When we plan to make a big change in our life, we bear in mind all the disadvantages and the advantages and then we do it or not. However, sometimes the change is so simple that we just must do it without all the brainstorming. If you read Genesis 42 there’s a simple change in Joseph’s words that the traditional commentaries skipped or tried to explain in a difficult way.
Let’s see the words.
In Genesis 42:15-16 it’s written:
“בְּזֹ֖את תִּבָּחֵ֑נוּ חֵ֤י פַרְעֹה֙ אִם־תֵּצְא֣וּ מִזֶּ֔ה כִּ֧י אִם־בְּב֛וֹא אֲחִיכֶ֥ם הַקָּטֹ֖ן הֵֽנָּה׃שִׁלְח֨וּ מִכֶּ֣ם אֶחָד֮ וְיִקַּ֣ח אֶת־אֲחִיכֶם֒ וְאַתֶּם֙ הֵאָ֣סְר֔וּ וְיִבָּֽחֲנוּ֙ דִּבְרֵיכֶ֔ם הַֽאֱמֶ֖ת אִתְּכֶ֑ם וְאִם־לֹ֕א חֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔ה כִּ֥י מְרַגְּלִ֖ים אַתֶּֽם׃
“Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither. Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies”
Then in Genesis 42:19 it’s written:
“אִם־כֵּנִ֣ים אַתֶּ֔ם אֲחִיכֶ֣ם אֶחָ֔ד יֵאָסֵ֖ר בְּבֵ֣ית מִשְׁמַרְכֶ֑ם וְאַתֶּם֙ לְכ֣וּ הָבִ֔יאוּ שֶׁ֖בֶר רַעֲב֥וֹן בָּתֵּיכֶֽם׃”
“If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses:”
What happened to Joseph? He decided to re-think about the situation, and also 3 days passed. To send one brother to Jacob won’t bring Benjamin back. All the brothers need to come back to Jacob in order to convince him to bring Benjamin. The only one that was left is Simeon since he threw him to the pit according to the Midrash. It’s so simple.
Sometimes the changes are so simple.
Shannah Tovah to you all dear Bibleli’s friends!
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