Genesis 43
1 The famine continued to be really bad in Canaan,
And the famine was sore in 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 it came to pass, when they had completely eaten up the provisions which they had brought out of Egypt, that their father said unto them, Go again, 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.’
And Judah said unto him, thus, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.
4 If you send our brother Benjamin with us then we'll go and buy food for you.
If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food;
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 thou sendest him not, we will not go down; for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.
6 “Why have you made things so bad for me by telling the man you had another brother?” Israel asked.
And Israel said, Wherefore have ye dealt so ill with me, as to tell the man that ye have yet 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!’?”
And they said, The man inquired particularly concerning us, and our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we possibly know that he would say, Bring down your brother?
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!
And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, as also our little ones.
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 will be surety for him; from my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then shall I have sinned against thee all the days.
10 Now let's go, because if we hadn't hesitated, we could have gone there and come back twice by now.”
For, if we had not lingered, surely we had now returned the 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.
And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this: take of the best products of the land in your vessels, and carry down to the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices and lotus, pistachio-nuts and almonds;
12 Take double the money that was returned to you in your sacks—maybe it was a mistake.
And twofold money take in your hand; and the money that was put back in the mouth of your sacks, you must carry back in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight;
13 Take your brother and go back to the man right away.
Also your brother take along, and arise, go again unto 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.”
And may God the Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away to you your other brother, and Benjamin. And I, if I am to be bereaved, let me be 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.
And the men took that present; and twofold money they took in their hand, as also Benjamin; and they rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before 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 Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the superintendent of his house, Bring these men into the house, and slay, and make ready; for with me shall these men dine at noon.
17 The man did as Joseph ordered and took them to Joseph's house.
And the man did as Joseph had said; and the man brought the men into Joseph's 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 the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house: and they said, Because of the money that came back in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, together with our asses.
19 So they went and spoke to Joseph's household supervisor at the entrance to the house.
And they came near to the man who was appointed over Joseph's house, and they spoke with him at the door of the house.
20 “Please excuse us, my lord,” they said. “We came down the first time to buy food,
And they said, Pardon, my lord, we came down at the first time 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 it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in its full weight; and we have brought it back in our hand.
22 We've also brought more money to buy food. We've no idea who put our money in our sacks!”
And other money have we brought down in our hand to buy food; we know not who hath put our money in our sacks.
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.
And he said, Peace be to you, fear not; your God, and the God of your father, hath given you a treasure in your sacks; your money hath come to me. And he brought Simeon out unto them.
24 The steward took them inside Joseph's house, gave them water to wash their feet, and supplied food for their donkeys.
And the man brought the men into Joseph's house; and he gave them water, and they washed their feet, and he gave provender to their asses.
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.
And they made ready the present before Joseph came home at noon; for they had heard that they should 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 when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.
27 He asked how they were, and then he asked, “How is your elderly father doing that you spoke of? Is he still alive?”
And he asked them after their welfare, and said, Is your old father well, of whom ye spoke? is he yet alive?
28 “Yes, your servant our father is still alive, and is well,” they replied and bowed low in respect.
And they answered, Thy servant, our father, is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and prostrated themselves.
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.
And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your youngest brother, of whom ye spoke unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, 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 Joseph hastened away, for his affection toward his brother became enkindled, and he sought to weep; and he entered into his chamber and wept there.
31 Then he washed his face, got his emotions under control, and went back out. “Serve the food,” he ordered.
And he washed his face, and came out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on the 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 they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves; and for the Egyptians, who did eat with him, by themselves; because the Egyptians may not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.
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.
And they sat before him, the first-born according to his prior birth, and the youngest according to his youth; and the men marveled one at the other.
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.
And he sent portions unto them from before him; but Benjamin's portion exceeded the portions of all of them fivefold. And they drank, and were merry with him.
