Genesis 43

1 The famine continued to be really bad in Canaan,

Meanwhile, the famine pressed heavily on all the land.

2 so once they had finished the grain they'd brought from Egypt, their father told them, “You have to go back and buy some more grain for us.”

And having consumed the provisions that they had brought out of Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, “Return and buy us a little food.”

3 But Judah responded, “The man was adamant when he warned us, ‘I won't even see you unless your brother is with you.’

Judah answered: “The man himself declared to us, under the attestation of an oath, saying: ‘You will not see my face, unless you bring your youngest brother with you.’

4 If you send our brother Benjamin with us then we'll go and buy food for you.

If therefore you are willing to send him with us, we will travel together, and we will buy necessities for you.

5 But if you won't send him, then we won't go, because the man was very clear, ‘I won't even see you unless your brother is with you.’”

But if you are not willing, we will not go. For the man, as we have often said, declared to us, saying: ‘You will not see my face without your youngest brother.’”

6 “Why have you made things so bad for me by telling the man you had another brother?” Israel asked.

Israel said to them, “You have done this for my misery, in that you revealed to him that you also had another brother.”

7 “The man kept on asking direct questions about us and our family like ‘Is your father still alive?’ and ‘Do you have another brother?’” they replied. “We just answered his questions. How were we to know he'd say, ‘Bring your brother here!’?”

But they responded: “The man questioned us in order, concerning our family: whether our father lived, if we had a brother. And we answered him respectively, according to what he demanded. How could we know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother with you?’”

8 Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy in my care, and we'll leave immediately, so that we can stay alive and not die—and that includes you and us and our children!

Likewise, Judah said to his father: “Send the boy with me, so that we may set out and be able to live, lest we and our little ones should die.

9 I promise to take care of him—I'll be personally responsible for bringing him back to you. If I don't, then I will always carry the blame!

I accept the boy; require him at my hand. Unless I lead him back and restore him to you, I will be guilty of a sin against you for all time.

10 Now let's go, because if we hadn't hesitated, we could have gone there and come back twice by now.”

If a delay had not intervened, by now we would have returned here a second time.”

11 “If it has to be, then this is what you'll do,” Israel replied. “Take with you the best our country produces. Pack your bags with gifts for the man—balm, a little honey, spices, myrrh, pistachios, and almonds.

Therefore, their father Israel said to them: “If it is necessary to do so, then do what you will. Take, in your vessels, from the best fruits of the land, and carry down gifts to the man: a little resin, and honey, and storax ointment, oil of myrrh, turpentine, and almonds.

12 Take double the money that was returned to you in your sacks—maybe it was a mistake.

Also, take with you double the money, and carry back what you found in your sacks, lest perhaps it was done in error.

13 Take your brother and go back to the man right away.

But also take your brother, and go to the man.

14 May God Almighty make the man treat you kindly so when you come before him he'll release your other brother and send Benjamin back. As for me, if I am to lose all my children, then so be it.”

Then may my Almighty God cause him to be pleased by you. And send your brother, whom he holds, back with you, along with this one, Benjamin. But as for me, without my children, I will be like one who is bereaved.”

15 So they packed the gifts, took double the money, and set off, accompanied by Benjamin. They arrived in Egypt and went to have an audience with Joseph.

Therefore, the men took the gifts, and double the money, and Benjamin. And they went down into Egypt, and they stood in the presence of Joseph.

16 When Joseph saw Benjamin was with them, he told his household supervisor, “Take these men to my house. Slaughter an animal and make a meal, for they are going to eat with me at noon.”

And when he had seen them and Benjamin together, he instructed the steward of his house, saying: “Lead the men into the house, and kill victims, and prepare a feast, because they will be eating with me at midday.”

17 The man did as Joseph ordered and took them to Joseph's house.

He did what he had been ordered to do, and he brought the men into the house.

18 They were really worried that they were being taken to Joseph's house. “It's because of the money that was put in our sacks the first time we came,” they said to each other. “That's why we're being brought in—so he can accuse us and attack us! He'll make us his slaves and take our donkeys!”

And there, being terrified, they said one to another: “Because of the money, which we carried back the first time in our sacks, we have been brought in, so that he may unleash a false accusation against us, and by violence subjugate both us and our donkeys into servitude.”

19 So they went and spoke to Joseph's household supervisor at the entrance to the house.

For this reason, approaching the steward of the house at his door,

20 “Please excuse us, my lord,” they said. “We came down the first time to buy food,

they said: “We beg you, lord, to hear us. We came down once before to buy food.

21 and when we stopped for the night, we opened our sacks and each of us found our money—the exact amount—at the top of our sacks. So we've brought it back with us.

And having bought it, when we arrived at the inn, we opened our sacks and found the money in the mouths of the sacks, which we now have carried back in the same amount.

22 We've also brought more money to buy food. We've no idea who put our money in our sacks!”

But we have also brought other silver, so that we may buy those things that are necessary for us. It is not on our conscience who had placed it in our bags.”

23 “Everything's fine!” he told them. “Don't worry! Your God, the God of your father, must have given you the treasure hidden in your sacks. I got your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to meet them.

But he responded: “Peace be with you. Do not be afraid. Your God, and the God of your father, has given you the treasure in your sacks. As for the money that you gave to me, I held it as a test.” And he led Simeon out to them.

24 The steward took them inside Joseph's house, gave them water to wash their feet, and supplied food for their donkeys.

And having led them into the house, he brought water, and they washed their feet, and he gave fodder to their donkeys.

25 They got their gifts ready for when Joseph would come at noon, because they had found out that they were going to eat there.

But they also prepared the gifts, until Joseph entered at midday. For they had heard that they would eat bread there.

26 When Joseph arrived at the house they gave him the gifts they had brought for him, and bowed low to the ground before him.

And so Joseph entered his house, and they offered him the gifts, holding them in their hands. And they reverenced prone on the ground.

27 He asked how they were, and then he asked, “How is your elderly father doing that you spoke of? Is he still alive?”

But he, gently greeting them again, questioned them, saying: “Is your father, the old man about whom you spoke to me, in good health? Is he still alive?”

28 “Yes, your servant our father is still alive, and is well,” they replied and bowed low in respect.

And they answered: “Your servant, our father, is safe; he is still alive.” And bowing, they reverenced him.

29 Then Joseph looked over at his brother Benjamin, the son of his own mother. “Is this your youngest brother that you told me about?” he asked. “God be gracious to you, my son,” he said.

Then Joseph, lifting up his eyes, saw Benjamin, his brother of the same womb, and he said, “Is this your little brother, about whom you spoke to me?” And again, he said, “May God be compassionate to you, my son.”

30 Joseph had to run out quickly because he was becoming so emotional at seeing his brother. He looked for a place to cry, and went to his room to weep there.

And he hurried out, because his heart had been moved over his brother, and tears gushed out. And going into his chamber, he wept.

31 Then he washed his face, got his emotions under control, and went back out. “Serve the food,” he ordered.

And when he had washed his face, coming out again, he composed himself, and he said, “Set out bread.”

32 Joseph was served at a table by himself, and his brothers were served at a separate table. The Egyptians were also served at another table, because Egyptians cannot eat with Hebrews because they find this repulsive.

And when it was set out, separately for Joseph, and separately for his brothers, likewise separately for the Egyptians, who ate at the same time, (for it is unlawful for Egyptians to eat with Hebrews, and they consider feasting in this way to be profane)

33 The brothers had been seated in front of him in order by age, from the firstborn, the oldest, down to the youngest, and they looked at each other in complete surprise.

they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his state of life. And they wondered exceedingly,

34 The food was served to them from Joseph's table, and Benjamin received five times as much as anyone else. So they ate and drank plenty with him.

taking the portions that they received from him. And the greater portion went to Benjamin, so much so that it exceeded five parts. And they drank and became inebriated along with him.