Genesis 42:1-7

Twenty-one years after his brothers sold Joseph into slavery they bowed before him in fulfillment of his youthful dreams (Genesis 42:6-7; cf. Genesis 37:5-9). Ronald Hyman analyzed Joseph’s skillful use of questions to uncover his brothers’ attitudes and intentions as well as the key role of questions in the whole Joseph narrative-there are 30 to 40 of them. [Note: Ronald T. Hyman, "Questions in the Joseph Story: The Effects and Their Implications for Teaching," Religious Education (Summer 1984):437-55.]

"The time was when Joseph’s brethren were men of high respectability in the land of Canaan, whilst Joseph himself was a slave or a prisoner in the land of Egypt. Now, by a signal reverse, Joseph was governor over all the land of Egypt, while they appeared before him as humble suppliants, almost craving as an alms those supplies of food for which they were both able and willing to pay the price demanded." [Note: Bush, 2:298.]

"The double identification of Joseph as hassallit [administrator] and hammasbir [dispenser] recall Joseph’s two earlier dreams, the one in which the sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed before him (his position of authority), and the other in which the brothers’ sheaves bowed before his sheaf (his position of provider)." [Note: Hamilton, The Book . . . Chapters 18-50, p. 519. Cf. Robert Alter, The Art of Biblical Narrative, p. 163.]

People who sell their brother into slavery are not trustworthy. Therefore Joseph retained power over his brothers until he could trust them.

The chiastic structure of Genesis 42:7-24 focuses attention on the brothers’ imprisonment.

"A Joseph knew his brothers and remembered (Genesis 42:7-9 a).

B Joseph accused them of being spies, but they explained their situation (Genesis 42:9-13).

C Joseph set out a test whereby they could prove they were honest men (14-16).

D Joseph put them in prison (Genesis 42:17).

C’ Joseph set out a new test for the brothers to prove they were honest (Genesis 42:18-20).

B’ The brothers confessed their guilt concerning their brother, and Reuben accused them of their fault (Genesis 42:21-22).

A’ Joseph understood and wept (Genesis 42:23-24)." [Note: Ross, Creation and . . ., p. 649.]