[1] The famine was severe in the land. [2] It happened, 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 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 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, 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 will arise and go, so that we may live, and not die,
both we, and you, and also our little ones. [9] I will 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 unless we
had lingered, surely we would have returned a second time by now." [11]
Their father, Israel, said to them, "If it be so now, do this. Take from
the choice fruits of the land in your vessels, 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, with the money that was
returned in the mouth of your sacks carry again in your hand. Perhaps it
was an oversight. [13] Take also your brother, and arise, go again 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 rose 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 make ready; 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 at the
first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and
fall on us, and take us for bondservants, 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 came indeed down at
the first time to buy food: [21] and it happened, when we came to the
lodging-place, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man`s money was
in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight. We have brought it
again in our hand. [22] Other money have we brought down 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 provender. [25]
They made ready 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 down
themselves to him to the earth. [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 the head, and did homage. [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 made haste; for his heart yearned over his
brother: and he sought a place to weep; and 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, that ate with him, by themselves, because
the Egyptians don`t eat bread 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
one with 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.
