Genesis 42:1-2
Do you suppose Jacob wondered why there was grain in Egypt when everyone else was suffering? He would fine out soon enough. The future of Egypt was established apart from Pharaoh, he is irrelevant and marginal, though God would allow him to stand as Pharaoh and act as though he were. God had determined a future and he would use Joseph for His work. Kings don't make history, they serve history and are bit players is His-story.
It was a somewhat normal reaction during a famine to look to Egypt because their agricultural success was more linked to the Nile than rain. When other crops failed sometimes Egypt was getting by. Jacob is the one thinking and actively trying to resolve a problem. Where are these sons? Why aren't they taking action? They seem to be waiting for their father. What would they do when he was gone, stand there and starve to death?
One possible reason they were standing around looking at each other was they knew this was where Joseph was. It was probably not that they thinking they would run into him, but just hearing the word Egypt likely tweaked their conscience. Every mention of Egypt was another dose of guilt and shame to them.
Note: The name Jacob is used instead of Israel. When acting in the flesh he was called Jacob, when acting as God's covenant patriarch, he was Israel. Jacob's trusting in Egypt for food was not an act of faith but of flesh.
Genesis 42:3-5
Egypt likely had 'per capita' rules that required all the brothers to go. Jacob kept Benjamin at home. With Joseph gone, Benjamin was the remaining son from his late wife Rachel. The last time one of his favorite sons left with the others, he didn't come back.
Genesis 42:6-13
This was at least a partial fulfillment of the dream that Joseph had in Genesis 37:5-8. There was one more brother, his father and a wife (Joseph's mother was dead). The bow was an act of etiquette. Joseph recognized his brothers immediately; they did not recognize him. They last saw him as a 17-year-old, he was now 39. In addition, as an Egyptian, he probably had a shaved head and no beard, he looked like an Egyptian in every way. Joseph spoke harshly to them. This is probably how one would expect an Egyptian to treat Hebrews. Yet, we also know the harsh treatment and accusation of being a spy is the exact treatment his brothers brought on him. In chapter 37, he had brought a bad report about the brothers to his father. He was then sent to check on them. This is where Joseph's adventure began.
Why did Joseph keep his identity from them? Why didn't he say, "Ha, I told you that you would all bow down to me!" The brothers had all previously plotted against him and done evil. The temptation to take revenge must have still been substantial, even after all those years. Were they trustworthy? Had they changed? He needed to know more about them and he needed to know if his father and Benjamin were still alive and well. Joseph's accusation was clever and would allow him to maintain a tie to them as he gathered the information he needed.
Joseph probably choked when they claimed to be honest men. By verse 13 they told a lie in saying that 'one is no more'.
Genesis 42:14-20
The first test.
They wouldn't leave unless this other brother came. One brother would be sent while the others were kept in prison waiting for the younger brother to arrive. The 'one' to go get Benjamin was likely a reference to their dead brother, Joseph himself. Obviously, the deceased brother didn't bring the other. The three days in prison were just a small part of what Joseph had experienced. Joseph showed up on the third day and offered them another plan.
The second test:
This was a little more reasonable plan for them. Nine brothers would go, taking food to their families while one remained behind in prison. To prove they weren't spies, they would have to return with the other brother. They agreed to this.
After that, they were ready to agree to whatever Joseph asked them. One would be kept as a hostage while the others went back. This was a test of their honesty and integrity. Joseph wondered if Benjamin was really back in Canaan or had the brothers sold him off also.
Genesis 42:21
The situation wasn't good, but it was better than all being held in prison. Their consciences reached back 22 years as they remembered Joseph's words. They threw him in a cistern to die of starvation and they sat down to eat a meal. Joseph had pleaded for his life while they sat together and enjoyed a meal.
The distress they felt was trouble that came from guilt or the punishment that come from guilt. It was all the same to them since they were sure God knew of all sin and would see that it was paid for. Joseph saw that his brothers who appeared hard, cold and calculating in throwing him in a cistern to die were not nearly so. In fact, their guilt had been carried for years as it worked on them.
Genesis 42:22-24
Reuben stepped right up and said. "I told you so". He blamed his brothers for getting them in this predicament. This is the first time that Joseph heard any of this. They didn't know Joseph could understand their Hebrew language since he spoke with them through an interpreter. Since Reuben felt they would give an account for the blood, he may not have known they sold Joseph. They may never have told him the truth.
Simeon was taken hostage and tied up as they watched.
Genesis 42:25-28
The other brothers were setting off on their journey home to take food and then return with their brother. They were given the purchased grain. But then they were also given the purchase price back, hidden in the grain. Then they were also given provisions. This was designed to keep them from finding the silver until they were home. They were being tested for their honesty and integrity as they found the money, they had paid for the grain was back in their sacks. They had already been accused as being spies, now they might be accused of being thieves also. They had no reason to be suspicious of Joseph. They believed God had designed this to make them pay. They asked what God is doing to them. They knew He was involved and they were sure He was making things right. They were getting very uncomfortable thinking about that possibility.
Genesis 42:29-34
The sons had a tough job. Their consciences were pricked and now they had to stand before their father and explain. Not only would they have to tell why Simeon wasn't with them but they had to convince him to let Benjamin go with them.
Genesis 42:35-37
When all their silver was found, Jacob concluded he'd lost another son. Simeon was a son of Leah though and so we don't see nearly the concern he showed for his favorite sons, Joseph and Benjamin. Now things were really getting interesting. If they go back, then Joseph may have them all thrown in prison along with little brother Benjamin. If they don't then he has a case against them as spies and they won't see Simeon again.
We understand their hopeless and trapped feelings when Jacob states that Joseph was dead and Simeon was a good as dead. Now, to top it off, they want to take Benjamin. Jacob sees no good outcome. It's all against him.
Reuben asked his father to trust him by pledging his two sons for the care of Benjamin. But killing two more wouldn't change anything if Benjamin was in prison in Egypt. Reuben was sure he could make things right. However, trusting Reuben wouldn't come easy, he'd been untrustworthy in the past.
Genesis 42:38
Jacob emphatically states that Benjamin won't be going to Egypt. If something were to happen to him then he would grieve until the day he died. He was sure he couldn't get over it. Trading Simeon's life and keeping Benjamin was acceptable to Jacob.
It appears Simeon would be abandoned by his brothers while he was in prison. Simeon was sitting in prison knowing the character of his brothers. He probably knew the chances of Benjamin showing up there wasn't too good.
©2019 Doug Ford
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