Chapter Overview
The brothers and co eat all the food they brought back and realize they need to go buy some more. Benjamin ends up coming with, and Joseph brings Simeon out of prison.
Additional Thoughts
There are a lot of things that don’t line up in this narrative, and the brothers are complete and utter dolts for not asking about some of them. For example, why would they be invited into the house of someone who believes them to be spies? I’d politely decline that offer and look for a room somewhere else out of fear of something else happening. Turns out I’d be right to do so when we see how the next chapter goes too.
Chapter 43: Trip to Buy Food in Egypt, Part 2
- And the famine was sore in the land.
- 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.
- 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.
- If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food:
- 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.
- And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?
- 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?
- 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.
- 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:
- For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.
- 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:
- 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:
- Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house.
- 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.
- And they came near to the steward of Joseph’s house, and they communed with him at the door of the house,
- And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:
- 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.
- And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks.
- 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.
- 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.
- And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there.
- 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.
- And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?
- And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance.
- 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.
- 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.
- And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.
- 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.
- 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.
- And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin’s mess was five times so much as any of their’s. And they drank, and were merry with him.
- Yeah, we already heard know
- How much food did they take? Did this last them days? Months? How long has Simeon been in prison now? Do the brothers/Jacob even care about him?
- AKA: We gotta bring Benjaminny.
- Send Benjamin and we go.
- If not, we don’t go.
- Oh look, they call him Israel in this chapter. They didn’t last chapter.
- AKA: They realize that the request is strange and unreasonable, but they didn’t do anything about it.
- AKA: We gotta do this.
- AKA: If anything happens, I’m to blame.
- AKA: We really should have gone back already.
- Jacob decides to send a bribe with to try ensure the safety of his children. Not a bad idea actually.
- And he’s also making them take enough to repay just in case they stole the money somehow. He’s being surprisingly reasonable in this case.
- Take Benjaminny and go
- AKA: I really hope nothing bad happens.
- How easy is Joseph to find there? Presumably there’d be some evidence of him being there too, right? No? Oh… carry on then.
- This is kinda ambiguous…. it almost sounds like he intends to slay his brothers. That’s not the case, and he really means slay some food, but still…
- AKA: how much of this book should have been summed up.
- They’re worried about the money. Seeing as they apparently weren’t there when it was returned, that’s somewhat reasonable.
- They’re not going inside quite yet. Must not have been invited in.
- And here the brothers tell the tale of the double money.
- AKA: We don’t know how, but we still have all our money from last time. We brought it back here.
- This is another redundant verse. Get rid of it.
- They should REALLY be looking askance at this guy by now. Seriously. Why would he speak about a god, singular, when the Egyptians had a polytheistic faith? It doesn’t line up.
- They were welcomed in and taken care of. This is ALSO something that a complete stranger who thinks they’re spies wouldn’t do.
- Gotta prepare for eating some food with the guy who keeps accusing them of stuff.
- Oh look.. Joseph’s dreams from oh so long ago are starting to come true. People point to this as prophecy fulfillment. I point out that any work of fiction can do that.
- AKA: Is dad still alive?
- AKA: Yes.
- He sees Benjamin, and apparently this moves him to tears for some reason. Why? Unclear. It’s never explained why he liked Benjamin so much.
- But why? We need details people! If you’re going to pad out your word count with retelling things ad naseum, at least you could provide some details.
- AKA: He goes out and keeps from crying.
- Why? I haven’t researched this quite yet, but I’m pretty sure this isn’t a thing. It seems more likely that this was made up to keep Joseph separate from them for a little longer. Egyptians eating with Hebrews is a VERY specific thing.
- AKA: The brothers eat and are surprised that everything is going so well.
- Benjamin got the most food.