Genesis 43:11

The Message

Their father Israel gave in. “If it has to be, it has to be. But do this: stuff your packs with the finest products from the land you can find and take them to the man as gifts—some balm and honey, some spices and perfumes, some pistachios and almonds. And take plenty of money—pay back double what was returned to your sacks; that might have been a mistake. Take your brother and get going. Go back to the man. And may The Strong God give you grace in that man’s eyes so that he’ll send back your other brother along with Benjamin. For me, nothing’s left; I’ve lost everything.”

Cross References

Genesis 33:10

Jacob said, “Please. If you can find it in your heart to welcome me, accept these gifts. When I saw your face, it was as the face of God smiling on me. Accept the gifts I have brought for you. God has been good to me and I have more than enough.” Jacob urged the gifts on him and Esau accepted.

Genesis 37:25

Then they sat down to eat their supper. Looking up, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites on their way from Gilead, their camels loaded with spices, ointments, and perfumes to sell in Egypt. Judah said, “Brothers, what are we going to get out of killing our brother and concealing the evidence? Let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites, but let’s not kill him—he is, after all, our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed.

Genesis 43:15

The men took the gifts, double the money, and Benjamin. They lost no time in getting to Egypt and meeting Joseph. When Joseph saw that they had Benjamin with them, he told his house steward, “Take these men into the house and make them at home. Butcher an animal and prepare a meal; these men are going to eat with me at noon.”

Genesis 43:26

When Joseph got home, they presented him with the gifts they had brought and bowed respectfully before him.

2 Kings 20:12

Shortly after this, Merodach-Baladan, the son of Baladan king of Babylon, having heard that the king was sick, sent a get-well card and a gift to Hezekiah. Hezekiah was pleased and showed the messengers around the place—silver, gold, spices, aromatic oils, his stockpile of weapons—a guided tour of all his prized possessions. There wasn’t a thing in his palace or kingdom that Hezekiah didn’t show them.

2 Kings 8:8

The king ordered Hazael, “Take a gift with you and go meet the Holy Man. Ask God through him, ‘Am I going to recover from this sickness?’”

Psalm 76:11

Do for God what you said you’d do— he is, after all, your God. Let everyone in town bring offerings to the One Who Watches our every move. Nobody gets by with anything, no one plays fast and loose with him.

Proverbs 17:18

It’s stupid to try to get something for nothing, or run up huge bills you can never pay.

Proverbs 18:16

A gift gets attention; it buys the attention of eminent people.

Proverbs 19:6

Lots of people flock around a generous person; everyone’s a friend to the philanthropist.

Proverbs 21:14

A quietly given gift soothes an irritable person; a heartfelt present cools a hot temper.

Song of Solomon 8:14

Run to me, dear lover. Come like a gazelle. Leap like a wild stag on the spice mountains.

Ezekiel 27:15

“‘The people of Rhodes did business with you. Many far-off islands traded with you in ivory and ebony.

Ezekiel 27:17

“‘Judah and Israel did business with you. They traded for your products with premium wheat, millet, honey, oil, and balm.

Ezekiel 27:22

“‘Traders from Sheba and Raamah in South Arabia carried on business with you in premium spices, precious stones, and gold.

Leviticus 20:24

“I’ve told you, remember, that you will possess their land that I’m giving to you as an inheritance, a land flowing with milk and honey. I am God, your God, who has distinguished you from the nations. So live like it: Distinguish between ritually clean and unclean animals and birds. Don’t pollute yourselves with any animal or bird or crawling thing which I have marked out as unclean for you. Live holy lives before me because I, God, am holy. I have distinguished you from the nations to be my very own.

Acts 21:14

We saw that we weren’t making even a dent in his resolve, and gave up. “It’s in God’s hands now,” we said. “Master, you handle it.”

1 Samuel 9:7

Saul said, “If we go, what do we have to give him? There’s no more bread in our sacks. We’ve nothing to bring as a gift to the holy man. Do we have anything else?”