Israel (Jacob) and family find their food supply running low as the famine continues to rage over the World. He now has no choice but to send his sons back to Egypt from Canaan to buy more grain.
Judah, the 4th son, and the one involved in the prostitution crisis with Tamar in Chapter 38, objects. He points out that the man they met in Egypt (not knowing it is Joseph) wouldn’t see them or trade with them unless Benjamin went with them too. After all they were sent back to fetch him. Simeon remains a hostage in the Egyptian prison.
Israel remains reluctant to let Benjamin’s life be risked, but Judah vows to protect him with his own life and worth, which seems to satisfy Israel. He still believes that the loss of Benjamin would turn his hair white in grief and that his wailing will be audible in Sheol. This is one of the earliest Biblical references to any kind of afterlife for anyone. Sheol is an abyss, a vast pit filled with dead spirits, not a Hell, as everyone goes there regardless of moral worth or actions in life. It is close in concept to the Greek belief in Hades.
Israel reluctantly agrees to this, and prepares them for the journey. He gives them various foods not affected by the famine, such as Honey, to offer as gifts to the Egyptian traders. He also gives them a do8ble payment to offer for the goods to be purchased. He believes the money being returned untaken on the previous shopping trip was a mistake. He wants to pay for the fresh grains and breads and pay for the previous purchases again too.
The party reach Joseph safely and he invites them to dine with him. The brothers fear a trap and that they are to be taken as slaves, so they go instead to a steward of Joseph’s (still not knowing that he is Joseph of course). They admit to the oversight that left the money from the previous food purchase in their sacks and offer to pay it afresh. The steward assures them, (without even checking his records) that the payment was mad e on the previous visit. He has no idea how the money they still had on them after payment got into their bags.
Puzzled by the strange good fortune, they finally realize they are in no danger and go to dine with the man they don’t know to be their brother. Simeon is released from prison now and freely joins his brothers. Joseph asks about their father (who they mentioned on their previous visit). He is keen to know Israel is well, not having seen him for years.
Joseph secretly weeps to see his brothers, especially Benjamin. Food is provided fore the guests and for their Asses. (the means by which they travelled to Egypt). At the main meal, Joseph dines alone, separate from his brothers. The Egyptians dine separately too, indicating the differences between the races and the gulf still existing between Joseph and his brothers. Joseph shares some of his own food with his brothers through his servants, but makes sure Benjamin gets five times more than the others.
It isn’t stated if in dining apart, Joseph, his eleven brothers and the Egyptians are in sight of one another though it seems likely they were not.
Text studied - http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/r/rsv/rsv-idx?type=DIV1&byte=1801
Arthur Chappell
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