Today marks the start of week three on this journey! I am feeling good and anxious to keep reading and studying. Today was pretty simple and easy to follow as it continued on with Joseph’s story.
Joseph is in power in Egypt, and the entire earth is in a famine. Joseph’s father sent all the brothers, except Benjamin (Rachel’s other son), to Egypt to buy grain. He would not send Benjamin in case anything happened to him; because Benjamin and Joseph were the only two sons from his first wife Rachel who died while giving birth to Benjamin. I would have thought he learned by this point, since favoritism already cost him one son, but he still made it clear he loved Benjamin most.
When Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him (just as Joseph had dreamed about, which is what caused them to betray him). Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. I can’t imagine they would have, considering they thought he was dead. Joseph spoke roughly to them, asking them many questions. Joseph called them spies and said they should be tested. He put them in custody for three days.
“On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God: if you are honest men, let one of your brothers remain confined where you are in custody, and let the rest go and carry grain for the famine of your households, and bring your youngest brother to me. So your words will be verified, and you shall not die.” And they did so.”
-Genesis 42:18-20
The brothers realized they were guilty for what they had done to Joseph years ago, and now they were getting their payback. “This is why this distress has come upon us.” Reuben spoke up, basically saying, “I told you so,” and Joseph heard their conversation.
“They did not know that Joseph understood them, for there was an interpreter between them. Then he turned away from them and wept. And he returned to them and spoke to them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes.”
-Genesis 42:23-24
Joseph gave orders to take their money from their bags and replace it with grain, and to give provisions for their journey. They set out for their journey back home; but when they stopped to feed their donkeys they realized that their money was still in the bags.
When they returned to their father, they told him everything, and that they were to return with Benjamin. Jacob was not pleased since first his son Joseph was taken from him, now Simeon, and now they wanted Benjamin. They stayed in their land until the grain had run out and they had to return to Egypt for more. Judah reminded his father that they could not return without Benjamin.
Israel gave orders to take a gift with them as well, in hopes Joseph would be favorable to them; and double the money, and to take Benjamin.
“Take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man. May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and he may send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”
-Genesis 43:13-14
When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he told his steward to bring them into the house. His brothers were afraid because they left the first time with their money, wondering if Joseph thought they had stolen from him. They assured him that they brought it all back and more.
He replied, “Peace to you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you. I received your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.”
-Genesis 43:23
When Joseph saw his brother Benjamin he was so overjoyed he had to hurry out to weep. Then, they had a feast, Joseph sharing portions from his table with them. Benjamin received five times as much as the others. They all ate and drank, but Joseph was still planning on testing them.
When it was time for them to leave, Joseph ordered his steward to fill the men’s sacks with food and grain, and to place his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack.
They hadn’t gotten far when Joseph sent his men after them “in search of” his silver cup. They told the brothers that “whichever is found with it shall die, and we also will be my lord’s servant.” They searched all the sack from oldest to youngest, and found the cup in Benjamin’s. They went back to the city to face Joseph.
Judah spoke to Joseph explaining how he can not take Benjamin, for their father would die if anything happened to him. Judah was a pledge to their father that no harm would come to Benjamin, and he sacrificed himself instead of Benjamin.
“For your servant became a pledge of safety for the boy to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father all my life.’ Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the boy as a servant to my lord, and let the boy go back with his brothers. For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear to see the evil that would find my father.”
-Genesis 44:32-34
I am anxious to see what happens next! This journey is much easier to stay engaged when it reads like a story.
I am a little confused on why it keeps switching from Jacob to Israel. My best guess, or hopes of understanding, is that when it talks about Joseph and Benjamin he is called Jacob, and when it speaks of the other brothers he is called Israel. Since his name was changed somewhere in between the sons? It bounces back and forth a lot. Luckily, I am following along with it well, but could be confusing in these posts.
If anyone is interested in following along with my 1 year Bible journey, or would like to start their own; attached is “Day 1” to go back and begin, or catch up.
https://liveandlearnjourney.com/day-1-genesis-1-3/