Genesis 43:20

43:20 They said, “My lord, we did indeed come down ¹  the first time ²  to buy food.

Genesis 44:18

44:18 Then Judah approached him and said, “My lord, please allow your servant to speak a word with you. ³  Please do not get angry with your servant, ⁴  for you are just like Pharaoh. ⁵ 

[43:20]  ¹ tn The infinitive absolute is used for emphasis before the finite verbal form.

[43:20]  ² tn Heb “in the beginning” (see the note on the phrase “last time” in v. 18).

[44:18]  ³ tn Heb “Please my lord, let your servant speak a word into the ears of my lord.”

[44:18]  ⁴ tn Heb “and let not your anger burn against your servant.”

[44:18]  ⁵ sn You are just like Pharaoh. Judah’s speech begins with the fear and trembling of one who stands condemned. Joseph has as much power as Pharaoh, either to condemn or to pardon. Judah will make his appeal, wording his speech in such a way as to appeal to Joseph’s compassion for the father, whom he mentions no less than fourteen times in the speech.