Chapter Eighteen - Food in Egypt
Simeon was very unhappy. 'How long will I be in this prison? I won’t get out of here unless they bring Benjamin back.’ Life in prison was not easy. Joseph ordered Zanak to give the new prisoner work to do each day. Simeon hated being cooped up and having to do the work of a servant. It was degrading!
Joseph, through Zanak, kept a watchful eye on Simeon. Simeon was devastated. He had to go through an indefinite period in this dreadful place. He hoped his brothers would get home speedily and come straight back for him.
His brothers kept up a good pace in their daily travels. They were fearful and gloomy; their time in prison had been traumatic. They could not forget that Simeon was relying on them to come back with Benjamin. It was a terrible predicament. They would all starve without the grain from Egypt. The lord of the land had made it very clear that he would not sell to them if they did not bring Benjamin back to him. Their thoughts continually drifted to Father’s reaction when they turned up without Simeon.
Jacob fretted each day. His sons should have returned by now. 'What was keeping them?’ He hoped their journey was prosperous and no disaster had overtaken them.
With heavy hearts the brothers returned to Jacob’s campsite. They were dreading the meeting with their father. Jacob watched the small caravan of asses approach. Something was not right. This was not a happy homecoming. His sons looked gloomy and dejected.
"What’s the problem?"
Judah had been elected to tell Jacob the bad news.
“Father, the governor of the land spoke roughly to us; and accused us of being spies. And we said to him, ‘We are honest men, we are not spies; we are twelve brothers, one is dead, and the youngest is with our father in the land of Canaan'. Then he said to us, ‘I’ll find out if you are honest men. Leave one of your brothers here with me, and take grain for your starving families. Bring your youngest brother to me, so I can be certain that you are honest men and not spies. After that I will set your brother free, and you can trade in the land’.”
The blood drained from Jacob’s face as he listened to Judah. He looked at his sons. Simeon was missing! ‘So it is true!’
His sons were physically tired and emotionally drained. They began to unload the asses. As they emptied their sacks, each of them was surprised to see his money was back in his sack. They were afraid of the consequences.
Jacob was appalled. Fear and grief welled up in his heart. “You have already taken away my sons Joseph and Simeon. Now you want to take Benjamin away. All these things are against me!”
Rueben, distraught at his father’s outburst said, “Kill my two sons if I don’t bring him back to you. Put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.”
Jacob was aghast at Rueben’s words. 'Kill my grandsons, if Benjamin doesn’t come back! What is Rueben thinking? Does he want to add to my troubles?’
Jacob spoke, “Benjamin won’t go down with you, his brother is already dead, and he is the only son left. If anything happens to him on the way; I’ll die from sorrow, and all of you will be to blame.”
The subject was closed!
The brothers split up and went to their tents. It was good to be home with their families after the traumatic trip from Egypt. They had food for a while, but what would happen when it ran out?
Simeon’s wife and six children were fearful and very concerned when they learned of his predicament. ‘Will we see him again?’
The famine continued to strengthen its grip on the land of Canaan. Rivers and streams dried up. Crops failed due to lack of water. It was useless planting seed. Finding pasture for the flocks was difficult. Water became more precious, soon they would be totally reliant on the deep wells. As the vegetation died, the bare earth appeared. Dust storms became more prevalent. The landscape began to look barren and bleak.
When the grain they had purchased in Egypt was nearly used up, Jacob was forced to acknowledge that they needed to buy more grain.
“Go back and buy us some more grain.”
Judah spoke to him, “The man warned us, saying ‘You won’t see my face again unless your brother is with you.' If you send Benjamin with us, we will go down and buy food; but if you won’t send him, we won’t go down.”
Jacob said, “Why did you cause me so much trouble by telling the man you had another brother?”
They said to him, “He asked a lot of questions about us and our family; he wanted to know if you were still alive and if we had any more brothers? We just answered his questions. How could we possibly know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother to me?’ ”
Then Judah said to Jacob, "Send Benjamin with me, and we will leave right away, so that none of us will starve to death. I promise to bring him back safely; and if I don’t you can blame me for the rest of my life. If we had not wasted all this time, we could already have been there and back twice.”
Jacob agonised over his decision; a slow death by starvation for all his family, or, the possible loss of Benjamin? There was only one logical decision to be made.
Jacob said to them, “If Benjamin must go with you, then take some of the best fruits of the land with you and take the man a present, a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts and almonds. Take twice the amount of money, plus the money that was returned in your sacks.”
Jacob paused, “Perhaps it was a mistake the money was put in your sacks. Take your brother and go. And may God Almighty give you mercy before the man, so that he releases Simeon and Benjamin. If I lose my children; I suppose I must.”
They quickly packed up and set off for Egypt.
Joseph was a bit concerned, his brothers should have returned to Egypt long before this. He was looking forward to seeing Benjamin. He had not told Asenath about seeing his brothers. He wanted them to show some remorse when he revealed himself to them.
Zanak kept Joseph informed about the Hebrew prisoner. Joseph was concerned for Simeon. He had hoped his brothers would have made a speedy return. 'Oh well, when they run out of grain they will have to come back to Egypt.’
Joseph noticed that the amount of foreigners coming into Egypt to buy grain was increasing dramatically. The famine was very widespread. The additional granaries and storehouses he built were definitely required. 'If Pharaoh had not had his dreams, what condition would Egypt be in now?’
“Grand Vizier, the Hebrew brothers have returned.” said Okan, Joseph’s chief steward.
“Thank you, Okan I have been expecting to see them again.”
His ten brothers were brought before Joseph. They bowed their faces to the ground. Joseph spoke in Egyptian, “Okan, take these men home, slaughter an animal and cook it. Be ready, for they will dine with me at noon.”
Okan took the brothers to Joseph’s house. The brothers were apprehensive. “It’s because of the money that was returned in our sacks the first time. He wants to make a case against us; seize us as slaves, and take our possessions.”
They came near the door of the house and spoke to Okan.
“Sir, we came to Egypt before to buy grain; when we stopped for the night to camp, we opened our grain sacks; and there in each man’s sack was the exact amount of money we had paid for the grain. We have brought it back and we have brought extra money to buy grain. We do not know who put the money in our sacks.”
Okan spoke to them in their native tongue, “It’s alright, don’t be afraid. The God you and your father worship must have put the money there, because I received your payment in full.”
Okan went inside and brought Simeon out to them. Simeon was relieved and pleased to see his brothers.They all wondered why they were in the Grand Vizier’s house.
Okan brought them inside and gave them water to wash their feet. Then he arranged to feed their asses. The brothers got their present ready for the Grand Vizier; for they were told they were to dine with him.
Joseph came home at noon. They brought their present to him and bowed down before him. Joseph used Okan to i
nterpret, “What about your elderly father, is he still alive?”
They answered, “Your servant our father is still alive and well.”
They bowed their heads and prostrated themselves before him.
Joseph spotted his brother Benjamin, Rachel’s other son; and said, “Is this your younger brother, who you told me about?”
He spoke to Benjamin in Egyptian, “God bless you, my son.”
Joseph yearned to hug his brother. Overcome with emotion, he quickly went out and sought a place to weep. He went to his bedroom and wept there.
His brothers were mystified by his sudden exit from the room. 'What is going on?’
Joseph washed his face and came back. Restraining his emotions, he said to Okan, “Serve the meal.”
The servants began serving the meal. Joseph sat by himself and ate, the Egyptians sat apart and ate, and the Hebrews also sat apart and ate. The Egyptians could not eat their meal with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.
His brothers sat before him; the firstborn according to his birthright, right down to the youngest, according to their ages. His brothers looked with astonishment at one another! Joseph sent servings to them from his table, but Benjamin’s serving was five times as much as theirs. So they all drank and were merry with Joseph.
Joseph called Okan to him and spoke in Egyptian, “Fill the men’s grain sacks with grain as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in his sack. Also put my cup, the silver cup in the youngest brother’s sack, plus his grain money.”
So Okan did as Joseph commanded. Next morning at dawn the brothers were sent on their way. When they had gone out of the city and were still fairly close, Joseph said to Okan, “Get up, follow the men, and when you catch up to them say, ‘My master has been good to you. So why have you stolen his silver drinking cup? Not only does he drink from the cup; he also uses it to learn about the future. You have done a terrible thing’.”
Okan, with a band of soldiers, caught up with the brothers who were feeling good after their feast with the Grand Vizier. They were surprised to see his head steward. Okan spoke to them the words which Joseph commanded him to say.
They said to him, “Sir, why do you say such things. We would never do anything like that. We even returned the money we found in our grain sacks. So why would we steal silver or gold from your master’s house? If you find that any one of us has the cup then kill him and the rest of us will be your slaves.”
Okan said to them, “Good! I’ll do what you have said, but only the one who has the cup will be my slave. The rest of you can go free.”
Each brother quickly took his sack and opened it. Okan started with the eldest brother Rueben and searched each man, leaving Benjamin until last.
He found the cup in Benjamin’s sack. In total despair they loaded their asses and returned to the city. So, Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, and he was still there. They fell prostrate before him.
Joseph spoke to them via Okan, “What have you done? Didn't you know I would find you out?”
Then Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? How can we prove our innocence? God has shown that we are guilty. And now all of us are your slaves; especially the one who had the cup.”
Joseph said, “I would never punish all of you. Only the man who was caught with the cup; he will be my slave. The rest of you are free to go home to your father.”
Joseph knew this was a crucial moment. 'How will they respond?’
Judah, mindful of his vow to his father Jacob, came near to Joseph and said,”My lord, you have as much power as Pharaoh himself, and I am only your slave. Please don’t get angry if I speak.”
“You asked us if our father was still alive and if we had any more brothers. So we told you, ‘Our father is a very old man. He was already old when Benjamin was born. Benjamin’s brother is dead. Now Benjamin is the only one of the two brothers who is still alive, and our father loves him very much. You ordered us to bring him here, so you could see him for yourself. We told you that our father would die if Benjamin left him. But you warned us that we could never see you again, unless our youngest brother came with us. So we returned to our father and reported what you had said.”
“Later our father told us to come back here and buy more grain. But we answered, ‘We can’t go back to Egypt without our youngest brother. We will never be let in to see the Grand Vizier, unless he is with us’. “
“My lord, our father then reminded us that his favourite wife had given birth to two sons. One of them was already missing and had not been seen for a long time. My father thinks the lad was torn to pieces by some wild animal, and he said, ‘I am an old man. If you take Benjamin from me, and something happens to him, I will die of a broken heart.’
“That’s why Benjamin must be with us when I go back to my father. He loves him so much that he will die if Benjamin doesn’t come back with me. I promised my father that I would bring him safely home. If I don’t, I told my father he could blame me the rest of my life.”
“My lord, I am your slave. Please let me stay here in place of Benjamin and let him return home with his brothers. How can I face my father if Benjamin isn’t with me? I couldn’t bear to see my father in such sorrow.”
Joseph sat impassively through Judah’s speech. He could no longer restrain his emotions, he cried out in Egyptian, “Everyone leave the room!”
The Egyptians in his presence all went out of the room wondering what was going on.
Joseph wept aloud. The Egyptians and Pharaoh’s household heard him. What was wrong with the Grand Vizier?
Joseph spoke in Hebrew to his brothers. “I am Joseph, is my father still alive?”
His brothers were deeply shocked. They could not answer him. Joseph said to them, “Please come close to me.” So they came close.
Then he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt. Don't worry or blame yourselves for what you did. God is the one who sent me ahead of you to save lives. There has already been a famine for two years, and for five more years no one will plough fields or harvest grain. But God sent me on ahead of you to keep your families alive and to save you in this wonderful way. After all, you weren’t really the ones who sent me here—it was God. He made me the highest official in Pharaoh’s Court and placed me over all of Egypt.”
“Now hurry back and tell my father that his son Joseph says,’ “God has made me ruler of Egypt. Come here as quickly as you can. You will live near me in the region of Goshen with your children and grandchildren, as well as with your sheep, goats, cattle, and everything else you own. I will take care of you there during the next five years of famine. But if you don’t come, you and your family and your animals will starve to death’.”
“All of you, including my brother Benjamin, can tell by what I have said that I really am Joseph. Tell my father about my great power here in Egypt and about everything you have seen. Hurry and bring him here.”
Then Joseph hugged his brother Benjamin and wept on his neck, and Benjamin wept on Joseph’s neck. Joseph kissed his brothers, one by one, and wept over them. After that his brothers talked with him.
News of this reached Pharaoh’s household. Pharaoh was told, “Joseph’s brothers have come.”
Pharaoh and his officers were pleased. Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, “Tell your brothers to load their asses and return to Canaan. Have them bring your father and their families here. I will give them the best land in Egypt, and they can eat and enjoy everything that grows on it. Also tell your brothers to take some wagons from Egypt for their wives and children to ride in. And be sure to have them bring their father. They can leave their possessions behind, because they will be given the best of everything in Egypt.”
Joseph wanted his brothers to meet Asenath and their two boys. He went to see Asenath. “Asenath, my brothers are here from the land of Canaan. I have forgiven them for what they did to me.”
Asenath was speechless! ‘Joseph’s brothers
are here in Zoan!’She did not feel kindly disposed towards them for what they had done to Joseph. She could see that Joseph was happy that they were here.
Joseph noticed Asenath’s reaction. He saw the look of surprise and dislike. “Asenath, they have changed. They are sorry for what they did to me. This is all part of God’s plan to preserve my family, as well as Egypt. Pharaoh has given me wagons and provisions to bring my father and my brothers’ families to Egypt to save them from the famine.”
Asenath relaxed a bit. She studied Joseph’s face. He was relaxed and peaceful. He was genuinely happy to see his brothers. “Joseph, if you have forgiven them and have made peace with them; then I will be kind to them for your sake.”
“Good my love, tonight I will bring them home to meet you and our sons. I will leave the dining arrangements to you.”
Joseph kissed Asenath and then returned to his duties in the Palace.
Asenath arranged a banquet for Joseph’s brothers. Joseph introduced his brothers, from the eldest down to the youngest. She could see that Benjamin was his favourite brother. Joseph interpreted for her.
Manasseh and Ephraim did not understand what all the fuss was about. Manasseh realised that somehow these men were connected to his father. Ephraim, however, did not understand it at all.
Joseph’s brothers made a fuss of the two boys. They were pleased to see that Joseph was happily married with his own family. They would have good news to give Father; on their return to Canaan.
Jacob’s sons had agreed to do what Pharaoh had said. So Joseph gave them wagons and food for their trip home, just as Pharaoh had ordered. Joseph gave some new clothes to each of his brothers, but to Benjamin he gave five new outfits and three hundred pieces of silver. To his father he sent ten asses loaded with the best things in Egypt, and ten female asses loaded with grain and bread and other food for the return trip.
Then he sent his brothers off and told them, “Don’t argue on the way home!”