“Please, sir,” they said, “we really did come down here the first time to buy food.
Jacob's sons, having got leave to take Benjamin with them, were observant of the orders their father had given them, and went down the second time into Egypt to buy corn. If we should ever know what a famine of the word means, let us not think it much to travel as far for spiritual food as they did for corporal food.
Commenting on Genesis 43:15-25
And it came to pass when we came to the inn,.... Upon the road, on the first day's journey, to refresh themselves and their cattle: that we opened our sacks; to give provender to our cattle; by which it appears that they all did this, though it is only said of one of them at the inn, and of all of them when they came...
ARRIVAL IN EGYPT. (Gen. 43:15-30) stood before Joseph--We may easily imagine the delight with which, amid the crowd of other applicants, the eye of Joseph would fix on his brethren and Benjamin. But occupied with his public duties, he consigned them to the care of a confidential servant till he should have finished the business of the day.
Commenting on Genesis 43:15-30