CHAPTER 43
So when
Jacob’s sons had eaten all
the grain
they had brought
from Egypt,
their father
said
to them,
“Go back
and buy
a little more
food
for us.”
But Judah
replied,
“The man
solemnly warned
us,
‘You will not
see
my face
again unless
your brother
is with you.’
But if
you will not
send him,
we will not
go;
for
the man
told
us,
‘You will not
see
my face
again unless
your brother
is with you.’”
“Why
did you bring this trouble
upon me?”
Israel
asked.
“Why did you tell
the man
you had another
brother?”
They replied,
“The man
questioned
us
in detail
about ourselves and our family:
‘Is your father
still
alive?
Do you have
another brother?’
And we answered
him
accordingly.
How could we possibly know
that
he would say,
‘Bring
your brother here’?”
And Judah
said
to
his father
Israel,
“Send
the boy
with me,
and we will go at once,
so that we may live
and not
die—
neither we,
nor you,
nor our children.
I
will guarantee his safety.
You may hold me
personally responsible!
If
I do not
bring him back
and set
him before you,
then let me
bear the guilt before you
all my life.
Then their father
Israel
said
to them,
“If
it must be so,
then
do
this:
Put
some of the best products
of the land
in your packs
and carry them down
as a gift
for the man—
a little
balm
and a little
honey,
spices
and myrrh,
pistachios
and almonds.
Take
double
the money
with you
so that
you may return
the money
that was put back into
in the mouths
of your sacks.
Perhaps
it
was a mistake.
May God
Almighty
grant
you
mercy
before
the man
so that he will release
your other
brother
along with Benjamin.
As for me,
if
I am bereaved,
I am bereaved.”
So the men
took
these
gifts,
along with double
the amount of money,
and
Benjamin as well.
They made their way down
to Egypt
and stood
before
Joseph.
When Joseph
saw
Benjamin
with his brothers,
he said
to the steward
of
his house,
“Take
these men
to my house.
Slaughter
an animal
and prepare it,
for
they shall dine
with
me at noon.”
But the men
were frightened
that
they had been taken
to Joseph’s
house.
“We
have been brought
here because of
the money
that was returned
in our bags
the first time,”
they said.
“They intend
to overpower
us
and take
us
as slaves,
along with
our donkeys.”
But
when
we came
to
the place we stopped for the night,
we opened
our sacks
and, behold,
each of us found
his silver
in the mouth
of his sack!
It was the full amount
of our money,
and we have brought it back
with us.
We have brought
additional
money
with
us to buy
food.
We do not
know
who
put
our money
in our sacks.”
“It is fine,”
said the steward.
“Do not
be afraid.
Your God,
the God
of your father,
gave
you
the treasure
that was in your sacks.
I received
your money.”
Then he brought Simeon
out
to them.
And the steward
took
the men
into Joseph’s
house,
gave
them water
to wash
their feet,
and provided
food
for their donkeys.
Since
the brothers had been told
that
they were going to eat
a meal
there,
they prepared
their gift
for
Joseph’s
arrival
at noon.
When Joseph
came
home,
they presented
him
with the gifts
they had brought,
and they bowed
to the ground before him.
He asked
if they were well,
and then he asked,
“How is your elderly
father
that
you told me about?
Is he still
alive?”
“Your servant
our father
is well,”
they answered.
“He is still
alive.”
And they bowed down
to honor him.
When Joseph looked up
and saw
his brother
Benjamin,
his own mother’s
son,
he asked,
“Is this
your youngest
brother,
the one
you told me about?”
Then he declared,
“May God
be gracious to you,
my son.”
Joseph
hurried
out because
he was moved
to tears
for
his brother,
and he went
to a private room
to weep.
They served
Joseph’s brothers
separately from
him
and the Egyptians
who ate
with him,
because
Egyptians
would
not
eat
with Hebrews,
since
that
was detestable
to them.
They were seated
before him
in order by age,
from the firstborn
to the youngest,
and the men
looked at
each
other
in astonishment.
When the portions
were served
to them
from Joseph’s table,
Benjamin’s
portion
was five
times
larger than
anyone else’s.
So they feasted
and drank freely
with Joseph.