Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 44:20
And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him.
20. a child of his old age ] Cf. Gen 37:3, where the words are applied to Joseph.
his brother is dead ] See Gen 44:28, Gen 42:38 (J). According to the J narrative, his brothers thought him dead. In Gen 42:13 (E) Joseph’s fate is referred to in vaguer terms, “one is not.” This allusion to the “dead” brother in addressing Joseph adds a most effective touch to the story.
of his mother ] Lit. “to his mother,” i.e. of Rachel’s children.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
A little one; so they call him comparatively to themselves, who were much elder; and withal, to signify the reason why he came, not with them, because he was young and tender, and unfit for such a journey.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And we said unto my lord, we have a father,…. Yet living in the land of Canaan:
an old man; being one hundred and thirty years of age, Ge 47:9;
and a child of his old age; who was born when he was near an hundred years of age: and
a little one; not in stature, but in age, being the youngest son, and much younger than they: so they represented him, on that account, and because he was tenderly brought up with his father, and not inured to business and hardship, and so unfit to travel:
and his brother is dead; meaning Joseph: so they thought him to be, having not heard of him for twenty two years or more, and they had so often said he was dead, or suggested as much, that they at length believed he was:
and he alone is left of his mother; the only child left of his mother Rachel:
and his father loveth him; being his youngest son, and the only child of his beloved Rachel, and therefore most dear unto him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Here Judah was typical of him who became our surety. Isa 53:4-5 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 44:20 And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him.
Ver. 20. See Trapp on “ Gen 44:19 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
we said: Every word in this verse is simplicity and pathos itself. No man of the least sensibility can read it without great emotion. Indeed the whole speech is exquisitely beautiful, and perhaps the most complete pattern of genuine natural eloquence extant in any language. When we read this generous speech, we forgive Judah all the past, and cannot refuse to say, “Thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise.” Gen 49:8
a child: Gen 35:18, Gen 37:3, Gen 37:19, Gen 43:7, Gen 43:8, Gen 46:21
and his brother: Gen 37:33-35, Gen 42:36, Gen 42:38
he alone: Gen 44:27-29, Luk 7:12
Reciprocal: Gen 29:30 – he loved Gen 37:32 – thy son’s Gen 42:4 – Lest Gen 42:13 – one is not Gen 42:15 – except Num 1:36 – General 1Ki 18:7 – my lord Elijah Mar 12:6 – his Luk 8:42 – one Luk 9:38 – for