Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 8. Send the lad with me] As the original is not dly yeled, from which we have derived our word lad, but r[n naar, it would have been better had our translators rendered it by some other term, such as the youth, or the young man, and thus the distinction in the Hebrew would have been better kept up. Benjamin was at this time at least twenty-four years of age, some think thirty, and had a family of his own. See chap. xlvi. 21.
That we may live, and not die] An argument drawn from self- preservation, what some have termed the first law of nature. By your keeping Benjamin we are prevented from going to Egypt; if we go not to Egypt we shall get no corn; if we get no corn we shall all perish by famine; and Benjamin himself, who otherwise might live, must, with thee and the whole family, infallibly die.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-14 - Jacob urges his sons to go and buy a little food; now, in time of dearth, a little must suffice. Judah urges that Benjamin should go with them. It is not against the honour and duty children owe their parents humbly to advise them, and when needful, to reason with them. Jacob saw the necessity of the case, and yielded. His prudence and justic appeared in three things. 1. He sent back the money they had found in the sack. Honesty obliges us to restore not only that which comes to u by our own fault, but that which comes to us by the mistakes of others Though we get it by oversight, if we keep it when the oversight i discovered, it is kept by deceit. 2. He sent as much again as they too the time before; the price of corn might be risen, or they might have to pay a ransom for Simeon. 3. He sent a present of such things as the land afforded, and as were scarce in Egypt, balm, and honey, &c Providence dispenses not its gifts to all alike. But honey and spic will never make up the want of bread-corn. The famine was sore i Canaan, yet they had balm and myrrh, &c. We may live well enough upo plain food, without dainties; but we cannot live upon dainties withou plain food. Let us thank God that what is most needful and useful generally is most cheap and common. Though men value very highly their gold and silver, and the luxuries which are counted the best fruits of every land, yet in a time of famine they willingly barter them for bread. And how little will earthly good things stand us in stead in the day of wrath! How ready should we be to renounce them all, as loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ! Our way to prevai with man is by first prevailing with the Lord in fervent prayer. But Thy will be done, should close every petition for the mercies of thi life, or against the afflictions of this life.
Original Hebrew ויאמר559 יהודה3063 אל413 ישׂראל3478 אביו1 שׁלחה7971 הנער5288 אתי854 ונקומה6965 ונלכה1980 ונחיה2421 ולא3808 נמות4191 גם1571 אנחנו587 גם1571 אתה859 גם1571 טפנו׃2945
