Genesis 43

The grain runs out, and Jacob must let Benjamin go to Egypt or watch the family starve. Judah steps forward and pledges his own life for the boy. In Egypt the brothers are afraid, but Joseph welcomes them with a feast, weeps in secret over Benjamin, and keeps his identity hidden for a little longer.

Genesis 43:1-2

The famine has not eased, and the Egyptian grain is gone. Jacob tells his sons to go back for more. He does not mention Benjamin or Simeon, as though he hopes the problem will go away. Hunger now forces the issue he was avoiding.

BSA: famine (“severe hunger, bitter need of food”): The word shows this is real hunger, not just a shortage, and it presses the family toward a decision.

See also: Genesis 41:56-57.

Genesis 43:3-5

Judah speaks plainly. The ruler had warned them that they would not see his face without Benjamin. Judah makes it a simple choice: send Benjamin and they go, or refuse and they stay home. There will be no more grain without him.

BSA: face (“presence, countenance”): To see the ruler’s face meant being admitted to his presence, and that door stays shut without Benjamin.

Hebrew: הָעֵד הֵעִד (haʿēd heʿid, H5749) — “he solemnly warned, he testified strongly.” The Hebrew doubles the verb, like a man swearing a formal oath. Judah is saying the warning was no passing remark.

See also: Genesis 42:20.

Genesis 43:6-7

Jacob lashes out and asks why they told the man about Benjamin. The brothers answer that the man asked closely about their family, and they simply replied. They could not have guessed what he would demand. Fear makes Jacob look for someone to blame.

BSA: Israel (“the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants”): The text switches to Jacob’s God-given name while he is acting as head of the whole family.

Genesis 43:8-10

Judah pleads that Jacob’s grip on Benjamin will starve the whole family, children included. He offers himself as a guarantee and says he will bear the blame forever if he fails. This is the same Judah who once proposed selling Joseph. Now he puts his own life at stake for his brother.

BSA: guarantee (“pledge, take responsibility for”): Judah takes the boy’s safety on himself, as one who stands surety for another.

Hebrew: אֶעֶרְבֶנּוּ (ʾeʿerbennû, H6148) — “I will be surety for him.” The root describes someone who pledges himself as security for another, a person who will answer for the debt if it is not paid.

See also: Genesis 37:26-27; Hebrews 7:22.

Genesis 43:11

Jacob finally gives way: if it must be so, then do it well. He sends a gift of the land’s finest products to win the ruler’s favor. His choice shows that he still trusts both prayer and sensible effort. The gifts are small but valuable, and they are all he can spare in a famine.

BSA: gift (“offering, present”): A present like this was meant to honor a powerful man and soften his heart toward the givers.

Hebrew: צֳרִי (tsŏrî, H6875) — “balm.” This was a fragrant resin prized for healing and perfume, and Gilead was famous for it. It was a worthy gift for a ruler.

Genesis 43:12-13

Jacob tells them to carry double silver, so they can repay the money found in their sacks and also buy new grain. He allows that the first payment may have been a mistake. Then he sends Benjamin with them. He is being careful and honest, even though he is afraid.

See also: Genesis 42:25.

Genesis 43:14

Jacob prays for mercy and commits the outcome to God. He hopes for the release of both Simeon and Benjamin. Then he accepts that he may lose them, as one who has already known great loss. His prayer rests on the all-sufficient God who made promises to his family.

BSA: Almighty (“Shadday, the all-sufficient One”): Jacob leans on the God who is enough when human help is gone. mercy (“compassion, tender love”): He asks that the ruler’s heart be softened toward them.

Hebrew: שָׁכֹלְתִּי (shākoltî, H7921) — “I am bereaved.” The word describes a parent robbed of children. Jacob speaks as someone braced for the worst while still letting go.

See also: Genesis 17:1.

Genesis 43:15

The brothers carry out their father’s instructions and go down to Egypt with the gift, the double silver, and Benjamin. They stand before Joseph, the brother they sold, and do not know him. The journey that Jacob dreaded is now underway.

BSA: stood (“to stand firm, in the presence of”): They stand as petitioners in the presence of the man holding their fate.

Genesis 43:16-17

Joseph sees Benjamin and at once orders a midday meal for them in his own house. The steward obeys. Joseph’s orders show kindness toward his brothers and relief at finally seeing his full brother. He is already preparing the way for what comes next.

BSA: steward (“ruler, supervisor”): This is a trusted household manager who carries out Joseph’s wishes without question.

Genesis 43:18

Kindness frightens the brothers. They believe the invitation is a trap over the silver in their sacks, and that they will be seized as slaves with their donkeys. A guilty conscience can read even a welcome as a threat.

BSA: frightened (“filled with fear, afraid”): Their fear is deep, and they cannot imagine good intentions behind the invitation.

Genesis 43:19-22

Before going in, they speak to the steward at the door. They explain the silver, say they have brought it all back, and bring more for new grain. They insist they do not know who put it there. They want to prove their honesty before anything else happens.

BSA: behold (“look, see”): The word draws the steward in, as if they were showing him the very moment of their shock.

See also: Genesis 42:27-28.

Genesis 43:23

The steward calms them and credits their God, the God of their father, for the money in their sacks. He says he received their payment. Then he brings Simeon out to them. His words show that God’s hand is at work, though he does not know the whole story.

BSA: treasure (“hidden riches, secret storehouse”): The silver is called a hidden treasure, something placed there by God’s kindness.

Hebrew: שָׁלוֹם (shālôm, H7965) — “peace, wellbeing.” The steward begins with this word, which means more than the absence of trouble. It speaks of wholeness and safety.

Genesis 43:24-25

The brothers are treated as honored guests. They receive water to wash their dusty feet, and their donkeys are fed. Then they ready their gift before Joseph arrives for the noon meal. Their fear begins to ease.

BSA: wash their feet (“as a sign of hospitality”): Washing dusty travelers’ feet was a basic courtesy of welcome.

Genesis 43:26

When Joseph comes in, they present the gift and bow to the ground before him. This echoes Joseph’s boyhood dreams, in which his brothers’ sheaves and the stars bowed to him. They do not yet see it. God’s long plan is quietly coming true.

Hebrew: וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ (vayyishtaḥăvû, H7812) — “and they bowed down.” The word means to bow low, even prostrate, as an act of homage. It is the same word used in Joseph’s dreams.

See also: Genesis 37:7; Genesis 37:9-10.

Genesis 43:27-28

Joseph asks after their welfare and then after their old father. Is he alive? They answer that he is well, and they bow again, calling Jacob his servant. Joseph keeps up his role, but his questions come from real longing to hear about his father.

BSA: well (“in good health, at peace”): The word means more than health, and covers peace and wholeness.

Hebrew: לְשָׁלוֹם (lĕshālôm, H7965) — “about peace, about wellbeing.” Joseph literally asks whether they are at peace. It is the ordinary Hebrew greeting, and here it carries real concern.

Genesis 43:29

Joseph sees Benjamin, the son of his own mother Rachel. He asks if this is the youngest brother and blesses him as a gracious father might. The tender words come close to giving Joseph away.

BSA: gracious (“show kindness, favor”): Joseph asks for God’s undeserved kindness on the boy, a blessing he can hardly say without breaking down.

See also: Genesis 35:16-18.

Genesis 43:30-31

Joseph is overcome and hurries out to weep in private. Then he washes his face, pulls himself together, and returns to order the meal. His tears show that all the years of sorrow have not hardened his heart.

BSA: private room (“his chamber, a secluded place”): He needs a place alone to let the feeling out before he can carry on.

Hebrew: נִכְמְרוּ רַחֲמָיו (nikhmĕrû raḥămāyw, H3648) — “his compassions grew warm.” The word for compassion is built on the word for womb, picturing love felt deep in the body. Joseph’s inner being was stirred and could not hold still.

See also: Genesis 45:1-2.

Genesis 43:32

Three tables are set: one for Joseph, one for his brothers, and one for the Egyptians. Egyptians would not eat with Hebrews, since they considered it detestable. Joseph, though Hebrew himself, sits apart from both groups, as a high official.

BSA: detestable (“an abomination, utterly disgusting”): The Egyptians saw sharing a table with foreigners as a serious breach of their customs.

Hebrew: תּוֹעֵבָה (tôʿēvāh, H8441) — “abomination, something detestable.” The word marks something a people feels is deeply wrong. Here it describes Egyptian custom, not God’s law.

See also: Genesis 46:34.

Genesis 43:33

The brothers are seated in exact order of age, from firstborn to youngest. They stare at each other, amazed. How could an Egyptian ruler know their birth order? They sense something strange is going on, but cannot guess what.

BSA: astonishment (“in wonder, marvelled”): They are stunned by how much this stranger seems to know about them.

Genesis 43:34

Portions are sent from Joseph’s table, and Benjamin’s is five times larger than the rest. Joseph may be testing whether jealousy will rise, as it once did over him. The brothers instead feast and drink freely with him. Fear gives way to joy for a while.

BSA: portion (“gifts from Joseph’s table”): A portion from the host’s own table was a mark of special honor.

See also: Genesis 37:3-4.