Genesis 43:30 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then Joseph hurried out, for his compassion grew warm for his brother, and he sought a place to weep. And he entered his chamber and wept there.

NIV: Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there.

NASB: Joseph then hurried out, for he was deeply stirred over his brother, and he looked for a place to weep; so he entered his chamber and wept there.

CSB: Joseph hurried out because he was overcome with emotion for his brother, and he was about to weep. He went into an inner room and wept there.

NLT: Then Joseph hurried from the room because he was overcome with emotion for his brother. He went into his private room, where he broke down and wept.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: Now his heart yearned for his brother; so Joseph made haste and sought somewhere to weep. And he went into his chamber and wept there.

After warmly and politely speaking to his younger brother Benjamin (Genesis 43:29), Joseph becomes very emotional. As the second most powerful man in the nation of Egypt (Genesis 41:44), he cannot lose control in a public setting. Instead, he goes to his own room and cries alone to get his emotions under control once more.

Joseph's intense reaction is driven by the unique circumstances of this reunion. He has not seen Benjamin in some twenty years. As a seventeen-year-old (Genesis 37:2), Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous older brothers (Genesis 37:24–28). This did not include the youngest, Benjamin. Over the next twenty years, Joseph rose to become governor of Egypt and the main reason the nation survived an intense famine (Genesis 41:46; 53–54). Joseph disguised his identity from his brothers when they came to buy grain (Genesis 42:7–8) but arranged for them to bring Benjamin back (Genesis 42:19–20). This is the first time in decades he has seen he has seen his only younger brother.

Joseph's brothers still have no idea that this powerful Egyptian ruler is the person they sold into slavery as a teenager. Joseph continues to hide this fact from them, as he has further tests in mind (Genesis 43:34; 44:1–2). Clearly, he is deeply affected by being reunited with them. Eventually, it will become clear that Joseph's intentions are good (Genesis 47:11–12). For now, there is no hint about when or if Joseph will reveal himself to them.

Genesis 43:16–34 finds Joseph's estranged brothers returning once more to Egypt and appearing before him. They still fail to recognize the person they sold into slavery some twenty years before. After he orders them taken to his home, the brothers are afraid they will be ambushed for a false charge of theft due to their prior visit (Genesis 42:25–28). Joseph's steward assures them God arranged those events, and all is well. Joseph shares a meal with them, honoring them as guests in his home and giving special attention to Benjamin. The meal turns into a time of merriment for them all.

Jacob must send Benjamin with his brothers, back to Egypt, to buy more grain for the family. Without it, they will starve, but the Egyptian ruler will not sell them grain if they don't bring Benjamin as agreed. Speaking on behalf of his brothers, Judah finally convinces his father. Arriving in Egypt, they are honored as guests in Joseph's house. They present a gift to him—still not recognizing him as their estranged brother—and Joseph, after being overwhelmed with emotion, pays special attention to Benjamin.

In Genesis chapter 37, Jacob sends his favorite son, Joseph, to visit his brothers. Joseph does not come home. In chapter 42, Jacob sends ten of his sons on a mission, and once again the group returns short one son. The Egyptian governor keeps Simeon as collateral and commands the family to return with Benjamin. Only when forced with starvation does Jacob risk his youngest son. Joseph, still unrecognized by his brothers as the governor of Egypt, honors the men as guests in his home, paying special attention to Benjamin. After further tests in chapter 44, Joseph will finally reveal himself in chapter 45.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.