Genesis 43:13-14: “Take your brother also and go back to the man at once. And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”
It was another rainless winter season. The air was dry and so was the soil. Unlike the year before, the farmers did not even bother to plant seeds. Several months went by and the food Jacob’s sons had brought from Egypt began to dwindle. One morning Jacob had a private meeting with his sons. Benjamin was noticeably absent. “Get ready for your next trip to Egypt!” Jacob said, “We need more grain.”
Respectfully, Judah replied: “We could have gone months ago, but obviously the reason for this delay hinges on your decision to let Benjamin go with us.”
Immediately Jacob became defensive. “Benjamin is the only son of Rachel’s that is still alive,” he said, “If he is taken from me too then you will bring down my gray head in grief.”
An embarrassed silence followed Jacob’s statement; his sons clearly remembered that fateful day when they brought home Joseph’s torn coat. Ever since their father had not been the same, and everybody knew how it would affect him if Joseph’s younger brother was indeed killed. Judah spoke up again and said: “I personally guarantee Benjamin’s safety and I will be the one to blame should anything happen to him.”
Jacob visibly fought with himself. “If I don’t send Benjamin with you then I will be the one to blame when we all starve to death,” he admitted. After a brief pause he finally came to a painful decision. “So here is what you do,” he said, “Take twice the payment with you so that you can return the silver that was found in your sacks. Maybe somebody made a mistake. We want to demonstrate that we are honest.”
Judah let out a sigh of relief. “I promise we will bring him back,” he said. But Jacob lifted his hands until he had everybody’s attention. “In addition,” he continued, “take some gifts with you, whatever we can come up with – a little honey, some balm, pistachios and almonds. Let us all pray that everybody will return safely. And if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”
The very next day the brothers departed to Egypt. They took some shortcuts and arrived there in record time. When Joseph saw that his brothers had indeed brought Benjamin along, he turned to his personal assistant and ordered Simeon’s release from prison. Pointing to his brothers he said: “Take them to my house. There they will be reunited with their brother. I will break away as soon as I can and have lunch with these men.”
On arrival the eleven brothers were led to the parlor of Joseph’s mansion. They all felt uneasy when they realized that they were brought to the governor’s house.
“I hope he does not incarcerate us on account of the silver we found in our sacks,” Levi remarked. “Let’s clarify that”, Judah said under his breath and approached Joseph’s translator. “Excuse us sir”, he formally addressed him, “May we have a word?”
The translator nodded. “What’s the matter?” he asked and Judah went on to explain that their silver had been returned. “This is why we have our last payment with us plus more silver to buy additional grain.”
“Let me speak with the steward and get back with you,” the translator said. After a little while he returned and announced: “He is not sure what you are talking about. The payment for your last purchase has been duly received. Your God must have placed this treasure in your sacks.”
Suddenly the doors opened and Simeon was brought in. “Oh Simeon!!” Everybody rushed to greet him. It was a happy reunion.
In the meantime Joseph had given out instructions on how to set the tables and where to seat his guests. After he had dismissed his household staff, Asenath asked Joseph: “So, when were you going to tell me that you’ll have lunch with your brothers today?”
Joseph was slightly irritated. “Can we talk about this later? I didn’t know they were coming until an hour ago,” he said. And after judging the expression on his wife’s face he added: “Asenath, please let it go! I need to focus. This is a formal business lunch.”
“I can tell, based on the instructions you have given our servants,” Asenath said with slight sarcasm. “Just do me a favor, Joseph, will you?” she asked. Joseph only briefly looked at her. His mind was racing and his heart was like a stormy sea. He had trouble to appear calm and his wife wasn’t helping right now.
“What is it, Asenath?” he asked impatiently and she replied: “When you are through with whatever you are doing here I would like to meet your family.”
“We will see about that”, Joseph snapped at his wife. Then he went away. Shaking her head, Asenath watched him and breathed a silent prayer: “God help him!”
In the reception hall Joseph’s brothers were given the royal treatment. His servants washed their feet and saw to it that their donkeys were fed. Levi, who carried a bag of gifts, asked the translator: “We would like to present our gifts to the master of the house after he joins us.”
“What kinds of gifts?” the translator asked and when he realized that the gifts were edibles he gave instructions to Joseph’s cupbearer in Egyptian. Turning to Levi he explained: “Standard procedure. Our master has enemies who wish him dead, so all foods will be tested before he eats it.”
With an inviting gesture, Joseph’s steward led the sons of Jacob into the dining hall and showed them to their table where he seated them in birth order, according to Joseph’s instructions. The brothers whispered among themselves: “This is spooky. How do they know our ages?”
At this very moment Joseph entered the dining hall and everybody rose from their seats. Jacob’s sons bowed low before him, presenting the gifts they had brought. “A token of our appreciation, sir – a sample of the best fruit of our land – our father sends his greetings,” Reuben explained.
Joseph graciously accepted the gifts while he looked for Benjamin. He almost did not recognize him. He was a young teenage-boy when he saw him last. Meanwhile the boy had grown into manhood. Pointing to him, Joseph asked via the translator: “Is this one your youngest brother?”
“Yes Sir”, Reuben answered.
Flooded with feelings too personal to show in public Joseph excused himself and went into a private room to get a hold of himself. He washed his face with cold water, fixed his appearance and once he felt calm enough to face the crowd he went back to the dining hall. “Please serve the food,” he signaled to his servants as soon as he entered the room.
During the meal Joseph’s brothers loosened up and began to enjoy themselves. The food tasted absolutely delicious, especially in the middle of a famine. Curiously enough though, Benjamin was served portions five times bigger than anyone else’s. But nobody took offense and they all had a good time.
All the while, Joseph poked his food with little appetite. He looked remote and withdrawn as he dined all by himself at his stately table.