43
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.