John Gill's Exposition on Genesis 44:13

A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.

Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.

Then they rent their clothes, etc.] In token of sorrow and distress, being at their wits’ end, like distracted persons, not knowing what to do: this was usually done in the eastern countries when any evil befell, as did Jacob, (<013734>Genesis 37:34); and as the Egyptians themselves did when mourning for their dead, as Diodorus Siculus f1787 relates: and laded every man his ass; put their sacks of corn on their asses again, having tied them up: and returned to the city; to the metropolis, as Jarchi, which was either Tanis, that is, Zoan, or, as others think, Memphis: hither they returned to see how it would go with Benjamin, to plead his cause and get him released, that he might go with them, they being afraid to see their father’s face without him; otherwise, could they have been content to have gone without him, they might have proceeded on in their journey, (see <014417> Genesis 44:17).

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