Read Genesis 43:24-44:17 at Bible Gateway.
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Hebrew paragraph divisions
Gen 41:1-44:17 {s} Joseph the overseer
Strong themes of the parashah
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Gen 43:24-44:17 reverse parallelism
1a.1) Gen 43:24, The brothers came to Joseph’s house + he gave their donkeys feed;
1a.2) Gen 43:25-34, They bowed down before him to the earth;
1a) Gen 43:25-26a, They heard they would eat bread there/ when Joseph arrived;
1b) Gen 43:26b, And bowed down before him to the earth;
1c) Gen 43:27, Joseph: Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?
central axis) Gen 43:28a, They answered: Your servant our father is in good health;
2c) Gen 43:28b, He is still alive;
2b) Gen 43:28c, They bowed their heads down + prostrated themselves;
2a) Gen 43:29-34, They ate bread together;
1a) Gen 43:29-31a, Joseph saw his brother Benjamin/ his heart yearned for his brother;
1b) Gen 43:31b, Joseph said, “Serve the bread;”
1c) Gen 43:32a, They set him a place by himself, and them by themselves;
central axis) Gen 43:32b, And the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat food with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians;
2c) Gen 43:33, They sat them in order from the firstborn to the youngest + they were astonished;
2b) Gen 43:34a, Then he took servings to them from before him;
2a) Gen 43:34b, But Benjamin’s serving was 5x as much/ they drank and were merry with him;
2a.1&2) Gen 44:1-17, The brothers came to Joseph’s house + they fell before him to the ground;
1a) Gen 44:1-13, The cup of divination planted + promise to be slaves + found in Benjamin’s sack;
1a.1) Gen 44:1-3, The cup planted in Benjamin’s sack;
1a) Gen 44:1a, And he commanded the steward of his house;
1b) Gen 44:1b, Saying: Fill the men’s sacks with food + his money in the mouth of his sack;
central axis) Gen 44:2a, Also put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest;
2b) Gen 44:2b, And his grain money;
2a) Gen 44:2c, So he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken;
1a.2) Gen 44:3, As soon as morning dawned, the brothers departed the city + their donkeys;
central axis) Gen 44:4-10, Cup of divination/ our integrity + promise to be slaves;
Gen 44:4-6, Cup of divination:
1a) Gen 44:4a, When they had gone, Joseph to his steward: Follow the men + when you overtake them;
1b) Gen 44:4b, Say: Why have you repaid evil for good?
central axis) Gen 44:5a, Is not this the one from which my lord drinks + practices divination?
2b) Gen 44:5b, You have done evil in so doing;
2a) Gen 44:6, So he overtook them, and he spoke to them these same words;
Gen 44:7-10, Judah: Our integrity + promise to be slaves:
1a) Gen 44:7-8, Brothers: Far be it from us to do such a thing/ how can we steal from your lord’s house;
1b) Gen 44:9, With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s slaves;
central axis) Gen 44:10a, And he said: Let it be according to your words;
2b) Gen 44:10b, He with whom it is found shall be my slave;
2a) Gen 44:10c, And you shall be blameless;
2a.1) Gen 44:11-12, So he searched + the cup found in Benjamin’s sack;
2a.2) Gen 44:13, They tore their clothes/ loaded their donkeys + returned to the city;
central axis) Gen 44:14, The brothers came to Joseph’s house/ they fell before him on the ground;
2a) Gen 44:15-17, The cup of divination/ our iniquity + promise to be slaves;
Gen 44:15, Joseph: What deed is this you have done? Did you not know that such a man as I can certainly practice divination?
Gen 44:16-17, Judah: Our iniquity + promise to be slaves;
1a) Gen 44:16a, Judah: What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants;
1b) Gen 44:16b, Here we are, my lord’s slaves;
1c) Gen 44:16c, Both we and he also with whom the cup was found;
central axis) Gen 44:17a, But he said, “Far be it from me that I should do so;”
2c) Gen 44:17b, The man in whose hand the cup was found;
2b) Gen 44:17c, He shall be my slave;
2a) Gen 44:17c, And as for you, go up in peace to your father.
Theme of the parashah
The brothers honor + acknowledge Joseph’s sovereignty over them
Finding Messiah in Torah
Joseph is a Messiah type, prophesying of both comings of Messiah. First, coming as the suffering servant; then, after being hidden away for a time, coming as lord, sovereign, overseer, and provider, to whom the whole world will come, bow down before, and receive their provision. In the brothers of Joseph who likewise come before him, honor him, bow down before him, and receive their provision, there is the prophetic foreshadowing of all the sons of Israel, both the house of Judah (Jews) and the house of Israel/ Ephraim (the remaining ten tribes who became integrated with the Gentiles/ Christians) acknowledging Messiah Yeshua as King of kings and Lord of lords in His second coming.
Additional readings for this parashah
Psa 37 (my notes) | Jer 42 (my notes) | Luk 19 (my notes)
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