Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 43:3
And Judah spoke unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother [be] with you.
3. Judah ] Judah is prominent throughout the J narrative. Cf. Gen 43:8, Gen 37:26, Gen 44:14-34, Gen 46:28.
except your brother be with you ] Admission to Joseph’s presence and permission to buy corn were to depend on Benjamin’s accompanying them. The other two objects mentioned in Gen 42:34, (1) to disprove the charge of being spies, and (2) to obtain the release of Simeon, are not mentioned.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Ye shall not see my face. See the same expression, 2Sa 14:24,32; Act 20:25,38. Ye shall not be admitted into my presence, nor to the purchasing of any corn here.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And Judah spake unto him,…. Reuben the eldest son had met with a repulse already, Ge 42:36; Simeon the next was now in Egypt,
Ge 42:24, and Levi, perhaps on account of the affair of Shechem,
Ge 34:25, did not yet stand well in his father’s favour and affection; wherefore Judah being next, with the consent of his brethren, undertakes to manage the affair with him, who had doubtless an interest in him, as well as authority among his brethren, and was a prudent man, and could speak well:
saying, the man did solemnly protest unto us; meaning Joseph, though he then knew not that it was he; whom he calls “the man”, not by way of contempt, or as thinking and speaking meanly of him, but the reverse, the great man, the honourable man, the governor of Egypt; and so the Septuagint version adds, “the man, the lord of the land”; he in the strongest terms, and in the most solemn manner, protested by the life of Pharaoh:
saying, ye shall not see my face; with acceptance, should not be admitted to come near him, or treat with him, and purchase any corn of him:
except your brother [be] with you; their youngest brother Benjamin.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Judah then declared, that they would not go there again unless their father sent Benjamin with them; for the man (Joseph) had solemnly protested ( ) that they should not see his face without their youngest brother. Judah undertook the consultation with his father about Benjamin’s going, because Reuben, the eldest son, had already been refused, and Levi, who followed Reuben and Simeon, had forfeited his father’s confidence through his treachery to the Shechemites (Gen 34).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
3. And Judah spake unto him, saying. Judah seems to feign something, for the purpose of extorting from his father what he knew he would not freely grant; but it is probable that many discourses had been held on both sides, which Moses, according to his custom, has not related. And since Joseph so ardently desired the sight of his brother Benjamin, it is not surprising that he should have labored, in every possible way, to obtain it. It may also have happened that he had caused some notification or legal summons to be served, by which his brother was cited to make his appearance, as in judicial causes. This however deserves to be noticed, that Moses relates the long disputation which Jacob had with his sons, in order that we may know with what difficulty he allowed his son Benjamin to be torn away from him. For, though hunger was pressing, he nevertheless contended for retaining him, just as if he were striving for the salvation of his whole family. Whence, again, we may conjecture, that he suspected his sons of a wicked conspiracy; and on this account Judah offers himself as a surety. For he does not promise anything respecting the event, but only, for the sake of clearing himself and his brethren, he takes Benjamin under his care, with this condition, that if any injury should be done to Benjamin, he would bear the punishment and the blame. From the example of Jacob let us learn patient endurance, should the Lord often compel us, by pressure of circumstances, to do many things contrary to the inclination of our own minds; for Jacob sends away his son, as if he were delivering him over unto death.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
3. Did solemnly protest He had sworn by the life of Pharaoh . Gen 42:15-16.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And Judah spoke to him, saying, “The Man did solemnly declare to us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face except your brother be with you.’ If you will send our brother with us we will go down and buy you food. But if you will not send him we will not go down, for the Man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face except your brother be with you.’ ” ’
Judah speaks up for his brothers. It is all right for Jacob, he does not have to face the Man. But they know what he is like and the terror he induces. And they know what he is likely to do with them if they return without Benjamin. There are no circumstances in which they will go unless Benjamin goes with them. They do not want to share Simeon’s fate.
The fact that Simeon is not mentioned is deliberate on the part of the writer. He wants his readers to recognise that as far as the family is concerned Simeon’s fate is now irrelevant. He has previously been sacrificed to Jacob’s obstinacy and obsession with his youngest son.
Reuben takes no part in all this. His father had previously rejected his offer and he has given up. Indeed something appears to have happened to him. Trying circumstances bring leaders to the fore and the reaction to the famine seems to have brought Judah into a position of leadership. He may well have proved the most resilient when everyone else was despairing. Everyone now looks to him.
“See his face.” They will not be able to approach the great man but will instead be arrested.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
If the Reader be taught of GOD the HOLY GHOST to read this spiritually, he wilt perceive that the same is said respecting JESUS. We cannot see the face of GOD except that JESUS be with us. Joh 14:6 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 43:3 And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother [be] with you.
Ver. 3. Ye shall not see my face, &c. ] No acceptation without Benjamin, that son of sorrow: so, neither with God, without sound repentance. This is the rainbow, which if God sees shining in our hearts, he will never drown our souls.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
did solemnly protest. Hebrew “protesting he protested”. Figure of speech Polyptoton (App-6). See note on Gen 26:28.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
man: Gen 42:15-20, Gen 42:33, Gen 42:34, Gen 44:23
did solemnly protest: Heb. protesting, protested, Act 7:34
see my face: Gen 43:5, 2Sa 3:13, 2Sa 14:24, 2Sa 14:28, 2Sa 14:32, Act 20:25, Act 20:38
Reciprocal: Gen 33:10 – I have seen Gen 43:7 – asked us straitly Gen 43:20 – we came indeed down 1Co 15:31 – protest