Genesis 42-43

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. Genesis 42:1 tn Heb “saw.”
2. Genesis 42:1 tn Heb “Jacob.” Here the proper name has been replaced by the pronoun (“he”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.
3. Genesis 42:1 sn Why are you looking at each other? The point of Jacob’s question is that his sons should be going to get grain rather than sitting around doing nothing. Jacob, as the patriarch, still makes the decisions for the whole clan.
4. Genesis 42:2 tn Heb “and buy for us from there.” The word “grain,” the direct object of “buy,” has been supplied for clarity, and the words “from there” have been omitted in the translation for stylistic reasons.
5. Genesis 42:2 tn Following the imperatives, the prefixed verbal form with prefixed vav expresses purpose of result.
6. Genesis 42:2 tn The imperfect tense continues the nuance of the verb before it.
7. Genesis 42:4 tn Heb “But Benjamin, the brother of Joseph, Jacob did not send with his brothers.” The disjunctive clause highlights the contrast between Benjamin and the other ten.
8. Genesis 42:4 tn The Hebrew verb אָמַר (ʾamar, “to say”) could also be translated “thought” (i.e., “he said to himself”) here, giving Jacob’s reasoning rather than spoken words.
9. Genesis 42:4 tn The Hebrew noun אָסוֹן (ʾason) is a rare word meaning “accident, harm.” Apart from its use in these passages it occurs in Exodus 21:22-23 of an accident to a pregnant woman. The term is a rather general one, but Jacob was no doubt thinking of his loss of Joseph.
10. Genesis 42:4 tn Heb “encounters.”
11. Genesis 42:5 tn Heb “in the midst of the coming ones.”
12. Genesis 42:6 tn The disjunctive clause either introduces a new episode in the unfolding drama or provides the reader with supplemental information necessary to understanding the story.
13. Genesis 42:6 sn Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down before him. Here is the beginning of the fulfillment of Joseph’s dreams (see Gen 37). But it is not the complete fulfillment, since all his brothers and his parents must come. The point of the dream, of course, was not simply to get the family to bow to Joseph, but that Joseph would be placed in a position of rule and authority to save the family and the world (41:57).
14. Genesis 42:6 tn The word “faces” is an adverbial accusative, so the preposition has been supplied in the translation.
15. Genesis 42:7 sn But pretended to be a stranger. Joseph intends to test his brothers to see if they have changed and have the integrity to be patriarchs of the tribes of Israel. He will do this by putting them in the same situations that they and he were in before. The first test will be to awaken their conscience.
16. Genesis 42:7 tn Heb “said.”
17. Genesis 42:7 tn The verb is denominative, meaning “to buy grain”; the word “food” could simply be the direct object, but may also be an adverbial accusative.
18. Genesis 42:9 sn You are spies. Joseph wanted to see how his brothers would react if they were accused of spying.
19. Genesis 42:9 tn Heb “to see the nakedness of the land you have come.”
20. Genesis 42:10 tn Heb “and they said to him.” In context this is best understood as an exclamation.
21. Genesis 42:12 tn Heb “and he said, ‘No, for the nakedness of the land you have come to see.’” The order of the introductory clause and the direct discourse has been rearranged in the translation for clarity.
22. Genesis 42:13 tn Heb “twelve [were] your servants, brothers [are] we.”
23. Genesis 42:13 tn Heb “today.”
24. Genesis 42:13 tn Heb “and the one is not.”
25. Genesis 42:14 tn Heb “to you, saying.”
26. Genesis 42:15 tn Heb “[By] the life of Pharaoh.”sn As surely as Pharaoh lives. Joseph uses an oath formula to let the brothers know the certainty of what he said. There is some discussion in the commentaries on swearing by the life of Pharaoh, but since the formulation here reflects the Hebrew practice, it would be hard to connect the ideas exactly to Egyptian practices. Joseph did this to make the point in a way that his Hebrew brothers would understand. See M. R. Lehmann, “Biblical Oaths,” ZAW 81 (1969): 74-92.
27. Genesis 42:16 tn Heb “send from you one and let him take.” After the imperative, the prefixed verbal form with prefixed vav (ו) indicates purpose.
28. Genesis 42:16 tn The disjunctive clause is here circumstantial-temporal.
29. Genesis 42:16 tn Heb “bound.”
30. Genesis 42:16 tn The words “to see” have been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
31. Genesis 42:16 tn Heb “the truth [is] with you.”
32. Genesis 42:17 sn The same Hebrew word is used for Joseph’s imprisonment in 40:3, 4, 7. There is some mirroring going on in the narrative. The Hebrew word used here (אָסַף, ʾasaf, “to gather”) is not normally used in a context like this (for placing someone in prison), but it forms a wordplay on the name Joseph (יוֹסֵף, yosef) and keeps the comparison working.
33. Genesis 42:18 tn Heb “Do this.”
34. Genesis 42:18 tn After the preceding imperative, the imperative with vav (ו) can, as here, indicate logical sequence.
35. Genesis 42:18 sn For I fear God. Joseph brings God into the picture to awaken his brothers’ consciences. The godly person cares about the welfare of people, whether they live or die. So he will send grain back, but keep one of them in Egypt. This action contrasts with their crime of selling their brother into slavery.
36. Genesis 42:19 tn Heb “bound in the house of your prison.”
37. Genesis 42:19 tn The disjunctive clause is circumstantial-temporal.
38. Genesis 42:19 tn Heb “[for] the hunger of your households.”
39. Genesis 42:20 tn The imperfect here has an injunctive force.
40. Genesis 42:20 tn After the injunctive imperfect, this imperfect with vav indicates purpose or result.
41. Genesis 42:20 tn The Niphal form of the verb has the sense of “to be faithful; to be sure; to be reliable.” Joseph will test his brothers to see if their words are true.
42. Genesis 42:20 tn Heb “and they did so.”
43. Genesis 42:21 tn Heb “a man to his neighbor.”
44. Genesis 42:21 tn Or “we are guilty”; the Hebrew word can also refer to the effect of being guilty, i.e., “we are being punished for guilt.”
45. Genesis 42:21 tn Heb “the distress of his soul.”
46. Genesis 42:21 sn The repetition of the Hebrew noun translated distress draws attention to the fact that they regard their present distress as appropriate punishment for their refusal to ignore their brother when he was in distress.
47. Genesis 42:22 tn Heb “and also his blood, look, it is required.” God requires compensation, as it were, from those who shed innocent blood (see Gen 9:6). In other words, God exacts punishment for the crime of murder.
48. Genesis 42:23 tn The disjunctive clause provides supplemental information that is important to the story.
49. Genesis 42:23 tn “was listening.” The brothers were not aware that Joseph could understand them as they spoke the preceding words in their native language.
50. Genesis 42:23 tn Heb “for [there was] an interpreter between them.” On the meaning of the word here translated “interpreter” see HALOT 590 s.v. מֵלִיץ and M. A. Canney, “The Hebrew melis (Prov IX 12; Gen XLII 2-3),” AJSL 40 (1923/24): 135-37.
51. Genesis 42:24 tn Heb “and he turned to them and spoke to them.”
52. Genesis 42:24 tn Heb “took Simeon.” This was probably done at Joseph’s command, however; the grand vizier of Egypt would not have personally seized a prisoner.
53. Genesis 42:24 tn Heb “and he bound him.” See the note on the preceding verb “taken.”
54. Genesis 42:25 tn Heb “and they filled.” The clause appears to be elliptical; one expects “Joseph gave orders to fill…and they filled.” See GKC 386 §120.f.
55. Genesis 42:25 tn Heb “and he did for them so.” Joseph would appear to be the subject of the singular verb. If the text is retained, the statement seems to be a summary of the preceding, more detailed statement. However, some read the verb as plural, “and they did for them so.” In this case the statement indicates that Joseph’s subordinates carried out his orders. Another alternative is to read the singular verb as passive (with unspecified subject), “and this was done for them so” (cf. NEB, NIV, NRSV).
56. Genesis 42:26 tn Heb “and they went from there.”
57. Genesis 42:27 tn Heb “and the one.” The article indicates that the individual is vivid in the mind of the narrator, yet it is not important to identify him by name.
58. Genesis 42:27 tn Heb “at the lodging place.”
59. Genesis 42:27 tn Heb “and look, it [was] in the mouth of his sack.” By the use of the particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”), the narrator invites the reader to look through the eyes of the character and thereby draws attention to the money.
60. Genesis 42:28 tn Heb “and their heart went out.” Since this expression is used only here, the exact meaning is unclear. The following statement suggests that it may refer to a sudden loss of emotional strength, so “They were dismayed” adequately conveys the meaning (cf. NRSV); NIV has “Their hearts sank.”
61. Genesis 42:28 tn Heb “and they trembled, a man to his neighbor.”
62. Genesis 42:28 tn Heb “What is this God has done to us?” The demonstrative pronoun (“this”) adds emphasis to the question.
63. Genesis 42:30 tn Heb “made us.”
64. Genesis 42:30 tn The words “if we were” have been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
65. Genesis 42:32 tn Heb “twelve [were] we, brothers, sons of our father [are] we.”
66. Genesis 42:32 tn Heb “the one is not.”
67. Genesis 42:32 tn Heb “today.”
68. Genesis 42:33 tn The word “grain” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
69. Genesis 42:34 tn After the imperative, the cohortative with prefixed vav indicates purpose/result.
70. Genesis 42:34 tn Heb “that you are not spies, that you are honest men.”
71. Genesis 42:34 sn Joseph’s brothers soften the news considerably, making it sound like Simeon was a guest of Joseph (Leave one of your brothers with me) instead of being bound in prison. They do not mention the threat of death and do not at this time speak of the money in the one sack.
72. Genesis 42:36 tn Heb “is not.”
73. Genesis 42:36 tn Heb “is not.”
74. Genesis 42:36 tn The nuance of the imperfect verbal form is desiderative here.
75. Genesis 42:37 tn The nuance of the imperfect verbal form is permissive here.
76. Genesis 42:37 tn Heb “my hand.”
77. Genesis 42:38 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Jacob) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
78. Genesis 42:38 sn The expression he alone is left meant that (so far as Jacob knew) Benjamin was the only surviving child of his mother Rachel.
79. Genesis 42:38 sn The expression bring down my gray hair is figurative, using a part for the whole—they would put Jacob in the grave. But the gray head signifies a long life of worry and trouble.
80. Genesis 42:38 tn Heb “to Sheol,” the dwelling place of the dead.
81. Genesis 43:1 tn The disjunctive clause gives supplemental information that is important to the storyline.
82. Genesis 43:3 tn The infinitive absolute with the finite verb stresses the point. The primary meaning of the verb is “to witness; to testify.” It alludes to Joseph’s oath, which was tantamount to a threat or warning.
83. Genesis 43:3 tn The idiom “see my face” means “have an audience with me.”
84. Genesis 43:4 tn Heb “if there is you sending,” that is, “if you send.”
85. Genesis 43:6 tn The verb may even have a moral connotation here, “Why did you do evil to me?”
86. Genesis 43:6 tn The infinitive construct here explains how they brought trouble on Jacob.
87. Genesis 43:7 tn The word “us” has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
88. Genesis 43:7 tn The infinitive absolute with the perfect verbal form emphasizes that Joseph questioned them thoroughly.
89. Genesis 43:7 sn The report given here concerning Joseph’s interrogation does not exactly match the previous account where they supplied the information to clear themselves (see 42:13). This section may reflect how they remembered the impact of his interrogation, whether he asked the specific questions or not. That may be twisting the truth to protect themselves, not wanting to admit that they volunteered the information. (They admitted as much in 42:31, but now they seem to be qualifying that comment.) On the other hand, when speaking to Joseph later (see 44:19), Judah claims that Joseph asked for the information about their family, making it possible that 42:13 leaves out some of the details of their first encounter.
90. Genesis 43:7 tn Heb “and we told to him according to these words.”
91. Genesis 43:7 tn The infinitive absolute emphasizes the imperfect verbal form, which here is a historic future (that is, future from the perspective of a past time).
92. Genesis 43:7 tn Once again the imperfect verbal form is used as a historic future (that is, future from the perspective of past time).
93. Genesis 43:8 tn Heb “and we will rise up and we will go.” The first verb is adverbial and gives the expression the sense of “we will go immediately.”
94. Genesis 43:8 tn After the preceding cohortatives, the prefixed verbal form (either imperfect or cohortative) with the prefixed conjunction here indicates purpose or result.
95. Genesis 43:9 tn The pronoun before the first person verbal form draws attention to the subject and emphasizes Judah’s willingness to be personally responsible for the boy.
96. Genesis 43:9 sn I will bear the blame before you all my life. It is not clear how this would work out if Benjamin did not come back. But Judah is offering his life for Benjamin’s if Benjamin does not return.
97. Genesis 43:10 tn Heb “we could have returned.”
98. Genesis 43:12 tn Heb “in your hand.”
99. Genesis 43:12 tn Heb “take back in your hand.” The imperfect verbal form probably has an injunctive or obligatory force here, since Jacob is instructing his sons.
100. Genesis 43:13 tn Heb “arise, return,” meaning “get up and go back,” or “go back immediately.”
101. Genesis 43:13 sn The man refers to the Egyptian official, whom the reader or hearer of the narrative knows is Joseph. In this context both the sons and Jacob refer to him simply as “the man” (see vv. 3-7).
102. Genesis 43:14 tn Heb “El Shaddai.” See the extended note on the phrase “Sovereign God” in Gen 17:1.
103. Genesis 43:14 tn Heb “release to you.” After the jussive this perfect verbal form with prefixed vav (ו) probably indicates logical consequence, as well as temporal sequence.
104. Genesis 43:14 sn Several Jewish commentators suggest that the expression your other brother refers to Joseph. This would mean that Jacob prophesied unwittingly. However, it is much more likely that Simeon is the referent of the phrase “your other brother” (see Gen 42:24).
105. Genesis 43:14 tn Heb “if I am bereaved I am bereaved.” With this fatalistic sounding statement Jacob resolves himself to the possibility of losing both Benjamin and Simeon.
106. Genesis 43:15 tn Heb “they arose and went down to Egypt.” The first verb has an adverbial function and emphasizes that they departed right away.
107. Genesis 43:17 tn Heb “the man.” This has been replaced in the translation by the pronoun “he” for stylistic reasons.
108. Genesis 43:17 sn This verse is a summary statement. The next verses delineate intermediate steps (see v. 24) in the process.
109. Genesis 43:18 tn Heb “over the matter of.”
110. Genesis 43:18 tn Heb “in the beginning,” that is, at the end of their first visit.
111. Genesis 43:18 tn Heb “to roll himself upon us and to cause himself to fall upon us.” The infinitives here indicate the purpose (as viewed by the brothers) for their being brought to Joseph’s house.
112. Genesis 43:18 tn The word “take” has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
113. Genesis 43:20 tn The infinitive absolute is used for emphasis before the finite verbal form.
114. Genesis 43:20 tn Heb “in the beginning” (see the note on the phrase “last time” in v. 18).
115. Genesis 43:21 tn Heb “his silver in its weight.”
116. Genesis 43:21 tn Heb “brought it back in our hand.”
117. Genesis 43:23 tn Heb “and he said, ‘peace to you.’” Here the statement has the force of “everything is fine,” or perhaps even “calm down.” The referent of “he” (the man in charge of Joseph’ household) has been specified in the translation for clarity, and the order of the introductory clause and the direct discourse has been rearranged for stylistic reasons.
118. Genesis 43:23 sn Your God and the God of your father…This is the first clear reference in the story to the theme of divine providence—that God works through the human actions to do his will.
119. Genesis 43:23 tn Heb “your money came to me.”
120. Genesis 43:24 tn Heb “the man.”
121. Genesis 43:25 tn The construction uses the infinitive construct after the preposition, followed by the subjective genitive.
122. Genesis 43:25 tn The action precedes the action of preparing the gift, and so must be translated as past perfect.
123. Genesis 43:25 tn Heb “eat bread.” The imperfect verbal form is used here as a historic future (future from the perspective of the past).
124. Genesis 43:26 tn Heb “into the house.”
125. Genesis 43:27 tn Heb “concerning peace.”
126. Genesis 43:28 tn Heb “and they bowed low and they bowed down.” The use of synonyms here emphasizes the brothers’ humility.
127. Genesis 43:29 tn Heb “and he lifted his eyes.” The referent of “he” (Joseph) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
128. Genesis 43:29 sn Joseph’s language here becomes warmer and more personal, culminating in calling Benjamin my son.
129. Genesis 43:30 tn Heb “for his affection boiled up concerning his brother.” The same expression is used in 1 Kgs 3:26 for the mother’s feelings for her endangered child.
130. Genesis 43:30 tn Heb “and he sought to weep.”
131. Genesis 43:31 tn Heb “and he controlled himself and said.”
132. Genesis 43:32 tn Heb “them”; the referent (Joseph’s brothers) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
133. Genesis 43:32 tn Or “disgraceful.” The Hebrew word תּוֹעֵבָה (toʿevah, “abomination”) describes something that is loathsome or off-limits. For other practices the Egyptians considered disgusting, see Gen 46:34 and Exod 8:22.
134. Genesis 43:32 tn Heb “and they set for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians who were eating with him by themselves, for the Egyptians are not able to eat food with the Hebrews, for it is an abomination for the Egyptians.” The imperfect verbal form in the explanatory clause is taken as habitual in force, indicating a practice that was still in effect in the narrator’s time.sn That the Egyptians found eating with foreigners disgusting is well-attested in extra-biblical literature by writers like Herodotus, Diodorus, and Strabo.
135. Genesis 43:33 tn Heb “the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth.”
136. Genesis 43:33 sn The brothers’ astonishment indicates that Joseph arranged them in this way. They were astonished because there was no way, as far as they were concerned, that Joseph could have known the order of their birth.
137. Genesis 43:34 tn Heb “and he lifted up portions from before his face to them.”
138. Genesis 43:34 tn Heb “and they drank and were intoxicated with him” (cf. NIV “drank freely with him”; NEB “grew merry”; NRSV “were merry”). The brothers were apparently relaxed and set at ease, despite Joseph’s obvious favoritism toward Benjamin.