1 The famine was severe in the land.
2 When they had eaten up the grain
which they had brought out of Egypt, their
father said to them, “Go again, buy us a
little more food.”
3 Judah spoke to him, saying, “The man
solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not
see my face, unless your brother is with
you.’
4 If you’ll send our brother with us, we’ll
go down and buy you food;
5 but if you don’t send him, we won’t go
down, for the man said to us, ‘You shall not
see my face, unless your brother is with
you.’ ”
6 Israel said, “Why did you treat me so
badly, telling the man that you had another
brother?”
7 They said, “The man asked directly
concerning ourselves, and concerning our
relatives, saying, ‘Is your father still alive?
Have you another brother?’ We just answered
his questions. Is there any way we
could know that he would say, ‘Bring your
brother down’?”
8 Judah said to Israel, his father, “Send
the boy with me, and we’ll get up and go,
so that we may live, and not die, both we,
and you, and also our little ones.
9 I’ll be collateral for him. From my hand
will you require him. If I don’t bring him
to you, and set him before you, then let me
bear the blame forever;
10 for if we hadn’t delayed, surely we
would have returned a second time by
now.”
11 Their father, Israel, said to them, “If
it must be so, then do this: Take from the
choice fruits of the land in your bags, and
carry down a present for the man, a little
balm, a little honey, spices and myrrh,
nuts, and almonds;
12 and take double money in your hand,
and take back the money that was returned
in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps
it was an oversight.
13 Take your brother also, get up, and
return to the man.
14 May God Almighty give you mercy
before the man, that he may release to you
your other brother and Benjamin. If I am
bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”
15 The men took that present, and they
took double money in their hand, and Benjamin;
and got up, went down to Egypt, and
stood before Joseph.
16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with
them, he said to the steward of his house,
“Bring the men into the house, and butcher
an animal, and prepare; for the men will
dine with me at noon.”
17 The man did as Joseph commanded,
and the man brought the men to Joseph’s
house.
18 The men were afraid, because they
were brought to Joseph’s house; and they
said, “Because of the money that was returned
in our sacks the first time, we’re
brought in; that he may seek occasion
against us, attack us, and seize us as slaves,
along with our donkeys.”
19 They came near to the steward of
Joseph’s house, and they spoke to him at
the door of the house,
20 and said, “Oh, my lord, we indeed
came down the first time to buy food.
21 When we came to the lodging place,
we opened our sacks, and behold, each
man’s money was in the mouth of his sack,
our money in full weight. We have brought
it back in our hand.
22 We have brought down other money
in our hand to buy food. We don’t know
who put our money in our sacks.”
23 He said, “Peace be to you. Don’t be
afraid. Your God, and the God of your
father, has given you treasure in your
sacks. I received your money.” He brought
Simeon out to them.
24 The man brought the men into
Joseph’s house, and gave them water, and
they washed their feet. He gave their
donkeys fodder.
25 They prepared the present for Joseph’s
coming at noon, for they heard that they
should eat bread there.
26 When Joseph came home, they
brought him the present which was in
their hand into the house, and bowed
themselves down to the earth before him.
27 He asked them of their welfare, and
said, “Is your father well, the old man of
whom you spoke? Is he yet alive?”
28 They said, “Your servant, our father, is
well. He is still alive.” They bowed down
humbly.
29 He lifted up his eyes, and saw Benjamin,
his brother, his mother’s son, and
said, “Is this your youngest brother, of
whom you spoke to me?” He said, “God be
gracious to you, my son.”
30 Joseph hurried, for his heart yearned
over his brother; and he sought a place to
weep. He entered into his room, and wept
there.
31 He washed his face, and came out.
He controlled himself, and said, “Serve the
meal.”
32 They served him by himself, and them
by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate
with him by themselves, because the Egyptians
don’t eat with the Hebrews, for that is
an abomination to the Egyptians.
33 They sat before him, the firstborn according
to his birthright, and the youngest
according to his youth, and the men marveled
with one another.
34 He sent portions to them from before
him, but Benjamin’s portion was five times
as much as any of theirs. They drank, and
were merry with him.
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