Genesis 43: 1 – 34
‘On hands’ learning
43 Now the famine was severe in the land. 2 And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, “Go back, buy us a little food.” 3 But Judah spoke to him, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ 4 If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. 5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down; for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’” 6 And Israel said, “Why did you deal so wrongfully with me as to tell the man whether you had still another brother?” 7 But they said, “The man asked us pointedly about ourselves and our family, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ And we told him according to these words. Could we possibly have known that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” 8 Then Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. 9 I myself will be surety for him; from my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. 10 For if we had not lingered, surely by now we would have returned this second time.” 11 And their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best fruits of the land in your vessels and carry down a present for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. 12 Take double money in your hand, and take back in your hand the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight. 13 Take your brother also, and arise, go back to the man. 14 And may God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved!” 15 So the men took that present and Benjamin, and they took double money in their hand, and arose and went down to Egypt; and they stood before Joseph. 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my home, and slaughter an animal and make ready; for these men will dine with me at noon.” 17 Then the man did as Joseph ordered, and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house. 18 Now the men were afraid because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, “It is because of the money, which was returned in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may make a case against us and seize us, to take us as slaves with our donkeys.” 19 When they drew near to the steward of Joseph’s house, they talked with him at the door of the house, 20 and said, “O sir, we indeed came down the first time to buy food; 21 but it happened, when we came to the encampment, that we opened our sacks, and there, each man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight; so we have brought it back in our hand. 22 And we have brought down other money in our hands to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.” 23 But he said, “Peace be with you, do not 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 out to them. 24 So the man brought the men into Joseph’s house and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys feed. 25 Then they made the present ready for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they would eat bread there. 26 And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed down before him to the earth. 27 Then he asked them about their well-being, and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” 28 And they answered, “Your servant our father is in good health; he is still alive.” And they bowed their heads down and prostrated themselves. 29 Then he lifted his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your younger brother of whom you spoke to me?” And he said, “God be gracious to you, my son.” 30 Now his heart yearned for his brother; so Joseph made haste and sought somewhere to weep. And he went into his chamber and wept there. 31 Then he washed his face and came out; and he restrained himself, and said, “Serve the bread.” 32 So they set him a place by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat food with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians. 33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth; and the men looked in astonishment at one another. 34 Then he took servings to them from before him, but Benjamin’s serving was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.
What are the advantages of teaching someone a lesson? We notice that Joseph has incorporated this type of experience for his brothers. For example, he put them into prison to experience exactly the things that he had to go through.
Hands-on learning is an educational method that directly involves the learner, by actively getting them to do something in order to learn about it. In short, it is 'learning by doing'. First and foremost, it is clear that there are certain situations in which hands-on learning is the only way to teach something. Many people argue that doing something is the best way to learn about it, rather than attempting to learn about it from a book.
In truth we learn best by example. It is often hard to properly understand something you have never directly seen or experienced.
Some things simply can't be taught using hands-on learning. For example, lessons which involve taking someone to another area might be impossible.
In this case the prison which Joseph was thrown into was adjacent to where all of Joseph brothers had come to. Today we are going to see another lesson appliquéd directly in the lives of Joseph’s brothers. Due to the famine the family of Jacob was forced to send Benjamin along with the brothers to Egypt. For one thing how would these brothers treat Benjamin, Joseph’s only brother from Rachael? Then when Joseph entertained the brothers in giving them a dinner he purposely gave to Benjamin five times as much food and drink. Joseph actively observed how his other brothers would react to this apparent favoritism. Remember that because Joseph was favored by his father Jacob the jealousy of his half brothers were so intent that at first they wanted to kill him.
Let’s take a look at how Joseph’s lessons worked out.
43 Now the famine was severe in the land. 2 And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, “Go back, buy us a little food.”
The famine continued and grew worse. No crops grew, those water holes which had survived the first onslaught now dried up, the cattle and sheep grew thin and scrawny. And the corn store became less and less. Meanwhile Simeon who was the sons of Leah was mourned as Joseph had been. Notice this lesson for the brothers to experience. for they knew they would see him no more. Jacob’s bullheadedness had seen to that.
At length it had to be accepted that there would be no possibility of even the most meager of harvests and as the corn store becomes depleted Jacob takes the only possible course. He has no choice. He asks his sons once more to take silver to Egypt to buy corn. But he had not met the proud and stern Vizier of Egypt, as his sons had, and a fierce argument ensues.
3 But Judah spoke to him, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ 4 If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. 5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down; for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’”
Judah speaks up for his brothers. It is all right for Jacob, he does not have to face the Man. But they know what he is like and the terror he induces. And they know what he is likely to do with them if they return without Benjamin. There are no circumstances in which they will go unless Benjamin goes with them. They do not want to share Simeon’s fate.
Please notice that Reuben who is the first born takes no part in all this discussion. His father had previously rejected his offer and he has given up. Indeed something appears to have happened to him. Trying circumstances bring leaders to the fore and the reaction to the famine seems to have brought Judah into a position of leadership. He may well have proved the most resilient when everyone else was despairing. Everyone now looks to him. We will see in chapter 49 that Jacob was aware that Reuben was having sex with Jacob’s servant wife. So, although remaining silent at what Reuben was pulling Jacob had already begun to cut him out of any future blessing or usefulness.
6 And Israel said, “Why did you deal so wrongfully with me as to tell the man whether you had still another brother?” 7 But they said, “The man asked us pointedly about ourselves and our family, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ And we told him according to these words. Could we possibly have known that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?”
In his grief and fear Jacob is being quite unreasonable. Why had they told the Man that they had a brother? They had, of course, had no reason to withhold the information and they knew that to have given even a hint of deceit would have been their downfall. The only significance they had seen in the close questioning was the suspicion that they were spies. How could they have known that he would ask to see their brother?
8 Then Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. 9 I myself will be surety for him; from my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. 10 For if we had not lingered, surely by now we would have returned this second time.”
Judah realizes how difficult it is for his father and he offers himself as the guarantee of Benjamin’s return. It is clear that the position is desperate. Unless they do go only death awaits them and their families.
I find it interesting Judah’s comment ‘The lad.’ Benjamin is probably about thirty, but in the eyes of his far older brothers he is still ‘a lad’ as he understands from the overflowing favoritism of Jacob that Benjamin is the baby of the family.
They have already waited longer than they should have done because of Jacob’s obstinacy. By now their case was so desperate that they should have been to Egypt and back again with further corn.
11 And their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best fruits of the land in your vessels and carry down a present for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. 12 Take double money in your hand, and take back in your hand the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight. 13 Take your brother also, and arise, go back to the man. 14 And may God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved!”
Jacob is very reluctant but accepts the inevitable. The prospect of starvation leaves them with no alternative. He suggests they take with them a gift. This was a normal courtesy when approaching a high official and a sign of good character.
Now stop and think with me for a moment. Please notice the comment of Jacob -‘The choice fruits (literally ‘strength’) of the land.’ In our Holy Master God’s Mercy things for these anointed individuals and their families have not been quite so badly affected by the famine as it was for the rest of the world.
Jacob makes sure that they must also take double the silver so as to replace that which was sent back as it must surely have been an oversight. That is all they can hope. The alternative would leave them with no hope anyway.
We can also see the hurtful remark of Jacob describe how little the other brothers meant to him compared with Benjamin is made clear here to you your other brother and Benjamin.’ He does not even mention Simeon’s name. His release is of secondary importance. What matters is that Benjamin is not held. We can see now why the brothers had not mentioned the release of Simeon as an argument. They knew their father’s thoughts.
15 So the men took that present and Benjamin, and they took double money in their hand, and arose and went down to Egypt; and they stood before Joseph.
The brothers took what was necessary, the present, the double silver --- and Benjamin, the one whose value had delayed things for so long. The long and fearful journey is passed over in a sentence -The tension, the fears, the apprehension, and then the arrival. But at least they were not immediately seized but were brought into the Man’s presence and that was something.
16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my home, and slaughter an animal and make ready; for these men will dine with me at noon.” 17 Then the man did as Joseph ordered, and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house. 18 Now the men were afraid because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, “It is because of the money, which was returned in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may make a case against us and seize us, to take us as slaves with our donkeys.”
When Joseph sees Benjamin his heart is full and he tells his steward that he will eat with these men at noon and that they must prepare a feast. His steward is, of course, an important person in his own right. Meanwhile Joseph must continue ‘overseeing’ the sale of the corn. But when they are brought to his splendid house, well guarded by Egyptian soldiers and magnificent beyond their dreams, they are fearful as to what it means. Their minds return to the silver that had mysteriously appeared in their sacks.
19 When they drew near to the steward of Joseph’s house, they talked with him at the door of the house,
Coming up to the great house they are filled with fear and as they approach the door they catch up with the steward and try to speak up on their own behalf, probably through an interpreter. They feel it is their only hope.
20 and said, “O sir, we indeed came down the first time to buy food; 21 but it happened, when we came to the encampment, that we opened our sacks, and there, each man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight; so we have brought it back in our hand. 22 And we have brought down other money in our hands to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.”
The brothers are trying to summarize the story as quickly as possible before they are brought into the house, thus they have to abbreviate what happened. They remember vividly the moment that they first found the silver in one of the sacks and list what happened into a few scared, hurried words. Thus the finding of the silver in all the sacks is described as happening at the same time, although we know from earlier that that happened later when they arrived home. It is the primary point that they want to get home. They found the silver in their sacks. They have only a few moments, so detail is of secondary importance. Then they assure him earnestly that they have brought it back with other silver for new purchases.
23 But he said, “Peace be with you, do not 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 out to them.
The reply suggests that the steward has been well coached by Joseph. He has been told exactly what to say when the obvious questions come up. ‘Peace be to you’ or ‘Shalom’ - a standard greeting put in Hebrew form, possibly by the interpreter, although it may be that Joseph’s steward was familiar with their language and thought forms, being chosen by Joseph for that very reason. Let them be assured that it is their God Who has provided for them. Let them be assured that their own God Is looking after them.
The steward suggests that he does not know what was exactly involved in the ‘treasure’ they found. It was not the silver they had paid over, for he had received that. The steward had Simeon waiting to greet his brothers just inside the gate, and he is brought out to welcome the brothers. What relief must have flooded their souls when they saw him alive and well? Things were definitely beginning to look up.
24 So the man brought the men into Joseph’s house and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys feed. 25 Then they made the present ready for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they would eat bread there.
Suddenly, to their bewilderment, everything has changed. They are being treated as welcome guests. Water is provided for them to wash their feet. Their tired and thirsty animals are taken and well looked after. They are told that they would be eating with the great leader. This especially must have given them strength, for to eat with someone was a sign of peace. With some hopes that things might not be so bad after all they get their present ready for when the great lord arrives.
26 And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed down before him to the earth.
On Joseph’s arrival they bring their present and present it, bowing down to the ground, for they are still greatly in awe of him and aware that the slightest failure to show him honor could change the situation against them. So we see again the fulfillment of Joseph’s dreams.
27 Then he asked them about their well-being, and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?”
The question, put through an interpreter, would be recognized as simply a formal courtesy. They could not know with what eagerness Joseph awaited their reply. It has now been some long time since he has seen them.
28 And they answered, “Your servant our father is in good health; he is still alive.” And they bowed their heads down and prostrated themselves.
I am sure some scary thoughts might come flashing into their minds. The last time this leader asked about their family and they just told the truth that they had another brother at home, the leader took their words and listed to them as a requirement that he be brought back with them. Was it possible that their answer about their dad would somehow also come back to cause them more headaches?
29 Then he lifted his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your younger brother of whom you spoke to me?” And he said, “God be gracious to you, my son.”
The writer is deliberately prolonging the welcome. He wants us to feel what Joseph felt. He is seeing his own blood brother after so long a time. Benjamin was a youth when all the horrible things happened to him and now he sees him fully mature. His only remarks while holding back his emotions was to give Benjamin his blessing. The words come through an interpreter so that they are not aware of which god he refers to. Little do they realize that it is the God Whom they too worship.
30 Now his heart yearned for his brother; so Joseph made haste and sought somewhere to weep. And he went into his chamber and wept there. 31 Then he washed his face and came out; and he restrained himself, and said, “Serve the bread.”
This reunion is all too much for Joseph. As lord of Egypt he cannot give way to his feelings in front of his servants and he goes aside into a private room to compose himself. Then after shedding tears he washes his face to remove all trace and comes out to them again.
The brothers are totally unaware of his feelings. They see him leave for a while and little do they realize that he has gone to weep. He releases his feelings in his own private apartment and then hides this emotional response by washing his face and composing himself. You can picture this act when a judge gets up and leaves the courtroom for awhile. Then he comes out and commands that the meal be served.
32 So they set him a place by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat food with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.
Joseph, as vizier and lord of Egypt eats at his own table. None may share with him for they are not of sufficient rank. The Egyptians who have been invited also sit at their own table. It would be ceremonially improper for them to mix with ‘foreigners’. Egyptians looked down on non-Egyptians, especially until they could speak Egyptian. They looked on them as not really human. And the brothers sat at their own table, separate from both.
33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth; and the men looked in astonishment at one another.
The brothers were no doubt informed that they must follow protocol and sit in order of seniority, the firstborn probably being nearest to the great Lord’s Table.
‘The circumstances are so different from what they had been anticipating that they can only be filled with wonder. This great show of favor by the vizier has astonished them. Little are they aware of the real reason for it.
34 Then he took servings to them from before him, but Benjamin’s serving was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.
To receive a portion from the great Lord’s Table was a sign of favor and a great privilege. And Benjamin received five times more than the others, a sign of special favor. The ‘five times’ is significant. Five was the Egyptian number of completeness.
The brothers were passing their lessons with flying ‘A’s. Their fears are now forgotten. They drink merrily and without restraint. All appears to be well.
