Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 43:31
And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.
31. he refrained himself ] Joseph’s effort of self-constraint broke down in Gen 45:1.
Set on bread ] As we should say, “serve up dinner.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
31. Joseph said, Set onbreadequivalent to having dinner served, “bread”being a term inclusive of all victuals. The table was a small stool,most probably the usual round form, “since persons might eventhen be seated according to their rank or seniority, and the modernEgyptian table is not without its post of honor and a fixed gradationof place” [WILKINSON].Two or at most three persons were seated at one table. But the hostbeing the highest in rank of the company had a table to himself;while it was so arranged that an Egyptian was not placed nor obligedto eat from the same dish as a Hebrew.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And he washed his face,…. From the tears on it, that it might not be discerned that he had been weeping:
and went out; of his chamber into the room again, where his brethren were:
and refrained himself; from weeping, or showing any excess of passion, love, joy, c.
and said, set on bread gave orders to his servants to bring in dinner, and set it upon the table; bread, as before, being put for all kind of food.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(31) He washed his face.This was done to remove all traces of his tears.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 43:31 And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.
Ver. 31. Set on bread. ] Which the Latins call panis of , either because all covet it, or because whatever else the cheer be, men always set on bread. a
a Isidor., lib. xx.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
refrained: Gen 45:1, Isa 42:14, Jer 31:16, 1Pe 3:10
bread: Gen 43:25
Reciprocal: Est 5:10 – refrained Joh 11:33 – was troubled