Read Genesis 43:16-34 at Bible Gateway.
Hebrew paragraph divisions
Gen 41:1-44:17 {s} Joseph the overseer
Gen 43:16-34 chiastic structure
1a.1) Gen 43:16a And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them;
1a.2) Gen 43:16b-26b Joseph: These men shall dine with me at noon;
1a) Gen 43:16b He said to the ruler of his house: “Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon;”
1b) Gen 43:17-18 The man brought them into Joseph’s house;
1a) Gen 43:17 And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house;
central axis) Gen 43:18a And the men were afraid;
2a) Gen 43:18b Because they were brought into Joseph’s house, and they said: “Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time, are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our donkeys;”
1c) Gen 43:19-22a Our money was found with us, in full weight; we have brought it again;
1a) Gen 43:19-20 And they came near to the steward of Joseph’s house, and they spoke with him at the door of the house, and said: “O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food;
1b) Gen 43:21a And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man’s money;
central axis) Gen 43:21b Was in the mouth of his sack;
2b) Gen 43:21c Our money in full weight; and we have brought it again in our hand;
2a) Gen 43:22a And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food;
1d) Gen 43:22b We cannot tell who put our money in our sacks;
central axis) Gen 43:23a And he said: “Peace be to you, fear not;
2d) Gen 43:23b Your God, and the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks;
2c) Gen 43:23c I had your money;
2b) Gen 43:23d-24 And he brought Simeon out to them. And the man brought the men into Joseph’s house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys provender;
2a) Gen 43:25-26b They made ready the present, for they heard that they should eat bread there;
1a) Gen 43:25a And they made ready the present;
1b) Gen 43:25b Against Joseph’s coming at noon;
central axis) Gen 43:25c For they heard that they should eat bread there;
2b) Gen 43:26a And when Joseph came home;
2a) Gen 43:26b They brought him the present which was in their hand into the house;
1b) Gen 43:26c And bowed themselves to him to the earth;
central axis) Gen 43:27-28a And he asked them of their welfare, and said: “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he yet alive?” And they answered: “Your servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive;”
2b) Gen 43:28b And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance;
2a.1) Gen 43:29-31a Joseph saw his brother Benjamin + his heart yearned for him;
1a) Gen 43:29 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said: “Is this your younger brother, of whom you spoke to me?” And he said: “God be gracious to you, my son;”
1b) Gen 43:30a And Joseph made haste;
central axis) Gen 43:30b For his heart did yearn for his brother;
2b) Gen 43:30c And he sought somewhere to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there;
2a) Gen 43:31a And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself;
2a.2) Gen 43:31b-34 He set them before him from the firstborn to the youngest/ portions were taken to them from before him + they drank, were merry with him.
Original Hebrew
The central axis highlights the steward’s encouragement to fear not:
afraid, fear
Strong’s H3372, yare, a primitive root meaning “to fear, to be afraid.” The ancient pictographs are the yud + resh + aleph:
yud = the closed hand, thus work, throw, worship
resh = the head of man, thus head, first, top, beginning, man
aleph = the ox head, thus strength, power, leader
The story the ancient pictographs are telling, is one worships (yud) that to which one bows the head (resh) as greater (aleph) than oneself; and that is what is feared. This is why God says to fear Him, but not to fear circumstances or man. The emotion of fear is a red flag waving that what inspired it is exalting itself as greater than God in the heart or mind.
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