January 16: Genesis 42:1 to Genesis 45:15

Joseph's Brothers Go to Egypt – Genesis 42

• During the famine, Jacob learns that Egypt has grain and sends ten of Joseph's brothers there to buy grain. He does not send Benjamin, Joseph's full brother, for fear of what would happen to him.
• In Egypt, Joseph is governor over the land, and he is the one who sells the grain. His brothers bow before him but don't recognize him (this is twenty years after Joseph was sold into slavery). He recognizes them, and harshly questions where they have come from. They tell him they are from Canaan and have come to buy food.
• Joseph remembers his dreams, and accuses them of being spies (he accuses them of something he knows they haven't done to see if they would betray each other under pressure). They deny it, and Joseph accuses them again. They deny it a second time, claiming they are ten brothers, their father and youngest brother is in Canaan, and another brother is "no more."
• Joseph tests them by telling them that one of them must return to Canaan and bring back the youngest brother. He then puts them in custody, and on the third day repeats what must be done. This time he says he will keep one brother while the others return to bring the youngest brother.
• The brothers agree, and believe that this distress has come upon them because of what they did to their brother Joseph. Reuben points out that he told them not to sin against Joseph. All this is said in front of Joseph, as there is an interpreter present and they are unaware that he can understand their language.
• Joseph turns away and weeps. Then he takes Simeon (since Reuben had tried to save Joseph, the next oldest son is chosen) and binds him before their eyes. He gives orders to fill the brothers' bags with grain, to replace every man's money in his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. They are then sent to Canaan.
• When one of the brothers opens his sack to give his donkey fodder, he finds the money in the sack. The brothers are afraid (they probably fear they will be charged with stealing), and accuse God for their problems, asking what He has done to them.
• In Canaan, they tell Jacob everything that has happened and how they must bring Benjamin to Egypt. When they empty their sacks, all find their money still there, which terrifies them. (While money in one's sack could be a mistake, money in each sack could not.)
• Jacob is angry and claims they have bereaved him of both Joseph and Simeon, and that they will not take Benjamin from him as well. Reuben tells Jacob that he can kill Reuben's two sons if they don't return with Benjamin.
• Jacob again refuses to send Benjamin with them.

Joseph's Brothers Return to Egypt – Genesis 43

• The famine is severe in the land, and when Jacob's family has eaten all the grain the sons had bought, Jacob again sends them to buy food. Judah tells him that they were warned not to return without Benjamin.
• Jacob asks why the brothers told the Egyptian why they had a younger brother, and they brothers reply that the man questioned them all about their father and whether they had another brother. They claim they couldn't have known that he would request they bring their youngest brother to him.
• Judah asks that Jacob allow Benjamin to go with him to Egypt so they won't all die of starvation. (Judah has changed tremendously; instead of leaving the family, he protected his brother and was concerned about his father's welfare.) He claims that if he doesn't return with Benjamin, Jacob can blame him forever.
• Jacob agrees, and has the brothers take gifts, double the money they will need, the money that was in their sacks when they returned, and Benjamin. 
• In Egypt, when Joseph sees Benjamin with the brothers, he has his servants prepare a meal for them. They fear that Joseph has brought them to his house to make them servants and steal their donkeys. They explain about the money in their sacks to the steward of Joseph's house, and he tells them not to be afraid, because their God put the money in their sacks. He then brings Simeon out to them.
• The steward brings them into the house, gives them water, washes their feet, and provides fodder for their donkeys. The brothers prepare the gifts they have brought for Joseph.
• When Joseph comes home, they present the gifts and bow down to him. Joseph questions if his father is well (they tell him he is) and he asks about Benjamin. Joseph then leaves the room to weep, and returns after he has washed his face.
• The  Hebrews and Egyptians are then served separately, as it was an abomination for Egyptians to eat with Hebrews. Portions are taken from Joseph's table for the brothers, but Benjamin is given five times as much.

Joseph Tests His Brothers – Genesis 44

• Joseph commands his house steward to fill the brothers' sacks with as much food as they could carry, put each man's money back in his sack, and put Joseph's silver cup in Benjamin's sack.
• The next morning, the brothers are sent home. When they are only a short distance away, Joseph sends his men after them to accuse them of stealing from Joseph.
• Joseph's men overtake them and do as they've been told, claiming that the one who has stolen the silver cup will die. Each brother is instructed to lower his sack to the ground so it can be searched. The search is conducted from oldest to youngest, and the cup is found in Benjamin's sack. The brothers tear their clothes, and all return to Joseph's house. (Ironically, years ago they tore Joseph's coat to pieces; now they are tearing their own clothing over the possible coming loss of another brother, Benjamin.)
• Joseph demands that Benjamin be his servant, and tells the others to return to their father in peace (he wants to see if they will leave Benjamin as a slave in Egypt just as they sold Joseph to be a slave).
• Judah explains that the loss of Benjamin would kill their father and offers himself as a slave in Benjamin's place.

Joseph Provides for His Brothers and Family – Genesis 45:1–15

• Joseph can no longer control his emotion and has everyone but his brothers removed from his presence. Joseph cries so loudly that all in the palace hear it, and he informs his brothers that he is Joseph and then asks if his father is still alive.
• The brothers do not believe him, and he calls them closer to him. He then points out that he is their brother who they sold into slavery and that they should not be upset because God sent him before them to save their lives. 
• Joseph explains that there will be five more years of famine, and he is in Egypt to provide for his family—so it was not them who sent him there, but God. He tells them to return to their father and tell Jacob that God has made Joseph lord of all Egypt and to come to Joseph so they can dwell in the land of Goshen, near Egypt. Joseph assures them that he will provide for them and again tells them to bring their father to him. 
• Joseph weeps with Benjamin and then with the other brothers. They then talk together.