IMPERATIVE
2. take some of. . ., Gen 43:11, BDB 542, KB 534, Qal IMPERATIVE
3. carry down to the man, Gen 43:11, BDB 432, KB 434, Hiphil IMPERATIVE
4. take double the money, Gen 43:12, BDB 542, KB 534, Qal IMPERATIVE
5. take back in your hand the money that was returned, Gen 43:12, BDB 996, KB 1427, Hiphil IMPERATIVE (this is the third and fourth usage of this VERB in this context)
6. take your brother, Gen 43:13, BDB 542, KB 534, Qal IMPERATIVE
7. arise, Gen 43:13, BDB 877, KB 1086, Qal IMPERATIVE
8. return to the man, Gen 43:13, BDB 996, KB 1427, Qal IMPERATIVE
9. may God Almighty grant you compassion in the sight of the man, Gen 43:14, BDB 678, KB 733, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense
10. that he may release your other brother, Gen 43:14, BDB 1018, KB 1511, Piel PERFECT
Gen 43:11
NASBthe best products of the land”
NKJVthe best fruits of the land”
NRSVthe choice fruits of the land”
TEVthe best products of the land”
NJBof the country’s best products”
REB”some of the produce for which our country is famous”
The word (BDB 275 II) is used only here in the OT. Other related roots may bring the connotation in this context of “acceptable Egyptian food.” NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 119 says it is related to “strength,” but that does not fit this context.
A list of items is given that were regularly part of caravans (cf. Gen 37:25). Joseph knew the products well since he had to travel with one of these caravans (as a slave) to Egypt.
Gen 43:12
NASB, TEV,
NJB, LXX,
JPSOA”mistake”
NKJV, NRSVoversight”
The term (BDB 993) is found only here. The root means “go astray” or “err.” In Job 12:16 it is translated “misled.” NIDOTTE, vol. 4, p. 44, says the root indicates an “intentional commission of wrongful acts” (cf. Lev 4:13; 1Sa 26:21; Psa 119:21; Psa 119:118; Eze 45:20).
Gen 43:14 “and may God Almighty grant you compassion in the sight of the man” Jacob sends them off in the name of the covenant God. This name, El Shaddai, was used first by Abraham (cf. Gen 17:1; Gen 28:3; Gen 35:11; Gen 43:14; Gen 48:3). The term El is the general name for God in the Ancient Near East and seems to come from the root, “to be strong.” The term Shaddai may be from the term for a woman’s breast and implies “the all-sufficient One.” It seems from Exo 6:3 that this term El Shaddai was the common patriarchal name for God. See Special Topic: Names for Deity .
Gen 43:15 The bringing of a gift was a very common cultural practice of appropriate manners. The items listed would be unique to Canaan and would be sought after in Egypt, but they were not enough to keep one’s family and cattle alive. The giving of a “present” (BDB 585) is similar to Jacob’s gifts to Esau in Genesis 32.
best fruits in the land. Hebrew “the praise of the land”. Figure of speech Metonymy (of the Cause). App-6. “Praise” put for the choice fruits which called forth the praise.
If it must be: Gen 43:14, Est 4:16, Act 21:14
carry down: Gen 32:13-21, Gen 33:10, Gen 37:25, Deu 33:14, 1Sa 9:7, 1Sa 25:27, 1Ki 4:21, 1Ki 10:25, 1Ki 15:19, 2Ki 8:8, 2Ki 16:8, 2Ki 20:12, Psa 68:29, Psa 72:10, Psa 76:11, Pro 17:18, Pro 18:16, Pro 19:6, Pro 21:14, Eze 27:17
a little balm: Gen 37:25, Jer 8:22, Eze 27:15
balm: For an explanation of the words tzori, nechoth, and lot, here rendered respectively balm, spices, and myrrh, see note on Gen 37:25. Devash, honey, is supposed by some not to have been that produced by bees, but a syrup produced from ripe dates. The Jewish doctors observe, that the word in 2Ch 31:5 signifies dates; and the Arabians, at this day, call the choicest dates preserved with butter, dabous, and the honey obtained from them, dibs, or dabs. Benanim, nuts signifies pistachio nuts, the finest thing found in Syria; but, according to the others, a small nut, the produce of a species of the turpentine tree. Shekaidim is certainly almonds.
honey: Lev 20:24
spices: 1Ki 10:15, Son 4:10, Son 4:14-16, Son 5:1, Son 8:14
Reciprocal: Gen 32:20 – I will appease Gen 43:25 – General Gen 45:23 – good things Num 18:30 – the best 1Sa 15:26 – I will not 1Sa 16:20 – an ass laden 1Sa 25:18 – took two 1Ki 10:10 – spices 2Ch 9:9 – of spices Pro 17:8 – whithersoever Son 1:13 – bundle Jer 46:11 – Gilead Mat 2:11 – presented
Gen 43:11. If it must be so now, take your brother If no corn can be had but upon those terms, as good expose him to the perils of the journey, as suffer ourselves and families, and Benjamin among the rest, to perish for want of bread: it is no fault, but our wisdom and duty, to alter our resolutions, when there is a good reason for so doing: constancy is a virtue, but obstinacy is not: it is Gods prerogative to make unchangeable resolves.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments