Genesis 43-45

Chapter 43: The Brothers of Joseph and Benjamin

Jacob/Israel tells his sons that they need to go down to Egypt again to buy corn, because they had run out of food.

The sons tell their father that they must go down to Egypt with Benjamin, because Joseph had told them that he would not show his face, unless they brought their younger brother. Jacob/Israel agrees and lets his sons go on their journey to Egypt. They bring with them enough money for double the amount of corn that they bought last time + enough to pay for the corn from the last time (because after getting the corn the first time, they saw that the money was still in their bags). When they arrive to Egypt and see Joseph, Joseph sees that they had brought Benjamin and tell one of his servants to make ready for lunch, because he wanted them to eat with him.

When Joseph’s brothers get taken into his house they start to get nervous that they would be killed or made into slaves. Joseph’s brothers plead with him and tell him that they had brought the money back (and swore that they did not know the money was in their bags when they left/they didn’t know that they hadn’t paid for the corn the first time). Joseph assures them that he had gotten the money the first time and if they still had money, then it must have been a gift from God.

Joseph asks how their father is, asks about his health. Joseph spends some time eating with his brothers.

Chapter 44: Joseph’s Cup

Joseph commands his servants to fill up his brother’s sacks with as much food as each of them can carry. He also commands them to place all the money they brought back into the sacks and in the youngest (Benjamin) he placed a silver cup. Joseph then sends them on their way back to the Land of Canaan, but has his servants pursue after them until they catch up with them and accuse them of stealing the money and the silver cup.

They are brought back before Joseph and Joseph tells them that Benjamin will basically become a slave because he stole from him. Joseph’s brothers plead with Joseph and tell him that if they do not return with Benjamin that it will kill their father (Jacob/Israel). Judah offers to take the place of his brother, so that he will not have the guilt of killing his father.

Chapter 45: Joseph’s Brothers SEE Joseph.

Joseph, standing amongst his brothers could no longer resist in keeping his identity a secret. Joseph screams out to them, telling him “…I am Joseph; doth my father yet live?” (Genesis 45:3)

                When his brothers see him and know that it is Joseph, they stand amazed. Joseph must have also seen fear in their eyes, because he tells them: “…be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither; for God did send me before you to preserve your life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in which there shall neither be earing nor harvest” (Genesis  45:5-6)

                Joseph’s fame catches ear of Pharaoh, and he tells Joseph to send for his father and his entire family that they might come down to Egypt and dwell with him in the Land of Goshen. Joseph and his brothers embrace each other and cry on each other’s shoulders with JOY!

Joseph’s brothers travel back to the Land of Canaan with wagons of food and goods, and when they tell Jacob/Israel he can hardly believe it. But after seeing all the goods they had with them he believes them and shouts “…my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die” (Genesis 45:28)