Genesis 43

The brothers go back to Egypt (vs. 1-14)—The next year, the food that Jacob’s 10 sons had brought from Egypt was almost gone, so he wants to send them back. Judah, acting as spokesman, balks: “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. But if you will not send him, we will not go down” (vs. 3-5). Jacob, miserable about that fact, asks why they told “the man” they had another brother, which was a dumb question, frankly, and the brothers rightly responded that “the man” had asked about their family; “could we possibly have known that he would say, 'Bring your brother down'?" (v. 7). Judah tells Jacob that he will act as surety for Benjamin: “If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever” (v. 9); at least he doesn’t volunteer the life of his two sons as Reuben had done the previous year. Jacob doesn’t like it, but acquiesces, “and may God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother and Benjamin” (v. 14).

Joseph orders the brothers be taken to his house (v. 14-34)—When they arrive before Joseph, he commands that they be taken to his house. He tells his steward to “slaughter an animal and make ready; for these men will dine with me at noon" (v. 16). He spoke in Egyptian, of course, so Jacob’s sons didn’t understand. “Now the men were afraid because they were brought into Joseph's house; and they said, ‘It is because of the money, which was returned in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may make a case against us and fall upon us, to take us as slaves with our donkeys’” (v. 19). They explain matters to Joseph’s steward, who reassures them and provides water for them and sustenance for their donkeys (vs. 23-24). Simeon was restored to them as well (v. 23). When Joseph comes in, he asks about Jacob: "Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?" (v. 27). Recall that it’s been a year since he last saw his brothers.  After informing Joseph that their father is well, ”they bowed their heads down and prostrated themselves” (v. 28)—Joseph’s early dream re-enacting itself again. Upon discovering for sure that the new brother with them was indeed Benjamin, “his heart yearned for his brother; so Joseph made haste and sought somewhere to weep. And he went into his chamber and wept there” (v. 30). Keep in mind it had been over 20 years since Joseph had seen his only true blood brother, and Benjamin was probably just a child when Joseph was sold into slavery. So there’s no way Joseph could have recognized him. After composing himself, Joseph orders the meal served; verse 32 records an interesting historical note: “So they set him [Joseph] a place by himself, and them [Jacob’s sons] by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat food with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians” (v. 32). Very haughty people, these Egyptians, but then they had been a great power for well over 1,000 years by this time. It would be like the United States having been around as the world’s policeman since about 800 A.D. That’s the age of Charlemagne, to tell you far back that is. Joseph had a little bit of the nepotistic nature of his father: “Benjamin's serving was five times as much as any of theirs” (v. 34). But the brothers didn’t seem to mind: “they drank and were merry with him [Joseph]” (v. 34). No doubt there was some relief over their non-threatening situation--and "astonishment" that they were being treated with such honor and deference (v. 33). The chapter ends on that happy note.