Comments on Genesis 43 

v32  The JPS states:

     Joseph eats alone undoubtably because of his exalted status;
     but the segregation of the Hebrews was due to the Egyptian
     feeling of racial and religious superiority that engendered
     contempt for foreigners, who were regarded as unclean. 
     Herodoutus (Histories, 2.41) reports that because the cow
     was taboo to Egyptians but eaten by Greeks, no native of
     Egypt would kiss a Greek, use his kitchen utensils, or even
     eat the flesh of an ox that had been cut with the knife of a
     Greek.  It is therefore likely that Egyptian particularism
     asserted itself here because the Hebrews were shepherds -an
     abhorrent profession (46:34) -and because they ate sheep -an
     abomination to the Egyptians (Exod. 8:22).

v33  The brothers are astonished because Joseph has seated them
in age order.  Also, the other Egyptians were probably astonished
as well that Joseph would even deign to eat with Hebrews present.

v34  The JPS TC suggests Joseph places more at Benjamin's table
to see if the older brothers still hold animosity for the
youngest brother if he is favored over them, just as they
formerly did with him.



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