And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.
When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, 'What if Joseph hates us now and pays us back for all the terrible things we did to him?'
The brothers are worried that without their father's protection, Joseph will finally take revenge on them for selling him into slavery years earlier.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative, Joseph had been sold into slavery by his jealous brothers years earlier, but through God's providence, he rose to a position of power in Egypt and eventually saved his family from a severe famine. When their father Jacob died, the brothers worried that Joseph might now seek revenge for their betrayal, as they had reconciled with him only under Jacob's influence. This moment highlights the lingering effects of past sins and the human tendency to fear retribution even after forgiveness has been extended.
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