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Text -- Genesis 43:18-34 (NET)
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Strongs On/Off
Context
43:18 But the men were afraid when they were brought to Joseph’s house . They said , “We are being brought in because of the money that was returned in our sacks last time . He wants to capture us, make us slaves , and take our donkeys !”
43:19 So they approached the man who was in charge of Joseph’s household and spoke to him at the entrance to the house .
43:20 They said , “My lord , we did indeed come down the first time to buy food .
43:21 But when we came to the place where we spent the night , we opened our sacks and each of us found his money – the full amount – in the mouth of his sack . So we have returned it.
43:22 We have brought additional money with us to buy food . We do not know who put the money in our sacks !”
43:23 “Everything is fine ,” the man in charge of Joseph’s household told them. “Don’t be afraid . Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks . I had your money .” Then he brought Simeon out to them.
43:24 The servant in charge brought the men into Joseph’s house . He gave them water , and they washed their feet . Then he gave food to their donkeys .
43:25 They got their gifts ready for Joseph’s arrival at noon , for they had heard that they were to have a meal there .
43:26 When Joseph came home , they presented him with the gifts they had brought inside , and they bowed down to the ground before him.
43:27 He asked them how they were doing. Then he said , “Is your aging father well , the one you spoke about? Is he still alive ?”
43:28 “Your servant our father is well ,” they replied . “He is still alive .” They bowed down in humility .
43:29 When Joseph looked up and saw his brother Benjamin , his mother’s son , he said , “Is this your youngest brother , whom you told me about?” Then he said , “May God be gracious to you, my son .”
43:30 Joseph hurried out , for he was overcome by affection for his brother and was at the point of tears . So he went to his room and wept there .
43:31 Then he washed his face and came out . With composure he said , “Set out the food .”
43:32 They set a place for him, a separate place for his brothers, and another for the Egyptians who were eating with him. (The Egyptians are not able to eat with Hebrews , for the Egyptians think it is disgusting to do so.)
43:33 They sat before him, arranged by order of birth, beginning with the firstborn and ending with the youngest . The men looked at each other in astonishment .
43:34 He gave them portions of the food set before him , but the portion for Benjamin was five times greater than the portions for any of the others. They drank with Joseph until they all became drunk .
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics
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Names, People and Places:
Dictionary Themes and Topics:
Joseph |
GENESIS, 1-2 |
Hypocrisy |
Famine |
NUMBER |
Lies and Deceits |
Benjamin |
Deception |
Exports |
JOSEPH (2) |
MEALS, MEAL-TIME |
Money |
Brother |
Integrity |
Treasure |
Hospitality |
Salutations |
Feasts |
BUYING |
Steward |
more
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expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes -> Gen 43:18; Gen 43:18; Gen 43:18; Gen 43:18; Gen 43:20; Gen 43:20; Gen 43:21; Gen 43:21; Gen 43:23; Gen 43:23; Gen 43:23; Gen 43:24; Gen 43:25; Gen 43:25; Gen 43:25; Gen 43:26; Gen 43:27; Gen 43:28; Gen 43:29; Gen 43:29; Gen 43:30; Gen 43:30; Gen 43:31; Gen 43:32; Gen 43:32; Gen 43:32; Gen 43:32; Gen 43:33; Gen 43:33; Gen 43:34; Gen 43:34
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NET Notes: Gen 43:25 Heb “eat bread.” The imperfect verbal form is used here as a historic future (future from the perspective of the past).
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NET Notes: Gen 43:28 Heb “and they bowed low and they bowed down.” The use of synonyms here emphasizes the brothers’ humility.
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NET Notes: Gen 43:29 Joseph’s language here becomes warmer and more personal, culminating in calling Benjamin my son.
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NET Notes: Gen 43:32 That the Egyptians found eating with foreigners disgusting is well-attested in extra-biblical literature by writers like Herodotus, Diodorus, and Stra...
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NET Notes: Gen 43:33 The brothers’ astonishment indicates that Joseph arranged them in this way. They were astonished because there was no way, as far as they were c...
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