THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
After stating this, he entrusted them into custody. This action serves to examine their emotions and reveals his affection for his brother through his treatment of them.
Genesis 42:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
So he put them in prison three days.
וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ף אֹתָ֛ם אֶל־מִשְׁמָ֖ר שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת יָמִֽים׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
3 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Ephraem the Syrian
He imprisoned them for three days so they could experience the suffering that Joseph endured for many years in captivity.
Philaret of Moscow (Drosdow)
To allow for the selection of someone to return to the Father and bring back the last sibling may have been the purpose, as initially, no one stepped forward to take on this sorrowful mission.
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Gen 40:4But the keeper of the prison delivered them to Joseph, and he served them. Some little time passed, and they were kept in custody.
- Gen 40:7He asked them, saying: Why is your countenance sadder today than usual?
- Gen 41:10The king being angry with his servants, commanded me and the chief baker to be cast into the prison of the captain of the soldiers.
- Acts 5:18And they laid hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison.
- Isa 24:22And they shall be gathered together as in the gathering of one bundle into the pit, and they shall be shut up there in prison: and after many days they shall be visited.
- Ps 119 (118):65
- Lev 24:12And they put him into prison, till they might know what the Lord would command.
- Acts 4:3And they laid hands upon them and put them in hold till the next day: for it was now evening.