A Story Of Joseph: Israel & Judah

[Christina]

Part 1Genesis 37:1 "And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan."Jacob is getting old now, and we will see his sons taking their roles in the family of Israel. It is this family that the Christ, the Messiah will come through. God had promised the land of Canaan to them, through their father Abraham, and they were now there. In the prior chapter we see God had also blessed Esau to the point that he had to move out of the land, for the land would not sustain the cattle of both Esau and Jacob. Genesis 37:2 "These are THE GENERATIONS OF JACOB. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.""Joseph" is the first son of Rachel, by Rachel and Jacob. The sons of Bihah were Dan and Naphtali, and the sons of Zilpah were Gad and Asher. Joseph was with his big brothers and watched what they were doing, and then went tattling to his father of his brother's actions. They may have been a little lazy, however this does not indicate an act of a criminal nature, but disobedience to their fathers wishes. Even though Joseph was only seventeen, and his father was well over one hundred years old, Joseph was the overseer for his father. The two had grown close together, and Jacob [Israel] had come to rely upon his youngest son. You know how this goes over with older brothers, Genesis 37:3 "Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours."Jacob is starting to show the other sons that Joseph is his favorite. Think about that, and now to show it outwardly, he has established this pattern through this coat that he made for his youngest son. The coat, or raiment that is worn, even to this day, marks the social rank and position of the wearer. Amongst the Bedouins, the chief and his eldest son wear a distinctive garment, and this accounts for Jacob's desire for Joseph to be marked for this official and priestly position. Back in Genesis 27 Esau sold his "Birthright", or raiment that marked as the rightful heir to Isaac's birthright, and Hebrews 12:16 rightfully called this act, "Profane".So we see that this "coat of many colors" that was made for Joseph represented much more than just a beautiful garment, it represented their father's choice of who he would select to become the head of the family, and take over the role of the firstborn son. It would be Joseph, the last born, and the first born to Rachel Jacob's first love. Joseph was a child of Jacob's old age, and some times people of old age do strange things. Genesis 37:4 "And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him."This is simply a natural thing, and the nature of all human being to seek attention. Then when they saw their own father, whom the had taken great pride in, do this thing against them, this sibling rivalry grew. Genesis 37:5 "And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more."This hatred is growing now beyond control between the brothers and Joseph.Genesis 37:6 "And he said unto them, "Here, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:"Genesis 37:7 "For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf."Notice this is just a kid telling his grown brothers, aged men, of the dream he had, and using the tasks of common labor that they were doing, to show how he would rule over them, and how they would bow down to him. Yet Joseph has been so favored that this labor task has not yet been given to him. Joseph is telling them that he is going to be over you, I am blessed more than you, and as Jacob's attitude toward Joseph bore out this dream of Josephs' it didn't help the brothers one bit. Joseph in his innocence saw this vision revealed to him by Almighty God, and so shall it be.We will see in future chapters that this is the position that Jacob gives, and God allows; that Joseph and his two sons will become the tribes, and ultimate nations that receive the blessings of God's covenant made to Abraham. Joseph will be shipped off into Egypt, and then become ruler of Egypt, because of his God given ability to interpret dreams. And during an extreme famine, these same brothers will come begging at Joseph's feet, before it is all over with.We will also see a type of Christ in Joseph This is a prophecy, and it did come to pass, but it didn't give any peace in the family. However we will see that it is Joseph that becomes the saving power for the family of Israel, during the famine crises.Genesis 37:11 "And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying."Jacob took note of what Joseph was saying.Genesis 37:12 "And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem."Remember what happened in Shechem? That is where Dinah, their sister was raped, and Jacob and the family took all the wealth and cattle of the city. The brothers are now caring for the cattle. Genesis 37:13 "And Israel said unto Joseph, "Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come and I will send thee unto them." And he said to him, "Here am I."Joseph again is ready, willing and able to to do what ever task his father has for him. Genesis 37:14 "And he said to him, "Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again." So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem."Joseph has been Jacob's eyes and ears of his old age, and once again he is sent to report what is going on with his brothers. Genesis 37:15 "And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, "What seekest thou"Genesis 37:16 "And he said, "I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks."Genesis 37:17 "And the man said, "They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan." And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.""Dothan" means "two wells", and there was more water there for the flocks. This fact made the location right on the road for the caravans to pass on their way to Egypt. Genesis 37:18 "And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him."When the brothers saw their little tattle-tale brother coming, in his shining bright coat of many colors, their hatred turned to conspiracy against Joseph to even murder him. They were sitting in the hot son for days, tending the sheep and cattle, doing the work, and here comes the little tattle-tale. This is the very shades of "Cain", the brother conspiring to kill his brother Able in the field. Genesis 37:19 "And they said one to another, "Behold, this dreamer cometh.""Dreamer" in the Hebrew text is "Baal dreamer", or "Master dreamer". Genesis 37:20 "Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams."Their emotions have taken control of their every thought, and the bitterness toward Joseph is to the point that they are thinking of killing him. Genesis 37:21 "And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, "Let us not kill him."Reuben is Jacob's firstborn son, the eldest of the brothers. It is Reuben that saved Joseph's life here, and changed the thought from killing to some other way of disposing of Joseph.Genesis 37:22 "And Reuben said unto them, "Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; (that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again).Though Reuben also hated Joseph, he knew what the murder of this favorite son would do to his father. Reuben had hurt his father already in his sexual act with his mother, Jacob's wife, and he didn't want any more hurt to come upon him. Genesis 37:23 "And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;"the first thing they did when the got their hands on Joseph was to separate Joseph from his coat, the symbol of his position.Genesis 37:24 "And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it."Genesis 37:25 "And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt."The Ishmeelites are also part of the family of Abraham, and we have two different families brought together for this act. Ishmael was the son of Abraham by Hagar.Dothan is right on the main Caravan road leading to Egypt, and the need for water caused them to stop and talk to the brothers.Genesis 37:26 "And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?"Genesis 37:27 "Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh." And his brethren were content."Judah made his story to fit the evil act, and make it soothe his conscience for the evil act that they were committing.Genesis 37:28 "Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt."The price of a slave was always thirty pieces of silver, that is what Jesus was sold for; however merchants must always make a prophet. They wanted their third off the top of the deal. Though this is a terrible act, it is the very thing that shall save the Israelites in the years to come. The Israelites are the selected people by God that the promised Messiah shall come through. God is in control, and Joseph is still strong and in tune with God; and there is nowhere recorded that Joseph ever complained for the acts committed by his brothers toward him. Joseph in his innocence trusted his brothers, even when they turned him over to the Ishmeelites, and sold him into Egypt.Genesis 37:29 "And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes."Reuben had nothing to do with the sale of Joseph into slavery. It was Judah's idea, and the only way the it could be pulled off was to be done when Reuben wasn't present.Genesis 37:30 "And he returned unto his brethren, and said, "The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?"Genesis 37:31 "And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;"This is the second time in this family that the goat has been used for deception, for it was Jacob [now called Israel] that killed the goat, and put the skin on his arms to deceive his old father Issac into giving him the blessing, instead of Esau. Genesis 37:32 "And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father ; and said "This have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat or not."The brothers knew very well it was Joseph's coat, for it had been the center of their very emotions. Yet they did not have the nerve to tell him what they have done.Genesis 37:33 "And he knew it, and said, "It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces."They allowed their father to assume the very worst thing that could have happened to Joseph, his favorite son.Genesis 37:34 "And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days."

 

[Christina]

Joesph at tender age of 17 has been sold into slavery Taken into Eygptwhere he will be spat upon,imprisoned until he becomes the apple of Pharaoh's eye

 

[Christina]

Part 2..........Genesis 39:1 "And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmaelites, which had brought him down thither."Remember in Genesis 37 where Joseph was so hated by his brothers, that they threw him into a pit, or water well, and later sold him to the Ishmaelites who were in a caravan heading for Egypt. Upon arriving in Egypt, Joseph was sold into the house of Potiphar, who was the highest ranking military officer of Egypt. Joseph was a type of Christ to come he was beloved by his Father and hated by his brethren. Watch the way God veils events of the future in story of the past Genesis 39:2 "And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master of Egyptian."Joseph was a very intelligent man, who kept his heart and mind right with God. And God blessed Joseph in all things, where ever he happened to be.Genesis 39:3 "And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand."Genesis 39:4 "And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand."It doesn't take long for a person to see that everything Joseph touches is a success. Potiphar takes everything he has and puts it in Joseph's care.Genesis 39:5 "And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field."Joseph is now not only taking care of Potiphar's household, but now he is handling all of Potiphar's affairs. (One should start to see clearer here the type of Christ, God was well pleased with is son, just as Pharaoh is well pleased with Joseph Pharoh turns control of his his house and his fields over to Joseph today the field is the World and Christ is in control) Genesis 39:6 "And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured."God had so blessed Potiphar and his household that by now only Joseph knew exactly what he had, and where it all was. The expression, "goodly man and well favored", in the Hebrew text is exactly as it was written of his mother, Rachel. It is an explanation of Joseph's character, and appearance. Joseph took after his mother in his traits; he had a good personality, and when he brought blessings upon himself, he also sought to bless all those around him also. We will now learn more of about Joseph ability to interpret dreams Genesis 41:25 "And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath showed Pharaoh what he is about to do."Joseph is telling the Pharaoh that the dreams being one, is a double witness that God has emphasized for you what is about to happen. God is showing Pharaoh what God intends to do. We can apply this to these final days, for if the Pharaoh knew what was going to come about over the next fourteen years, then he can prepare for the hard times to come. God does not leave his elect alone and ignorant of His plan in the final generation. God has given us a detailed schedule of events that will come about in the last days, just before His coming........Pharaohs Dream......Genesis 41:26 "The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one."The seven ears and cows stand for seven years, they both mean the same thing.Genesis 41:27 "And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine."We are dealing with a fourteen year period, whereby the first seven years are going to be very good years, while that second seven year period will be a time of famine.Genesis 41:28 "This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh."Joseph is telling Pharaoh that God is good to him, for He has told Pharaoh what is about to happen upon the earth.Genesis 31:29 "Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:"Genesis 41:30 "And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous."Egypt will be very prosperous for seven years, yet "plenty shall not be known", which means the last seven years will consume all the prosperity of the first seven years.Genesis 41:31 "And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of the famine following; for it shall be very grievous."Joseph is telling the Pharaoh that it is going to take every grain that you can store to see his people through the famine. Every last grain of corn will be consumed by the people in the second set of years. Genesis 41:32 "And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass."This looses a little in the translation, for Joseph is telling the Pharaoh that because of the double witness of the dream, in two visions, the cows and the corn, it is to emphasize the hardness of the famine, and it will come to pass soon.Genesis 41:33 "Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt."Genesis 41:34 "Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years."In the Hebrew it is saying; Take action Pharaoh, and let him set up officers to govern the land, and start immediately to store the grain. The order by God to Pharaoh is to collect one fifth of everything that is grown, and put it into the storehouse. Genesis 41:40 "Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou."Think about that, from two years of waiting in prison, to the equal of the the Pharaoh himself. Every person in the entire land of Egypt will bow to Joseph by nightfall, when that morning he awoke in prison, unshaven, in ragged cloths, and scorned upon by the Egyptians. Why? Because he had the Spirit of God in Him, and the knowledge and trust to wait upon the Lord God. Genesis 41:41 "And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt."Joseph is now ruling over all Egypt, and his brethren are still out in Canaan herding sheep. The boy with the coat of many colors is now ruling Egypt.Genesis 41:42 "And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;"The king's ring is his signet, and when the ring is applied to the seal it become the supreme authority of the land. The Pharaoh put his ring on Joseph's hand, and this show the authority of Joseph was that equal to his own authority. Joseph was placed over the nation, and as such goes all the fine cloths, and jewelry of royalty that goes along with it. Joseph was seventeen when he was sold into Egypt, and now it is years later, and through the years he has become proficient in the Egyptian language. At first as a servant to Potiphar, then elevated to the head of the household; and then in due course of time, to rule over the very prison he was confined to. God was preparing Joseph to be able to handle the job he was about to be given. Genesis 41:43 "And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt."There will be times that we will feel like we are at the very bottom, however when God handles our affairs, and we are firm in our faith, God will bless at the appointed time. Our Father owns all things, and they are his to give, only you have to prove to Him that you are worthy of what He will give you. That proof is in our faithfulness, and trusting in Him. That faithfulness and worthiness is shown by our studying His word, and doing the work of our Heavenly Father while we are here on earth. Our faith is the action that our beliefs commit us to do, and the confidence that we have in God, that He will see us through with what ever service we are committed to Him to do. As a servant to Potiphar, Joseph was the best servant that he could be, even to the point taking over all of Potiphar's household, and business affairs. As the Prisoner, Joseph was placed over the running of the prison. Now he has been promoted to run the entire nation, on behalf of the Pharaoh. This term "bow a knee" is not from the Hebrew, but of the ancient Sumerian, "Abrek", and was a form of showing respect for authority. It would demand that all subject of the king bowing to the ground in prostration as the ruler passed by. Genesis 41:44 "And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt."Pharaoh is giving over his full control to Joseph in telling people what to do, and what not to do. Genesis 41:45 "And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah [Zaph'-nath-pa-a-ne'-ah]; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipher-ah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt."Jerome called this name "the saving one", however it is not an Hebrew name or expression, but Egyptian, and means "abundance of life,", or "of food for the living".Egypt was ruled at this time by the Hyksos, or shepherd kings. We know also that Potiphar was also from this group. Potipherah, Joseph's father in law was also of this same ruling class, who ruled in the city of On. The term "priest" is not the indication of a religious leader, but a prince, or civil official, as pointed out in Strong's Hebrew dictionary #3548. Joseph's wife was not from the heathen mixtures of bloodlines, as were present in the land of Canaan.In as much as Joseph will take Asenath for his wife, the two sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh will come from this woman. These Hyksos people were from father Abraham, and they migrated throughout the middle east, and came into Egypt and threw out other kings of Egypt, as well as the Egyptian's many forms of gods, to replace it with the one God. We have seen through the many generation from Adam, through Noah, and Abraham how that God has protected the bloodline of his people, for it is through them that the messiah will come. This is why it is easy to accept that this woman is from a pure linage, not contaminated Genesis 41:46 "And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt."Genesis 41:47 "And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls."The time of the bumper crops have arrived.Genesis 41:48 "And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same."Joseph had granaries, and storage places in every town and city. Joseph didn't stay just at On, but he stored in and at the places where the crops and the people were.Genesis 41:49 "And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number."So much grains were gathered that they simply stopped counting the amount. This reminds me of of harvest time in Kansas where all the elevators are so full that they just pile up the grain on the ground and throw tarps over the grain. Genesis 41:50 "And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him."Genesis 41:51 "And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house."Joseph was so business with the affairs of his office that he forgot his own kindred, and his father's house. He didn't miss it, because he even thought of himself now as an Egyptian. This is also a type of today, for the offspring of Manasseh are the people of the United States, as we will see later, and our people today have forgotten who they even are, or where they came from. We enjoy the blessings of God, and to most Americans, they could care less where they came from, or the fact that they are part of the blessings that God promised to Abraham. They call themselves "Caucasians", and think it is a race. They don't even know it was the record of an event of the scattering of the ten northern tribes of the House of Israel. They passed through the Caucasus mountains, and on into Western Europe, and to the Americas. The Christians of today have forgotten, just as Joseph had forgotten his past. In the future it will come to pass that Judah will be seperated from Israel and become the Jews of Today,a divorce, a stupor, a lack of hearing, will be placed upon them in the future this will be shown in a type in this story through Simeon Genesis 41:52 "And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath cause me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction."Ephraim today is a kingdom and fruitful. Ephraim is the British people, and they have always had plenty. In latter chapters we will see how these people can be identified in the latter days. Genesis 41:53 "And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended."Genesis 41:54 "And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread."Genesis 41:55 "And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you; do."The time of storing up is over, for the famine is now here. When the people went to their king for help, the Pharaoh sent them to Joseph, with the command to follow Joseph's instructions.Genesis 41:56 "And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians: and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt."Genesis 41:57 "And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands."The Pharaoh knew that Joseph had the ear from God, and he knew that this food had to be given out to last for the full seven years. The Pharaoh now trusted God, and he trusted Joseph's abilities in running the affairs in these extreme times. The amount of stored food was great, so much so that Egypt was able to feed the world. This famine was historically recorded, and covered the entire earth. God has placed the right man in control.. It is from the famine that Joseph will be reunited with his familyThese 12 brothers are the fathers of the twelve tribes that make up the Whole house of Israel in the future the descendants of these tribes will be divided 10 of these tribes will be scattered around the world to become the Christian Nations of the World. Two of the tribes Judah,w/Simeonites, a few Benjamites, with a few Levite Priests and their families will settle towards the south of Israel Will Become known as Judah, it being the largest tribe, will become the Jews of todays Israel..... called Judah in prophecy We can see the type,a picture if you will of these facts as shown us in this story of Joesph and his brothers.And Just as in Joseph's day it will be a famine that eventually reunites the 12 tribes the Whole house of Israel Jew and Christian reunited under Christ Just as Joseph this type of Christ through a famine reunites his family Christ will after the famine of the End times (Amos 8:11) reunite the Whole house of IsraelIn the last part of this study I will attempt to show you this outline the picture that God has given us in his Word in this Story of Joesph How the 10 tribes (christian Nations) and the two (Jews of Today) were foretold to divide, in type and picture ,in Gen. of what would come to be fulfilled in the New Testament after the crucifiction of Christ.

 

[Christina]

Part 3We pick up our story with a severe drought upon the land Jacob is going to send his sons to Egypt to buy corn. Remember Joseph was sold by his brothers when he was 17 years old he is now married has two sons Ephraim and Manasseh. Joseph is in command of all Egypt second only to Pharaoh Genesis 42:1 "Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?"Jacob is Joseph's father, who's name is now Israel. This is saying, "Why do ye look one upon another?" which is similar to the expression used today; "Why do you just stand there looking at each other, why don't you do something?" The cattle have nothing to eat, and the food is running out and Jacob is telling his sons to do something about it.Genesis 42:2 "And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die."God promised that his seed will become a numerous as stars in the heaven, and sand on the sea. For this to come true the sons must go to Egypt to buy food. Genesis 42:3 "And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt."Genesis 42:4 "But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him."Benjamin was Joseph's only full brother, all the other brothers were half brothers, for Rachel died in childbirth when Benjamin was born. Jacob lost Joseph to what he thought to be a wild animals, and thus Benjamin was the only son left from his first love Rachel. Jacob didn't want to lose both of Rachel's sons to trouble. Genesis 42:5 "And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan."Now we are starting to see a picture form of Israels future the twelve brothers 12 will seperated as 10 and 2 some changing around of the brothers will occur be they will not all 12 come together again until after the "binding of Simeon" is over.Now as the story continues the ten brothers go to Egypt they do no recognize their brother Joseph but he knows them and accuses them of being spies he gives them corn to take to their father but tells them they must bring back their brother Benjamin. To ensure this he holds their brother Simeon and binds him Genesis 42:8 "And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him."Genesis 42:13 "And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not."The one that is not, is Joseph himself.Genesis 42:20 "But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so."The brothers agreed to it, for Joseph left them no choice. Genesis 42:21 "And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us."The ten brothers are now in conference and they all know that this is God punishing them for doing what they did to their younger brother Joseph. The ironic thing is that it is the brother that they sold that is doing the punishing to them. They now are recognizing that they were wrong, as they think back on the terror on Joseph's face as they put him into the pit, and then the sorrowful look on his face when they sold him into bondage. Joseph was seventeen when he was sold, and thirty when he got married; now he has two children, and he is pushing his forties. Joseph has changed quite a bit.Genesis 42:22 "And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required."Reuben is calling to their attention that he told them to spare the child, and to the fact that when they did this act against Joseph, he was not there. Reuben is telling them that now they have to pay the price for what they have done. Genesis 42:23 "And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter."When all this conversation between the brothers, and the charges being put forth by Joseph, he was using an interpreter. Joseph natural tongue now was Arabic, and not the Hebrew, for that is the only language he had spoken for the past twenty five years. Yet he still knew the Hebrew well for it was his native tongue. Joseph could hear every word as they spoke of him, and confessed the wrong that they did to him those many years prior. Genesis 42:24 "And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes."We again see the dividing of the ten and two we now have Joseph and Simeon in Egypt and the other ten at their home.Lets look deeper at Simeon and his binding Simeon means hearing he also represents Judah in this story Jos 19:1 And the second lot came forth to Simeon, [even] for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah. Jos 19:9 Out of the portion of the children of Judah [was] the inheritance of the children of Simeon: for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them. So we see Simeon shares the inheritance of Judah Joseph has imprisoned Simeon while his brothers return home Simeon remained in an Egyptian jail until his brothers returned with Benjamin. During this time Simeon was out of earshot... He was not hearing....from his 10 brothers ..in the spiritual sense he was spiritually deaf... The chosen people have been made spiritually deaf. This is the picture God is painting here for us that will come to pass ...Simeon being representative of Judah is held aside.. spiritually deaf.... until all twelve are brought together againThe theme of Israel future deafness is being introduced here. It ts seen in the words of Reuben as he speaks "And Reuben answered them,saying, Spake I not unto you saying, Do not sin against the child;and ye would not hear (gen42:22) Rom 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear; ) unto this day. This will be the fate of Israel to come in the future as we know this has come to pass. This is not a permanent situation Just as in the story of Joseph all 12 brothers the sons of Israel (Jacob) are reunited and Simeon (Judah's) hearing is restored so will the Whole house of Israel be restored at the return of Christ Rom 11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but [rather] through their fall salvation [is come] unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy We know that in the future 70 AD the 10 northern tribes will be scattered they will cross the Caucasus mountains into Scotland , Ireland and eventually Britain becoming Christian Nations Thus fulfilling the promise to Abraham to be the Father of many NationsJudah represented here by Simeon will be temporarily spiritually deaf a slumber being upon themAnd what does God say of this future reuniting of the Whole House of Israel at his return we can read in Eze37Eze37:11Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. 12Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 15The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, 16Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and for all the house of Israel his companions: 17And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. 18And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these? 19Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand. 20And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes. 21And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: 22And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all. 23Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. It might be helpful here to see a map of the tribes of the south and North of Israel http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http:/...5&ct=image&cd=1