GENESIS: Snoopy's Short & Snappy Review

[paradox3]

Good morning. Here is Genesis 44.

Snoopy's Snappy Review
Too bad no one told Joseph two wrongs don't make a right. What is he thinking with his trickery?

Bible Gateway passage: Genesis 44 - New English Translation

The Final Test - He instructed the servant who was over his household, “Fill the sacks of the men with as much food as they can carry and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack. Then put my cup—the silver cup—in the mouth of the youngest one’s sack, along with the money for his grain.” He...

www.biblegateway.com

Joseph instructs his servant to fill the brothers' sacks with grain and return their money. The servant is told to place Joseph's divination cup into Benjamin's sack. The brothers and their donkeys go on their way.

The servant soon catches up with them and tells them Joseph's cup is missing. They reply that whoever stole the cup should be put to death and the rest of them taken into slavery.

When the divination cup is found in Benjamin's sack, they tear their clothes. Then they all return to Joseph's house. Joseph decides that Benjamin must remain as his slave but the rest of them may return to their father.

Judah pleads to stay in Benjamin's place.

 

[paradox3]

Such trickery! Why was Joseph so keen to make Jacob suffer with the loss of another son?

Why didn't Benjamin protest the accusation of theft? Why did his brothers tear their clothes and believe he was guilty?

Judah understands the depth of his father's grief over Joseph and seems to accept that Benjamin is now the favored son. Is he feeling remorseful for his past actions?

 

[Waterfall]

Such trickery! Why was Joseph so keen to make Jacob suffer with the loss of another son?

Why didn't Benjamin protest the accusation of theft? Why did his brothers tear their clothes and believe he was guilty?

Judah understands the depth of his father's grief over Joseph and seems to accept that Benjamin is now the favored son. Is he feeling remorseful for his past actions?

Yes I think he is feeling remorseful about what happened to Joseph and he appears to be stepping up to the plate to sacrifice himself....to save his brothers for his father's sake (foreshadowing?)

 

[unsafe]

Such trickery! Why was Joseph so keen to make Jacob suffer with the loss of another son?

Was Joseph keen on making Jacob suffer or was there another reason that Joseph did what he did ???May a Spiritual Teaching ----??????

Again there are 2 lens to reading Scripture ----The intellectual lens cannot see or understand the Rhema which interprets the Real meaning behind what Joseph's motive really is here ---

Joseph if you do your research for this Chapter you will see that Joseph was Testing his brothers and bringing them to Repentance -----these boys have change since they put Joseph in captivity and left him ------

Joseph fills their sacks with grain and gives them back their money again -----he then tells his Stewart to put the divination cup in Benjamin's sack -----This is a Spiritual Test ---Benjamine was the favorite son of Jacob ---and the brothers were jealous of him ----- this is a test for the Brothers who are jealous of Benjamin ---this is not to hurt Jacob ---

This cup is used in an unholy manner in God's eyes

• Leviticus 19:26 – You shall not eat anything with its blood. You shall not practice divination or soothsaying.[2]
• Deuteronomy 18:10-11 – Let no one be found among you who consigns a son or daughter to the fire, or who is an augur, a soothsayer, a diviner, a sorcerer, one who casts spells, or one who consults ghosts or familiar spirits, or one who inquires of the dead.[4]

So what is the test ----to see if the brothers leave Benjamin in captivity and return without him or if the rescue him -----this is what the brother's did to Joseph --they left him and never went back to rescue him -so Joseph is testing them with the brother they are jealous of to see if they have grown to have any remorse for their crime -----

The tearing of the clothes is an act of repentance ---they are feeling remorse ---so there is heart and mind change here ===

Again we see the brothers bowing down to Joseph as previously was predicted ---- when they return to Joseph ===

Here we see that the brothers are not leaving Benjamin behind alone ----they are all going to stay and be salves --- what a huge change in how the brothers have come together and realize their sin ----Repentance in the making -----Verse 16

16 “What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “What can we say? How can we prove our innocence? God has uncovered your servants’ guilt. We are now my lord’s slaves—we ourselves and the one who was found to have the cup.”

Judah then gives a very emotional speech to Joseph verses 18-33 and gives his plea to stay in Benjamin's place ----which ends this chapter

33 “Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. 34 How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery that would come on my father.”

 

[paradox3]

Planting the cup in Benjamin's sack reads more like entrapment to me than a spiritual test.

Tearing the clothing could be an expression of grief or anguish rather than repentance. I think the brothers offered to return with the thief because they didn't expect there would actually be one.

I don't understand why Benjamin didn't protest the accusation. The text makes it clear the cup was planted by the servant.

Divination is indeed prohibited later in the Torah but the people have not yet been given the law. Maybe we are told the item was a divination cup to stress its importance to Joseph.

 

[Waterfall]

I don't understand why Benjamin didn't protest the accusation. The text makes it clear the cup was planted by the servant.

Could it be that the brothers knew they were guilty but not of thievery?
Judah, "God must have uncovered your servants guilt."
A long held guilt of the brothers for taking Joseph away.

 

[paradox3]

Could it be that the brothers knew they were guilty but not of thievery?
Judah, "God must have uncovered your servants guilt."
A long held guilt of the brothers for taking Joseph away.

Yes I think you are right. Repentance is a common theme in the interpretation of this passage. Judah had the idea to sell Joseph into slavery but it was only Rueben who tried to protect him. The others were complicit with the plan.

Somehow I was thinking Benjamin was too young to be involved but this might not be correct. However, he is still being called a " young boy" here (v. 20).

Judah in particular puts himself on the line for the sake of Benjamin and Jacob. He has great compassion for his father and knows he will experience deep grief if he loses Benjamin.

I am still not impressed with Joseph's deceit whether or not he was testing his brothers. He also neglects to identify himself when they don't realize who he is. Sneaky.

If course the storyline needs to get all of Jacob's descendants into Egypt as we will see shortly. This element of the plot is moving the narrative along.

 

[Waterfall]

Yes I think you are right. Repentance is a common theme in the interpretation of this passage. Judah had the idea to sell Joseph into slavery but it was only Rueben who tried to protect him. The others were complicit with the plan.

Somehow I was thinking Benjamin was too young to be involved but this might not be correct.

Judah in particular puts himself on the line for the sake of Benjamin and Jacob. He has great compassion for his father and knows he will experience deep grief if he loses Benjamin.

I am still not impressed with Joseph's deceit whether or not he was testing his brothers. He also neglects to identify himself when they don't realize who he is. Sneaky.

If course the storyline needs to get all of Jacob's descendants into Egypt as we will see shortly. This element of the plot is moving the narrative along.

I did wonder at this point if Judah recognized Joseph and knew who he was and used the references to their father, whom they both loved, to convince Joseph.

 

[paradox3]

Many unknowns. Always makes studying the bible fun.

 

[Waterfall]

If course the storyline needs to get all of Jacob's descendants into Egypt as we will see shortly. This element of the plot is moving the narrative along.

Yes the dream of the 11 stars bowing down....who do you suppose were the Sun and the Moon?

 

[paradox3]

Yes the dream of the 11 stars bowing down....who do you suppose were the Sun and the Moon?

I was assuming Jacob and is the sun and the moon is the group of wives/ mothers. But who knows? I wonder what @unsafe thinks.

 

[unsafe]

I was assuming Jacob and is the sun and the moon is the group of wives/ mothers. But who knows? I wonder what @unsafe thinks.

For me this shows Joseph's supremacy over his Brothers --the 11 stars ---and over the House of Israel ----so the sun and moon represent Jacob and Rachel ----in my view ---

The brothers do bow down to Joseph ---but I don't think Jacob evers bows down before Joseph in the remaining Chapters of Genesis and Rachel is dead now so she can't bow down to Joseph ==some say it could be Leah but I don't think Leah ever bows down to Joseph either in the remaining Chapters ----

So again for me the sun and the moon bowing down represents --Joseph's Supremacy over the whole House of Israel -------and not referring to his Physical Father and Mother per se or his other wives bowing down before him ---

But that is just my view and what makes Spiritual sense to me ===

But lets see what the remaining Chapters say ===and see if Jacob or other wives bow down to him ---

 

[Waterfall]

I was assuming Jacob and is the sun and the moon is the group of wives/ mothers. But who knows? I wonder what @unsafe thinks.

The Chabad Jewish website says that the Sun was Jacob and the Moon was Bilha, one of Jacobs wives. But it didn't make sense to me.
The Emperor was thought of as Rah, the Egyptian sun god but the moon, hmmm...I really don't know. All are stars except the moon.

 

[paradox3]

Hello again. Here is Genesis 45.

Snoopy's Snappy Review:
It's time for the big reveal! Joseph finally makes his identity known.

Bible Gateway passage: Genesis 45 - New English Translation

The Reconciliation of the Brothers - Joseph was no longer able to control himself before all his attendants, so he cried out, “Make everyone go out from my presence!” No one remained with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. He wept loudly; the Egyptians heard it and Pharaoh’s...

www.biblegateway.com

Joseph makes himself known to his brothers and they are dumbfounded. He tells them not to be upset or angry with themselves. God used him in Egypt to preserve life and actually sent him there.

He also asks after his father.

He tells them to return to Canaan and bring back his father along with his father's wives, children, grandchildren, flocks and herds. They will live near him in the land of Goshen.

It is an emotional reunion with embracing (Benjamin in particular) and weeping.

Pharoah is pleased with the plan and promises land to Joseph's kin. He tells the brothers to take wagons for the trip back and gives them provisions for the journey.

They are all given sets of clothes. But Benjamin receives five sets of clothes and 30 pieces of silver. To Jacob he sends donkeys loaded with grain and fine products from Egypt.

Jacob is astonished to hear about Joseph in Egypt and at first does not believe his sons. But his spirit revives when he sees the wagons and he wants to see Joseph before he dies.

 

[paradox3]

Pharoah has bestowed abundance on Joseph's family and provided all they need to relocate to Egypt and get settled.

But Benjamin is treated more favorably. He gets five sets of clothing as well as 30 silver coins. This echoes the meal where he was served five times more food than the others (Genesis 43: 34)

 

[paradox3]

The Chabad Jewish website says that the Sun was Jacob and the Moon was Bilha, one of Jacobs wives. But it didn't make sense to me.

I was starting to wonder if Benjamin might be the moon because he is so favored. The eleven stars could be the other ten brothers plus their sister Dinah. But I dunno. It seems like a stretch and then all the mothers/ wives are excluded.

Bilhah as the moon seems plausible to me. Rachel has died in childbirth and Bilhah is her maid. Could she have taken over mothering duties with Rachel's two sons?

 

[Waterfall]

I was starting to wonder if Benjamin might be the moon because he is so favored. The eleven stars could be the other ten brothers plus their sister Dinah. But I dunno. It seems like a stretch and then all the mothers/ wives are excluded.

Bilhah as the moon seems plausible to me. Rachel has died in childbirth and Bilhah is her maid. Could she have taken over mothering duties with Rachel's two sons?

Could be, all the children seem to be raised by a "village" of women.
I do find it fascinating that astronomy plays a significant role in the OT and NT. right through to revelation. Even though in the Gospel of Judas that was found in 1970, Jesus tells Judas, "your star has led you astray" even though Judas was chosen to complete God's plan. All the elect are said to have a star named after them, according to this book.

 

[paradox3]

Good morning. Here is Genesis 46.

Snoopy's Snappy Review:
A remarkable journey with some boring details provided!

Bible Gateway passage: Genesis 46 - New English Translation

The Family of Jacob goes to Egypt - So Israel began his journey, taking with him all that he had. When he came to Beer Sheba he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. God spoke to Israel in a vision during the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob!” He replied, “Here I am!” He said, “I am...

www.biblegateway.com

Jacob sets out on his journey to Egypt, taking his whole family and all that he owns. At Beer Sheba he stops and offers sacrifices to God.

God appears to him in a vision of the night. "Do not be afraid to go to Egypt," says God. "I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down with you to Egypt and I will bring you back. Joseph will close your eyes."

The entire family sets out again in the wagons provided by Pharoah. They take with them their livestock and all their possessions.

The descendants are named (v. 8 - 25). Excluding the wives of sons, the family totals 70 members.

Jacob and Joseph have an emotional reunion in Goshen. Joseph advises his father to tell Pharoah the men of the family are shepherds. Then they will be allowed to live apart from the Egyptians in Goshen. Sheep are considered disgusting in Egypt.

 

[paradox3]

Mathematically speaking, arriving at the number 70 is a tad confusing. No matter. We see the nation of Israel (Jacob) getting firmly established in Egypt.

God has told Jacob he will die there and return to Canaan. Does God mean his physical body or is God referring to the future Exodus?

 

[Mendalla]

Given that this was written in full knowledge of the Exodus having happened, maybe the latter. But could also just be an early notion of an afterlife? "Return to Canaan" = some kind of paradise or "going home"?