GENESIS 42

JOSEPH’S BROTHERS TRAVEL TO EGYPT DURING THE FAMINE 

During the famine, ten of Joseph’s brothers travel to Egypt to buy grain. Benjamin stays back because Jacob wants to keep him safe. Benjamin is the only other son of Rachel, making him Joseph’s only full brother.  

When the brothers arrive, they do not recognize Joseph, who is in charge of the land and all of the food. 

Joseph recognizes his brothers but accuses them of being spies and tells them they need to bring their youngest brother to Egypt to prove that they are honest men. Before he lets them go, he keeps them in captivity for three days. Reuben, the one who wanted to leave him in the pit to die says, “I told you we shouldn’t have sold our brother as a slave, now we’re paying for what we’ve done!” An interpreter tells Joseph what was said, and he weeps. 

Then, Joseph lets all his brothers go besides Simeon. Joseph says he’ll release Simeon when they bring back Benjamin. 

On their way back, they notice that the money they used to pay for the grain is in their bags again! It was Joseph who had done this, but they were confused and scared about how this happened. Even though they have persecuted him, Joseph still provides for his brothers. 

When they get back to Jacob and tell him what happened, Jacob is angry and afraid. He refuses to let Benjamin go, not wanting to lose his only living son of Rachel.