Genesis 43-45:Joseph's technicolor melodrama

Chapter 43

Things are not going well for the Jacob and co.

Verse 1-2 “And the famine was sore in the land. And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, “Go again, buy us a little food.”

Yep, famines sharpen wealth inequalities. The rich get richer and the poor get the picture...

Judah reminds Jacob of the deal with the weird guy in Egypt- no youngest son, no more food for sale.

Israel/Jacob is not happy, but Judah says he'll “be surety for him”

Israel/Jacob says oh alright, pack some gifts and twice the money [always good advice for travellers].

When they get to Joseph's, they have second thoughts

Verse 18 “And the men were afraid, 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 bondsmen, and our asses.”

Asses? Did they take the Last Exit to Sodom by mistake? Oh, donkeys, I'm with you...

Joseph tells them to chill, gives them back Simeon, asks after their (and his) dad. Joseph almost loses it when he sees Benjamin

Verse 30 “And Joseph made haste: for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep: and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.”

And goes back out and breaks bread with 'em. But...

Verse 32 “And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews: for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.”

And it's one of those mythical scenes of impossible plenty. All Pantagruel and stuff...

Chapter 44

But Joseph wants to yank their chains some more, and gets his steward to frame them by planting a silver cup in Benjamin's ass.

Verse 3 “As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.”

He chases 'em, “finds” the evidence, has wrecked 'em. Or has he? Da-da-daa-da....

Jacob's sons aren't happy Benjie's in trouble. Poetically now...

Verse 13 “Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass and returned to the city.”

Judah begs for mercy and says, explains the trip back last time, the haggling. In summary- 'my dad's ancient, this'll kill him, take me instead.'

Chapter 45

Joseph can't live a lie any longer.

Verse 1 “Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him: and he cried. Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.”

'Hey guys, it's me, the brother you dumped in the hole and sold into slavery. But chill, it's cool, all part of the plan.

Verse 7 “And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.”

Ah, the heroic redeemer who must suffer greatly to do his job. I wonder if they'll use that archetype later on in this grotesquely over-written novel?

But hang on, this is really dodgy from a free will/determinism side of things.

Verse 9 “So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharoah, and lord of all his house and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.”

Great. But if God did it, it wasn't their fault, and so why all this elaborate hoax to yank their chains and put them and Israel/Jacob through so much misery?
And if God's micromanaging, does that mean I can tell my wife that those triplets she catches me with next week aren't my fault, but the Man Upstairs? Hmm? Theodicy schmeodicy...

So anyhow, Pharaoh hears of Joseph's situation, says “bring the family and I'll make ya happy.”

So they schlepp back to Canaan, tell Jacob/Israel that the long lost son is alive and kinging.

Verse 26 “... And Jacob's heart fainted, for he believed them not.”

But he soon perks up, and then he does believe them. Aah.