THE FIRST VISIT OF THE BROTHERS TO EGYPT TO BUY CORN (GENESIS 42:1). Genesis 42:1 ‘Now Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, “Why do you look one on another?” And he said, “Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt. Get yourselves down there and buy for us fro... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And the sons of Israel came to buy among those who came, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.' As they travelled to Egypt they found themselves in company with many travelling the same route, for all had been hit by the famine. They would probably have a number of servants with them for much... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Joseph was the governor over the land, he it was who sold to all the people of the land, and Joseph's brothers came and bowed themselves to him with their faces to the earth.' It is probable that Joseph had arranged things in such a way that all Canaanites coming to buy food had to approach hi... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Joseph saw his brothers, and he knew them, but he made himself a stranger to them and spoke harshly to them. And he said to them, “From where have you come?” And they said, “From the land of Canaan to buy food.” When Joseph saw his brothers he knew them immediately, but he did not make himself... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Joseph knew his brothers but they did not know him.' There was no way in which they would have recognised him. He was dressed in the dignity of his office, with his hair and sumptuous clothing in the Egyptian style, and he was now a mature man changed by the course of years and what he had bee... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Joseph remembered the dreams which he had dreamed about them and said to them, “You are spies. You have come to see the nakedness of the land.” He had lessons which he wished to teach them. He remembered the dreams of them bowing down to him and was determined they would do it in full measure,... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And they said to him, “No, my lord. It is to buy food that your servants have come. We are all sons of one man. We are true men. Your servants are no spies.” And he said to them, “No, but to see the nakedness of the land you have come.” They desperately seek to assert their innocence and integrity... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And they said, “We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. And behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not.” They try to present a full picture of themselves so as to allay suspicion. They still think of their family in terms of twelve s... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Joseph said to them, “It is as I said to you, you are spies. You will prove yourselves in this way. By the life of Pharaoh you shall not go forth from here unless your youngest brother comes here. Send one of your number and let him fetch your brother, and you shall be put in custody so that yo... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he put them all together into custody for three days.' This may well have been in the same prison where he himself had been held. Certainly it would give them a taste of the terror he had known. He felt that it was something that they should know, and they were not immature young men like he h... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And the third day Joseph said to them, “Do this, and live, for I fear God. If you are true men let one of your brothers be put in custody in your prison house, but you go and carry corn for the famine of your houses, and bring your youngest brother to me. So shall your words be proved right and you... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And they said to one another, “We are truly guilty in respect of our brother, for we saw the distress of his soul when he pleaded with us and we would not listen. This is why this distress has come on us.” And Reuben answered them saying, “Did I not speak to you saying, ‘Do not sin against the chil... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And they did not know that Joseph understood them for there was an interpreter between them.' Had it not been for this twist in the story we would never have known that Joseph had deliberately been speaking through an interpreter. This reminds us that behind these homely stories is more detail tha... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he turned himself away from them and wept, and he returned to them and spoke to them and took Simeon from among them and bound him before their eyes.' Joseph overhears what they are saying and it brings tears to his eyes. Whether he actually goes out prior to speaking to them again through the... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Then Joseph commanded that their vessels be filled with corn, and to restore every man's silver into his sack, and to give them provision for the way, and this was done to them. And they loaded their asses with their corn and went on their way.' Joseph now makes sure they are well provided for. Ab... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the lodging place he saw his silver and behold, it was in the mouth of his sack.' It is stressed that at this stage only one of them finds the silver. It is probable that they would all feed their asses from the one opened sack and th... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he said to his brothers, “My silver has been handed back, and see, it is in my sack.” And their heart failed them and they turned to one another trembling, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?” The sight of the silver terrifies them and they were filled with fear. This was the worst... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And they came to Jacob their father to the land of Canaan, and told him all that had befallen them, saying, “The Man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly to us and took us for spies of the country. And we said to him, ‘We are true men, we are no spies. We are twelve brothers, sons of our father. On... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And it happened as they emptied their sacks that, behold, every man's bundle of silver was in his sack. And when they and their father saw the bundles of silver they were afraid.' All the other sacks are now opened as they store the corn, and the remaining silver is found. Their silver has been re... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Jacob their father said to them, “You have bereaved me of my children. Joseph is not, and Simeon is not. And you would take Benjamin away. All these things have come on me.” ' To Jacob this is the end of hope for Simeon. Now he has lost two sons. And yet they expect to be able to take Benjamin... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Reuben spoke to his father, saying, “You may kill my two sons if I do not bring him to you. Hand him over to me and I will bring him back to you again.” ' Reuben is concerned to go straight back to obtain Simeon's release. He reveals here something very admirable in his character. Things may l... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he said, “My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead and he alone is left. If mischief befalls him in the way in which you go, then you will bring my grey hairs with sorrow to the grave,” ' His father refuses the offer. His words reveal how much Rachel had meant to him. She had... [ Continue Reading ]