Genesis 41:50-57 Joseph Looks Forward
In these verses we discover that two sons are born to Joseph, both before the prophesied famine occurred. Note that their mother was an Egyptian, daughter of a priest to an Egyptian god. The names of the two sons were Manasseh (God has made me forget all my trouble and my father’s household), and Ephraim (God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction). The tone of this is positive, giving us a picture of a man who credits God for bringing him through treacherous times and establishing goodness again.
The chapter ends affirming Joseph’s authority to manage what had been stored. As the famine affected an area larger than Egypt, people from other lands were coming because they had heard that food was available in Egypt. The language of “all the earth” is noteworthy (v. 56-57).
Genesis 42 – Egypt Journey #1
Back in Canaan the famine is causing severe hardship. Jacob learns that there is food available in Egypt, and does not hesitate to send his sons there for much needed grain. We do notice that Jacob is unwilling to send Benjamin on the trip. There are differing opinions as to how old Benjamin would be at this point, but all of the estimates put him in the range of adulthood. In contrast, there is language in chapter 44 that would suggest Benjamin is still in the years of his youth. Ultimately we are not told Benjamin’s age. What we do know for certain is that Jacob does not want him making the trip to Egypt.
Once in Egypt the brothers encounter Joseph. We recall that Joseph had directed that food to be stored in several locations throughout the country, and he would not have been able to oversee them all at once. Fate (or God) had arranged that Joseph would be at the place where anyone coming from Canaan would have arrived in Egypt first.
When the brothers encounter Joseph (v. 6-8) they “bow down to him,” thus fulfilling Joseph’s dream. Joseph recognizes the brothers, but they do not recognize him. Part of the reason may be that, while the other brothers still looked like Semites, Joseph now looked like an Egyptian. Further, the brothers would not have anticipated their brother being the one in such a prominent position. Joseph’s initial reaction is to keep his identity concealed from them, probably to give him time to discern how to handle the situation. Looking ahead to verse 23, we are told that their conversations were taking place through an interpreter, another detail that would help conceal Joseph’s identity.
Joseph addresses his brothers harshly, supposing to accuse them of spying on Egypt to learn of potential weaknesses that could be exploited by an invading army. In their conversation, the brothers reveal two things to Joseph: Benjamin is still alive, and Jacob is still alive (v. 13). Having this information, we can posit that Joseph is considering a strategy that will most benefit the family, perhaps including getting them all to Egypt.
(18-25) Joseph begins his plot by sentencing all of the brothers to jail for three days, with the additional charge that one of them would return to Canaan to get the youngest brother and bring him to Egypt. Joseph modifies that plan, sending all but Simeon back to Canaan. Joseph also arranges for their money to be secretly returned to them, an act of kindness even if it also had the effect of bringing further concern to the brothers.
(29-38) Upon returning home, the brothers related their experience to their father. On their trip home one of them had discovered the money that was lodged in his sack. Now they all discover the same thing, causing further concern for the brothers and for Jacob. Their purpose is to prove themselves “honest men.” Would they now be considered dishonest, as those who somehow made off with food from Egypt without paying for it?
Jacob declares his grief to the returning sons by saying, “You have bereaved me of my children: Joseph is not more, and (now) Simeon is no more, and you would (desire to) take Benjamin” (v. 36). Reuben makes a valiant gesture for the good of his father, offering the lives of his own two sons as collateral for his determination to bring both Simeon and Benjamin home. Jacob, however, will have nothing to do with it.
Genesis 43 – Returning to Egypt
The beginning lines of the chapter would suggest that Jacob’s sons did not immediately return to Egypt. Jacob was probably hoping to not have to deal with Egypt again, to count his losses and not risk the loss of any other member of the family. The famine, though, continued to press on them, and Jacob found himself with no other choice.
When Jacob instructs his sons to return to Egypt, Judah insists that the only way they will go (because it will be the only way the trip will prosper) is if Benjamin goes with them. Judah now leads the conversation on behalf of the brothers, and takes full responsibility for the well being of Benjamin. Jacob agrees for Benjamin to go, but holds nothing back as far as goods and money in hopes that all of the brothers will return, including Benjamin and Simeon (v. 11-15).
We don’t know how much time had passed since the first visit, but it is quite likely that Joseph anticipated the return of his brothers at some point. When he sees that they have returned, and have Benjamin with them, Joseph arranges for a dinner to be prepared that the brothers would share with him. When the steward tells the brothers that they would be brought to the home of the lord of the land, the brothers worry that it is due to the money issue from the first visit (v. 18). The brothers try to make their case to the steward, explaining how the events unfolded. The steward’s response is interesting (v. 23): “Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money.” The message is clear to the brothers: your payment for your food was received, and your God can be credited for the unexpected gift of its return.
From verse 26 forward we are given a few details of the meal encounter. Notably Joseph learns that his father is still alive (v. 28) and gets a good look at his brother Benjamin. Joseph offers a blessing upon Benjamin that would be odd for an Egyptian: “May Elohim be gracious to you” (v. 29). This is not as explicit as Jehovah, but certainly not naming an Egyptian god. Joseph is overcome at the sight of Benjamin. After composing himself, they proceed to have the meal.
The setting of the meal is a bit ambiguous in our reading. We are told that the Egyptians did not eat with the Hebrews, as the Egyptians would have considered the food defiled if it were shared with the Hebrews. Joseph also separates himself, but it also seems obvious that they are in shared space. Joseph seems to have even ordered the seating arrangement according to the birth order of the brothers, a surprising thing for an Egyptian who would not have known those details. Joseph had portions of food from his own table taken to the table of his brothers (v. 34), with Benjamin receiving a portion five times that of his brothers. Though we are not told, Joseph’s potential reasoning may be to test the older brothers to see if they have really changed, or if they will hang Benjamin out to dry in a similar way to how they mistreated Joseph. This can make sense in light of the next steps in Joseph’s plot.
Genesis 44 – Joseph Entraps His Brothers
As the brothers again prepare to return to Canaan, Joseph sets a trap for them by having his steward put their money into their bags (as before). Also, Joseph has a silver cup placed in Benjamin’s bag, one that belonged to Joseph personally. Once the men are on their way, the steward would catch up with them and “find” Joseph’s property, thus creating the appearance that the brothers had stolen from Joseph. After being found in possession of the cup, all the brothers returned to Egypt where they faced Joseph. Still not revealing himself to the brothers, Joseph impresses upon the brothers their so-called wrongdoing.
Joseph implies that the men had been foolish to attempt such a deed, as the person such as himself could use divination to learn of their actions. This statement is almost certainly part of Joseph’s ploy, as nowhere else does Joseph even suggest that any revelation comes from a source other than God. Judah and the brothers have no way of making a case for themselves, and continue to point to their consequences as an act of God’s justice. Joseph’s sentencing for the “crime” is for Benjamin to remain as the guilty party, while the others return to Canaan.
As suggested earlier, Joseph’s strategy may have been to test the brothers to see if they would act with integrity toward Benjamin. If they do act to protect Benjamin, which Joseph would take as a sign of their genuine repentance, Joseph’s plot could further serve as a means by which to get Jacob and the rest of the family to Egypt. Joseph knows that there are five more years of famine coming (Genesis 45:6,11), information that Jacob and the other sons would not know. The family’s best chance of thriving will come not in Canaan, but in Egypt.
Beginning at verse 18 we read a long plea from Judah. In it he recounts the events that have happened, both in Egypt and in Canaan (from the brothers’ perspective). Judah’s request is for Joseph to allow him to remain and let Benjamin return to Canaan. The force behind this is Judah’s consideration for Jacob, something the other brothers surely share as well.
In verses 20-22 we notice a couple of details in what Judah says. Benjamin is called “a little child” of Jacob’s old age. Judah then makes reference to Benjamin as “a lad.” While not definitive, this might persuade us to think of Benjamin as still being in his adolescent years. We also notice that Judah makes reference to Benjamin’s brother (i.e. Joseph) as being dead. It is possible that Judah only means “dead in the eyes of our father,” but could also suggest that the brothers have come to think of Joseph in the same way. In 42:22 Reuben uses the language “now comes the reckoning for (Joseph’s) blood.”
Judah’s plea is passionate and genuine. He is willing to sacrifice his own freedom in order to save his father from the greatest of distress. Such a plea is enough to break Joseph’s heart, and as the narrative continues we see Joseph’s ploy come to an end.
The Winding Path 