Genesis 42 Footnotes

42:4-6 When Joseph’s ten brothers (Benjamin remained with Jacob; v. 4) bowed down before him (v. 6), it was the literal fulfillment of Joseph’s first dream (37:5-8).

42:7-22 Joseph was indeed testing his brothers (v. 15) but not in regard to their being spies (vv. 9,14). Instead, the fear and anguish they must have felt because of Joseph’s accusations were similar to his pleas not to be sold into slavery (v. 21). Also, having his brothers imprisoned, even briefly (vv. 16-17), gave them a taste of what he had been through as an inmate in 39:20. Had the brothers been spiritually sensitive, they would have followed up on the strong clue in Joseph’s testimony that he feared God (42:18). Though they assumed Joseph was dead (v. 13), they perceived that their predicament was from the Lord and was a delayed punishment for their horrible treatment of Joseph (v. 21; see 37:23-28).

42:21-24 Joseph was deeply touched when he saw that his brothers knew their guilt and when he learned that Reuben had attempted to save him from being sold into slavery. That is the apparent reason why Joseph chose to hold Simeon, his second oldest brother (35:23), as his hostage. As next in line to the oldest brother, he bore the most responsibility for Joseph’s ill-treatment.