Genesis 43

        A period of several weeks – or possibly even a few months – pass, which means Simeon was kept prisoner in Egypt for quite some time! When the grain that they brought back from Egypt is gone, Jacob asks his sons to go back and buy more. But Judah reminds his father that the man who was governor ordered them not to return unless they had their youngest brother with them. (v.5) Without Benjamin, they would not be able to buy any more grain. Israel then asks why they told the governor of Benjamin in the first place. (v.6) His sons respond that the man asked them about their father and about their family, and that they responded honestly. How could they know that the governor would ask them to bring their youngest brother back with them as a condition for selling them the much needed grain? (v.7) The fact that the brothers told Joseph the truth is yet another indicator of their changed hearts. They could have lied, but they chose to be honest instead.
          Judah then says to Israel that he will be a surety for Benjamin (v.9), meaning that Jacob may claim his life in place of Benjamin’s if Judah does not return with Benjamin. This is why the brief interlude of Judah’s backstory in chapter 38 is important. Here in this scene with his father, Judah demonstrates his new uprightness and integrity of character.
           Israel reluctantly consents, seeing that he has no choice. They need the grain, and only this stranger in Egypt can give it to them. He tells his sons to gather up a gift to take to the governor: choice fruits, nuts, spices (including myrrh) and honey. (The presence of these luxurious foods and spices indicates not only Jacob’s great wealth – one of his many blessings from God – but that he, too, stored up food during the years of plenty. It was not just Egypt that God blessed with bountiful harvests in the previous seven years. But grain, the one essential nutrition that was needed to survive day to day, was the only staple that Jacob didn’t have, thus his need to send his sons back to Egypt.) They also take with them the money that was unexpectedly refunded to them on the first trip in addition to the amount needed for this second purchase. (v.21)
        But Jacob also acknowledges that it is only God who can decide the course of their lives and fates. He asks God to give his sons mercy in the eyes of the man in Egypt, that all of them – including Benjamin – might return to him safe and sound. But if not, then it is God’s will, and so be it. (v.14) It’s easy to imagine Israel watching with a heavy heart as all of his sons depart, their donkeys laden with the peace offering and provisions for the trip, wondering if he will ever see any of them again.
 
     When Joseph sees that his brothers have returned with Benjamin, he promptly orders his chief steward, “…the ruler of his house…” (v.16), to prepare a meal, saying, “…these men shall dine with me at noon.” But the invitation causes fear among the sons of Jacob, and they wonder if this is some sort of trap. They expect to be captured as slaves and their possessions seized. (v.18) But they’re also too fearful to refuse the invite, perhaps because of what might happen to Simeon if they do, and so they go with the chief steward to Joseph’s house. (v.19) When they arrive, the brothers stop the steward and tell him their story, explaining the mysterious refund of their money on the first trip, and that they have not only brought it all back, but have extra as well to pay for more grain to take back to Canaan. (v.21-22)
         But the steward tells the brothers to be at peace, for he was the one that put their money back into the sacks the first time. He also adds, “Your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks.” (v.23) He then brings Simeon out to them, and then invites everyone inside. The steward gives them water to drink and washes their feet. He also provides food and shelter for their donkeys. It's clear from the steward’s response to the brothers that Joseph’s testimony as a man of God has influenced all those around him.
         When Joseph arrives home, the brothers present him with the gifts of spices, honey and myrrh. Then they bow to him once more. (v.26) Joseph accepts the gifts and asks about Jacob, to which the brothers reply that he is doing well. (v.27) They bow before Joseph yet again, and then Joseph singles out Benjamin, asking if this is the younger brother of whom they spoke last time. The brothers confirm this, and Joseph greets Benjamin warmly, saying, “God be gracious unto thee, my son.” (v.29) But then Joseph is so overcome with a yearning to be fully reunited with his brothers that his emotions threaten to overwhelm him. He suddenly exits the room and retreats to his own chamber where he weeps once more. (v.30)
        Emerging some time later, fully composed, Joseph orders his staff to serve the bread. According to Egyptian custom, Joseph’s brothers are seated at a table by themselves, apart from the other household staff. (v.32) The Egyptians possessed an extreme prejudice of the people of Asiatic descent who were shepherds, such as the Hebrews. (Genesis 46:34, Exodus 8:26) This makes Joseph’s rise to power and his current status as second-in-command of all Egypt all the more awe inspiring and incredible. God truly worked in Pharaoh’s heart, for that is the only way a known Hebrew slave would have risen to such stature and influence among a culture as discriminatory and prejudiced as the Egyptians of that time.
         Joseph orders that his brothers be seated in a precise order, and they marvel amongst themselves yet again, for they are sitting around the table in order of their birth, from oldest to youngest. (v.33) It’s amazing that none of them started putting the pieces together at this point and come to the only logical conclusion of Joseph’s true identity! As they are being served, Benjamin’s portion ends up being five times more than all the rest, yet the older brothers are not jealous. This is yet one more sign of their changed hearts. (v.34)
 
       One would think at this point that this is a perfect time for Joseph to finally reveal himself to his brothers. But that’s not what happens. Joseph has one final test prepared for the sons of Israel, one last opportunity for them to prove once and for all that these are not the men of low character who sold him into slavery twenty-two years earlier.