Disguise

[Summary]

Major Characters

Minor Characters

Insignificant Characters

GENESIS

34%

JASHER

57%

JUBILEES

9%

Exposition

J: 46 | Y: 2243 | After the corn was finished Jacob sends his sons to Egypt
Genesis 43:1-2, Jasher 52:7-10, Jubilees 42:13-15

Rising Action

Judah reminds Jacob that they must send Benjamin too
Genesis 43:3-10, Jasher 52:11-21, Jubilees 42:19

Jacob agrees to let Benjamin go
Genesis 43:11-14, Jasher 52:22-25, Jubilees 42:20

Jacob prays to YHWH
Jasher 52:26-27

Jacob writes a letter to the king of Egypt
Jasher 52:28-42

The sons of Jacob go to Egypt
Genesis 43:15, Jasher 53:1

Climax

Joseph sees Benjamin and has his servants prepare a lunch
Genesis 43:16, Jasher 53:2-3

The brothers fear Joseph because of the money they found in their sacks
Genesis 43:17-22

Joseph reassures them and then brings out Simeon
Genesis 43:23, Jasher 53:4-5, Jubilees 42:22a

The brothers and their animals are taken care of
Genesis 43:24

Benjamin is presented before Joseph
Genesis 43:25-26, Jasher 53:6, Jubilees 42:22b

Joseph asks about the welfare of Jacob
Genesis 43:27-28, Jasher 53:7

Joseph reads the letter from Jacob and weeps
Jasher 53:8

Joseph speaks to Benjamin
Genesis 43:29, Jasher 53:9, Jubilees 42:21

Joseph excuses himself to weep and then composes himself
Genesis 43:30-31, Jasher 53:10

The Egyptians eat separately from the Hebrews
Genesis 43:32

Joseph strikes his silver cup and requests that the brothers sit according to their birth order
Genesis 43:33, Jasher 53:11-13

Falling Action

The meal begins and Benjamin gets shown favoritism
Genesis 43:34, Jasher 53:14, Jubilees 42:23

Wine is brought out
Jasher 53:15-16

Joseph asks Benjamin about his family
Jasher 53:17

Joseph asks Benjamin to interpret a map to find Joseph
Jasher 53:18-19

Resolution

Benjamin learns that Joseph is sitting next to him
Jasher 53:20-22, Jubilees 42:24

Jubilee: 46

Year: 2243

After the corn was finished Jacob sends his sons to Egypt_I

Genesis 43:1

1 And the famine was sore in the land.

Jasher 52:7

7 And in those days the famine was sore throughout the land, and all the people of the earth went and came to Egypt to buy food, for the famine prevailed greatly amongst them, and the sons of Jacob remained in Canaan a year and two months until their corn was finished.

Jubilees 42:13

13 And the famine increased and became sore in the land of Canaan, and in all lands save in the land of Egypt, for many of the children of the Egyptians had stored up their seed for food from the time when they saw Joseph gathering seed together and putting it in storehouses and preserving it for the years of famine.

Jubilees 42:14

14 And the people of Egypt fed themselves thereon during the first year of their famine.

Genesis 43:2

2 And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food.

Jasher 52:8-10

8 And it came to pass after their corn was finished, the whole household of Jacob was pinched with hunger, and all the infants of the sons of Jacob came together and they approached Jacob, and they all surrounded him, and they said unto him, Give unto us bread, and wherefore shall we all perish through hunger in thy presence?
9 Jacob heard the words of his son’s children, and he wept a great weeping, and his pity was roused for them, and Jacob called unto his sons and they all came and sat before him.
10 And Jacob said unto them, And have you not seen how your children have been weeping over me this day, saying, Give unto us bread, and there is none? now therefore return and buy for us a little food.

Jubilees 42:15

15 But when Israel saw that the famine was very sore in the land, and that there was no deliverance, he said unto his sons: ‘Go again, and procure food for us that we die not.’

Judah reminds Jacob that they must send Benjamin too

Genesis 43:3-5

3 And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.
4 If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food:
5 But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.

Jasher 52:11

11 And Judah answered and said unto his father, If thou wilt send our brother with us we will go down and buy corn for thee, and if thou wilt not send him then we will not go down, for surely the king of Egypt particularly enjoined us, saying, You shall not see my face unless your brother be with you, for the king of Egypt is a strong and mighty king, and behold if we shall go to him without our brother we shall all be put to death.

Jubilees 42:16

16 And they said: ‘We shall not go; unless our youngest brother go with us, we shall not go.’

Jasher 52:12-18a

12 Dost thou not know and hast thou not heard that this king is very powerful and wise, and there is not like unto him in all the earth? behold we have seen all the kings of the earth and we have not seen one like that king, the king of Egypt; surely amongst all the kings of the earth there is none greater than Abimelech king of the Philistines, yet the king of Egypt is greater and mightier than he, and Abimelech can only be compared to one of his officers.
13 Father, thou hast not seen his palace and his throne, and all his servants standing before him; thou hast not seen that king upon his throne in his pomp and royal appearance, dressed in his kingly robes with a large golden crown upon his head; thou hast not seen the honor and glory which God has given unto him, for there is not like unto him in all the earth.
14 Father, thou hast not seen the wisdom, the understanding and the knowledge which God has given in his heart, nor heard his sweet voice when he spake unto us.
15 We know not, father, who made him acquainted with our names and all that befell us, yet he asked also after thee, saying, Is your father still living, and is it well with him?
16 Thou hast not seen the affairs of the government of Egypt regulated by him, without inquiring of Pharaoh his lord; thou hast not seen the awe and fear which he impressed upon all the Egyptians.
17 And also when we went from him, we threatened to do unto Egypt like unto the rest of the cities of the Amorites, and we were exceedingly wroth against all his words which he spoke concerning us as spies, and now when we shall again come before him his terror will fall upon us all, and not one of us will be able to speak to him either a little or a great thing.
18a Now therefore father, send we pray thee the lad with us, and we will go down and buy thee food for our support, and not die through hunger.

Genesis 43:6

6 And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?

Jasher 52:18b

18b And Jacob said, Why have you dealt so ill with me to tell the king you had a brother? what is this thing that you have done unto me?

Genesis 43:7

7 And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?

Jubilees 42:17-18

17 And Israel saw that if he did not send him with them, they should all perish by reason of the famine.
18 And Reuben said: ‘Give him into my hand, and if I do not bring him back to thee, slay my two sons instead of his soul.’

Genesis 43:8-9

8 And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.
9 I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever:

Jasher 52:19

19 And Judah said unto Jacob his father, Give the lad into my care and we will rise up and go down to Egypt and buy corn, and then return, and it shall be when we return if the lad be not with us, then let me bear thy blame forever.

Jubilees 42:19

19 And he said unto him: ‘He shall not go with thee.’ And Judah came near and said: ‘Send him with me, and if I do not bring him back to thee, let me bear the blame before thee all the days of my life.’

Jasher 52:20

20 Hast thou seen all our infants weeping over thee through hunger and there is no power in thy hand to satisfy them? now let thy pity be roused for them and send our brother with us and we will go.

Genesis 43:10

10 For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.

Jasher 52:21

21 For how will the Lord’s kindness to our ancestors be manifested to thee when thou sayest that the king of Egypt will take away thy son? as the Lord liveth I will not leave him until I bring him and place him before thee; but pray for us unto the Lord, that he may deal kindly with us, to cause us to be received favorably and kindly before the king of Egypt and his men, for had we not delayed surely now we had returned a second time with thy son.

Jacob agrees to let Benjamin go

Jasher 52:22

22 And Jacob said unto his sons, I trust in the Lord God that he may deliver you and give you favor in the sight of the king of Egypt, and in the sight of all his men.

Genesis 43:11

11 And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:

Jubilees 42:20

20 And he sent him with them in the second year of this week on the [2172 A.m.] first day of the month, and they came to the land of Egypt with all those who went, and (they had) presents in their hands, stacte and almonds and terebinth nuts and pure honey.

Genesis 43:12

12 And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight:

Genesis 43:13-14

13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man:
14 And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.

Jasher 52:23

23 Now therefore rise up and go to the man, and take for him in your hands a present from what can be obtained in the land and bring it before him, and may the Almighty God give you mercy before him that he may send Benjamin and Simeon your brethren with you.

Jasher 52:24-25

24 And all the men rose up, and they took their brother Benjamin, and they took in their hands a large present of the best of the land, and they also took a double portion of silver.
25 And Jacob strictly commanded his sons concerning Benjamin, Saying, Take heed of him in the way in which you are going, and do not separate yourselves from him in the road, neither in Egypt.

Jacob prays to YHWH

Jasher 52:26-27

26 And Jacob rose up from his sons and spread forth his hands and he prayed unto the Lord on account of his sons, saying, O Lord God of heaven and earth, remember thy covenant with our father Abraham, remember it with my father Isaac and deal kindly with my sons and deliver them not into the hands of the king of Egypt; do it I pray thee O God for the sake of thy mercies and redeem all my children and rescue them from Egyptian power, and send them their two brothers.
27 And all the wives of the sons of Jacob and their children lifted up their eyes to heaven and they all wept before the Lord, and cried unto him to deliver their fathers from the hand of the king of Egypt.

Jacob writes a letter to the king of Egypt

Jasher 52:28-42

28 And Jacob wrote a record to the king of Egypt and gave it into the hand of Judah and into the hands of his sons for the king of Egypt, saying,
29 From thy servant Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham the Hebrew, the prince of God, to the powerful and wise king, the revealer of secrets, king of Egypt, greeting.
30 Be it known to my lord the king of Egypt, the famine was sore upon us in the land of Canaan, and I sent my sons to thee to buy us a little food from thee for our support.
31 For my sons surrounded me and I being very old cannot see with my eyes, for my eyes have become very heavy through age, as well as with daily weeping for my son, for Joseph who was lost from before me, and I commanded my sons that they should not enter the gates of the city when they came to Egypt, on account of the inhabitants of the land.
32 And I also commanded them to go about Egypt to seek for my son Joseph, perhaps they might find him there, and they did so, and thou didst consider them as spies of the land.
33 Have we not heard concerning thee that thou didst interpret Pharaoh’s dream and didst speak truly unto him? how then dost thou not know in thy wisdom whether my sons are spies or not?
34 Now therefore, my lord and king, behold I have sent my son before thee, as thou didst speak unto my sons; I beseech thee to put thy eyes upon him until he is returned to me in peace with his brethren.
35 For dost thou not know, or hast thou not heard that which our God did unto Pharaoh when he took my mother Sarah, and what he did unto Abimelech king of the Philistines on account of her, and also what our father Abraham did unto the nine kings of Elam, how he smote them all with a few men that were with him?
36 And also what my two sons Simeon and Levi did unto the eight cities of the Amorites, how they destroyed them on account of their sister Dinah?
37 And also on account of their brother Benjamin they consoled themselves for the loss of his brother Joseph; what will they then do for him when they see the hand of any people prevailing over them, for his sake?
38 Dost thou not know, O king of Egypt, that the power of God is with us, and that also God ever heareth our prayers and forsaketh us not all the days?
39 And when my sons told me of thy dealings with them, I called not unto the Lord on account of thee, for then thou wouldst have perished with thy men before my son Benjamin came before thee, but I thought that as Simeon my son was in thy house, perhaps thou mightest deal kindly with him, therefore I did not this thing unto thee.
40 Now therefore behold Benjamin my son cometh unto thee with my sons, take heed of him and put thy eyes upon him, and then will God place his eyes over thee and throughout thy kingdom.
41 Now I have told thee all that is in my heart, and behold my sons are coming to thee with their brother, examine the face of the whole earth for their sake and send them back in peace with their brethren.
42 And Jacob gave the record to his sons into the care of Judah to give it unto the king of Egypt.

The sons of Jacob go to Egypt

Genesis 43:15

15 And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.

Jasher 53:1

1 And the sons of Jacob rose up and took Benjamin and the whole of the presents, and they went and came to Egypt and they stood before Joseph.

Joseph sees Benjamin and has his servants prepare a lunch

Genesis 43:16

16 And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon.

Jasher 53:2-3

2 And Joseph beheld his brother Benjamin with them and he saluted them, and these men came to Joseph’s house.
3 And Joseph commanded the superintendent of his house to give to his brethren to eat, and he did so unto them.

The brothers fear Joseph because of the money they found in their sacks

Genesis 43:17-22

17 And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house.
18 And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.
19 And they came near to the steward of Joseph’s house, and they communed with him at the door of the house,
20 And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:
21 And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand.
22 And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks.

Joseph reassures them and then brings out Simeon

Genesis 43:23

23 And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.

Jasher 53:4

4 And at noon time Joseph sent for the men to come before him with Benjamin, and the men told the superintendent of Joseph’s house concerning the silver that was returned in their sacks, and he said unto them, It will be well with you, fear not, and he brought their brother Simeon unto them.

Jubilees 42:22a

22a And he sent him into his house and he brought forth Simeon unto them and he made a feast for them,

Jasher 53:5

5 And Simeon said unto his brethren, The lord of the Egyptians has acted very kindly unto me, he did not keep me bound, as you saw with your eyes, for when you went out from the city he let me free and dealt kindly with me in his house.

The brothers and their animals are taken care of

Genesis 43:24

24 And the man brought the men into Joseph’s house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender.

Benjamin is presented before Joseph

Genesis 43:25

25 And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there.

Jubilees 42:22b

22b and they presented to him the gift which they had brought in their hands.

Genesis 43:26

26 And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.

Jasher 53:6

6 And Judah took Benjamin by the hand, and they came before Joseph, and they bowed down to him to the ground.

Joseph asks about the welfare of Jacob

Genesis 43:27-28

27 And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?
28 And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance.

Jasher 53:7

7 And the men gave the present unto Joseph and they all sat before him, and Joseph said unto them, Is it well with you, is it well with your children, is it well with your aged father? and they said, It is well, and Judah took the record which Jacob had sent and gave it into the hand of Joseph.

Joseph reads the letter from Jacob and weeps

Jasher 53:8

8 And Joseph read the letter and knew his father’s writing, and he wished to weep and he went into an inner room and he wept a great weeping; and he went out.

Joseph speaks to Benjamin

Genesis 43:29

29 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son.

Jasher 53:9

9 And he lifted up his eyes and beheld his brother Benjamin, and he said, Is this your brother of whom you spoke unto me? And Benjamin approached Joseph, and Joseph placed his hand upon his head and he said unto him, May God be gracious unto thee my son.

Jubilees 42:21

21 And they went and stood before Joseph, and he saw Benjamin his brother, and he knew him, and said unto them: Is this your youngest brother?’ And they said unto him: ‘It is he.’ And he said The Lord be gracious to thee, my son!’

Joseph excuses himself to weep and then composes himself

Genesis 43:30-31

30 And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.
31 And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.

Jasher 53:10

10 And when Joseph saw his brother, the son of his mother, he again wished to weep, and he entered the chamber, and he wept there, and he washed his face, and went out and refrained from weeping, and he said, Prepare food.

The Egyptians eat separately from the Hebrews

Genesis 43:32

32 And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.

Joseph strikes his silver cup and requests that the brothers sit according to their birth order

Jasher 53:11-12

11 And Joseph had a cup from which he drank, and it was of silver beautifully inlaid with onyx stones and bdellium, and Joseph struck the cup in the sight of his brethren whilst they were sitting to eat with him.
12 And Joseph said unto the men, I know by this cup that Reuben the first born, Simeon and Levi and Judah, Issachar and Zebulun are children from one mother, seat yourselves to eat according to your births.

Genesis 43:33

33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another.

Jasher 53:13

13 And he also placed the others according to their births, and he said, I know that this your youngest brother has no brother, and I, like him, have no brother, he shall therefore sit down to eat with me.

The meal begins and Benjamin gets shown favoritism_ii

Genesis 43:34

34 And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin’s mess was five times so much as any of their’s. And they drank, and were merry with him.

Jasher 53:14

14 And Benjamin went up before Joseph and sat upon the throne, and the men beheld the acts of Joseph, and they were astonished at them; and the men ate and drank at that time with Joseph, and he then gave presents unto them, and Joseph gave one gift unto Benjamin, and Manasseh and Ephraim saw the acts of their father, and they also gave presents unto him, and Osnath gave him one present, and they were five presents in the hand of Benjamin.

Jubilees 42:23

23 And they eat before him and he gave them all a portion, but the portion of Benjamin was seven times larger than that of any of theirs.

Wine is brought out

Jasher 53:15-16

15 And Joseph brought them out wine to drink, and they would not drink, and they said, From the day on which Joseph was lost we have not drunk wine, nor eaten any delicacies.
16 And Joseph swore unto them, and he pressed them hard, and they drank plentifully with him on that day, and Joseph afterward turned to his brother Benjamin to speak with him, and Benjamin was still sitting upon the throne before Joseph.

Joseph asks Benjamin about his family

Jasher 53:17

17 And Joseph said unto him, Hast thou begotten any children? and he said, Thy servant has ten sons, and these are their names, Bela, Becher, Ashbal, Gera, Naaman, Achi, Rosh, Mupim, Chupim, and Ord, and I called their names after my brother whom I have not seen.

Joseph asks Benjamin to interpret a map to find Joseph

Jasher 53:18-19

18 And he ordered them to bring before him his map of the stars, whereby Joseph knew all the times, and Joseph said unto Benjamin, I have heard that the Hebrews are acquainted with all wisdom, dost thou know anything of this?
19 And Benjamin said, Thy servant is knowing also in all the wisdom which my father taught me, and Joseph said unto Benjamin, Look now at this instrument and understand where thy brother Joseph is in Egypt, who you said went down to Egypt.

Benjamin learns that Joseph is sitting next to him

Jasher 53:20-22

20 And Benjamin beheld that instrument with the map of the stars of heaven, and he was wise and looked therein to know where his brother was, and Benjamin divided the whole land of Egypt into four divisions, and he found that he who was sitting upon the throne before him was his brother Joseph, and Benjamin wondered greatly, and when Joseph saw that his brother Benjamin was so much astonished, he said unto Benjamin, What hast thou seen, and why art thou astonished?
21 And Benjamin said unto Joseph, I can see by this that Joseph my brother sitteth here with me upon the throne, and Joseph said unto him, I am Joseph thy brother, reveal not this thing unto thy brethren; behold I will send thee with them when they go away, and I will command them to be brought back again into the city, and I will take thee away from them.
22 And if they dare their lives and fight for thee, then shall I know that they have repented of what they did unto me, and I will make myself known to them, and if they forsake thee when I take thee, then shalt thou remain with me, and I will wrangle with them, and they shall go away, and I will not become known to them.

Jubilees 42:24

24 And they eat and drank and arose and remained with their asses.

i. Genesis 45:6, Jubilees 43:17, and Jubilees 42:20 state that it’s year 2 of the famine which aligns with Jasher 52:7 of 14 months.
ii. There is a slight difference between Genesis and Jubilees in how much food is given to Benjamin.