When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, "Why do you keep looking at one another? I have heard," he said, "that there is grain in Egypt; go down and buy grain for us there, that we may live and not die." So ten of Joseph's brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt.1 But Jacob did not send Joseph's brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he feared that harm might come to him. Thus the sons of Israel were among the other people who came to buy grain, for the famine had reached the land of Canaan.
Now Joseph was governor over the land; it was he who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground.2 When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke harshly to them.3 "Where do you come from?" he said.
They said, "From the land of Canaan, to buy food." Although Joseph had recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.
Joseph also remembered the dreams that he had dreamed about them. He said to them, "You are spies; you have come to see the nakedness of the land!"4
They said to him, "No, my lord; your servants have come to buy food. We are all sons of one man; we are honest5 men; your servants have never been spies."
But he said to them, "No, you have come to see the nakedness of the land!"
They said, "We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of a certain man in the land of Canaan; the youngest, however, is now with our father, and one is no more."
But Joseph said to them, "It is just as I have said to you; you are spies! Here is how you shall be tested: as Pharaoh lives, you shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother6 comes here! Let one of you go and bring your brother, while the rest of you remain in prison, in order that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you; or else, as Pharaoh lives, surely you are spies." And he put them all together in prison for three days.7
On the third day Joseph said to them, "Do this and you will live, for I fear God:8 if you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here where you are imprisoned. The rest of you shall go and carry grain9 for the famine of your households, and bring your youngest brother to me. Thus your words will be verified, and you shall not die." And they agreed to do so.
They said to one another, "Alas, we are paying the penalty for what we did to our brother;10 we saw his anguish11 when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this anguish has come upon us."12
Then Reuben answered them, "Did I not tell you not to wrong the boy? But you would not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood."13 They did not know that Joseph understood them, since he spoke with them through an interpreter. He turned away from them and wept;14 then he returned and spoke to them. And he picked out Simeon and had him bound before their eyes. Joseph then gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to return every man's money to his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. This was done for them.15 They loaded their donkeys with their grain, and departed.
[1] Through the providence of God, the brothers are being brought back together.
[2] As had been prophesied.
[3] Why? Is this payback for what they did to him, or is there a deeper purpose here?
[4] What is he getting at? Until now his actions have been amazingly commendable. Was is with the harsh, deceptive posture here?
[5] That can't be pleasing to Joseph's ears.
[6] Has the whole purpose been to get them to bring Benjamin to him? But if that were true, couldn't he have done it a different way?
[7] On one hand, this seems very harsh. On the other hand, it is so little compared to what he has suffered. Does he mean this time as a penalty for what they had done?
[8] This is true.
[9] He doesn't want to impede them any further.
[10] There is no clear reason to connect the events to their brother yet. Thus, the fact that they bring him up shows that it is still a major event in their thoughts.
[11] They have compassion and empathy, even if they didn't act on it at the time.
[12] They see God as one who punishes those who sin.
[13] Reuben does not hesitate to remind the others of his attempts to save Joseph.
[14] Meaning that he has compassion and accepts their remorse.
[15] In a way, implying that he forgives them, although it would not yet be possible for them to understand that.
Take-home: The events of the last 10+ years all come together to finally bring about the reunification of the brothers and the fulfillment of God's prophecies to Joseph. Joseph hides his identity from his brothers and treats them with scorn, but inside he is moved by their regret for their actions against him.
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