gen 42

Question	Answer	Note---10-02-2016
Why was famine so common?
Is it still common place to have a famine in Egypt?
		It was that only Egypt was knowledgeable of how long the famine would last, and therefore they alone had food.
Why did Israel send his sons and not a servant?		We can make the assumption that Jacob was again spoiling his last son by Rachel. He did not allow him to share in the responsibilities around the home.
Was Joseph seeking revenge, when he chastised his brothers?	It seems Joseph his home sick, and is flooded with emotion. He wants to keep his brothers around, but is not wanting to reveal who he is. As a result of the flood of emotion Joseph wept.	42:16 he put his brothers in prison three days. This seems like Joseph was seeking some sort of restitution from his brothers
		41:21 The brothers were sorely distressed. It is interesting that the brothers were thinking that the stress was as a result of selling Joseph into slavery 13 years prior.
		41:34 This was a test by Joseph, to see if their hearts had changed. If they had left their brother in prison in the land of Egypt he would have known that their hearts had not changed.
		Note they told Jacob the full truth. This is an indication of their change of heart. Lest Jacob say that every time the go out something befalls a brother.
		Jacob insists on not sending Benjamin with Reuben.