Joseph’s Brothers Return to Canaan
26They loaded their donkeys with their grain, and departed. 27When one of them opened his sack to give his donkey fodder at the lodging place, he saw his money at the top of the sack. 28He said to his brothers, “My money has been put back; here it is in my sack!” At this they lost heart and turned trembling to one another, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?”
29When they came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them, saying, 30“The man, the lord of the land, spoke harshly to us, and charged us with spying on the land. 31But we said to him, ‘We are honest men, we are not spies. 32We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no more, and the youngest is now with our father in the land of Canaan.’ 33Then the man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘By this I shall know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me, take grain for the famine of your households, and go your way. 34Bring your youngest brother to me, and I shall know that you are not spies but honest men. Then I will release your brother to you, and you may trade in the land.’”
35As they were emptying their sacks, there in each one’s sack was his bag of money. When they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were dismayed. 36And their father Jacob said to them, “I am the one you have bereaved of children: Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and now you would take Benjamin. All this has happened to me!” 37Then Reuben said to his father, “You may kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you. Put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.” 38But he said, “My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. If harm should come to him on the journey that you are to make, you would bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.”
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42.1–38 The focus turns to Joseph’s family and the reunion of Joseph and his brothers. In this new situation Joseph is their superior, as predicted in his dreams. He recognizes them but conceals his identity and devises a deceptive scheme to test their loyalty to their youngest brother, Benjamin. This is the brothers’ punishment for their evil treatment of Joseph, but also provides an opportunity for redemption if they protect rather than abandon Benjamin. Jacob, however, is still grief-stricken and will not let Benjamin go. This chapter is primarily E, with portions of the J version of the brothers’ journey in vv. 5–6a, 26–28, 38.
42.4 Jacob will not send Benjamin, fearing harm. Since Benjamin is Rachel’s only remaining child and Joseph’s brother, he is now the focus of Jacob’s love. Jacob’s preference for and overprotection of Benjamin suggest that the brothers would now be jealous of Benjamin, as they were of Joseph (37.4, 11).
42.6–9 The brothers bow before Joseph, unknowingly fulfilling Joseph’s dreams (37.7, 9). Joseph recognized them, but treated them like strangers (which uses the same Hebrew root as recognized), a wordplay that highlights the themes of recognition and deception that have colored the story throughout. Joseph remembered the dreams, highlighting his role as master of dreams (37.19) and adding to what Joseph recognizes and the brothers do not. The contrast in knowledge between Joseph and his brothers will continue to reverberate, adding various ironies, until Joseph reveals his identity to them in 45.3.
42.9–11 You are spies. Joseph asserts his power over his brothers and threatens death, perhaps ironically alluding to his own tragic journey to spy on them (37.14). This accusation elicits a claim of innocence, but Joseph knows the truth: they have never been spies, but they are not honest men (v.11). The brothers’ references to Joseph as my lord (v. 10) and to themselves as your servants (three times in vv. 10–13) highlight the fulfillment of Joseph’s dreams and recall the brothers’ rebuke in 37.8.
42.12–13 The second exchange of accusation and defense elicits the brothers’ self-identification as twelve brothers, which requires an explanation of the two missing brothers. Joseph uses their first piece of information, about Benjamin, for his test in order to see if the brothers have repented of the second, the fate of the other brother. One is no more. The truth of this statement is both less and more than the brothers know, since they know that they are culpable (a guilt that will haunt them in vv. 21–22) and since Joseph is in fact standing before them.
42.14–16 Joseph’s third repetition of the accusation includes a test. Whether there is truth in you. The truth Joseph is seeking requires the brothers to go get Benjamin. They think this is to test whether they have lied about having a brother, but Joseph plans to test whether they will abandon their brother once he is in Egypt. This is a deeper test of the truth (’emet, also meaning “faithfulness, reliability”) in them.
42.17 Put them all together (Hebrew ye’es of), a wordplay on Joseph, alluding to Joseph’s own time in prison. The brothers’ incarceration is a measure of justice for Joseph’s long imprisonment.
42.18–24 Joseph shows a measure of mercy (because he fears God; cf. 22.12) by retaining only one brother in prison instead of all but one (see v. 16), but forces the brothers to return home having abandoned yet another brother. They correctly perceive that they are paying the penalty for what they did to their brother (v. 21), but they do not know the whole truth, that Joseph is meting out the penalty for what they did. Moreover, they do not know that Joseph understands them when they speak among themselves (an interpreter was used earlier), adding another level of contrasting knowledge between Joseph and his brothers. Since he understands their speech, he now also understands their confession of guilt. For the first but not the last time, Joseph weeps (see 45.1, 14; 46.29), showing his feelings for his kin. Yet he persists in the test, choosing Simeon as hostage after Reuben’s remark in v. 22 indicating Reuben’s innocence.
42.25 Joseph’s order to return every man’s money to his sack raises the stakes of the test, since when the brothers return to Egypt they may be accused of theft. Joseph will repeat this trick with the addition of a silver cup for Benjamin in 44.1–2.
42.26–27 The J version of the discovery of the money, referred to again in 43.21; cf. the E version of the discovery in v. 35. The two discoveries add suspense and magnify the brothers’ mounting fear.
42.36–37 Jacob’s response is to emphasize their guilt, assume the worst, and indulge in self-pity. Joseph is no more puts a name to the brother’s reticent description one is no more (vv. 13, 32). Jacob prematurely includes Simeon in the same category (v. 34) and refuses to let them take Benjamin. Jacob is here a tragic and pathetic figure. Reuben’s response, to pledge his own sons as a guarantee for his protection of Benjamin, is heroic and confirms his righteous role in the E version (see 37.22; 42.22). The E story stops here until Joseph’s self-revelation in ch. 45. In the J version, Judah will be the guarantor of Benjamin’s safety (43.9; 44.18–34).
42.38 The J story resumes with the father’s grief (cf. the E version in v. 36). Jacob, a pitiable old man, is unwilling to let Benjamin go down with the brothers, lest that bring him down…to Sheol. One descent entails the other. Jacob’s speech echoes his earlier grief at his loss of Joseph (37.35). Note that the return to Egypt is less pressing since the J version seems to lack the detail of Simeon’s imprisonment (cf. v. 36).
GENESIS 43
The Brothers Come Again, Bringing Benjamin
1Now the famine was severe in the land.2And when they had eaten up the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little more food.” 3But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ 4If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food; 5but if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.’” 6Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?” 7They replied, “The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ What we told
him was in answer to these questions. Could we in any way know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” 8Then Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me, and let us be on our way, so that we may live and not die—you and we and also our little ones. 9I myself will be surety for him; you can hold me accountable for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. 10If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice.”
11Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry them down as a present to the man—a little balm and a little honey, gum, resin, pistachio nuts, and almonds. 12Take double the money with you. Carry back with you the money that was returned in the top of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight. 13Take your brother also, and be on your way again to the man; 14may God Almightya grant you mercy before the man, so that he may send back your other brother and Benjamin. As for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.” 15So the men took the present, and they took double the money with them, as well as Benjamin. Then they went on their way down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.
16When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make ready, for the men are to dine with me at noon.” 17The man did as Joseph said, and brought the men to Joseph’s house. 18Now the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph’s house, and they said, “It is because of the money, replaced in our sacks the first time, that we have been brought in, so that he may have an opportunity to fall upon us, to make slaves of us and take our donkeys.” 19So they went up to the steward of Joseph’s house and spoke with him at the entrance to the house. 20They said, “Oh, my lord, we came down the first time to buy food; 21and when we came to the lodging place we opened our sacks, and there was each one’s money in the top of his sack, our money in full weight. So we have brought it back with us. 22Moreover we have brought down with us additional money to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.” 23He replied, “Rest assured, do not be afraid; your God and the God of your father must have put treasure in your sacks for you; I received your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them. 24When the stewardb had brought the men into Joseph’s house, and given them water, and they had washed their feet, and when he had given their donkeys fodder, 25they made the present ready for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they had heard that they would dine there.
26When Joseph came home, they brought him the present that they had carried into the house, and bowed to the ground before him. 27He inquired about their welfare, and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” 28They said, “Your servant our father is well; he is still alive.” And they bowed their heads and did obeisance. 29Then he looked up and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me? God be gracious to you, my son!” 30With that, Joseph hurried out, because he was overcome with affection for his brother, and he was about to weep. So he went into a private room and wept there. 31Then he washed his face and came out; and controlling himself he said, “Serve the meal.” 32They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians. 33When they were seated before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth, the men looked at one another in amazement. 34Portions were taken to them from Joseph’s table, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.
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a Traditional rendering of Heb El Shaddai
b Heb the man
43.1–34 The brothers travel to Egypt a second time, this time with Benjamin, and are welcomed warmly. Joseph continues to conceal his identity. This is a J section, and Judah, the leader of the brothers, eloquently convinces Israel to allow Benjamin to accompany them. At the feast, Benjamin is lavished with a greater portion than his brothers, signaling Joseph’s love for him and, potentially, his brothers’ jealousy.
43.1 An echo of 12.10, when the famine in Abraham’s day caused him to journey to Egypt and settle there as a resident alien. Abraham’s descent to Egypt foreshadows the descent of Israel’s family.
43.3–7 Judah recounts Joseph’s words to them in Egypt, including his poignant inquiries (v. 7). These are recalled by Joseph in vv. 27–29; the full conversation is recalled by Judah in 44.19–23. (Cf. the different dialogue in the E version, 42.7–20.) Joseph’s interrogation of the brothers highlights his anxious emotions, of which the brothers are naturally oblivious.
43.8–10 Judah’s firmness toward his father shows his quality of leadership. As often in the biblical narrative, there is twofold causality in which the hero’s resolve and God’s plan intertwine. Judah pledges himself as surety for Benjamin; cf. Reuben’s pledge of his sons in the E version (42.37).
43.11–15 The brothers’ journey to Egypt with their youngest brother and various natural products, including a little balm…gum, resin, echoes the Ishmaelite caravan carrying gum, balm, and resin (37.25) that transported Joseph to Egypt. This journey is a consequence of and atonement for the brothers’ involvement in the previous journey. They also carry back the money that was returned in the top of their sacks (see 42.27), which adds a degree of suspense to their return.
43.14 An editorial expansion harmonizing the J story with the imprisonment of Simeon in E and using the divine title God Almighty (El Shaddai), which is elsewhere found in the P source (17.1).
43.16–23 Because of the possible charge of theft on account of the returned money, the brothers were afraid (v. 18). Their fear is unfounded this time, but anticipates the next time, when Benjamin will be implicated (44.1–17). Joseph is playing on their fears as part of the test. The steward, who had probably planted the money (see 44.1), gives a theological explanation by attributing matters to God (v. 23). This answer, even if insincere, rightly raises the theme of divine providence. The last part of v. 23, concerning Simeon, is probably an editorial harmonization (see v. 14).
43.26–31 The brothers bow to Joseph twice more, recalling his two dreams (37.5–11).Joseph inquires about their welfare (shalom), which in a sense completes his interrupted journey to see if it is well (shalom) with his brothers (37.14), but in totally changed circumstances. His twofold inquiry about their father shows us Joseph’s intense concern for him (v. 27). The dramatic sight of Benjamin, pointedly referred to as his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, causes Joseph to be overcome with affection (v.30), a rare direct description of inner emotions. Joseph the trickster almost loses his disguise, but he manages to control himself.
43.32–34 At the meal Joseph eats separately from his brothers and the Egyptians, signifying his liminal status between identities. Disguised from his kin, he is a Hebrew who rules over Egyptians, but one with whom the Egyptians cannot eat. (Cf. the Egyptian abhorrence of shepherds, 46.34.) The brothers’ astonishment at the correct seating order, from firstborn to youngest, shows again the crossed perspectives. Joseph is knowledgeable and the brothers deceived; Joseph is again toying with them. The youngest has the most lavish portion, recalling Joseph’s previous status within the family, which might kindle the jealousy of the older brothers. But the brothers drank and were merry (v. 34), with no hint of resentment.
GENESIS 44
Joseph Detains Benjamin
1Then he commanded the steward of his house, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the top of his sack. 2Put my cup, the silver cup, in the top of the sack of the youngest, with his money for the grain.” And he did as Joseph told him. 3As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away with their donkeys. 4When they had gone only a short distance from the city, Joseph said to his steward, “Go, foll
ow after the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you returned evil for good? Why have you stolen my silver cup?a 5Is it not from this that my lord drinks? Does he not indeed use it for divination? You have done wrong in doing this.’”
6When he overtook them, he repeated these words to them. 7They said to him, “Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants that they should do such a thing! 8Look, the money that we found at the top of our sacks, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan; why then would we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? 9Should it be found with any one of your servants, let him die; moreover the rest of us will become my lord’s slaves.” 10He said, “Even so; in accordance with your words, let it be: he with whom it is found shall become my slave, but the rest of you shall go free.” 11Then each one quickly lowered his sack to the ground, and each opened his sack. 12He searched, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest; and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. 13At this they tore their clothes. Then each one loaded his donkey, and they returned to the city.
14Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house while he was still there; and they fell to the ground before him. 15Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that one such as I can practice divination?” 16And Judah said, “What can we say to my lord? What can we speak? How can we clear ourselves? God has found out the guilt of your servants; here we are then, my lord’s slaves, both we and also the one in whose possession the cup has been found.” 17But he said, “Far be it from me that I should do so! Only the one in whose possession the cup was found shall be my slave; but as for you, go up in peace to your father.”
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