22 And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die.
22 And we said to my lord, 'The boy cannot leave his father; if he leaves him, his father will die.'
22 We said to my lord, 'The boy cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.'
22 We told you, master, that it was impossible: 'The boy can't leave his father; if he leaves, his father will die.'
22 And we said to my lord, 'The lad cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.'
22 But we said to you, 'My lord, the boy cannot leave his father, for his father would die.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 44:22
Commentary on Genesis 44:18-34
(Read Genesis 44:18-34)
Had Joseph been, as Judah supposed him, an utter stranger to the family, he could not but be wrought upon by his powerful reasonings. But neither Jacob nor Benjamin need an intercessor with Joseph; for he himself loved them. Judah's faithful cleaving to Benjamin, now, in his distress, was recompensed long afterwards by the tribe of Benjamin keeping with the tribe of Judah, when the other tribes deserted it. The apostle, when discoursing of the mediation of Christ, observes, that our Lord sprang out of Judah, Hebrews 7:14; and he not only made intercession for the transgressors, but he became a Surety for them, testifying therein tender concern, both for his Father and for his brethren. Jesus, the great antitype of Joseph, humbles and proves his people, even after they have had some tastes of his loving-kindness. He brings their sins to their remembrance, that they may exercise and show repentance, and feel how much they owe to his mercy.