GENESIS—NOTE ON Genesis 45:1 Moved by Judah’s speech, Joseph is unable to restrain his emotions. He reveals his true identity to his amazed brothers. In a long speech he attempts to lessen their sense of guilt by stressing God’s role in sending him to Egypt in order to preserve the lives of his family. With the famine set to continue for another five years, Joseph sends his brothers back to Canaan in order to bring the rest of his family to Egypt. The narrator makes no comment on whether Joseph’s deception of his brothers was right. The emphasis is on the consequences: the brothers acknowledged their guilt for what they did to Joseph, and they were concerned for their father and their youngest brother. This allowed for forgiveness between Joseph and his brothers.

Continues after advertising
Continues after advertising