Genesis 42

Joseph did several unusual things to his brothers when they came looking for grain. The last time Joseph had been with them, they were filled with jealousy, hatred, and anger; they attempted to destroy their brother, and they deceived their father. Joseph put them through various tests, similar to the trying situations they had put him through, to see if they had changed.

God used the famine to bring Israel to Egypt under Joseph’s rule, thus fulfilling two prophecies (15:13; 37:7–11).

Jacob may have believed that Benjamin would not be safe with his brothers.

Joseph's first dream (37:5–11) was partially fulfilled when his brothers bowed down to him without recognizing him (see also 43:26; 44:14). It was totally fulfilled in 50:18. Joseph recognized his brothers immediately, but he could not reveal himself because he did not yet trust them to be the honest men they claimed to be (42:10).

they did not recognize him: This was because Joseph was now a grown man, not a boy. He did not have a beard, wore Egyptian clothes, and was in an unexpected position of power. He spoke to them through an interpreter (42:23).

You are spies!: The brothers thought Joseph was a spy for their father and treated him harshly (37:2, 14, 18–28). Now, Joseph was testing them in a similar way to see their reaction.

Joseph knew that they had not always been the honest men they claimed to be.

Joseph put his brothers in prison for three days. He did this to see if they felt guilt for what they had done in the past (42:21–23). The brothers had similarly thrown Joseph into a cistern-prison while they decided what to do with him (37:24).

Rather than keep all but one, Joseph would release all but one to take grain home to their starving families.

Surely we are being punished: The brothers believed that God was punishing them. They thought this because they now had to bring Benjamin to Egypt, even though their father did not want this. They connected this trouble with their past sin of selling Joseph to traders.

They began to see this as divine punishment (God judging wrong actions). The fear of divine punishment began to cause feelings of guilt that Joseph's cries for mercy and their father's tears had failed to produce (37:34–35).

you would not listen: Reuben had lost his place as leader (see study notes on 42:37; 49:3–4).

Joseph turned away from them and began to weep (compare 43:30; 45:2, 14; 50:1, 17). He might have heard a part of the story he had never known, like Reuben’s attempt to save him (37:21–22, 29). Or, his brothers’ remorse might have moved him to forgive them.

return each man’s silver to his sack: Joseph was testing his brothers. He wanted to appeal to their conscience (their inner sense of right and wrong) and make them face their past guilt. Once again, they were going home with silver instead of a brother (37:28–35).

Joseph cared for his brothers' needs. He forgave them and provided for them (see study note on 42:24). God used Joseph's care to make the brothers more aware of their sin.

What is this that God has done to us?: They realized God was responsible for everything happening, so they faced a day of reckoning for their sins.

The brothers’ report focused on the charge that they were spies and on the need to bring Benjamin back to Egypt with them. They did not mention that they were beginning to see God’s judgment (his just response to wrongdoing) for what they had done to Joseph.

• Jacob was already grieving the loss of two sons and feared losing Benjamin if he went to Egypt.

• You have deprived me of my sons: He did not know how true his words were. But these words probably troubled his sons' guilty consciences.

Reuben tried to take charge. He might have thought he could regain his father's favor (see 35:22). First, he hoped to rescue Joseph from death (37:21–22, 29–30), and now by keeping Benjamin safe.

Jacob continued to show special favor to Rachel’s only remaining son. He refused to let Benjamin go to Egypt, even if it meant that Simeon, Leah’s son, would not return.

Jacob’s deep grief later weighed heavily on the brothers’ conscience (44:18–34).