The big picture
The famine is still severe in Canaan, the land where Jacob and his family live. His sons have already bought grain in Egypt, the country where Joseph, one of Jacob’s sons, controls food supplies. The brothers do not know Joseph is the official they met. Joseph kept Simeon, another brother, in Egypt and said they must bring Benjamin, their youngest brother, next time. Jacob had refused because he feared losing Benjamin too. Now the food is gone. Judah, another son, says he will answer personally for Benjamin’s safe return.
In this chapter
- Judah Guarantees Benjamin’s Return Genesis 43:1-14
The grain from Egypt runs out, so Jacob tells his sons to buy more.
- The Brothers Fear Joseph’s House Genesis 43:15-25
The brothers take Benjamin, the gift, and twice the money to Egypt.
- Joseph Feasts with His Brothers Genesis 43:26-34
Joseph comes home, and the brothers bow to him and give him their present.
Central truth
Hunger forces Jacob to send Benjamin, while Joseph tests his brothers and shows deep affection for his younger brother.
Scripture beside the summary
Genesis · King James Version · 34Genesis 43:1-14
Judah Guarantees Benjamin’s Return
The grain from Egypt runs out, so Jacob tells his sons to buy more. Judah reminds him that the Egyptian official will not see them without Benjamin. Jacob asks why they ever mentioned Benjamin. The brothers explain that the official had asked direct questions about their family. Judah then promises to take full responsibility for Benjamin. He says the family has already lost time while Jacob delayed. Jacob gives in. He sends Benjamin, twice the needed money, the money found in their sacks, and a gift of local goods. He asks God Almighty to give them mercy before the official. Jacob then faces the worst outcome he can imagine: losing more of his sons.
In everyday life
A farm owner watches the pantry empty after months of drought. The only supplier willing to sell more grain requires the youngest account holder to come in person. An older son signs a guarantee and promises his father that he will bring the young man home. The father sends extra money and a gift, then watches them leave. Unlike Jacob, the farmer is not sending sons toward a brother they believe is a stranger.
Notice
Genesis 43:9 Judah does more than offer to help. He makes himself answerable for Benjamin, which prepares for the greater offer he will make in the next chapter.
Genesis 43:1-14
King James Version1And the famine was sore in the land.
2And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food.
3And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.
4If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food:
5But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.
6And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?
7And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?
8And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.
9I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever:
10For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.
11And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:
12And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight:
13Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man:
14And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.
Genesis 43:15-25
The Brothers Fear Joseph’s House
The brothers take Benjamin, the gift, and twice the money to Egypt. Joseph sees Benjamin and tells his household manager to prepare a noon meal. The brothers become afraid when they are taken to Joseph’s house. They think the money returned in their sacks will be used against them. They fear slavery and the loss of their animals. At the door, they explain the money to Joseph’s steward, the man who manages his house. He tells them not to fear and says he received their payment. He then brings Simeon back to them. The brothers wash, their animals are fed, and they get the gift ready for Joseph.
In everyday life
A tenant walks into a property manager’s office after finding last month’s rent money returned in his envelope. He expects an accusation and quickly explains every detail. The manager checks the account, says the payment is settled, and brings in the tenant’s brother who has been waiting in another room. Relief comes, but the tenant still does not know why he was invited upstairs. Joseph’s brothers are facing an official who is secretly their own brother, not an ordinary property manager.
Notice
Genesis 43:23 The steward says he received their money, even though they found it in their sacks. His answer removes the immediate charge without explaining how the money returned.
Genesis 43:15-25
King James Version15And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.
16And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon.
17And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house.
18And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.
19And they came near to the steward of Joseph’s house, and they communed with him at the door of the house,
20And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:
21And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand.
22And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks.
23And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.
24And the man brought the men into Joseph’s house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender.
25And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there.
Genesis 43:26-34
Joseph Feasts with His Brothers
Joseph comes home, and the brothers bow to him and give him their present. He asks about their father. Then he sees Benjamin, his full brother through their mother Rachel. Joseph is overcome and leaves the room to cry. He washes his face, returns, and orders the meal served. Joseph eats by himself. The Egyptians, the people of Egypt, eat separately. The Hebrews, Jacob’s family, also eat apart because the Egyptians consider eating with them an abomination. Joseph seats the brothers from oldest to youngest, which shocks them. He sends food from his own table to each man. Benjamin receives five times as much as the others. The brothers drink and become cheerful with Joseph.
In everyday life
A woman hosts relatives she has not seen for many years. They do not recognize the young cousin now running the event. She steps away to cry, comes back composed, and seats everyone by age without asking. Then she gives one younger relative a much larger plate and watches the room closely. The guests notice how strange the details are. Unlike this host, Joseph holds state power and is hiding his own identity.
Notice
Genesis 43:33 Joseph seats the brothers in exact birth order. Their surprise matters because he still has not told them who he is or how he knows their ages.
Genesis 43:26-34
King James Version26And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.
27And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?
28And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance.
29And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son.
30And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.
31And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.
32And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.
33And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another.
34And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin’s mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Genesis 43:1 begins with “And the famine was sore in the land.”
Where the chapter turns
Genesis 43:21 forms a natural hinge: “And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full…”
The final note
Genesis 43:34 leaves the reader with “And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin’s mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words brother, money, father, house, hand, Joseph help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- sore
- Severe or intense; here it describes how harsh the famine is.
- straitly
- Closely and firmly; Joseph had questioned the brothers in a strict way.
- surety
- A personal guarantee; Judah promises to answer for Benjamin if he does not return.
- peradventure
- Perhaps or possibly; Jacob hopes the returned money was an accidental mistake.
- messes
- Servings or portions of food placed before people at a meal.
Music and video connected to the passage
Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.
