seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Genesis 43:24 The steward took the men into Joseph’s house, gave them water to wash their feet and provided fodder for their donkeys. 25 They prepared their gifts for Joseph’s arrival at noon, because they had heard that they were to eat there.
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.
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.
Bible-commentaries.com says this.
In Joseph's house they receive VIP treatment. The fact that Simeon joined them at this point must have alleviated their fears. They are given the impression of being exonerated. All charges against them are evidently dropped. They will have taken their meal with Joseph as some kind of apology offered for the initial false accusation. When Joseph arrives, the comedy continues. He must have continued to use an interpreter in speaking to them. They present their presents, bow down, thus fulfilling once again the dream and they answer his questions about the family. Joseph is overcome by emotion when he sees his brother Benjamin and he has to withdraw to weep in the solitude of his room. Whether the brothers noticed any of this emotion we do not know. They may have answered his question from their prostrated position, which would have prevented them from seeing Joseph's reactions. Reunions are sometimes just as hard to deal with as separations.
I found this at freebiblecommentary.org.
43:30 "Joseph hurried out for he was deeply stirred over his brothers" This is translated literally "his compassions were warmed" ( 1 Kgs. 3:26). The word "compassion" literally means "feelings for those of the same womb" (i.e., brotherly affection).
Marshcommentary.com offers this.
Joseph is now treating his brothers with traditional hospitality. Washing the feet was customary so that dust from the dirt roads would not be tracked into the house. Providing food for the donkeys was also hospitable (imagine if you went to someone's house, and thy filled your automobile with gasoline!).
They may have arranged their gifts of food on platters. It would be very appropriate to give such gifts just before the meal. No doubt, these foods brought back memories from Joseph's past.
They may have arranged their gifts of food on platters. It would be very appropriate to give such gifts just before the meal. No doubt, these foods brought back memories from Joseph's past.
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