Verses 1-2 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.
It can be assumed that the grain the sons of Israel brought back with them from Egypt not only fed their families and their servants, but some of their livestock also. So it can also be assumed that the supply of grain did not last terribly long. Otherwise, poor Simeon would have been languishing in prison and wondering what had happened to his brothers.
Verses 3-5 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.
Judah repeats the problem presented to them if they did not go back with Benjamin. Simply put, “We won’t go without our brother.” Remember that the culture in those days was one in which the children obeyed their parents. Jacob had said, “Go” and the sons were saying, “No.” So Jacob had to realize that he had just two choices. Either send Benjamin or starve.
Verses 6-7 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?
Jacob, being distraught, sought to blame his sons for the problem because they had revealed that they had another brother back home. It seems that Jacob, at this particular time of crisis, had forgotten to seek the LORD and trust in Him.
Verses 8-10 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.
Judah accepted all responsibility or any negative outcome, knowing that if they did not return to Egypt, everyone would die of starvation. He was willing to stand in the gap and be responsible so that others could live.
Application: Jesus was from the tribe of Judah. Jesus stood in the gap between mankind and God and, taking the responsibility for all the sins of mankind although He had no sin of His own, He paid the price with His own body and blood. He died to set men free and to save them from spiritual death. Judah was a type of Jesus in that he stood in the gap between Joseph and Benjamin and was willing to pay the price in order to preserve his family from physical death.
Verses 11-14 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.
Notice that the gifts were items that could be preserved. They were not mainstays of a balanced diet, just in case you, the reader, were wondering about the famine and the potential for starvation. Notice also that Israel came to terms with the situation and placed it in the hands of God Almighty.
Verses 15-17 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.
An Egyptian ruler did not dine with the peasants or with Hebrews, especially lowly sheep herders as they were considered an abomination in the Egyptian culture. The servants of Joseph must have wondered why he was inviting this group of travelers into his house for a private audience and meal.
Verses 18-22 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.
The brothers were justifiably fearful. Notice that they wanted to stay at the door of the house as they presented their story to Joseph’s steward. Being men of the field, dwelling in tents, they must have been overwhelmed by the palace in which Joseph resided with all its riches and splendor. This was not what they had expected and they did not know how to respond to the situation.
Verses 23-24 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.
Several questions can be asked here. First, was the steward lying when he said that he had received their money on their first purchase of grain or had God performed a miracle and blessed Israel financially as the steward said? Secondly, how did the steward and the brothers communicate as the Egyptian language and Hebrew language were quite different from each other. And thirdly, how did the steward know about their God and the God of their father?
Because roads were dusty and footwear resembled sandals, anyone walking any distance ended up with dirty feet. Therefore the custom of foot washing came into being so that the visitor to a house would be more comfortable and the house could remain cleaner.
Application: In the New Testament Jesus washed the feet of his disciples as an object lesson to teach them to be humble and to be a servant to each other. Foot washing was a necessity throughout Biblical times because of the conditions of the roads and because most people walked and their feet got dirty. Some Christian churches perform the ritual of foot washing in their congregations. This ritual was not commanded by Jesus to be done in remembrance of Him. This ritual is not seen as part of the history of the early Church, and the Apostle Paul did not endorse it. Foot washing is not a necessity in modern times. You, the believer, need to decide it you want to participate in a foot washing ritual if your church decides to do this. Remember that all believers, if they are walking in the Spirit of Jesus, will be humble and a servant to others, and therefore no object lesson is required.
Verses 25-26 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.
When God predicts a particular scenario, it always comes to pass. Here Joseph’s brothers once again bow down to him, a fulfillment of the dream Joseph had as a young man indicating that he would be superior to his father and to his brothers.
Verses 27-29 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.
The Hebrew word for “obeisance” is “shachah” and it can mean to bow down or stoop, to worship, or to reverence. Joseph’s brothers clearly recognized the superiority of the man in whose presence they were and they would do so even if they had known he was their brother, Joseph. His position as second in command to the Pharaoh of Egypt made his status sure. He was the man who could give them life or death by giving or withholding food. Their situations were reversed. They had once had the power to kill Joseph or let him live. Now he was in charge and had all the power over their lives and their futures.
Application: Jesus is the Bread of Life. He holds all of mankind’s breath in His hands. Each believer and non believer is only on Earth to see a new day because Jesus allows it to be so. Joseph, being a type of Christ, held the bread of Egypt in his hand and gave life to all the people of the land through his distribution program. Joseph controlled the bread of life, pointing to the Savior, Jesus Christ, who provides the life sustaining elements necessary to dwell on the Earth and to enter eternity in Heaven.
John 6:33 “For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.”
John 6:35 “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”
John 6:51 “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
Verses 30-32 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.
One can only imagine the depth of the emotions Joseph was feeling when he saw his brother Benjamin for the first time in so many years. Joseph had character and a humble spirit. He had a tender heart even though he could have held a grudge against his ten brothers and he could have used his position and authority to punish them for their past treatment of him. Instead of revenge, he shed tears.
Application: Like Joseph, Jesus could have sought revenge upon those people who mistreated and killed Him, but when hanging on the cross and feeling indescribable pain, He cried out, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34
Verses 33-34 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.
Joseph’s brothers were astonished and amazed at the seating arrangement as they could not understand how Joseph or his servants knew the order of their births.