SEV Biblia, Chapter 7:11
Vino entonces hambre en toda la tierra de Egipto y de Canan, y grande tribulacin; y nuestros padres no hallaban alimentos.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 11. Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt, and Canaan , etc.] This dearth, or famine, is said to be in all lands, ( Genesis 41:54) though only Egypt and Canaan are mentioned here, because the history is concerned with no other. The Jewish writers speak of three lands particularly, which were affected with it, Phenicia, Arabia, and Palestine; and this famine in the land of Israel, they say f279 , which lasted seven years, was on account of the selling of Joseph into Egypt, as before observed. The Heathen writers make mention of this famine, particularly Justin f280 , who speaking of Joseph says, that he foresaw many years before the barrenness of the fields; and all Egypt would have perished with famine, had not the king, through his advice, ordered by an edict, that corn should be laid up for many years: this was the fifth of the ten famines, the Jews say have been, or shall be in the world f281 : and great affliction ; meaning the famine, which was very severe, and lasted a long time, even seven years: want of eating is called ywny[ , affliction, by the Jews f282 ; by which they mean fasting, which is a voluntary want of eating, or abstinence from it; and if that is an affliction, then much more want of food, or abstinence through necessity; compare ( 1 Timothy 5:10). And our fathers found not sustenance ; Jacob and his family could not get sufficient provision for them in the land of Canaan, where they then were, but were obliged to go to Egypt for it.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-16 - Stephen was charged as a blasphemer of God, and an apostate from the church; therefore he shows that he is a son of Abraham, and value himself on it. The slow steps by which the promise made to Abraha advanced toward performance, plainly show that it had a spiritual meaning, and that the land intended was the heavenly. God owned Josep in his troubles, and was with him by the power of his Spirit, both of his own mind by giving him comfort, and on those he was concerned with by giving him favour in their eyes. Stephen reminds the Jews of their mean beginning as a check to priding themselves in the glories of tha nation. Likewise of the wickedness of the patriarchs of their tribes in envying their brother Joseph; and the same spirit was still workin in them toward Christ and his ministers. The faith of the patriarchs in desiring to be buried in the land of Canaan, plainly showed they ha regard to the heavenly country. It is well to recur to the first ris of usages, or sentiments, which have been perverted. Would we know the nature and effects of justifying faith, we should study the characte of the father of the faithful. His calling shows the power and freenes of Divine grace, and the nature of conversion. Here also we see tha outward forms and distinctions are as nothing, compared with separatio from the world, and devotedness to God.
Greek Textus Receptus
ηλθεν 2064 5627 V-2AAI-3S δε 1161 CONJ λιμος 3042 N-NSM εφ 1909 PREP ολην 3650 A-ASF την 3588 T-ASF γην 1093 N-ASF αιγυπτου 125 N-GSF και 2532 CONJ χανααν 5477 N-PRI και 2532 CONJ θλιψις 2347 N-NSF μεγαλη 3173 A-NSF και 2532 CONJ ουχ 3756 PRT-N ευρισκον 2147 5707 V-IAI-3P χορτασματα 5527 N-APN οι 3588 T-NPM πατερες 3962 N-NPM ημων 2257 P-1GP
Vincent's NT Word Studies
11. Sustenance (cortasmata). For their cattle: fodder. See on shall be filled, Matt. v. 6.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
7:11 {Found no sustenance} (ouc heuriskon cortasmata). Imperfect active, kept on not finding. {Chortasmata} is from {cortazw}, originally to feed with grass (cortos) or herbs. Old word, but only here in the N.T. and includes food for both men and animals. In #Ge 24:25,32 it is fodder for the cattle, a first necessity for owners of herds of cattle.
