seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Genesis 43:26 When Joseph came home, they presented to him the gifts they had brought into the house, and they bowed down before him to the ground. 27 He asked them how they were, and then he said, “How is your aged father you told me about? Is he still living?”
28 They replied, “Your servant our father is still alive and well.” And they bowed down, prostrating themselves before him.
29 As he looked about and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother’s son, he asked, “Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?” And he said, “God be gracious to you, my son.” 30 Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there.
31 After he had washed his face, he came out and, controlling himself, said, “Serve the food.”
32 They served him by himself, the brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews, for that is detestable to Egyptians. 33 The men had been seated before him in the order of their ages, from the firstborn to the youngest; and they looked at each other in astonishment. 34 When portions were served to them from Joseph’s table, Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as anyone else’s. So they feasted and drank freely with him.
28 They replied, “Your servant our father is still alive and well.” And they bowed down, prostrating themselves before him.
29 As he looked about and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother’s son, he asked, “Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?” And he said, “God be gracious to you, my son.” 30 Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there.
31 After he had washed his face, he came out and, controlling himself, said, “Serve the food.”
32 They served him by himself, the brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews, for that is detestable to Egyptians. 33 The men had been seated before him in the order of their ages, from the firstborn to the youngest; and they looked at each other in astonishment. 34 When portions were served to them from Joseph’s table, Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as anyone else’s. So they feasted and drank freely with him.
This is from bible-commentaries.com.
In the serving of the meal we are given some interesting information about the relationship between the Egyptians and the Hebrews. Racial tensions ran high. If the assumption we mentioned earlier, that Joseph's rise to power took place during the period the Hyksos reigned in Egypt, is correct, it would explain why the two groups did not mix. Besides the political tension there must have been a religious one. The cow was probably revered as a divine incarnation and eating of beef by Hebrews must have been a detestable practice to the Egyptians. The fact that the Israelites made a golden calf when they gathered at to foot of Mount Sinai, would be an indication that such was the case. Joseph could have been served separately on the basis of his position as ruler of Egypt and the brothers may not have recognized him as a Hebrew.
What amazes the brothers most is the fact that they are seated at the table in the order of their age: Reuben at one end and Benjamin at the other. This amazes them because it could hardly be a coincidence. It is also puzzling that Joseph honors Benjamin by giving him the largest portion. Evidently one did not serve oneself at the table. Archeology has confirmed that Egyptians did not recline at the table like the Jews later did, but actually sat down.
The result of the gathering is that everybody relaxes. The meal turns into a feast. The good food and, probably even more the good wine, helped to create an atmosphere of joy. The NIV puts the relaxation clearly on account of the drinks. We read: "So they feasted and drank freely with him." (vs. 34) The KJV says: "And they drank, and were merry with him." The brothers celebrate the fact that all charges against them are dropped, but Joseph celebrates the reunion. Yet the moment to reveal himself has not yet come.
What amazes the brothers most is the fact that they are seated at the table in the order of their age: Reuben at one end and Benjamin at the other. This amazes them because it could hardly be a coincidence. It is also puzzling that Joseph honors Benjamin by giving him the largest portion. Evidently one did not serve oneself at the table. Archeology has confirmed that Egyptians did not recline at the table like the Jews later did, but actually sat down.
The result of the gathering is that everybody relaxes. The meal turns into a feast. The good food and, probably even more the good wine, helped to create an atmosphere of joy. The NIV puts the relaxation clearly on account of the drinks. We read: "So they feasted and drank freely with him." (vs. 34) The KJV says: "And they drank, and were merry with him." The brothers celebrate the fact that all charges against them are dropped, but Joseph celebrates the reunion. Yet the moment to reveal himself has not yet come.
Studylight.org offers more tidbits.
No wonder the brothers were filled with astonishment. The arrangement of the brothers was so amazing because it couldnt happen by chance. Statistically, the odds of placing 11 brothers in their precise order of birth are something like 1 in 40 million.
Joseph wanted to see how the brothers reacted when the younger brother (in this case, Benjamin) was favored, because they resented it so much when Joseph was favored by his father.
Joseph wanted to see if there was a change in the heart of his brothers, or if they were the same men who threw him into a pit and were deaf to his cries for help.
This might have been his whole motivation in asking for Benjamin. He wondered if they would take care of Benjamin on such a journey, as they failed to do with Joseph.
Joseph wanted to see if there was a change in the heart of his brothers, or if they were the same men who threw him into a pit and were deaf to his cries for help.
This might have been his whole motivation in asking for Benjamin. He wondered if they would take care of Benjamin on such a journey, as they failed to do with Joseph.
So all this time the experts [the Sunday School Teachers and authors] have been saying, and I've thought too, that Joseph was weeping because he was so happy to see his brothers. No doubt that was only one side of the story. I feel now that Joseph might have been weeping due to PTSD. Can you imagine the horrible images he must have suffered through every time he remembered being thrown into a cistern to starve to death be his own brothers?
On top of that, I'm beginning to think that another reason for him to demand to see Benjamin was to make sure he was still alive. After all when the brothers talked to him, they said "one is no more" which glossed over that horrible event at the cistern [not to mention being sold into slavery].
It appears that Joseph was no wuss. On top of that, it appears Joseph was a little crafty.
Oh Jesus has an interesting family tree!
