THE SECOND JOURNEY TO EGYPT GENESIS 43:1-34

1 THE SECOND JOURNEY TO EGYPT GENESIS 43:1-34

2 Text: THE SECOND JOURNEY TO EGYPT GENESIS 43:1-34 1. Now the famine was severe in the land. 2. When they finished eating the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, Return, buy us a little more food. 3. But Judah said to him, The man solemnly warned us, You will not see my face unless your brother is with you. 4. If you send our brother with us, we ll go down and buy food for you. 5. But if you will not send him, we won t go down there because the man said to us, You will not see my face unless your brother is with you. 6. Israel said, Why did you bring this trouble on me by telling the man you had one more brother? 7. They replied, The man questioned us thoroughly about ourselves and our family, saying, Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother? So we answered him in this way. How could we possibly know that he would say, Bring your brother down? 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 ones. 9. I myself pledge security for him; you may hold me liable. If I do not bring him back to you and place him here before you, I will bear the blame before you all my life. 10. But if we had not delayed, we could have traveled there and back twice by now! 11. Then their father Israel said to them, If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best products of the land in your bags, and take a gift down to the man a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh,

3 pistachios and almonds. 12. Take double the money with you; you must take back the money that was returned in the mouths of your sacks perhaps it was an oversight. 13. Take your brother too, and go right away to the man. 14. May the sovereign God grant you mercy before the man so that he may release your other brother and Benjamin! As for me, if I lose my children I lose them. 15. So the men took these gifts, and they took double the money with them, along with Benjamin. Then they hurried down to Egypt and stood before Joseph. 16. When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the servant who was over his household, Bring the men to the house. Slaughter an animal and prepare it, for the men will eat with me at noon. 17 The man did just as Joseph said; 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! 19. So they approached the man who was in charge of Joseph s household and spoke to him at the entrance to the house. 20. They said, My lord, we did indeed come down the first time to buy food. 21. But when we came to the place where we spent the night, we opened our sacks and each of us found his money the full amount in the mouth of his sack. So we have returned it. 22. We have brought additional money with us to buy food. We do not know who put the money in our sacks! 23. Everything is fine, the man in charge of Joseph s household told them. Don t be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks. I had your money. Then he brought Simeon

4 out to them. 24. The servant in charge brought the men into Joseph s house. He gave them water, and they washed their feet. Then he gave food to their donkeys. 25. They got their gifts ready for Joseph s arrival at noon, for they had heard that they were to have a meal there. 26. When Joseph came home, they presented him with the gifts they had brought inside, and they bowed down to the ground before him. 27. He asked them how they were doing. Then he said, Is your aging father well, the one you spoke about? Is he still alive? 28. Your servant our father is well, they replied. He is still alive. They bowed down in humility. 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. 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. 31. Then he washed his face and came out. With composure he said, Set out the food. 32. They set a place for him, a separate place for his brothers, and another for the Egyptians who were eating with him. (The Egyptians are not able to eat with Hebrews, for the Egyptians think it is disgusting to do so.) 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. 34. 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. They drank with Joseph until they all became drunk. (NET) Commentary: The famine that was in Canaan grew worse. Finally, Jacob s family had

5 eaten all the grain they had bought in Egypt. Jacob said to his sons, Go back and buy some more grain. This chapter contains the discussion about that return trip. It also provides us with an emotional time when the brothers met Joseph and ate a meal at his personal residence. Joseph does not yet identify himself to them. This was only the second year of the famine. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. (Genesis 45:6) It is not specified how long Simeon had been left in prison in Egypt, nor do we know how he was treated. The other brothers said they would not go back to Egypt without Benjamin. Jacob tried to persuade them to go to Egypt without him. The brothers were not going back to Egypt without Benjamin because they would be charged as spies and arrested! They still have no idea that the man they were dealing with is Joseph. They thought that their final dealing with Joseph was when they sold him as a slave and that he must be dead by now. Judah made a very reasonable appeal to Jacob as he pleaded for Benjamin to go with them. He said, Unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones. I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever. (Genesis 43:8-9) The fact that his family was going to starve without this food helped Israel to decide to send Benjamin. He pleaded for God s mercy in this matter. And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved. (Genesis 43:14) It was by Israel s surrendering Benjamin that he received food, and, he also received Simeon, Benjamin and Joseph back. When they went to Egypt they took the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds. They also took double money with them. Joseph had his brothers brought to his house. They were fearful because they thought

6 they would be arrested because of the money that had been put in their sacks. When Joseph came in his brothers bowed down before him, fulfilling once again Joseph s childhood dreams. They also answered several questions about their family. When Joseph saw his brother Benjamin he left them so that he could weep alone. When Joseph had the brothers seated at his table he seated them in order of age, from oldest to youngest. He gave Benjamin a portion five times as large as the others. They ate and drank and enjoyed the time together. The famine was sore in the land -- Genesis 43:1-7: The famine in Canaan just kept getting worse. After some time had passed Jacob s family had eaten all the grain they had bought in Egypt. Jacob wanted his sons to go back to Egypt and buy more grain. Judah was convinced that they should not return to Egypt without Benjamin. They would be taken for spies and would not be allowed to buy grain. Instead, they would likely be thrown into prison with Simeon. Judah reminded their father that the governor had strictly warned them that they would not be allowed to buy more gain unless they brought their youngest brother with them. Jacob asked, Why did you cause me so much trouble by telling the governor you had another brother? During their first visit to Egypt Joseph had asked some very specific questions. They did not recognize where these questions might lead, nor did anyone give a thought that this man might be Joseph. They told Jacob that the man asked lots of questions about them and their family. He asked, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? They said that they just honestly answered his question. They said, How could we know he would tell us to bring our brother to Egypt? A prayer for God s mercy -- Genesis 43:8-14: Judah finally stood up, like a man, and took responsibility for Benjamin. Judah s promise was not at all like Ruben s foolish statement. And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me. And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my

7 hand, and I will bring him to thee again. And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. (Genesis 42:36-38) A starving family and a reasonable promise from Judah convinced Israel to allow Benjamin to go to Egypt with the other sons. Quite some time must have passed sense the first visit to Egypt. Judah said, For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time. (Genesis 43:10) You cannot help but wonder what Simeon was thinking. Was he thinking that he would be left in prison till he died? Israel seemed much more concerned about Benjamin than he was about Simeon. Jacob told the brothers to take Benjamin and go to Egypt to purchase more food. He did suggest that, even though they had very little, that they take the governor a gift of some of the best things from their country, such as perfume, honey, spices, pistachio nuts and almonds. He also told them to take double money which would include what was found in their sacks on the first trip. The matter was urgent so he told them to take Benjamin and leave right away to get more food. Israel did the right thing by placing this matter in God s hand. He prayed, God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved. (Genesis 43:14) The brothers were brought to Joseph s house -- Genesis 43:15-24: Joseph is in a difficult situation. These are the men who wanted to kill him and who did sell him as a slave; his younger was not involved with their deeds. Now he wants to spend time with Benjamin but he is not yet ready to reveal himself to his bothers. He had his brothers taken to his house. They were afraid. They said, We are being taken there because of the money that was put back in our sacks last time. He will arrest us, make us his slaves, and take our donkeys. This was a very irrational fear. If Joseph had wanted to make slaves of them he could have simply done that by force. At Joseph s house the brothers immediately began to talk about the money that was in their sacks.

8 They said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food: And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand. And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks. And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them. (Genesis 43:20-23) The man took them into Joseph s house and gave them water to wash their feet. He also provided food for their donkeys. The brothers in age order at the table -- Genesis 43:25-34: When these men come in before Joseph they presented the gifts they had brought for him from home. These things likely brought past memories to Josephs heart. As the brothers presented their gifts they again bowed down to Joseph. Joseph was especially interested in the welfare of his father. He asked, them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive? They said Your servant our father is still alive and well. And again they bowed down to Joseph and made obeisance. The scene changed to a very emotional moment when Joseph saw Benjamin. He asked the men if this was their younger brother. Joseph gave a blessing to Benjamin and quickly left the room and wept because of his love for his brother. For some reason Joseph was not yet ready to identify himself to his brothers. There were three tables set for the meal. Joseph s brothers ate at one table; the Egyptians ate at another and Joseph ate at a table by himself. This arrangement was because of the prejudice of the Egyptians. The Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians. It must have been a surprise to Joseph s brothers when they were seated in age order, from the oldest to the youngest around the table! The brothers were all well fed but Benjamin was given five times as much as the others. They all shared an enjoyable time together!

9 God will put strength into the heart of the person who trusts in Him. No act of courage or obedience is impossible to a man with faith in God. The believer, when he is brought into peace with God, does not tremble, at the thought of doing God s service and trusting God s promises. To become a Christian hear the word of God (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus (John 8:24), repent of sins (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9-10) and be baptized into Christ. (Galatians 3:26-27) Let us be righteous and live for the Savior and with the Savior. By Charles Box, Walnut Street Church of Christ, 306 Walnut Street. Greenville, Alabama, 36037 USA

10 Questions on Genesis 43:1-34 1. What motivated Jacob to send his sons back to Egypt? 2. Who reminded Jacob they could not return to Egypt without Benjamin? 3. Jacob blamed his sons for telling the Egyptian officer about Benjamin. He demanded an explanation of how the officer found out there was another brother. What was their explanation? 4. Once again a brother pledges security for the safe return of Benjamin. Which brother came forward this time and what did he pledge?

11 5. Did Judah realize the severity of the family s grain situation? If yes, explain. 6. Jacob agreed to send Benjamin with the brothers. He also told them to present gifts to the officer of Pharaoh. List the gifts he told them to take. 7. Had Jacob in the past used lavish gifts to appease someone? 8. Jacob finally acknowledged that God was in control and pronounced a blessing on his sons. What was the blessing? What did he say about the possibility of losing his sons?

12 9. When the eleven brothers arrived in Egypt Joseph told his servant to bring them to his house. Why did this fill them with fear? 10. They were so fearful they confessed to Joseph s servant they had found all their silver in the grain sacks and they were afraid Joseph was going to imprison them for theft. What did the servant reveal to them? Who was really in charge of this situation? 11. What else did the servant do that greatly relieved the hearts of the brothers?

13 12. The brothers waited to meet with Joseph. When he arrived what did they do? Why is this significant? 13. Joseph asked about their father s welfare. What did the brothers do as they answered? 14. What happened when Benjamin was introduced to Joseph? 15. Why was this so emotional for Joseph? 16. When it was time to eat, how many tables were set and why?

14 17. Why were the brothers astonished by the seating arrangements at their table? 18. Joseph had pronounced a blessing on Benjamin earlier and when the food was served another astonishing thing took place. What was it that again surprised the brothers?