Genesis 42

Jacob sends his sons to Egypt (vs. 1-5)—As noted in the last chapter summary, the famine extended beyond the borders of Egypt and at least into Canaan. When Jacob and his household were low on food, he sent 10 of his sons to Egypt to buy some. 10 only—he kept Benjamin with him, “’Lest some calamity befall him’" (v. 4). The old man was still playing favorites with his sons. Benjamin, of course, was the other son of Rachel.

Joseph face to face with his brothers (vs. 6-17)—To get grain in Egypt, one had to go to Joseph, so his brothers appear before him. However, “Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him” (v. 8); no doubt, the last place they expected to see their younger brother was as second in power in Egypt! And it had been over 20 years since they had seen him, too. Interestingly, “Joseph's brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the earth,” (v. 6), and “Joseph remembered the dreams which he had dreamed about them” (v. 9)—dreams that had happened over 20 years before. Joseph no doubt noticed that Benjamin wasn’t with him, and probably wondered why. So he concocted a brilliant plan to see what kind of men his brothers had become. He accused them of being spies, which they humbly, yet vehemently, denied. Joseph refused to accept their denial, and said to them “’It is as I spoke to you, saying, 'You are spies!' In this manner you shall be tested: By the life of Pharaoh, you shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. Send one of you, and let him bring your brother; and you shall be kept in prison, that your words may be tested to see whether there is any truth in you; or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies!’ So he put them all together in prison three days” (vs. 14-17). The brothers’ sins had found them out.

Joseph sends his brothers home (vs. 18-28)—After the three days, he changed the arrangements a little and had only one brother stay in Egypt; the other nine he sent home. But “bring your youngest brother to me; so your words will be verified, and you shall not die" (v. 20). There appeared to be some remorse already in the brothers: “They said to one another, ‘We are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us’" (v. 21). Joseph, even though he had spoken through an interpreter, understood them, of course, and was so touched by their attitude that he had to go aside and weep (vs. 23-24). Nonetheless, he bound Simeon and imprisoned him and sent the others on their way. He didn’t take their money, though (v. 25), which caused some consternation among the brothers when they discovered that fact later (vs. 28, 35).

The brothers report to Jacob (vs. 29-38)—They told their father, as expected, all that happened on their trip, including the demand of Joseph that they bring Benjamin with them next time they came. Jacob was grieved at that latter bit of information: “'You have bereaved me: Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin. All these things are against me'" (v. 36). Reuben, the oldest, manfully stood forth and said, “'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'" (v. 37); one only hopes his two sons were not within hearing distance of that pronouncement. But Jacob was adamant: "’My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is left alone. If any calamity should befall him along the way in which you go, then you would bring down my gray hair with sorrow to the grave’" (v. 38). And on that bit of familial gridlock, the chapter ends.

What is Joseph doing? Why this ploy? It’s an amazing bit of chicanery he had devised to test his brothers. We shall see how it plays out in subsequent chapters.