Genesis Part 067 

In Genesis 43, Joseph’s brothers return to Egypt. These men are terrified! They know their very lives seem to hang in the balance, and they fear the “mistake” with their previous money will end up with them being made into Joseph’s servants. Little do they know he has already given instructions for a great feast to be prepared for them. What excitement Joseph must have been feeling as he was on the verge of revealing to them who he was.   

After they begin to plead their case and get ahead of what they think is coming, the servant puts their minds at ease and tells them it was no mistake, “he had their money previously, and had put it back.” Wow, what a relief! Simeon is then brought to them. 

Now in Joseph’s home, which must have been grand, they are treated with great hospitality as we see in verse 24. This included washing their feet in refreshing water and having their animals fed. After the brothers have presented Joseph with their fine gifts, he asks about the well-being of his father. He probably has been wondering, “Would he live long enough for him to ever be reunited?” That thought probably weighed heavily on him.  In verse 29, Joseph acknowledges Benjamin. This was very meaningful to Joseph as Benjamin was his only full brother, having both the same mother and father as Joseph. 

In Genesis 43:30 we are introduced to a new word in the Bible that would end up being used 44 times. The KJV translates the word “bowel” as in “for his bowels did yearn for his brothers.” The NKJV translates this as “heart.” However, the “heart” as an organ (Lev or Levav) in the Bible is a different word. So why “bowel”?   

The Bible speaks about the “bowels” as the place where mercy, compassion, and intuition come from. It’s why we use phrases about having a “gut feeling” or “gut-wrenching.” Scientific studies have shown over 30 neurotransmitters that communicate between the brain and the gut, which affect the gut wall and gut bacteria. Science has long known that depression and anxiety affect gut problems, but they now realize it works the other way, also, that the gastrointestinal system sends signals up to the brain that affect mood. When these passages were being written, mankind understood very little about the brain. However, they may have understood more about the interconnectedness of God’s design of humans than we know. 

Another term introduced in verse 32 for the first time is the Hebrew word for “abomination” (it will be used 117 other times in the Old Testament). Why was it an abomination for Egyptians to eat with Hebrews?    

Adam Clarke’s commentary states: “There might have been some political reason for this, with which we are unacquainted; but independently of this, two theories may be assigned. 1. The Hebrews were shepherds; and Egypt had been almost ruined by hordes of lawless wandering bandits, under the name of Hycsos, or King-shepherds, who had but a short time before this been expelled from the land by Amasis, after they had held it in subjection for 259 years, according to Manetho, committing the most wanton cruelties. 2. The Hebrews sacrificed those animals which the Egyptians held sacred, and fed on their flesh. The Egyptians were in general very superstitious, and would have no social intercourse with people of any other nation; hence we are informed that they would not even use the knife of a Greek, because they might have reason to suspect it had cut the flesh of some of those animals which they held sacred.” 

In 2014, new research published in the Journal of Archaeological Science presented evidence that early Egyptians were largely vegetarian, with the bulk of their diet made up of barley and wheat. 

We can learn much by exploring the culture of the times and the meaning of words as they are used in the inspired scripture.   

UYA Team | uya@ucg.org  

United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of the young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships, and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.