Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/575

 —Joseph's Brethren come to Egypt to buy Food (E, J)

One thing is still wanting to the dramatic completeness of the story of Joseph: the recognition of his greatness by his family, or (in E) the fulfilment of his youthful dreams. This is the theme of the second part of the history (chs. 42-45), where the writers tax their inventiveness to the utmost in retarding the dénouement of the plot. Two visits to Egypt, and not fewer than four interviews with Joseph, are needed to prepare for the final reconciliation; and the hearers' attention is all the while kept on the stretch by the surprising expedients adopted by Joseph to protract the suspense and excite the compunction of his brethren.—In ch. 42 we are told how the ten brothers are brought to Egypt by stress of famine ($1-4$), are recognised by Joseph, and denounced and imprisoned as spies ($5-17$); and how after three days' confinement they are sent home, leaving Simeon behind them as a hostage ($18-28$). Arrived in Canaan, they relate their adventure to Jacob, who bitterly complains of the loss of two children, and refuses to trust Benjamin to their charge ($29-38$). The incident of the money found in the sacks ($25. 27f. 35$) increases the dread with which they contemplate a return to Egypt.

Analysis.—Ch. 42 belongs a potiori to E, and 43. 44 to J (We. Comp.$2$ 58 ff.). A distinct difference of representation appears from a comparison of 42$29-37$ (which, pace Procksch, is an undiluted excerpt from E) with 43$3-7$ 44$19-23$ (J). "In ch. 42, Joseph secures, by the detention of Simeon, that the brethren shall return under any circumstances, with Benjamin or without; in ch. 43 f., on the contrary, he forbids them to return unless Benjamin is with them" (We.). In J, moreover, the brethren do not volunteer the information that they have a younger brother, but it is drawn out of them by searching questions. It is certain (from doublets and phraseology) that both J and E are represented in 42$1-14$; though the former is so fragmentary that it is difficult to reconstruct a narrative consistent with 43$3ff.$ 44$19ff.$. Apparently, the colloquy reproduced in 43$7$ 44$20-23$ 43$3$ must have followed the acknowledgment that they were all one man's sons ($11a 13a$ E),—a view which seems to fit in with all the literary indications. E's account can easily be traced with the help of $29-37$: it includes the charge of espionage ($9. 11. 14. 16. 30$), the imprisonment ($17. 30$), the detention of Simeon $(19. 24. 33f.$), the command to bring down Benjamin ($16. 20. 34$), and the putting of the money in the sacks ($25. 35$).—In