And we answered, ‘We have an elderly father and a younger brother, the child of his old age. The boy’s brother is dead. He is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves him.’
We have here a most ingenious and pathetic speech which Judah made to Joseph on Benjamin's behalf, to obtain his discharge from the sentence passed upon him. Perhaps Judah was a better friend to Benjamin than the rest were, and more solicitous to bring him off; or he thought himself under greater obligations to attempt it than the rest, because he had passed his word...
Commenting on Genesis 44:18-34
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, Gen 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...
Gen 44:18-20 But that the brothers could not do. Judah, who had pledged himself to his father for Benjamin, ventured in the anguish of his heart to approach Joseph, and implore him to liberate his brother. “I would give very much,” says Luther, “to be able to pray to our Lord God as well as Judah prays to Joseph here; for it is a perfect...
Commenting on Genesis 44:18-20