Genesis 42: “We Are Guilty Concerning Our Brother”
1. The Famine Reaches Canaan
“When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, ‘Why do you look at one another?’” (Gen 42:1)
The famine foretold by Joseph has now spread to Canaan.
The covenant family is hungry — both physically and spiritually.
Jacob’s rebuke, “Why do you look at one another?”, captures the paralysis of guilt: when conscience stirs, words fail.
St Bede the Venerable comments:
“The famine without mirrors the famine within. For when faith grows cold, souls look at one another and not to God.”
(Commentary on Genesis, 42)
God uses physical hunger to awaken moral hunger.
2. Jacob Sends His Sons
“Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down and buy for us… that we may live and not die.” (v. 2)
The father sends the sons to the very land that once received their victim.
Providence leads sinners back to the place of their sin, not for condemnation but for conversion.
St Ambrose observes:
“They go down to Egypt for food, but God sends them for forgiveness. The journey of hunger becomes the journey of grace.”
(On Joseph the Patriarch 12)
Jacob unknowingly sends them toward both sustenance and salvation.
3. The Ten Go Down — Benjamin Stays
“So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, for he feared that harm might befall him.” (vv. 3–4)
Benjamin now holds the father’s special affection once given to Joseph.
Jacob’s fear shows his lingering wound; he cannot bear to lose another beloved son.
St Bede writes:
“The father’s partiality once caused jealousy; now it breeds protection. Yet even fear will serve faith’s design.”
(Commentary on Genesis, 42)
Through Benjamin, God will later test and heal the brothers’ envy.
4. The Fulfilment of the Dream
“Now Joseph was governor over the land… and Joseph’s brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground.” (vv. 6)
Here the dream of Genesis 37 is fulfilled.
What they mocked as fantasy becomes reality — not in pride but in providence.
The dreamer’s sheaf stands upright; the others bow.
St Augustine remarks:
“The truth despised returns as judge; for God’s revelations are delayed, never denied.”
(City of God XVI.51)
Joseph recognises them, but they do not recognise him — just as humanity fails to recognise Christ in His glory.
5. The Hidden Recognition
“Joseph saw his brothers and knew them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke roughly to them.” (v. 7)
Joseph’s severity is not revenge but discipline.
He conceals his identity to awaken their conscience through testing.
St Ambrose explains:
“He feigns harshness that he may heal them; for repentance must be born of trial, not of flattery.”
(On Joseph the Patriarch 12)
Divine mercy often disguises itself as sternness.
6. The Accusation of Spying
“He said to them, ‘You are spies; you have come to see the nakedness of the land.’” (v. 9)
Joseph’s accusation pierces their self-defence.
He exposes their inner guilt through an outward charge.
The false accusation mirrors what they once did to him — accusing innocence of evil.
St Bede observes:
“As they once condemned the just without cause, so now they are accused without cause, that justice may teach them mercy.”
(Commentary on Genesis, 42)
The measure they gave is returned to them (cf. Lk 6:38).
7. Their Plea of Innocence
“We are honest men; we are twelve brothers, the sons of one man… one is no more, and the youngest is this day with our father.” (vv. 11, 13)
Their defence inadvertently confesses their crime — “one is no more.”
Every sin leaves a scar that reopens under scrutiny.
St Augustine comments:
“They claim honesty yet proclaim guilt; for the memory of sin clings to the tongue though the heart would hide it.”
(City of God XVI.51)
Truth forces itself out even in denial.
8. The First Test: Imprisonment
“He put them all together in custody for three days.” (v. 17)
The three days of confinement mirror Joseph’s own suffering.
It is a symbolic death that prepares for rebirth of conscience.
St Ambrose notes:
“They who cast their brother into a pit are themselves cast into prison; so mercy imitates justice that they may learn compassion.”
(On Joseph the Patriarch 13)
Discipline here is redemptive, not vengeful.
9. The Conditional Release
“On the third day Joseph said to them, ‘Do this and you will live, for I fear God… let one of you remain confined, and let the rest go and carry grain for your households.’” (vv. 18–19)
Joseph softens the test: he who holds power remembers God.
His mercy foreshadows divine mercy: just, yet compassionate.
St Bede comments:
“By saying ‘I fear God,’ he teaches that all authority is bound by law divine; power without piety is tyranny.”
(Commentary on Genesis, 42)
Simeon is chosen to remain as pledge — the brother most fierce in earlier cruelty.
10. The Awakening of Conscience
“Then they said to one another, ‘In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he besought us and we would not listen; therefore this distress has come upon us.’” (v. 21)
This is the turning point: guilt admitted, though Joseph is not yet named.
Conscience awakens through suffering — the divine pedagogy of repentance.
St Augustine reflects:
“When God would heal, He pricks the conscience before He comforts it.”
(City of God XVI.51)
This is the first genuine moral movement in the brothers since their sin.
11. Reuben’s Remorse
“Reuben answered them, ‘Did I not tell you not to sin against the boy? But you would not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood.’” (v. 22)
Reuben’s words reveal the unforgotten memory of sin.
The wound of betrayal still bleeds after twenty years.
St Ambrose comments:
“The sinner carries the witness of his crime within himself; time may bury the deed, but not the conscience.”
(On Joseph the Patriarch 13)
Confession begins in memory — remembrance transformed by grace.
12. Joseph Weeps
“They did not know that Joseph understood them, for there was an interpreter between them. Then he turned away from them and wept.” (vv. 23–24)
Here the mask of severity breaks; behind justice stands compassion.
Joseph’s tears prefigure Christ’s weeping over Jerusalem — sorrow mingled with love.
St Bede the Venerable writes:
“The judge weeps because he loves those he chastises; thus God’s severity flows from mercy, not from wrath.”
(Commentary on Genesis, 42)
These are divine tears — the mercy of one who forgives before being asked.
13. Simeon Bound
“He took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes.” (v. 24)
Simeon’s binding externalises what already binds their hearts — guilt.
Yet even this act is medicinal: it reminds them that sin enslaves.
St Augustine notes:
“What they once did secretly is now done openly, that hidden guilt may be brought to light.”
(City of God XVI.51)
True freedom begins with acknowledgement of bondage.
14. The Silver in the Sacks
“Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, and to put every man’s money in his sack.” (v. 25)
The gift of grain with restored silver is a parable of grace: mercy freely given, though undeserved.
But the brothers, still bound by guilt, mistake gift for threat.
St Ambrose remarks:
“The sinner fears even kindness, because he judges all by his own conscience.”
(On Joseph the Patriarch 13)
Grace must heal fear before love can be received.
15. The Brothers’ Fear
“At the lodging-place they opened their sacks, and each one’s money was in the mouth of his sack… and their hearts failed them, and they turned trembling to one another.” (vv. 27–28)
What should console terrifies them. Guilt transforms blessings into burdens.
Only forgiveness can restore right perception.
St Bede:
“The guilty read punishment in mercy; for until love casts out fear, grace itself seems perilous.”
(Commentary on Genesis, 42)
Sin distorts even the face of compassion.
16. Return to Jacob
“They told him all that had befallen them… and as they emptied their sacks, behold, every man’s bundle of money was in his sack; and when they and their father saw the bundles, they were afraid.” (vv. 29–35)
The whole household now shares the same dread.
Jacob laments: “Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and now you would take Benjamin!” (v. 36)
Fear has replaced faith.
St Augustine observes:
“The aged father grieves over what God prepares for joy; for the wisdom of faith alone can read the purpose of delay.”
(City of God XVI.51)
Divine providence often terrifies before it comforts.
17. Theological Summary
| Theme | Revelation |
| Famine | External trial awakening inner repentance |
| Recognition concealed | God’s mercy working through discipline |
| Three days’ imprisonment | The pattern of death and rising in conscience |
| Confession of guilt | The beginning of reconciliation |
| Silver restored | Grace freely returned though undeserved |
St Bede summarises:
“They who once sold their brother for silver now receive silver without price, that they may learn what grace is.”
(Commentary on Genesis, 42)
18. Moral and Spiritual Application
Let hardship awaken conscience. God’s discipline aims at repentance, not revenge.
Admit guilt quickly. Healing begins with confession, not concealment.
Interpret mercy rightly. Do not fear when grace surprises you.
Trust providence in confusion. God’s purposes are clearer in hindsight than in the moment.
Weep with the Judge. Divine correction is always mingled with love.
19. Christ the True Joseph
| Joseph | Christ |
| His brothers bow before him | Every knee shall bow to Christ (Phil 2:10) |
| Conceals identity to test | Reveals Himself gradually through faith |
| Accuses to awaken conscience | Convicts the world of sin through the Spirit |
| Weeps in secret | Weeps over Jerusalem |
| Gives grain freely | Gives His Body as living bread |
St Ambrose concludes:
“In Joseph’s hidden mercy we see Christ’s long patience; He chastises that He may pardon, He conceals Himself that He may be sought.”
(On the Mysteries 20)
20. Closing Prayer
God of mercy and truth,
You lead sinners back to You through the famine of the heart.
Awaken our consciences by Your grace,
that we may confess our guilt and receive Your mercy without fear.
Teach us to trust Your hidden providence,
to recognise Your love beneath discipline,
and to bow humbly before the true Joseph, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 