Untitled Sermon (6)

1) Discussion of how the passage fits into book and/or section of Scripture.

2) Attention to the structure of the passage.

18-19 Intro

Speech begins in verse 20

Notes on key exegetical issues.

Imperatives frame the heart of the passage:

Joseph desiring to see Benjamin demands in v.21 - “bring him down to me that I may set my eyes on him”

Jacob not wanting his whole family to die tells his sons in V.25 - “Go again, buy us a little food”

This then begins to open up connection regarding sacrifice and food.

Judah’s speech is a long stringing together and retelling of previous conversations recorded in the Joseph narrative.

The Book of Genesis, Chapters 18–50 3. Judah’s Plea for Benjamin (44:18–34)

Thus vv. 18–32 comprise the renarration of nine previous speeches.

Judah quotes Joseph addressing the brothers three times (vv. 19, 21, 23)

The Book of Genesis, Chapters 18–50 3. Judah’s Plea for Benjamin (44:18–34)

Judah quotes Joseph addressing the brothers three times (vv. 19, 21, 23)

Though the text does not record Joseph saying, “have you a father, or a brother?”(v.19) Judah recounts this part of Joseph’s speech in his retelling to Jacob (43.7)

The Book of Genesis, Chapters 18–50 3. Judah’s Plea for Benjamin (44:18–34)

Three times Judah quotes the brothers, twice speaking to Joseph (vv. 20, 22) and once to their father (v. 26). Twice he quotes Jacob speaking to his sons (vv. 25, 27–29)

Three times Judah quotes his brothers, twice when they were speaking to Joseph (vv. 20, 22) and once to their father (v. 26).

Three times Judah quotes the brothers, twice speaking to Joseph (vv. 20, 22) and once to their father (v. 26). Twice he quotes Jacob speaking to his sons (vv. 25, 27–29)

Judah quotes his father Jacob twice speaking to his sons (vv. 25, 27–29)

The Book of Genesis, Chapters 18–50 3. Judah’s Plea for Benjamin (44:18–34)

Once he quotes himself speaking to his father (v. 32)

And Judah quotes himself once speaking to his father (v. 32)

V.18

The phrase “let your servant speak a word in my lord’s ears” literally “speak in the ears of...” can be idiomatic for having an official hearing ()

יְדַבֶּר־נָ֨א)

יְדַבֶּר־נָ֨א

Oh, my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s ears,

This also puts into context the honorary language Judah uses for Joseph throughout his speech

יְדַבֶּר־נָ֨א)

Judah uses the titles of “my lord” (6x) of Joseph … and “your servant” (8x) of himself, his brothers and his father.

Honorary titles are appropriate when an inferior is seeking a hearing with a superior.

v. 19

Though the text does not record Joseph saying, “have you a father, or a brother?”(v.19) Judah recounts this part of Joseph’s speech in his retelling to Jacob (43.7)

v. 20

Judah’s reference to Joseph as being dead is interesting because Judah does not know he if he is dead or not. He told the truth in 42:13 when he said that Joseph is, “no more”. Yet now calling him dead is quoting Jacob in 42:38.

V.31

Judah implies that if Joseph takes Benjamin as his servant he would be the one responsible for Jacobs death.

V.32

Judah speaks on behalf of his brothers (though he is not the eldest) because of the oath he made with his father.

VV.33-34

Here we see Judah’s reversal. The brother who once sold his younger brother into slavery (death), is now willing to go into slavery in order to save the life of his other younger brother.

Examination of typological dimensions of the passage

4) Examination of typological dimensions of the passage

Food and Sacrifice

The two imperatives of the passage frame for us one of the typological themes of Judah’s speech.

The first imperative is when Joseph, desiring to see Benjamin, demands in v.21 - “bring him down to me that I may set my eyes on him”

Jacob not wanting his whole family to die tells his sons in V.25 - “Go again, buy us a little food”

The second imperative is when Jacob, not wanting his whole family to die, tells his sons in V.25 - “Go again, buy us a little food”

Joseph desires to see his brother Benjamin and Jacob’s desire to have food work together in the text to show us that if Jacob and his family are to be saved, it would come at the cost of sacrificing his “only” son.

The only way to bring the food back to the family is for Benjamin to die, and Judah says no, let me die so my family can have food.

This then begins to open up connection regarding food and sacrifice.

food and sacrifice are connected throughout the bible most notably:

Sacrifice and food are connected through the levitical sacrifices where the worshipper and the priests are given food to eat from the sacrifice (Peace Offering (zevah shelamim) Lev.3)

The sacrifice of Jesus is what provides food for the world. If it was not for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ the bride of Christ would not be invited to the communion table to partake in the Eucharist.

Judah’s Kingly Sacrifice vv.33-34

The only way to bring the food back to the family, for the family to be saved is for a son to die, and Judah offers himself in the place of his brother. Judah is willing to die in the place of his brother so that his family may live.

A Son to Me: An Exposition of 1 & 2 Samuel The House of David and the House of Saul, 2 Samuel 1–4

Judah won approval as king by his willingness to die for the sake of Benjamin and out of respect for his father

This is Judah’s first kingly action, up to this point he was not one who lived as a faithful king. But now that he has died to himself and like a good king offered his life for his people.

Now he is ready to be the given a kingly role ()

And it is through Judah that the ultimate Messiah King would come and die for his people.

Kings die for his people.

The only way to get the food back is for Benjamin to die, and Judah says no, let me die so my family can have food.

It is from Judah that the Messianic king will come.

Judah no longer resents Jacobs love for Benjamin and Joseph.

Other Connections

A Son to Me: An Exposition of 1 & 2 Samuel The House of David and the House of Saul, 2 Samuel 1–4

Judah won approval as king by his willingness to die for the sake of Benjamin and out of respect for his father

Judah and his brothers bow down before Joseph inBowing down before Joseph (this is the third time - fulfillment of prophecy)

The punishment of vv14-17 has to do with what they did to Joseph not stealing the cup, because they did not steal the cup.

Judah won approval as king by his willingness to die for the sake of Benjamin and out of respect for his father

Kings die for his people.

It is from Judah that the Messianic king will come.

Family love is set up as the center issue. Its an undoing of the violation of what took place before.

father 14x

brother 5x

lad/boy 7x

Lord 7x

servants 12x

prophecy that they would be servants of Joseph

Judah address himself, his brothers, and his father as servants of Joseph

A Handbook on Genesis Genesis 44:18

Judah’s use of my lord … your servant … pray you show an inferior seeking a hearing with his superior. This must be reflected carefully in languages that use honorific terms of address.

Judah’s use of my lord … your servant … pray you show an inferior seeking a hearing with his superior. This must be reflected carefully in languages that use honorific terms of address.

At the heart of the passage we find the need for food. V.25

Someone has to die to provide food so others may live

Food has been a big part of the Joseph story (bread and wine) and how do you get it? someone has to die.

The climax of the creation narritive is the giving of food for the people to eat

THe only way to get the food back is for Benjamin to die, and Judah says no, let me die so my family can have food.

Judah no longer resents Jacobs love for Benjamin and Joseph.

Judah and Esther

As Judah went before a king to save the lives of God’s people so Esther went before a king to save the lives of Gods people

The threat to destroy Israel in was a famine. The threat to destroy the Jews in is Haman the Persian official.

Both Judah and Esther appeal to the king based off their desire to see their loved ones spared from great despair.

Adam and Judah

When Adam stood before YHWH, the great king of heaven, rather than taking the blame or offering himself in the place of his wife, as Judah did for Benjamin, he blamed Eve hoping he would get away without consequence. Judah however is a better Adam, he is willing to take upon himself the punishment of his brother so that his brother could go free.

Abraham and Judah

There are connections here with Abraham interceding for Sodom in . Twice Abraham says to the Lord, “Oh, let not the Lord be angry” when asking God to relent from his anger toward Sodom. Judah uses a similar phrase in v.18 when asking Joseph (whom he calls lord) to relent of his anger toward Benjamin.

Jesus and Judah

Though already alluded too above, there are connections with Judah and Jesus in this story. Jesus is our elder brother, like Judah, who was torn to pieces, like Joseph, so that we might be free like Benjamin.

Like Judah, Jesus has died in our place so that we might eat of the bread and wine of his body and blood as a redeemed people.

How the passage might be preached effectively.

Judah’s Restoration

The passage shows the reversal of Judah’s character, he goes from selfishness (Gen 37) to sacrifice ( 44)

Judah, hating Joseph convinced his brothers to sell Joseph as a slave to the Ishmaelites for a prophet. Now Judah loving Benjamin is willing to go into slavery himself so his brother might be set free.

You also see a restoration of Judah’s love for his Father. He was willing for his father to be torn into pieces with grief when he “killed” Joseph, but now Judah is willing to sacrifice everything to not hurt his father again. He would rather die himself than to see his father torn to pieces again.

Jesus is our Elder Brother

Like Judah Jesus layed down his life so we might be brought out of famine and slavery to sin in freedom at Christ’s table where we feast with Christ.

Like Benjamin we were helpless to save ourselves, for our master was too strong. Yet Jesus came and rescued us by offering himself in our place.

Jesus Restores his people

This restoration is what Jesus does for his people.

In Christ those who once plotted destruction now plead for mercy

In Christ those who once willing to destroy now seek to protect

In Christ those who once were blinded by selfish pride are now are willing to die for others

Our hope is that our elder brother not only frees us from Satan, sin, and death, but he also saves creation itself from the famine of the curse.

As Joseph himself was resurrected to glory so creation itself will be resurrected to glory and we will reside in the land not as slaves, but as kings and qu