Thematic Bible
Genesis 43:1 (show verse)
Meanwhile, the famine remained severe throughout the region.
Genesis 43:2 (show verse)
As a result, when Jacob's family was beginning to eat the last of the grain that they had brought back from Egypt, their father Jacob told his sons, "Go back to Egypt and buy us some food."
Genesis 43:3 (show verse)
But Judah reminded him, "The man distinctly warned us: "You'll never see my face unless your brother comes with you.'
Genesis 43:4 (show verse)
So if you send our brother with us, we'll go down and buy some food.
Genesis 43:5 (show verse)
But if you don't send him, we're not going, because the man told us, "You'll never see my face unless your brother is with you.'"
Genesis 43:6 (show verse)
Israel replied, "Why did you make all this trouble by telling the man that you have another brother?"
Genesis 43:7 (show verse)
"The man specifically asked about us and our relatives," they responded. "He asked us, "Is your father still alive?' and "Do you have another brother?' So we answered his questions. How could we have known that he would tell us to bring our brother back with us?"
Genesis 43:8 (show verse)
"Send the young man with me," Judah told his father Israel, "and we'll get up and go so we can survive and not die and that includes all of us, you and our families.
Genesis 43:9 (show verse)
I'll even offer myself to guarantee that I'll be responsible for him. If I don't bring him back and present him to you, I'll personally bear the consequences forever.
Genesis 43:10 (show verse)
After all, if we hadn't delayed, we could have been there and back twice by now!"
Genesis 43:11 (show verse)
"If that's the way it has to be," their father Israel replied, "then do this: take some of the best produce of the land in your containers and take them to the man as a gift some resin ointment, some honey, fragrant resins, myrrh, pistachios, and almonds.
Almond » Fruit of
Balm » A medicinal balsam
Food » List of articles » Honey
Fruits » Often sent as presents
Honey » Often sent as a present
Honey » Sent as a present by jacob to egypt
jacob » Sends to egypt to buy corn (grain)
myrrh » Traffic in
Presents » Things given as » Eatables
Spices » Sent as a present by jacob to joseph
Trees » Varieties » Almond
Victuals » List of articles » Honey
Balm » A medicinal balsam
Food » List of articles » Honey
Fruits » Often sent as presents
Honey » Often sent as a present
Honey » Sent as a present by jacob to egypt
jacob » Sends to egypt to buy corn (grain)
myrrh » Traffic in
Presents » Things given as » Eatables
Spices » Sent as a present by jacob to joseph
Trees » Varieties » Almond
Victuals » List of articles » Honey
Genesis 43:12 (show verse)
Also take twice as much money with you so you can return the money that had been replaced in the mouth of your sacks. Maybe it was an accounting mistake on his part.
Genesis 43:13 (show verse)
And be sure to take your brother, too. So get up, return to the man,
Genesis 43:14 (show verse)
and may God Almighty cause the man to show compassion toward you. May he send all of you back, including your other brother and Benjamin. Now as for me, if I lose my children, I lose them."
Genesis 43:15 (show verse)
So the men took their gift and twice as much money, got up, took Benjamin with them, and set out for Egypt. Eventually they appeared before Joseph.
Genesis 43:16 (show verse)
As soon as Joseph noticed that Benjamin had come with them, he ordered his palace manager, "Bring the men into the palace. Slaughter an animal and prepare it, because these men will be dining with me for lunch."
Genesis 43:17 (show verse)
So the man did what Joseph had ordered, and brought the men to Joseph's palace.
Genesis 43:18 (show verse)
The men were terrified as they were being taken to Joseph's palace. "It's because of that money that was returned to our sacks the first time we were brought to him," they reasoned. "He's seeking an excuse to attack us, enslave us, and confiscate our donkeys!"
Genesis 43:19 (show verse)
So they approached Joseph's palace manager and talked with him at the palace entrance.
Genesis 43:20 (show verse)
"Your Excellency," they said, "The first time we came here to buy food,
Genesis 43:21 (show verse)
when we arrived at our overnight lodging place, we opened our sacks and discovered each man's money was still in the mouth of his sack. All of our money was there! We've brought it back with us in full.
Genesis 43:22 (show verse)
We've also brought along some more money to buy supplies, but we don't know who put our money back into our sacks."
Genesis 43:23 (show verse)
"Relax," the manager said. "You can stop being afraid, now. Your God, the God of your father, has placed hidden treasure within those sacks for you. I've been paid in full." Then he brought Simeon out to them,
Genesis 43:24 (show verse)
ushered the men into Joseph's palace, gave them water to wash their feet, and provided fodder for their donkeys.
Ablution » Of the feet
Ablution » Cleanliness » Examples of
Cleanliness » Examples of
Entertainments » Guests at » Had their feet washed when they came a distance
Guests » Hospitality to » Washing the feet of
Servants » Duties of, to masters » To be kind and attentive to their guests
Social life » Guests advices to » Washing the feet of
Washing » Of feet
Ablution » Cleanliness » Examples of
Cleanliness » Examples of
Entertainments » Guests at » Had their feet washed when they came a distance
Guests » Hospitality to » Washing the feet of
Servants » Duties of, to masters » To be kind and attentive to their guests
Social life » Guests advices to » Washing the feet of
Washing » Of feet
Genesis 43:25 (show verse)
Then off he went to prepare the honorary meal that was to be made ready for Joseph's arrival at noon, since they had been informed that they were going to be eating there.
Genesis 43:26 (show verse)
When Joseph arrived at his palace, his brothers brought to him their gifts that they had carried with them and bowed to the ground in front of him.
Genesis 43:27 (show verse)
Joseph asked them how they had been doing. "Is your father well, the older gentleman about whom you spoke?" he inquired. "Is he still alive?"
Genesis 43:28 (show verse)
"Your servant, our father, is doing well," they replied. "He is still alive." Then they bowed down in humility.
Genesis 43:29 (show verse)
As Joseph looked up and recognized his brother Benjamin, his own mother's son, he asked, "Is this your youngest brother about whom you spoke to me?" And he addressed him directly, "May God be gracious to you, my son."
Genesis 43:30 (show verse)
At this, Joseph hurried out, deeply moved because of his brother, and looked for a place to weep by himself. He entered his personal quarters, wept there awhile,
Genesis 43:31 (show verse)
then washed his face and came out. Barely controlling himself, he ordered his staff to serve the meal.
Genesis 43:32 (show verse)
Joseph's staff served him by himself, his brothers separately, and the Egyptian staff members by themselves, because the Egyptians wouldn't take their meal with the Hebrews, since doing so was detestable for the Egyptians.
Brother » Joseph's, for his brethren
Defilement » Egyptian usage, concerning
Dissembling » Instances of » Joseph
Egypt » Mode of entertaining in
Egyptians » Refused to eat with hebrews
Feasts » Ancient customs at » Men alone present at
Hebrew » Applied to » And his descendants
Israel » Also called israelites, and hebrews
Defilement » Egyptian usage, concerning
Dissembling » Instances of » Joseph
Egypt » Mode of entertaining in
Egyptians » Refused to eat with hebrews
Feasts » Ancient customs at » Men alone present at
Hebrew » Applied to » And his descendants
Israel » Also called israelites, and hebrews
Genesis 43:33 (show verse)
Meanwhile, the brothers were seated in front of Joseph in birth order, from firstborn to youngest. The men stared at one another in astonishment.
Brother » Joseph's, for his brethren
Children » Good Children » Good Parents » Birthright of
the Diet of the jews » Was taken » Often sitting
Dissembling » Instances of » Joseph
Egypt » Mode of entertaining in
Entertainments » Guests at » Arranged according to rank
Feasts » Guests arranged according to age
Children » Good Children » Good Parents » Birthright of
the Diet of the jews » Was taken » Often sitting
Dissembling » Instances of » Joseph
Egypt » Mode of entertaining in
Entertainments » Guests at » Arranged according to rank
Feasts » Guests arranged according to age
Genesis 43:34 (show verse)
Joseph himself brought portions to them from his own table, except that he provided to Benjamin five times as much as he did for each of the others. So they feasted together and drank freely with Joseph.
Brother » Joseph's, for his brethren
Dissembling » Instances of » Joseph
Eating » Favored guests served a double portion
Egypt » Mode of entertaining in
Entertainments » A choice portion reserved in, for principal guests
Entertainments » Guests at » Often had separate dishes
Favoritism » Instances of » Joseph, for benjamin
Feasts » Ancient customs at » Men alone present at
Wine » Instances of intoxication from » Joseph and his brothers
Dissembling » Instances of » Joseph
Eating » Favored guests served a double portion
Egypt » Mode of entertaining in
Entertainments » A choice portion reserved in, for principal guests
Entertainments » Guests at » Often had separate dishes
Favoritism » Instances of » Joseph, for benjamin
Feasts » Ancient customs at » Men alone present at
Wine » Instances of intoxication from » Joseph and his brothers