Genesis 42

Introduction to Genesis 42

In Genesis 42, the story of Joseph’s brothers coming to Egypt during the famine begins to unfold. The famine affected the entire region, including Canaan, where Jacob and his family lived. Jacob sends his sons, except for Benjamin, to Egypt to buy grain. Unbeknownst to them, the powerful governor who controls the grain is their brother Joseph, whom they sold into slavery years earlier. This chapter is filled with dramatic irony and emotions as Joseph, now unrecognizable to his brothers, confronts them and tests their character and loyalty. Joseph’s actions demonstrate his wisdom and desire to see if his brothers have changed since their betrayal.

Genesis 42:1-3 (NKJV)
1 When Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?”
2 And he said, “Indeed I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down to that place and buy for us there, that we may live and not die.”
3 So Joseph’s ten brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt.

Jacob, hearing that Egypt had grain during the famine, urges his sons to act rather than stand idle. His words reflect the urgency and dire situation they are facing, as survival depends on acquiring food from Egypt. The mention of Joseph’s ten brothers indicates that Benjamin, the youngest, is not included in this journey. Jacob’s decision to send his sons to Egypt sets the stage for the unfolding drama, where the brothers will unknowingly face Joseph, the one they wronged years earlier.

Genesis 42:4 (NKJV)
4 But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, “Lest some calamity befall him.”

Jacob’s reluctance to send Benjamin reveals his deep fear and protectiveness over his youngest son, particularly after the loss of Joseph. Since Benjamin is the only remaining son from Jacob’s beloved wife Rachel, Jacob is determined to keep him safe. This protective attitude highlights the family’s lingering pain over Joseph’s disappearance and foreshadows the central role that Benjamin will play in the coming events.

Genesis 42:5 (NKJV)
5 And the sons of Israel went to buy grain among those who journeyed, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.

The narrative shifts to the journey of the brothers, indicating that they are not the only ones traveling to Egypt for grain. The widespread nature of the famine is emphasized, affecting not just Egypt but also the land of Canaan. This global crisis brings the family of Jacob to Egypt, setting the stage for the fulfillment of Joseph’s earlier dreams of his brothers bowing down to him.

Genesis 42:6-8 (NKJV)
6 Now Joseph was governor over the land; and it was he who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the earth.
7 Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he acted as a stranger to them and spoke roughly to them. Then he said to them, “Where do you come from?” And they said, “From the land of Canaan to buy food.”
8 So Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.

Joseph, now in a powerful position as the governor of Egypt, sees his brothers for the first time since they sold him into slavery. Though he immediately recognizes them, they do not recognize him due to the years that have passed and his Egyptian appearance. The brothers’ act of bowing down fulfills the dream Joseph had as a youth, though they are unaware of its significance. Joseph’s rough demeanor towards them is part of a test, allowing him to observe their character and determine how much they have changed.

Genesis 42:9-11 (NKJV)
9 Then Joseph remembered the dreams which he had dreamed about them, and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see the nakedness of the land!”
10 And they said to him, “No, my lord, but your servants have come to buy food.
11 We are all one man’s sons; we are honest men; your servants are not spies.”

Joseph accuses his brothers of being spies, a false charge meant to provoke a response and further test their honesty and integrity. The accusation creates tension, forcing the brothers to defend themselves. Their claim of being “honest men” is ironic, given their previous deception in selling Joseph into slavery. This moment reflects Joseph’s intention to see if they have truly repented of their past actions or if they remain unchanged.

Genesis 42:12-14 (NKJV)
12 But he said to them, “No, but you have come to see the nakedness of the land!”
13 And they said, “Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and in fact, the youngest is with our father today, and one is no more.”
14 But Joseph said to them, “It is as I spoke to you, saying, ‘You are spies!’”

Joseph continues to press the accusation, despite his brothers' repeated denials. Their mention of their younger brother and the one who is “no more” (Joseph himself) brings the past to the forefront, though they remain unaware of his true identity. By keeping up the pretense of being harsh, Joseph is able to observe their reactions and assess their honesty. This exchange also hints at the emotional weight of their unresolved guilt over Joseph’s presumed death.

Genesis 42:15-17 (NKJV)
15 “In this manner you shall be tested: By the life of Pharaoh, you shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here.
16 Send one of you, and let him bring your brother; and you shall be kept in prison, that your words may be tested to see whether there is any truth in you; or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies!”
17 So he put them all together in prison three days.

Joseph devises a plan to test his brothers' honesty by demanding that they bring their youngest brother, Benjamin, to Egypt. He intensifies the tension by imprisoning them for three days. This act not only buys Joseph time but also adds pressure on the brothers, forcing them to confront the situation. Joseph’s demand regarding Benjamin sets the stage for further testing and the eventual reunion of the family.

Genesis 42:18-20 (NKJV)
18 Then Joseph said to them the third day, “Do this and live, for I fear God:
19 If you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined to your prison house; but you, go and carry grain for the famine of your houses.
20 And bring your youngest brother to me; so your words will be verified, and you shall not die.” And they did so.

On the third day, Joseph revises his plan, offering a more lenient option. Instead of all remaining in prison, only one brother will stay, while the rest can return with grain to relieve their family’s famine. However, they must bring Benjamin back to prove their honesty. Joseph’s reference to fearing God demonstrates his righteousness, though his brothers still don’t recognize him. This strategy gives the brothers the chance to reflect on their past actions while also allowing them to take care of their family’s needs.

Genesis 42:21-22 (NKJV)
21 Then they said to one another, “We are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us.”
22 And Reuben answered them, saying, “Did I not speak to you, saying, ‘Do not sin against the boy’; and you would not listen? Therefore behold, his blood is now required of us.”

The brothers begin to recognize their guilt over what they did to Joseph years ago, interpreting their current distress as divine punishment. They recall how Joseph pleaded with them, but they had ignored his cries, leading to their current predicament. Reuben, who had previously tried to save Joseph, now reminds them of his earlier warning. This conversation shows their growing sense of remorse and regret, setting the tone for future reconciliation.

Genesis 42:23-24 (NKJV)
23 But they did not know that Joseph understood them, for he spoke to them through an interpreter.
24 And he turned himself away from them and wept. Then he returned to them again, and talked with them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes.

Joseph, overhearing his brothers' conversation, is deeply moved by their remorse, causing him to turn away and weep privately. This emotional moment reveals Joseph’s inner turmoil—he still loves his brothers, despite their past betrayal. After regaining his composure, Joseph takes Simeon as a hostage, binding him in front of the others to reinforce the seriousness of his demand. This act serves as a test of the brothers’ loyalty and honesty regarding Benjamin.

Genesis 42:25-26 (NKJV)
25 Then Joseph gave a command to fill their sacks with grain, to restore every man’s money to his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. Thus he did for them.
26 So they loaded their donkeys with the grain and departed from there.

Joseph, showing mercy despite his harsh actions, secretly returns the money his brothers had paid for the grain, ensuring that they have provisions for the journey home. This act of kindness, done in secret, illustrates Joseph’s character and his desire to bless his family, even as he continues testing them. The brothers, unaware of the returned money, leave Egypt, thinking only of their mission to bring back Benjamin.

Genesis 42:27-28 (NKJV)
27 But as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey feed at the encampment, he saw his money; and there it was, in the mouth of his sack.
28 So he said to his brothers, “My money has been restored, and there it is, in my sack!” Then their hearts failed them and they were afraid, saying to one another, “What is this that God has done to us?”

One of the brothers discovers the returned money during the journey, causing great fear and confusion. They interpret this unexpected event as another sign of divine punishment, fearing that they will be accused of theft. This reaction highlights their guilty conscience over their past sin against Joseph and their growing sense of helplessness in the face of what they see as divine judgment.

Genesis 42:29-31 (NKJV)
29 Then they went to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan and told him all that had happened to them, saying:
30 “The man who is lord of the land spoke roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country.
31 But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we are not spies.’”

The brothers return to Canaan and recount their difficult encounter with Joseph, whom they refer to as “the man who is lord of the land.” They emphasize Joseph’s harsh treatment and their own defense of their integrity. Their retelling of the events reflects the tension and fear they experienced in Egypt, as well as their uncertainty about how to proceed.

Genesis 42:32-34 (NKJV)
32 “We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no more, and the youngest is with our father this day in the land of Canaan.
33 Then the man, the lord of the country, said to us, ‘By this I will know that you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers here with me, take food for the famine of your households, and be gone.
34 And bring your youngest brother to me; so I shall know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men. I will grant your brother to you, and you may trade in the land.’”

The brothers explain the conditions Joseph had set, highlighting the importance of bringing Benjamin to Egypt to prove their honesty. They convey Joseph’s demand that one brother remain in Egypt while the rest return home with grain. The emphasis on Benjamin sets the stage for further drama, as Jacob will have to decide whether to risk sending his youngest son to Egypt in the face of an uncertain future.

Genesis 42:35 (NKJV)
35 Then it happened as they emptied their sacks, that surprisingly each man’s bundle of money was in his sack; and when they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid.

As each brother empties his sack, they discover that all their money has been returned. This unexpected discovery heightens their fear, as they interpret it as a possible setup that could lead to greater trouble with the Egyptians. Their fear reflects both their growing anxiety and their sense of being caught in a situation beyond their control, as they see this as further evidence of divine retribution.

Genesis 42:36 (NKJV)
36 And Jacob their father said to them, “You have bereaved me: Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin. All these things are against me.”

Jacob, overwhelmed by grief, laments the loss of his sons. He believes that Joseph is dead, Simeon is effectively lost in Egypt, and now his remaining sons are asking him to risk losing Benjamin. Jacob’s despair is palpable as he sees all these events as being stacked against him, heightening the emotional tension within the family.

Genesis 42:37-38 (NKJV)
37 Then Reuben spoke to his father, saying, “Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.”
38 But he said, “My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is left alone. If any calamity should befall him along the way in which you go, then you would bring down my gray hair with sorrow to the grave.”

Reuben, desperate to reassure Jacob, offers his own sons as collateral, vowing to return Benjamin safely. However, Jacob refuses, unable to bear the thought of losing Benjamin, the last link to Rachel and Joseph. His deep-seated fear and sorrow dominate his decision, revealing the heavy emotional burden he carries as a father who believes he has already lost too much. This refusal leaves the family at a standstill, unsure of how to move forward.