Genesis 43:16 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

Bible Comments

Slay. — The charge of inaccuracy brought against the narrator, upon the supposition that the higher classes in Egypt, especially the priests, did not eat flesh, has been abundantly disproved, as the representations of feasts belonging to this period show that an abundance of animal food was consumed. Animals, moreover, sacred in one district were freely eaten in another. Generally the priests might eat the flesh of oxen and geese, but not mutton, pork or fish. (Rawlinson’s Egypt, i. 438.)

Genesis 43:16

16 And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay,c and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon.