Joseph saw his brethren, as they came to buy grain in Egypt. He knew them, but they didn’t recognize him (Genesis 42:7). We are told that it was Joseph who sold to all the people of the land (Genesis 42:6). However, if we take this literally, it would be a very tedious and unnecessary task for one man. He could have and probably did delegate the task to others, while still being known, as the one who sold the grain to the people. The phrase is used in this manner all the time. Yet, we find in verse-7 that Joseph literally sold to his brethren, so what’s the difference?
I believe the difference lay in the fact, first, that they were foreigners, and, secondly, they bought in quantity, wholesale. Joseph’s brethren bought enough grain to last them for a year, and probably more to sell to the Canaanites for a profit, which may have paid for their own living for a year, in part or in full. This type of purchase was much different from a family buying grain to last them until the following week or for a month’s supply.
First of all, too much wholesale business would endanger the living of Egypt’s own citizens, whom Joseph was responsible for feeding, until the famine was over. Secondly, since it became widely known that Egypt had grain, they could become a target for thieves or worse, a national enemy hoping to destroy Egypt and gain all its reserves for themselves. This is where Joseph was needed, and he would approve of each sale, but, once again, not literally. He had officers to handle the normal business transactions, and he would give his stamp of approval for the sale. Sometimes, however, Joseph would take a more personal attitude and investigate the sale further, if there seemed to be a subtle matter that needed to be exposed. It was under this guise that Joseph took special attention to the sale of grain to his brethren.
Probably, Joseph saw his brethren seeking to purchase grain, and, because he recognized them, he took the matter into his own hands. Although he knew them, he made himself strange to them, speaking through an interpreter and treating them roughly. Therefore, they didn’t know him (Genesis 42:8). He asked, where they were from, and they told him the Land of Canaan (Genesis 42:7).
When his brethren bowed themselves before him (Genesis 42:6), Joseph remembered the dreams he had of them years ago (Genesis 37:7-10), but he accused them of being spies, probably indicating the number of them proved they had come to look for a weakness, so they could later come to steal (Genesis 42:9). Fearing the worst, the brothers denied they were spies, saying they were all brethren, the sons of one man and had come to buy grain for their families (Genesis 42:10-11).
Joseph, however, showed himself adamant, saying they had indeed come to find some weakness in Egypt, which they might take advantage of for their profit. The brothers, of course, denied his claim, saying again they were the sons of one father, adding they were twelve, the youngest is with their father still, but the other was dead (Genesis 42:12-13). Nevertheless, Joseph continued to show himself adamant toward them, claiming they were spies (Genesis 42:14). However, he did offer a solution to the matter. If they would send and bring their youngest brother to appear before him, then Joseph would recant his claim that they were spies and let them all go free. Otherwise, he solemnly told them they would never be released from his prison (Genesis 42:15-16).
Therefore, Joseph put his brethren in a ward for three days, after which he brought them out to appear before him. He amended his original position of keeping nine brothers and sending one to the Land of Canaan to bring back the youngest brother, for he said he feared God (Genesis 42:17-18). He told them he would set nine of them at liberty to carry their grain to their families, and he would keep one of them, until they brought their youngest brother to him, and this would verify they weren’t spies. They agreed, and nine of the ten brothers left Egypt with their grain, leaving Simeon behind with Joseph (Genesis 42:24), and they returned to the Land of Canaan (Genesis 42:19-20), thus, implying Simeon was behind or most adamant of the brothers to kill Joseph 22 years ago.
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