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Chapter 42
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Genesis, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
God, Humanity, and Creation
Mistrust, Disobedience, and Death
Covenants and Faith in God’s Promises
The Role of Women
Summary
Analysis
Before long, however, the family eats up the grain they’ve brought from Egypt, while the famine persists. Judah reminds Jacob that there’s no use in returning to Egypt unless they bring Benjamin, as they were told. If anything happens to Benjamin, he offers to bear the blame himself. Finally Jacob relents, but he makes them take a gift of Canaan’s best produce and also return the money they found in their bags.
Eventually, another trip to Egypt can no longer be avoided, so Jacob’s family does everything they can to ensure a successful appeal to Egypt’s overseer (whom they still don’t know is Joseph). Judah’s willingness to bear a burden shows how he has matured as a character, becoming self-sacrificing instead of selfish.
Themes
When the brothers reach Egypt again and Joseph sees Benjamin among them, he orders a feast to be prepared. Bemused at the invitation, the brothers fear it’s all a ruse to enslave them. They approach Joseph’s steward and explain about the returned money. The steward reassures them and releases Simeon from jail. At the noon feast, Joseph asks after his father, Jacob, and greets Benjamin. Overwhelmed with love for his youngest brother, he leaves the room briefly to weep. He finally gets ahold of himself and returns to the feast, sending the biggest portions of food to Benjamin.
The tension continues to build through the contrast between the brothers’ trepidation and Joseph’s scarcely contained sorrow and joy. As Rachel’s other son, Benjamin is Joseph’s only full brother, which explains his especially heartfelt response.
Themes
