Chapter VIII.
Exhortation of Jacob to his sons to go to Egypt to buy food, what it means; and also the departure of ten of them, leaving Benjamin at home?
43. And Jacob said to his sons: Why are you lazy? Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt: go down there, and buy food for us (Gen. XLII, 1 and 2) : Jacob said this not once, but daily he says it to all his sons who come too late to the grace of Christ: Why are you lazy? Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. From this grain comes the seed that rises. Therefore, whoever suffers from hunger must attribute it to their own laziness. Behold, I heard, he says, that there is grain in Egypt. Certainly, the young are quicker to hear something than the old, as they are placed outside and go around many things. But this negotiation the old man hears first, but that old man in whom is the long-standing faith. The former old man understands, but that old man in whom is venerable old age, and the age of old age is an immaculate life.
44. Not all undertake this business, except the sons of Jacob, and they themselves of a more advanced age. Therefore, ten proceed, the younger does not proceed. The father did not send him: ‘Lest,’ he said, ‘sickness befall him’. Benjamin the younger was still subject to sickness. Indeed, Benjamin is read as the patriarch, but he was prefigured by Paul from the tribe of Benjamin. It was deservedly doubted by Jacob about his sickness. Finally, he was made sick in order to be healed: he suffered blindness, but this sickness led to salvation. Finally, that blindness brought light.
45. We have received the history, let us understand the mystery. Without Benjamin, the patriarchs went forth; without Paul, the apostles. Neither of them came first, but being summoned by the first, they made greater profit from the arrival of those who came before. There is, he says, grain in Egypt, that is, where there is greater hunger, there is greater plenty. There is much grain in Egypt. Finally, even God the Father says: Out of Egypt I have called my Son (Hosea, XI, 1). From this seed comes that abundance. For there could not have been a harvest unless the Egyptians had sown the seed beforehand. Therefore, there is grain that no one believed existed before. The patriarchs trade in this grain. And indeed, they brought silver, but the good Joseph gave grain and returned the silver. For Christ is not bought with money, but with grace. Your price is faith. These divine mysteries are bought. However, that unclean donkey carried this grain in the law, but now it is clean in grace.