Genesis 44:22

Key Reflection

In first-century Palestine, the act of setting one's eyes upon a person was a gesture of inspection and scrutiny, often indicating suspicion or judgment. When Joseph’s brothers were confronted by Potiphar’s captain about Benjamin, they recalled that their father had instructed them to bring Benjamin down so he could "set his eyes on him." This phrase would have carried connotations of careful examination and perhaps even of a divine providence guiding the outcome of this journey, as their father Jacob trusted God's will in sending Benjamin.