1 Now the famine was severe in
the land. 2 And when they had eaten up the grain that they had brought
from Egypt, their father said to them, ‘Go again, buy us a little more
food.’ 3 But Judah said to him, ‘The man solemnly warned us, saying,
“You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.” 4 If you
will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food; 5 but
if you will not send him, we will not 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 as to tell the man that you had
another brother?’ 7 They replied, ‘The man questioned us carefully about
ourselves and our kindred, saying, “Is your father still alive? Have you
another brother?” What we told him was in answer to these questions.
Could we in any way know that he would say, “Bring your brother down”?’
8 Then Judah said to his father Israel, ‘Send the boy with me, and let
us be on our way, so that we may live and not die—you and we and also
our little ones. 9 I myself will be surety for him; you can hold me
accountable for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him
before you, then let me bear the blame for ever. 10 If we had not
delayed, we would now have returned twice.’
11 Then their father Israel said to them, ‘If it must be so, then do
this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry
them down as a present to the man—a little balm and a little honey, gum,
resin, pistachio nuts, and almonds. 12 Take double the money with you.
Carry back with you the money that was returned in the top of your
sacks; perhaps it was an oversight. 13 Take your brother also, and be on
your way again to the man; 14 may God Almighty grant you mercy before
the man, so that he may send back your other brother and Benjamin. As
for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.’ 15 So the men
took the present, and they took double the money with them, as well as
Benjamin. Then they went on their way 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 slaughter an animal and make
ready, for the men are to dine with me at noon.’ 17 The man did as
Joseph said, and brought the men to Joseph’s house. 18 Now the men were
afraid because they were brought to Joseph’s house, and they said, ‘It
is because of the money, replaced in our sacks the first time, that we
have been brought in, so that he may have an opportunity to fall upon
us, to make slaves of us and take our donkeys.’ 19 So they went up to
the steward of Joseph’s house and spoke with him at the entrance to the
house. 20 They said, ‘Oh, my lord, we came down the first time to buy
food; 21 and when we came to the lodging-place we opened our sacks, and
there was each one’s money in the top of his sack, our money in full
weight. So we have brought it back with us. 22 Moreover, we have brought
down with us additional money to buy food. We do not know who put our
money in our sacks.’ 23 He replied, ‘Rest assured, do not be afraid;
your God and the God of your father must have put treasure in your sacks
for you; I received your money.’ Then he brought Simeon out to them. 24
When the steward had brought the men into Joseph’s house, and given them
water, and they had washed their feet, and when he had given their
donkeys fodder, 25 they made the present ready for Joseph’s coming at
noon, for they had heard that they would dine there.
26 When Joseph came home, they brought him the present that they had
carried into the house, and bowed to the ground before him. 27 He
inquired about their welfare, and said, ‘Is your father well, the old
man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?’ 28 They said, ‘Your servant
our father is well; he is still alive.’ And they bowed their heads and
did obeisance. 29 Then he looked up and saw his brother Benjamin, his
mother’s son, and said, ‘Is this your youngest brother, of whom you
spoke to me? God be gracious to you, my son!’ 30 With that, Joseph
hurried out, because he was overcome with affection for his brother, and
he was about to weep. So he went into a private room and wept there. 31
Then he washed his face and came out; and controlling himself he 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
could not eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the
Egyptians. 33 When they were seated before him, the firstborn according
to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth, the men
looked at one another in amazement. 34 Portions were taken to them from
Joseph’s table, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of
theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.
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