Genesis 43:1-34

43:3-14 | From this moment on, leadership among the brothers shifts from Reuben to Judah. Judah, eloquent and persuasive, soon stood before Joseph with Benjamin present, pleading for all their lives with Jacob’s approval.

43:16-17 | Joseph was breaking down the hard hearts of his brothers by this outstanding exhibition of grace.

43:32 | Joseph sat by himself because the Egyptians considered the Semitic herdsmen unfit to be at the same table with them. In antiquity, Egyptians shaved all body hair to control lice, took baths regularly, and wore little clothing. The Hebrews were hairy, unbathed, and wore robes. Sitting and eating with them was an abomination. Yet in this case, the “Egyptian” Joseph wanted nothing more than to sit and dine with his brothers.

43:33-34 | When Joseph seated his brothers by birth order, they looked in astonishment at one another, with a growing sense of mystery about what this Egyptian official knew about them. Joseph gradually revealed himself to his siblings. He also continued to test their hearts. This time, Joseph gave Benjamin a serving five times larger than the others to discover if the brothers still had a problem with jealousy. But no one said a word. That which was a stumbling bblock to them years before was gone.

Common Question: Why would the Hebrews be any safer among the pagan Egyptians than they would have been among the pagan Canaanites? Egyptians found Hebrews to be detestable because they were shepherds and herdsman. Hebrews were so socially inferior to the Egyptians that there was little danger of co-mingling or intermarriage. Those two things would also help keep them from idolatry.