Chapter 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 marvelled 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 .