Genesis43

The severe famine compels Jacob's sons to return to Egypt for more food, but the Egyptian ruler demands Benjamin accompany them. Judah persuades Jacob, offering himself as surety for Benjamin's safety, and Jacob reluctantly agrees, sending gifts and double money. Upon their arrival, Joseph sees Benjamin, is deeply moved, and hosts his brothers for a meal, showing special favor to Benjamin.

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Judah Becomes Surety for Benjamin

Now the famine was still severe in the land.

So when Jacob’s sons had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back and buy us a little more food.”

But Judah replied, “The man solemnly warned us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’

If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy food for you.

But if you will not send him, we will not go; for the man told us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’”

“Why did you bring this trouble upon me?” Israel asked. “Why did you tell the man you had another brother?”

They replied, “The man questioned us in detail about ourselves and our family: ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ And we answered him accordingly. How could we possibly know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother here’?”

And Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me, and we will go at once, so that we may live and not die—neither we, nor you, nor our children.

I will guarantee his safety. You may hold me personally responsible. If I do not bring him back and set him before you, then may I bear the guilt before you all my life.

If we had not delayed, we could have come and gone twice by now.”

Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your packs and carry them down as a gift for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds.

Take double the silver with you so that you may return the silver that was put back into the mouths of your sacks. Perhaps it was a mistake.

Take your brother as well, and return to the man at once.

May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother along with Benjamin. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”

The Brothers Arrive and Fear

So the men took these gifts, along with double the amount of silver, and Benjamin as well. Then they hurried down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.

When Joseph saw Benjamin with his brothers, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my house. Slaughter an animal and prepare it, for they shall dine with me at noon.”

The man did as Joseph had commanded and took the brothers to Joseph’s house.

But the brothers were frightened that they had been taken to Joseph’s house. “We have been brought here because of the silver that was returned in our bags the first time,” they said. “They intend to overpower us and take us as slaves, along with our donkeys.”

So they approached Joseph’s steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house.

“Please, sir,” they said, “we really did come down here the first time to buy food.

But when we came to the place we lodged for the night, we opened our sacks and, behold, each of us found his silver in the mouth of his sack! It was the full amount of our silver, and we have brought it back with us.

We have brought additional silver with us to buy food. We do not know who put our silver in our sacks.”

“It is fine,” said the steward. “Do not be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, gave you the treasure that was in your sacks. I received your silver.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.

And the steward took the men into Joseph’s house, gave them water to wash their feet, and provided food for their donkeys.

Since the brothers had been told that they were going to eat a meal there, they prepared their gift for Joseph’s arrival at noon.

Joseph Meets Benjamin; The Feast

When Joseph came home, they presented him with the gifts they had brought, and they bowed to the ground before him.

He asked if they were well, and then he asked, “How is your elderly father you told me about? Is he still alive?”

“Your servant our father is well,” they answered. “He is still alive.” And they bowed down to honor him.

When Joseph looked up and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother’s son, he asked, “Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?” Then he declared, “May God be gracious to you, my son.”

Joseph hurried out because he was moved to tears for his brother, and he went to a private room to weep.

Then he washed his face and came back out. Regaining his composure, he said, “Serve the meal.”

They separately served Joseph, his brothers, and the Egyptians. They ate separately because the Egyptians would not eat with the Hebrews, since that was detestable to them.

They were seated before Joseph in order by age, from the firstborn to the youngest, and the men looked at one another in astonishment.

When the portions were served to them from Joseph’s table, Benjamin’s portion was five times larger than any of the others. So they feasted and drank freely with Joseph.

Study Notes for Genesis 43

Verse 1

The severity of the famine forces Jacob’s family to face the difficult demand made by the Egyptian ruler (Joseph) in the previous chapter: they must bring Benjamin.

Verse 3

Judah takes the lead in addressing Jacob, a shift in leadership from Reuben (42:37). Judah’s firm statement emphasizes the non-negotiable nature of Joseph’s oath.

Verse 6

Israel (Jacob) expresses his frustration. He blames his sons, highlighting his deep anxiety and attachment to Benjamin, the last surviving son of his beloved wife, Rachel.

Verse 8

Judah appeals to the necessity of immediate action to save the extended family from starvation, contrasting Jacob’s emotional paralysis with the practical need to survive.

Verse 9

Judah's offer to be 'surety' (guarantor) for Benjamin is a profound act of self-sacrifice and responsibility. This demonstrates his moral transformation since he suggested selling Joseph decades earlier (37:26).

Verse 11

Jacob finally yields to necessity. The 'best fruits' of Canaan were intended as a diplomatic gift, following the custom of offering tribute to a powerful official.

Verse 12

Jacob instructs them to return the money found in their sacks, fearing it was an error or a setup. This demonstrates Jacob’s integrity and his desire to avoid any appearance of wrongdoing.

Verse 14

Jacob invokes 'God Almighty' (El Shaddai), demonstrating that he now places the situation in God’s hands. His final words, 'If I be bereaved... I am bereaved,' express sorrowful resignation to fate.

Verse 16

Joseph’s command to prepare a meal indicates high honor and substantial hospitality, but also deepens the mystery and fear for the brothers, who expected only a brief transaction.

Verse 18

The brothers interpret the sudden invitation as a trap. Their greatest fear is being seized as slaves due to the returned money, showing their guilty conscience and distrust of the Egyptian system.

Verse 23

The steward’s words, 'Your God, and the God of your father,' reassure the brothers. This phrase suggests either that the steward is aware of Joseph’s identity or that he is attempting to comfort them by referencing their known deity, attributing the returned money to divine providence.

Verse 24

Washing the feet was essential hospitality after traveling the dusty roads of the ancient Near East.

Verse 26

The act of bowing down fulfills the prophetic dreams Joseph had as a boy (37:5-11), even though the brothers remain unaware that the dreams are being fulfilled through their own actions.

Verse 29

Joseph's immediate recognition of Benjamin, his only full brother (son of Rachel), causes a rush of emotion. His blessing, 'God be gracious unto thee, my son,' reveals his profound affection.

Verse 30

The phrase 'his bowels did yearn' describes intense, visceral emotion. Joseph had to quickly withdraw to weep privately, maintaining his disguise and control over the unfolding drama.

Verse 32

The separation of dining parties emphasizes the cultural chasm. Egyptians viewed eating with Hebrews as ritually unclean or an 'abomination,' reinforcing Joseph’s status as a highly integrated Egyptian official.

Verse 33

The brothers are seated in perfect birth order, which causes them to 'marvel.' This precise knowledge likely led them to suspect that Joseph possessed some form of divination or supernatural insight.

Verse 34

Benjamin receiving a portion five times larger serves as a critical test. Joseph is watching to see if the brothers react with the same jealousy towards Rachel’s second son that they had previously shown toward Rachel’s first son (Joseph). They pass this test by accepting the unequal treatment without complaint.

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Genesis43

Judah Becomes Surety for Benjamin

The Brothers Arrive and Fear

Joseph Meets Benjamin; The Feast

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