Genesis 43:26-34

Genesis 43:26-34

[26] And when Joseph  came  home,  they brought  him the present  which was in their hand  into the house,  and bowed  themselves to him to the earth.  [27] And he asked  them of their welfare,  and said,  Is your father  well,  the old man  of whom ye spake?  Is he yet alive?  [28] And they answered,  Thy servant  our father  is in good health,  he is yet alive.  And they bowed down their heads,  and made obeisance.  [29] And he lifted up  his eyes,  and saw  his brother  Benjamin,  his mother's  son,  and said,  Is this your younger  brother,  of whom ye spake  God  be gracious  unto thee, my son.  [30] And Joseph  made haste;  for his bowels  did yearn  upon his brother:  and he sought  where to weep;  and he entered  into his chamber,  and wept  [31] And he washed  his face,  and went out,  and refrained  himself, and said,  Set on  bread.  [32] And they set on  for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians,  which did eat  with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians  might  not eat  bread  with the Hebrews;  for that is an abomination  [33] And they sat  before him,  the firstborn  according to his birthright,  and the youngest  according to his youth:  marvelled  one  at another.  [34] And he took  and sent messes  unto them from before him:  but Benjamin's  mess  was five  times  so much as  any of theirs. And they drank,  and were merry 

What does Genesis 43:26-34 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Again the brothers fulfilled God"s prophecy in Joseph"s dreams by bowing before Joseph ( Genesis 43:26-28; cf. Genesis 37:5-9). Benjamin was16 years younger than Joseph, so he would have been23at this time ( Genesis 43:29). Joseph was39 ( Genesis 41:46; Genesis 45:6).
". . . according to the prevailing custom of the East, the very fact that they had been invited to Joseph"s table was in itself an encouraging circumstance. Though the Orientals are for the most part a revengeful people, yet if you eat with them, you are thenceforward sure of having their protection. Even should you have done them the greatest injury, yet you need be under no apprehension from their resentment." [1]
The caste system in Egypt required that Joseph as a member of the upper class eat at a table separate from his Egyptian companions. The Hebrews sat at a third table since they were foreigners ( Genesis 43:32). The Hebrews and other foreigners ate animals that the Egyptians regarded as sacred. [2] The Egyptians also followed strict rules for the ceremonial cleansing of their food before they ate it. This made the Hebrews "loathsome" to the Egyptians. [3] This segregation later allowed the Israelites to develop into a numberous nation within the borders of Egypt.
Joseph hosted a meal for his brothers who years before had callously sat down to eat while he languished in a pit. [4] Joseph showed respect to Benjamin as his distinguished guest by giving him larger and better servings of food than his brothers received ( Genesis 43:34). Special honorees frequently received double portions, but a fivefold portion was the sign of highest privilege. With this favor Joseph sought not only to honor Benjamin but also to test his other brothers" feelings toward Benjamin. He wanted to see if they would hate him as they had hated himself, his father"s former favorite. Evidently they passed this test.
"Coming forth from this crucible, the formerly callous brothers emerge a bonded family, shining with integrity and love toward one another..." [5]
"Those who would participate in God"s program must be willing to take responsibility for their actions, make restitution when they are culpable, and accept their lot gratefully and without jealousy." [6]