INTERPRETATIONSUBMIT1.docx

BIL-310- Book of Genesis Final Interpretation of Focus Passage - Gen 45:4-13 Indiana Wesleyan University Dahyanna Hamilton 10/14/2023 Rev. Soultz

INTERPRETATION OF _______________ 2 Interpretation of: Genesis 45:4-13 By: Dahyanna Hamilton Passage: 4 Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry. 10 You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11 There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.’ 12 And now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth that speaks to you. 13 You must tell my father of all my honor in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” Focus question(s): What is the significance of the Hebrew word " חא " (âch), translated as "brother" in Genesis 45:4-13, and how does it affect the understanding of Joseph's address to his brothers? Rationale for the question: The Hebrew word " חא " is translated as "brother" in the King James Version and has a range of meanings, including brother of the same parents, half-brother, relative, and more. Joseph reveals himself to his brothers in this passage. Exploring the meaning of "brother" might illuminate family and relational dynamics at this vital juncture. Does "brother" here mean a simple sibling bond or anything more about their history and reconciliation? This inquiry will help us appreciate the complexities of Joseph and his brothers' connections in this situation. Interpretive Resources : context, word usage, and the interpretation of others.

INTERPRETATION OF _______________ 3 Evidence Inferences

INTERPRETATION OF _______________ 4 1. Immediate Context Just before this section, in Genesis 45:4–13, we observe Joseph's passionate reaction to his brother's discovery of his true identity. Soon after, Joseph's encounters with his brothers are described, including their reunion and their plans to inform their father. How do the events in the verses leading up to Genesis 45:4-13 contribute to the emotional intensity of Joseph's revelation? What are the implications? Conclusions from Immediate Context: 2. Larger Book Context Genesis 45:4-13 recounts the patriarchs and Israel's founding. From creation to Joseph and his brothers, this book covers a wide range of events. Joseph’s certainty is based on only one line of evidence— “God promised it on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Judah, and not Joseph, is the actual son through whom the covenant promises are to be perpetuated. Much of Gen. 37–50 presents a striking contrast between these two brothers. All that Joseph is, Judah is not. If Joseph represents the means of preservation of God’s promises, then Judah represents the means of endangering those promises ( Hamilton, 1990 ). How does the narrative arc of the entire book of Genesis lead to the events in Genesis 45:4- 13, specifically the family's descent into Egypt and the eventual reconciliation of Joseph and his brothers? The covenant between God and the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) is discussed at length throughout Genesis. This agreement guarantees that their descendants will rule over all of Canaan. For example, in Genesis 15:18-21 (God's Covenant with Abraham): "On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, 'To your offspring, I give this land…” How does the covenant theme in Genesis connect to the events in Genesis 45:4-13, especially concerning Joseph's role in Egypt and the family's eventual relocation to Goshen?

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