a. Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt (42:1-44:34)
Twenty-two years have passed since Joseph’s brothers sold him to the Ishmaelite caravan (37:25ff. cf. 37:2; 41:46; 45:6). The intervening narrative has followed the changing fortunes of Jacob’s treasured son. Now the scene is set for the reunion of Joseph with his family. The exciting account that follows shows intense, dramatic effect with lots of intrigue and suspense. The effects of the famine have been widespread, causing the sons of Israel to journey to Egypt to obtain food for the family (42-2). In Egypt they are recognized by their brother, and their homage to him (v.6) is a reminder of Joseph’s dreams, which prompted so much of the action recorded in these chapters in the first place (37:5-11). The dream has reached its fulfillment. Joseph is able to save his family from starvation, as he has saved Egypt. The promise continues to be secure.
The drama here is full of pathos. Joseph, now governor of Egypt, exploits the situation to the full. The brothers, fearful and naïve, show genuine signs that they have changed drastically since the time Joseph was with them. Jacob, now old and never having fully resolved his grief, closely clutches Benjamin, his youngest son, by Rachel. One suspects that Jacob knew the character of his sons and their hatred for Joseph well enough that he felt sure they were somehow implicated in the crime against the treasured son. This would explain his reticence to give up Benjamin.
Joseph provides an exceptionally fine character study. On the surface he appears ruthless and vindictive (42-7). Underneath, however, he displays tender affection (v.24), genuine compassion (v.25; 43:27), overwhelming kindness (43-16), and an eagerness to embrace his brother (vv.29-30)—traits one has come to expect of this man. The brothers, by contrast, are plagued by the guilt of the crime they committed long before against their brother (42:21-22) and the deception of their father that followed. Like Jacob in his meeting with Esau (33-3), whom he had previously wronged, so these sons of Jacob do excessive obeisance to Joseph (42:6; 43:28; 44:14), unwittingly fulfilling the latter’s prophetic dreams of his youth (37:5-11).
The manner in which Joseph is able to ensure seeing his younger brother is clever. But the thought of allowing Benjamin to journey to Egypt with his brothers strikes dread in the heart of his father. The crisis is reached when the family again runs out of provisions (43:1-2). Jacob succumbs to the plea of Judah (vv.8-9) and gives permission for Benjamin to go. The craftiness of Jacob is once more depicted in the list of appeasements he suggests to accompany the caravan (vv.11-12; cf. 32:13-21). Finally he invokes the mercy of El Shaddai to grant them favor with the Egyptian governor (43-14). That trust has not disappointed him in the past; it will not in the future.
The drama is heightened in the masterminded strategy employed by Joseph to expose the true character of the brothers. They are presented an opportunity to betray Benjamin as they once had Joseph, and the stakes are raised from the mere twenty shekels of silver (37-28) to the price of their own liberty (44:10, 17). The suspense reaches its climax as Judah steps forward to make his moving petition (vv.18-34). The twenty-two years of guilt and deception have wrought their ills. This is a time for a new beginning as Judah pleads not for mercy but to suffer on his brother Benjamin’s behalf (v.33).