Genesis 42:36Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Upon hearing this, the elder finds himself weeping once more. What does he express to them? "You have taken my sons from me: Joseph is lost, and Simeon is missing, and now you wish to take Benjamin as well – all of this weighs heavily upon me. It was not enough, he laments, that I mourned for Joseph; now you have added Simeon to my grief. And my anguish does not end there, for you wish to take Benjamin from me too. ‘All this is upon me.’ These statements clearly illustrate the profound sorrow in the father’s heart. Having abandoned all hope for Joseph, believing him devoured by wild animals, he succumbed to despair over Simeon and now fears for Benjamin's safety. Yet, he still holds firm and refuses to relinquish the young man.

Their father was deeply troubled by what he heard and mournfully asked, "Why have you done this? Why did you inform the ruler of Egypt that you have another brother?" They replied, "He questioned us thoroughly about our family and our connections." Jacob responded, "I would prefer to die than allow you to take Benjamin away from me."

He addressed them, saying, "You have truly left me without children! Joseph is no longer with us; Simeon is also gone. Now, do you intend to take Benjamin as well? All these misfortunes have come upon me because of you."

All of this is due to my plight. James, realizing that he is the only one suffering, admonishes his children, perhaps out of a suspicion or an intuition that they are not merely discontented but also culpable.