Genesis 43:26-34

The Meal in Joseph's House

v. 26. And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand in to the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth, thus again fulfilling the dream which Joseph had told them about twenty-two years before, Genesis 37:7-2 Samuel :.

v. 27. And he asked them of their welfare, literally, he inquired after their peace, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive? It was a most kind and solicitous inquiry, intended to put them at their ease, while it satisfied the anxiety of Joseph himself.

v. 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, thus showing the proper courtesy to Joseph and true filial respect for their father.

v. 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 unto me? It was the first time in twenty-two years that he saw this brother, and the latter had been an infant of about one year when Joseph had been sold into Egypt. And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son, an expression both of true kindness and of relationship.

v. 30. And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother, his love excited his feelings to such an extent that he could no longer control himself; and he sought where to weep; and he entered in to his chamber, and wept there. In the seclusion of his own room he could give free vent to his feelings.

v. 31. And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, he forcibly kept his feelings under control, and said, set on bread; thereby ordering dinner to be served.

v. 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 unto the Egyptians. Cf Deuteronomy 12:17; Deuteronomy 16:5; Deuteronomy 17:15. Although they all ate in the same room, they were served at different tables, as the rules of the caste required. Joseph belonged to the priestly caste and could therefore not sit down at the same table with laymen, and the Egyptians would not eat at the same table with members of a nomad tribe.

v. 33. And they sat before him, their table was placed so that he had a full view of it, the first-born according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth; and the men marveled one at an other; they wondered where the Egyptians had gotten the information regarding their respective ages.

v. 34. And he took and sent messes unto them from before him, portions from his own table, which was a mark of special distinction; but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. This, in a way, was again a test, to see whether the brothers were still prone to become jealous. And they drank, and were merry with him, their reserve melted under the influence of the wine, and Joseph had the best opportunity to study them as their fear of the Egyptian ruler gave way to a respectful confidence. Thus the Lord mingles kindness with severity, and lets us taste His favor in full measure after some grievous experience has filled our hearts with fear.