The Brothers Bring Benjamin to Joseph

Topic: Fellowship
Passage: Genesis 43:16–34

March 22, 2021

Commentary

The story now focuses on Joseph’s plans. The brothers again went to Egypt and this time Benjamin was with them. As soon as they arrived, they were taken to Joseph’s house (vv. 16-17). They were frightened because they did not know what he would do to them (v. 18). Soon a servant brought Simeon out to rejoin them (v. 23). When Joseph arrived, they all bowed before him and gave him the present they had brought (v. 26). When Joseph saw his brother Benjamin, who had been just a little boy when he left Canaan, he could not hold back the tears (vv. 29-30). This passage can be outlined:

      1.   Undeserved Feast (vv. 16-17).

      2.   Unconcealed Fear) (v. 18).

      3.   Unexplained Find (vv. 19-24).

      4.   Understandable Formality (vv. 25-28).

      5.   Unrevealed Feeling (vv. 29-31).

      6.   Uncanny Familiarity (vv. 32-33).

      7.   Unrestrained Fellowship (v. 34).

When he came back, they ate dinner together (vv. 31-32). Joseph had the servants place them at the table, beginning with Reuben the oldest and going down to Benjamin, in the order of their ages (v. 33). They were probably all wondering how he knew their ages. Then Joseph served them food, but Benjamin’s portion was enough for five people. The brothers showed no jealousy or resentment toward Benjamin despite this preferential treatment (v. 34). 

Application

Many people become resentful and jealous when others are given special treatment, and they are not. How do I feel when this happens in my life? Am I able to rejoice with them?  

Genesis 43:16– 34 (NET)

16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the servant who was over his household, “Bring the men to the house. Slaughter an animal and prepare it, for the men will eat with me at noon.” 17 The man did just as Joseph said; he brought the men into Joseph’s house.

18 But the men were afraid when they were brought to Joseph’s house. They said, “We are being brought in because of the money that was returned in our sacks last time. He wants to capture us, make us slaves, and take our donkeys!” 19 So they approached the man who was in charge of Joseph’s household and spoke to him at the entrance to the house. 20 They said, “My lord, we did indeed come down the first time to buy food. 21 But when we came to the place where we spent the night, we opened our sacks and each of us found his money—the full amount —in the mouth of his sack. So we have returned it. 22 We have brought additional money with us to buy food. We do not know who put the money in our sacks!”

23 “Everything is fine,” the man in charge of Joseph’s household told them. “Don’t be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks. I had your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.

24 The servant in charge brought the men into Joseph’s house. He gave them water, and they washed their feet. Then he gave food to their donkeys. 25 They got their gifts ready for Joseph’s arrival at noon, for they had heard that they were to have a meal there.

26 When Joseph came home, they presented him with the gifts they had brought inside, and they bowed down to the ground before him. 27 He asked them how they were doing. Then he said, “Is your aging father well, the one you spoke about? Is he still alive?” 28 “Your servant our father is well,” they replied. “He is still alive.” They bowed down in humility.

29 When Joseph looked up and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, he said, “Is this your youngest brother, whom you told me about?” Then he said, “May God be gracious to you, my son.” 30 Joseph hurried out, for he was overcome by affection for his brother and was at the point of tears. So he went to his room and wept there.

31 Then he washed his face and came out. With composure he said, “Set out the food.” 32 They set a place for him, a separate place for his brothers, and another for the Egyptians who were eating with him. (The Egyptians are not able to eat with Hebrews, for the Egyptians think it is disgusting to do so.) 33 They sat before him, arranged by order of birth, beginning with the firstborn and ending with the youngest. The men looked at each other in astonishment. 34 He gave them portions of the food set before him, but the portion for Benjamin was five times greater than the portions for any of the others. They drank with Joseph until they all became drunk.