Bible Commentaries
Genesis 43

Verses 1-34

Genesis 43. The Brothers Return to Egypt with Benjamin.— It is generally held that this chapter is from J except for the references to Simeon in Genesis 43:14 and Genesis 43:23 b. According to J, Simeon seems to have played no special part, and there is not the same urgency for return as in E; the discussion as to Benjamin is postponed till the corn is spent. Genesis 42:38 perhaps originally stood after Genesis 43:2. In the conversation Judah takes the part taken by Reuben in E (as in the discussion as to the killing of Joseph), and we learn that Joseph had ascertained Benjamin’ s existence by inquiry. Arrived in Egypt, they are taken into Joseph’ s house for dinner, since they have brought Benjamin and cleared their characters. But they suspect that Joseph intends to accuse them of theft and seize them for slaves. They put themselves right with the steward, who bids them be at peace. On Joseph’ s return for dinner, they prostrate themselves once more, and give him the present sent by Jacob. The sight of Benjamin over powers him, and he retires to weep. Mastering his emotion he returns to them. Joseph eats by himself, the Egyptians and the brothers also in separate groups, since the Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews without violating their religious scruples ( Genesis 46:34). To their astonishment, the brothers were seated according to their age. How, they would ask, could the governor arrange it so accurately? And while all were honoured with tit-bits from his table, Benjamin’ s portion was five times as much as any of theirs.

Genesis 43:14 . El Shaddai ( mg.) occurs nowhere else in JE. It is characteristic of P, and is probably due to the redactor here.