The man, who is the lord of the land, spake roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country.
The man who rules over that land spoke harshly to us and accused us of being spies in the country.
The writer is describing how Joseph (though they didn't recognize him) treated his brothers roughly and suspected them of being spies when they came to Egypt for food.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs during the severe famine that affected the known world, forcing Jacob's sons to travel to Egypt to buy grain. Joseph, now the second-in-command in Egypt, was testing his brothers who had sold him into slavery years earlier, though they didn't recognize him. Joseph's harsh treatment was part of his plan to see if his brothers had changed and to eventually bring his entire family to safety in Egypt.
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.