Where is the Famine?

December 5, 2009, 8:36 am by dc-agape.

Genesis 43

Judah this time tries to talk Israel into letting Ben-Oni go with them.  He repeats to his father that they cannot return to Egypt without Ben-Oni on account of the lie that Joseph told them.  Judah, the lying slave-trader, takes personal responsibility for the safety of Ben-Oni, promising Israel that he will guarantee that Ben-Oni will return.  Somehow this guarantee is stronger than Rueben’s (the adulterer), even though Rueben’s punishment would have been much greater.  Judah only promises to bear the burden of guilt for the rest of his life, whereas Rueben promised to have both his sons put to death if any harm came to Ben-Oni.  Personally, Rueben seems much more reliable and is willing to take a much higher stake in Ben-Oni’s life.  He is also the one that attempted to save Joseph when his brother’s wanted to kill Joseph.  But YHWH in his infinite love and power had already chosen the lying, slave-trader (Judah) to be the father of Jesus.

Israel agrees that Ben-Oni can make the journey, with great hesitation.  He makes his sons return the extra silver and bring extra gifts: balm, honey, spices, myrrh, pistachios, and almonds.  I guess the famine was not severe enough to stop the production and growth of honey pistachios, and almonds.  These items should have been in shorter supply than the grains.  Honey, true honey not that made from grapes or date juice can be stored indefinitely; I just wonder how the bees make any extra honey if the famine is destroying the crops bees use to make the honey.  The more I read about this 7 year famine, the more I wonder how it could have happened!  None of the food products could last, definitely not for the entire populace.  Foreigners, like the Hebrews, would not get the opportunity to purchase food stuff, unless the Pharaoh and Joseph allowed the subjects of Egypt to starve to death!

The sons of Israel arrive in Egypt and see Joseph.  Joseph requires a private audience with his brothers, still holding on to the deception of being a stranger.  In the mean time, the brothers find out that the silver in the first shipment of grain was not the silver they paid with.  Joseph put the money back in their sacks from his own pocket.  At that time Simeon was released to them. 

In the private audience, Joseph asks more about Israel’s health and nearly breaks down in front of his brothers when he sees Ben-Oni.  He has to race out of the audience room, weep and wash his face before they eat.  He does not eat directly with his brothers, or with the other Egyptians.  So there seems to be at least three tables or even three rooms.  The brothers are astonished that Joseph seats them in order of age.  Is this truly that difficult, even for someone who is not their brother?    We do not know how many years apart the brothers are, but they could be up to 14 years between Reuben and Zebulun.  Ben-Oni being easy to recognize as much younger, since he was born after leaving Haran!  But life as a sheep-herder cannot be an easy life, so their age would be quite apparent.

The story ends with Joseph lavishing 5 times more food on Ben-Oni’s plate than on his other brother’s plate.  Here again, the concept of a famine in the land and the lavish amount of food just does not seem to connect.  It would seem that Joseph took full advantage of his status.  If this is the case then Joseph was not acting very godly or justly.  He seems no better than many of the cruelest dictators and rulers of history!

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