Joseph's Brethren Discover Money in Their Grain Sacks
A hatful of coins is the central focus of this composition and its narrative. Having rid themselves of Joseph as a child, his ten brothers travel to Egypt to buy corn when famine plagues their homeland (Genesis 42:1–28). They fail to recognize Joseph, now the governor, as he accuses them of spying and imprisons them, only to release them three days later so that they can buy food. The panel narrates the moment when, on their way home, the brothers discover in one of the sacks the money they thought they had already spent and worry that they will be accused of theft. The tight grouping of the figures enhances the moment’s tension.
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