42:25-43:15
Repeated phrases:
(1) The bags of money
When they saw the money they were dismayed v.28,35. Of course, they should be surprised and afraid, but their reactions were more than that.
v.28b they turned trembling one to another and said, “What in the world has God done to us?”
Why did they mention God?
42:22 Reuben said to them, “Didn’t I say to you, ‘Don’t sin against the boy,’ but you wouldn’t listen? So now we must pay for shedding his blood!”
They knew what happened to them was a punishment from God. Therefore, when they saw the money, they knew that was another indicator that God was involved in that event. No one would put the money back to them if that was a usual transaction of buying grains.
(2) The honest men
When Joseph accused his brothers as spies they claimed that they were honest men 42:11, 19. Now, when they were home and saw Jacob, they repeated that they were honest men 42:31, 33, 34.
42:31 But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we are not spies! 42:32 We are from a family of twelve brothers; we are the sons of one father. One is no longer alive, and the youngest is with our father at this time in the land of Canaan.’
Were they really honest men? They lied even to their own father. They told Jacob that Joseph was dead when they sold him as slavery 37:31-35. Now, they dared not to tell "Egyptians officials" what they had done to their brothers. They only used a generic term and said he is no longer with them (42:32, 36). When they retold what happened in Egypt to Jacob they repeated the generic term that Joseph was gone. They dared not to tell Jacob what had happened.
Even though they knew that God was involved and what they experienced was a punishment they were still dishonest.
(3) Bring Benjamin with them to Egypt
Their "honesty" put them in trouble, now they needed to verify what they said about their family was true by bringing in Benjamin 43:7.
42:34 But bring your youngest brother back to me so I will know that you are honest men and not spies. Then I will give your brother back to you and you may move about freely in the land.’ ”
Both Reuben and Judah offered their own sons' lives and their lives to Jacob so that they could bring Benjamin to Egypt 42:37, 43:9.
What made Jacob finally said yes was because the whole family would die if they did not go to Egypt.
43:8 Then Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me and we will go immediately. Then we will live and not die—we and you and our little one.
Repeated phrases:
(1) The bags of money
When they saw the money they were dismayed v.28,35. Of course, they should be surprised and afraid, but their reactions were more than that.
v.28b they turned trembling one to another and said, “What in the world has God done to us?”
Why did they mention God?
42:22 Reuben said to them, “Didn’t I say to you, ‘Don’t sin against the boy,’ but you wouldn’t listen? So now we must pay for shedding his blood!”
They knew what happened to them was a punishment from God. Therefore, when they saw the money, they knew that was another indicator that God was involved in that event. No one would put the money back to them if that was a usual transaction of buying grains.
(2) The honest men
When Joseph accused his brothers as spies they claimed that they were honest men 42:11, 19. Now, when they were home and saw Jacob, they repeated that they were honest men 42:31, 33, 34.
42:31 But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we are not spies! 42:32 We are from a family of twelve brothers; we are the sons of one father. One is no longer alive, and the youngest is with our father at this time in the land of Canaan.’
Were they really honest men? They lied even to their own father. They told Jacob that Joseph was dead when they sold him as slavery 37:31-35. Now, they dared not to tell "Egyptians officials" what they had done to their brothers. They only used a generic term and said he is no longer with them (42:32, 36). When they retold what happened in Egypt to Jacob they repeated the generic term that Joseph was gone. They dared not to tell Jacob what had happened.
Even though they knew that God was involved and what they experienced was a punishment they were still dishonest.
(3) Bring Benjamin with them to Egypt
Their "honesty" put them in trouble, now they needed to verify what they said about their family was true by bringing in Benjamin 43:7.
42:34 But bring your youngest brother back to me so I will know that you are honest men and not spies. Then I will give your brother back to you and you may move about freely in the land.’ ”
Both Reuben and Judah offered their own sons' lives and their lives to Jacob so that they could bring Benjamin to Egypt 42:37, 43:9.
What made Jacob finally said yes was because the whole family would die if they did not go to Egypt.
43:8 Then Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me and we will go immediately. Then we will live and not die—we and you and our little one.
Therefore, Jacob finally said yes.
However, no one cared about Simeon. He was kept in Egypt for their return. Did Jacob and the 9 brothers care about him and hurried back there? On one hand, we see the favoritism of Jacob. On the other hand, the brotherly love in their family was lacking. From the incident of selling Joseph as slaves to now abandoning Simeon in the Egyptian prison. They did not love one another. How could Jacob trust them that they would love Benjamin?
Reflection:
Jacob's family was dishonest and lacked brotherly love. They knew about God and His punishment but their lives fell short of His glory. How about us? Do we reflect God's glory in our lives? Or do we just claim that we are Christians, but our lives were disconnected with our Christians' lives? In what areas we claimed that we were honest, but we were not? Do we have brotherly love in our family and in our church? Do we care about our family and our church?
(1) The 10 brothers were afraid when the servant led them into the house. They did not know the reason was due to Benjamin v.16. Joseph saw them, but they did not know. Joseph was full of compassion to Benjamin.(NET) Joseph’s language here becomes warmer and more personal, culminating in calling Benjamin my son.
43:30 Joseph hurried out, for he was overcome by affection for his brother and was at the point of tears. So he went to his room and wept there
(NET) Heb “for his affection boiled up concerning his brother.” The same expression is used in 1 Kgs 3:26 for the mother’s feelings for her endangered child.
v.34a He gave them portions of the food set before him, but the portion for Benjamin was five times greater than the portions for any of the others.
(2) The servant who was over his household was repeatedly being mentioned v.16, 19, 23, and 24. Also the custom of Egyptians not eating with Hebrews were explained v.32-33.
What is the purpose of this section? Joseph was head over the Egyptians in front of his brothers. Not only they bowed to him v.26, 28, the Egyptians were his servants. The family of the patriarchs of Israel were saved in Egypt because Joseph held a high position in Egypt.
Reflection: (1) Compared with the 10 brothers, Joseph loved his brother Benjamin with heart-felt compassion. This is what I can learn from him. (2) God lifted us in a certain position for His plan. It is the same as Queen Esther and Joseph. They were in the high position for a purpose. God has a purpose to me, too. He gave us the resource and opportunities. I better made good use of them to serve Him.
Audrey
However, no one cared about Simeon. He was kept in Egypt for their return. Did Jacob and the 9 brothers care about him and hurried back there? On one hand, we see the favoritism of Jacob. On the other hand, the brotherly love in their family was lacking. From the incident of selling Joseph as slaves to now abandoning Simeon in the Egyptian prison. They did not love one another. How could Jacob trust them that they would love Benjamin?
Reflection:
Jacob's family was dishonest and lacked brotherly love. They knew about God and His punishment but their lives fell short of His glory. How about us? Do we reflect God's glory in our lives? Or do we just claim that we are Christians, but our lives were disconnected with our Christians' lives? In what areas we claimed that we were honest, but we were not? Do we have brotherly love in our family and in our church? Do we care about our family and our church?
v.16-34
(1) The 10 brothers were afraid when the servant led them into the house. They did not know the reason was due to Benjamin v.16. Joseph saw them, but they did not know. Joseph was full of compassion to Benjamin.(NET) Joseph’s language here becomes warmer and more personal, culminating in calling Benjamin my son.
43:29 When Joseph looked up and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, he said, “Is this your youngest brother, whom you told me about?” Then he said, “May God be gracious to you, my son.”
43:30 Joseph hurried out, for he was overcome by affection for his brother and was at the point of tears. So he went to his room and wept there
(NET) Heb “for his affection boiled up concerning his brother.” The same expression is used in 1 Kgs 3:26 for the mother’s feelings for her endangered child.
v.34a He gave them portions of the food set before him, but the portion for Benjamin was five times greater than the portions for any of the others.
(2) The servant who was over his household was repeatedly being mentioned v.16, 19, 23, and 24. Also the custom of Egyptians not eating with Hebrews were explained v.32-33.
What is the purpose of this section? Joseph was head over the Egyptians in front of his brothers. Not only they bowed to him v.26, 28, the Egyptians were his servants. The family of the patriarchs of Israel were saved in Egypt because Joseph held a high position in Egypt.
Reflection: (1) Compared with the 10 brothers, Joseph loved his brother Benjamin with heart-felt compassion. This is what I can learn from him. (2) God lifted us in a certain position for His plan. It is the same as Queen Esther and Joseph. They were in the high position for a purpose. God has a purpose to me, too. He gave us the resource and opportunities. I better made good use of them to serve Him.
Audrey
Genesis 43 2026
1. Repeated word-brother in v.1-14
Benjamin v.3, 4, 5, 7 (x2), 13
Simeon v.14
Summary: Unless Benjamin went with them they would not see the face of Joseph. Jacob blamed them for bringing up Benjamin to the Egyptian official. Judah was willing to be the guarantor and offered his life if Benjamin could not come back v.9. Finally Jacob agreed for them to go with extra gifts and double the money. Only in the last blessings, Jacob mentioned the hope of having Simenon released.
Reflection: The lack of brotherly love in the family certainly had the root in their father's favoritism. How do what I do as a leader affect the group that I lead?
Questions:
1) Jacob did not cared about Simeon, but only about Benjamin. That may affect how their family was without brotherly love.
2) He felt helpless in losing his children and he did not have much hope.
2. Repeated theme-the brothers were in the dark while Joseph was in charge v.15-34
v.17b ...he brought the men into Joseph’s house.18 But the men were afraid when they were brought to Joseph’s house. They said, “We are being brought in because of the money that was returned in our sacks last time. He wants to capture us, make us slaves, and take our donkeys!”
(UBSH) In verses 18–23 the brothers are alarmed at being taken to Joseph’s house, as they do not expect to be honored by this high official.
v.22b ...We do not know who put the money in our sacks!
v.29b...Then he said, “May God be gracious to you, my son.” 30 Joseph hurried out, for he was overcome by affection for his brother and was at the point of tears. So he went to his room and wept there.
(NET) Joseph’s language here becomes warmer and more personal, culminating in calling Benjamin my son..."he was overcome by affection"
(NET) Heb “for his affection boiled up concerning his brother.” the same expression is used in 1 Kgs 3:26 for the mother’s feelings for her endangered child.
33 They sat before him, arranged by order of birth, beginning with the firstborn and ending with the youngest. The men looked at each other in astonishment.
Summary: They were so tense that whatever happened made them nervous. From the last trip, they already had the feeling of being set up. Now, they were brought to the high official's house to have a feast! Something must have gone wrong. However, Joseph was not ready to unease their nerve and told them the truth yet. (However, Joseph treated them very well. He released Simeon v.23 and gave them food in the midst of a worldwide famine v.33). In order to keep the secret going, he himself had to hide his feeling even when he was touched to see his own brother v.29-30.
Joseph had a plan with a purpose in mind. In order to have that work out he needed to keep that a secret. His brothers were kept in the dark. He himself also needed to hide his feelings.
Reflection: Will it be the same when God has a plan for us? We may be nervous for something we dont have to (like his brothers)?
3. Questions:
3) politically-he provided food for surrounding countries, personally-his servant knew about God of his family
4) ?
5) ?
Comments