Genesis Chapter 43



1 And the famine was sore in the land.

2 And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food.

3 And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.

4 If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food:

5 But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.

6 And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?

7 And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?

8 And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.

9 I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever:

10 For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.

11 And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:

12 And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight:

13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man:

14 And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.

15 And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.

16 And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon.

17 And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph's house.

18 And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.

19 And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house,

20 And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:

21 And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand.

22 And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks.

23 And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.

24 And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender.

25 And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there.

26 And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.

27 And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?

28 And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance.

29 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son.

30 And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.

31 And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.

32 And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.

33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another.

34 And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.

 



 




 

View All Genesis Chapter 43 Comments...

David's Genesis Chapter 43 comment on 9/10/2022, 6:45am...

When dealing with estranged family members we must first deal within ourselves. Joseph realized that everything he was going through was allowed by GOD in some fashion or another. He most of all wanted to be reunited with his family on good terms. He tested them and saw that they had indeed changed in their attitude and demeanor.

The biggest test is actually in ourselves. The LORD commands us to forgive even if the other side does not receive it. Our prayers for them must be genuine and deep for their success. It will not be easy, nor be quickly corrected; but it will bring comfort in CHRIST and peace through the LORD.

If we cannot reconcile within our own families and friends, how can we hope to do GOD'S work with those in need of reconciliation or salvation in the LORD.

Let's us pray fervently and diligently for ourselves, our leaders, and even unto those who use us or treat us spitefully.

May the LORD GOD be praised in us and hear our cries and attend to them. GOD bless everyone on this forum.

September 10, 2022

 


GiGi's Genesis Chapter 43 comment on 12/12/2021, 10:42pm...

So, the family of Jacob did run out of grain, like I previously wondered in my post on Ch. 42. They needed more grain to make bread. Jacob new the terms of returning to Egypt for more grain. He did not want to send Benjamin, but the family needed the grain sorely. Jacob also wanted to have Simeon back from Egypt. After discussing this with his sons, Jacob agreed to send Benjamin back with the other sons. He wanted them to return the money from the first trip and wanted to pay double the price for the grain as before. He also put together a gift of foodstuffs from Canaan. I'm guessing that Egypt did not grow these foods. Jacob knew how to be diplomatic. Pretty sure others have treated him this way when making a deal.

I find it interesting that Jacob was eventually resolved to accept what happens when he said that, "And may Almighty God give you mercy before the man, that he may release your brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved." Jacob was leaving the situation into God's hands. He knew he must send Benjamin.

In Egypt, the brothers are asked to dine with Joseph. Joseph was a governor, a high official. I wonder if the brothers thought it odd for the governor to be so interested in them. But they needed to meet with him to return the money and show Joseph that Benjamin had come with them. Joseph was very moved when he saw Benjamin. It had been over two decades since saw him last. I assume that they were very close growing up, having the same mother.

The brothers noticed when Joseph assigned the seats to the brothers in birth order. And they noticed when Benjamin's serving was 5 times what the other brothers' was. Yet they did not suspect that the governor was Joseph at all.

It appears that they let down their guard during the meal as it says that they drank and were merry with Joseph.

Perhaps, from what they had seen, the brothers may have believed that, indeed, God was being merciful to them.

 


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