Genesis 42-50

Genesis 43
v. 32 - Interesting seating arrangements: Joseph at a table by himself; his brothers at a table by themselves, and the Egyptians at another. The Egyptians could not sit with his brothers because "that was an abomination to the Egyptians" – something like the Jews and Gentiles.

Genesis 44-46
44:17 - Since he could "practice divination," did Joseph know what his brothers' reaction would be when he threatened to keep Benjamin as a slave?
44:33 - Judah – the ancestor of the Sacrificial Lamb – offers himself as a slave in place of Benjamin.
45:4 - After he identifies himself, Joseph tells his brothers to come closer. Apparently, he had been keeping his distance – eating at a separate table, for instance.

The number of times, that I count, that Joseph's brothers bowed down to him, fulfilling the prophetic dreams of his youth:

1. 42:6 - When they first met him;
2. 43:26 - When they returned with Benjamin;
3. 44:14 - When they were accused of stealing, only this time they "fell to the ground before him."

46:21 - They had referred to Benjamin as a "boy" (44:30), yet he was the father of 10 children. Did they call him a "boy" because he was the youngest?

Genesis 47-50
47:26 - Pattern for the IRS? 20% of all income to the Pharaoh – as slaves – because they owed their lives to him.
49 - This might make an interesting study – to look at Jacob's blessings of his sons and to see how their lives fulfilled his prophecies of them. It might make it easier to interpret what they mean.
50:3,7 - The Egyptians showed great respect to Israel in his death – because of their great respect for Joseph.