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
Back in Canaan, Israel hears that there’s grain in Egypt, so he tells his sons to go and buy some. All but Benjamin go to Egypt. When Joseph’s brothers come before him, he recognizes them, but he speaks harshly to them, accusing them of being spies. When they protest, arguing that they are just a family from Canaan, Joseph throws them in prison. After a few days, Joseph lets them go, but they must leave one brother behind and bring back Benjamin from Canaan in order to verify their story and free the other. The brothers speculate that they are being repaid for having mistreated Joseph years ago. Overhearing them, Joseph weeps. He orders Simeon to be kept behind and then has the rest of the brothers’ sacks filled with grain and their money returned.
The narrative briefly moves back to Canaan, where Jacob/Israel’s family (Jacob himself believing his son his dead) are suffering. Though Joseph’s brothers fail to recognize the newly elevated Joseph, he recognizes them. When they lament their situation in jail, it’s also apparent that they’ve come to regret their actions, as Joseph overhears. Joseph, bearing no grudge, sends all but Simeon home with abundance, but he does not yet reveal his identity to them.
Themes
The brothers depart for Canaan. When they discover their money along the way, they’re frightened, wondering what more God has done to them. When they get home, they tell Jacob everything that’s happened. Jacob is distraught that, after having lost Joseph and now Simeon, he’s being asked to surrender Benjamin, too. He refuses to send Benjamin to Egypt, saying the grief would kill him.
When the brothers see that Joseph has put their money back in their bags, they think they’ll certainly get in trouble, and that this is divine revenge. For Jacob, grief is added onto grief as he feels that one son after another is being taken from him.
Themes
