New American Standard Bible 1995

Genesis 43

The Return to Egypt

1Now the famineוְהָרָעָ֖בve.ha.ra.'AvH7458was severeכָּבֵ֥דka.VedH3515in the landבָּאָֽרֶץ׃ba.'A.retzH776.

2So it cameוַיְהִ֗יvay.HiH1961about whenH3512they had finishedכִּלּוּ֙ki.LuH3615eatingלֶאֱכֹ֣לle.'e.KholH398the grainהַשֶּׁ֔בֶרha.She.verH7668whichH834they had broughtהֵבִ֖יאוּhe.Vi.'uH935from Egyptמִמִּצְרָ֑יִםmi.mitz.Ra.yimH4714,that their fatherאֲבִיהֶ֔ם'a.vi.HemH1saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to them, “Goשֻׁ֖בוּShu.vuH7725backH7725,buyשִׁבְרוּ־shiv.ru-H7666us a littleמְעַט־me.'at-H4592foodאֹֽכֶל׃'O.khelH400.”

3Judahיְהוּדָ֖הye.hu.DahH3063spokeH559to him, however, sayingH559, “The manהָאִ֤ישׁha.'IshH376solemnlyהָעֵ֣דha.'EdH5749warnedהֵעִד֩he.'IdH5749us, ‘You shall not seeתִרְא֣וּtir.'UH7200my faceפָנַ֔יfa.NaiH6440unlessבִּלְתִּ֖יbil.TiH1115your brotherאֲחִיכֶ֥ם'a.chi.KhemH251is with you.’

4Ifאִם־'im-H518you sendמְשַׁלֵּ֥חַme.sha.Le.achH7971our brotherאָחִ֖ינוּ'a.Chi.nuH251with us, we will goנֵרְדָ֕הne.re.DahH3381downH3381and buyוְנִשְׁבְּרָ֥הve.nish.be.RahH7666you foodאֹֽכֶל׃'O.khelH400.

5But ifוְאִם־ve.'im-H518you do not sendמְשַׁלֵּ֖חַme.sha.Le.achH7971him,we will not goנֵרֵ֑דne.RedH3381downH3381;for the manהָאִ֞ישׁha.'IshH376saidאָמַ֤ר'a.MarH559to us, ‘You will not seeתִרְא֣וּtir.'UH7200my faceפָנַ֔יfa.NaiH6440unlessבִּלְתִּ֖יbil.TiH1115your brotherאֲחִיכֶ֥ם'a.chi.KhemH251is with you.’”

6Then Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, “Whyלָמָ֥הla.MahH4100did you treatH7489me so badlyH7489by tellingלְהַגִּ֣ידle.ha.GidH5046the manלָאִ֔ישׁla.'IshH376whether you stillהַע֥וֹדha.'odH5750had anotherbrotherאָֽח׃'AchH251?”

7But they saidוַיֹּאמְר֡וּvai.yo.me.RuH559, “The manהָ֠אִישׁHa.'ishH376questionedשָׁא֣וֹלsha.'olH7592particularlyשָֽׁאַל־sha.'al-H7592about us and our relativesוּלְמֽוֹלַדְתֵּ֜נוּu.le.mo.lad.Te.nuH4138,sayingלֵאמֹ֗רle.MorH559, ‘Is your fatherאֲבִיכֶ֥ם'a.vi.KhemH1stillהַע֨וֹדha.'odH5750aliveחַי֙chaiH2416?Haveהֲיֵ֣שׁha.YeshH3426you anotherbrotherאָ֔ח'AchH251?’ So weansweredוַנַ֨גֶּד־va.Na.ged-H5046his questionsהַדְּבָרִ֣יםha.de.va.RimH1697.Could we possiblyהֲיָד֣וֹעַha.ya.Do.a'H3045knowנֵדַ֔עne.Da'H3045that he would sayיֹאמַ֔רyo.MarH559, ‘Bringהוֹרִ֖ידוּho.Ri.duH3381your brotherאֲחִיכֶֽם׃'a.chi.KhemH251downH3381’?”

8Judahיְהוּדָ֜הye.hu.DahH3063saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to his fatherאָבִ֗יו'a.VivH1Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֣לYis.ra.'ElH3478, “Sendשִׁלְחָ֥הshil.ChahH7971the ladהַנַּ֛עַרha.Na.'arH5288with me and we will ariseוְנָק֣וּמָהve.na.Ku.mahH6965and goוְנֵלֵ֑כָהve.ne.Le.khahH1980,that we may liveוְנִֽחְיֶה֙ve.nich.YehH2421and not dieנָמ֔וּתna.MutH4191,we as wellH1571as you and our littleטַפֵּֽנוּ׃ta.Pe.nuH2945onesH2945.

9I myselfאָֽנֹכִי֙'a.no.KhiH595will be suretyאֶֽעֶרְבֶ֔נּוּ'e.'er.Ve.nuH6148for him;you may holdתְּבַקְשֶׁ֑נּוּte.vak.She.nuH1245 H3027me responsibleH4480 H3027for him. Ifאִם־'im-H518I do not bringהֲבִיאֹתִ֤יוha.vi.'o.TivH935him backto you and setוְהִצַּגְתִּ֣יוve.hi.tzag.TivH3322him beforeלְפָנֶ֔יךָle.fa.Nei.khaH6440you, thenlet me bearH2398the blameH2398before you foreverכָּל־ הַיָּמִֽים׃kol- hai.ya.MimH3605 H3117.

10For ifלוּלֵ֣אlu.Le'H3884we had not delayedהִתְמַהְמָ֑הְנוּhit.mah.Ma.he.nuH4102,surelyH3588by nowעַתָּ֥ה'a.TahH6258we could have returnedשַׁ֖בְנוּShav.nuH7725twiceפַעֲמָֽיִם׃fa.'a.Ma.yimH6471.”

11Then their fatherאֲבִיהֶ֗ם'a.vi.HemH1Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֣לYis.ra.'ElH3478saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to them, “Ifאִם־'im-H518it must besoכֵּ֣ן׀kenH3651,thenאֵפוֹא֮'e.fO'H645doעֲשׂוּ֒'a.SuH6213thisH2088:takeקְח֞וּke.ChuH3947someH4480of the bestH2173productsH2173of the landהָאָ֙רֶץ֙ha.'A.retzH776in yourbagsבִּכְלֵיכֶ֔םbikh.lei.KhemH3627,and carryH3381downH3381to the manלָאִ֖ישׁla.'IshH376as a presentמִנְחָ֑הmin.ChahH4503,a littleמְעַ֤טme.'AtH4592balmצֳרִי֙tzo.RiH6875and a littleוּמְעַ֣טu.me.'AtH4592honeyדְּבַ֔שׁde.VashH1706,aromaticH5219gumH5219andmyrrhוָלֹ֔טva.LotH3910,pistachioH992nutsH992and almondsוּשְׁקֵדִֽים׃u.she.ke.DimH8247.

12Takeקְח֣וּke.ChuH3947doubleמִשְׁנֶ֖הmish.NehH4932themoneyוְכֶ֥סֶףve.Khe.sefH3701in your handבְיֶדְכֶ֑םve.yed.KhemH3027,and takeH7725backH7725in your handבְיֶדְכֶ֔םve.yed.KhemH3027the moneyהַכֶּ֜סֶףha.Ke.sefH3701that was returnedH7725in the mouthבְּפִ֤יbe.FiH6310of your sacksאַמְתְּחֹֽתֵיכֶם֙'am.te.cho.tei.KhemH572;perhapsאוּלַ֥י'u.LaiH194it was a mistakeמִשְׁגֶּ֖הmish.GehH4870.

13Takeקָ֑חוּKa.chuH3947your brotherאֲחִיכֶ֖ם'a.chi.KhemH251also, and ariseוְק֖וּמוּve.Ku.muH6965,returnשׁ֥וּבוּShu.vuH7725to the manהָאִֽישׁ׃ha.'IshH376;

14and mayGodוְאֵ֣לve.'ElH410Almightyשַׁדַּ֗יsha.DaiH7706grantיִתֵּ֨ןyi.TenH5414you compassionרַחֲמִים֙ra.cha.MimH7356in the sightלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440of the manהָאִ֔ישׁha.'IshH376,so that he will releaseוְשִׁלַּ֥חve.shi.LachH7971to youyour otherאַחֵ֖ר'a.CherH312brotherאֲחִיכֶ֥ם'a.chi.KhemH251and Benjaminבִּנְיָמִ֑יןbin.ya.MinH1144. And as for me,ifכַּאֲשֶׁ֥רka.'a.SherH834I am bereavedH7921of my childrenH7921,I am bereavedH7921.”

15So the menH376tookוַיִּקְח֤וּvai.yik.ChuH3947thisH2088presentהַמִּנְחָ֣הha.min.ChahH4503,and they tookלָקְח֥וּla.ke.ChuH3947doubleוּמִשְׁנֶה־u.mish.neh-H4932themoneyכֶּ֛סֶףKe.sefH3701in their handבְיָדָ֖םve.ya.DamH3027,and Benjaminבִּנְיָמִ֑ןbin.ya.MinH1144;then they aroseוַיָּקֻ֙מוּ֙vai.ya.Ku.muH6965and wentH3381downוַיֵּרְד֣וּvai.ye.re.DuH3381to Egyptמִצְרַ֔יִםmitz.Ra.yimH4714and stoodוַיַּֽעַמְד֖וּvai.ya.'am.DuH5975beforeלִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440Josephיוֹסֵֽף׃yo.SefH3130.

Joseph Sees Benjamin

16When Josephיוֹסֵ֣ףyo.SefH3130sawוַיַּ֨רְאvai.Yar'H7200Benjaminבִּנְיָמִין֒bin.ya.MinH1144with them, he saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559to hishouseבֵּית֔וֹbei.ToH1004stewardלַֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־la.'a.Sher 'al-H834 H5921, “Bringהָבֵ֥אha.Ve'H935the menH376into the houseהַבָּ֑יְתָהha.Ba.ye.tahH1004,and slayוּטְבֹ֤חַu.te.Vo.achH2873an animalטֶ֙בַח֙te.vachH2874and makeH3559readyH3559;for the menH376are to dineיֹאכְל֥וּyo.khe.LuH398with me at noonבַּֽצָּהֳרָֽיִם׃Ba.tzo.ho.Ra.yimH6672.”

17So the manהָאִ֔ישׁha.'IshH376didוַיַּ֣עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213as Josephיוֹסֵ֑ףyo.SefH3130saidאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559, andbroughtוַיָּבֵ֥אvai.ya.Ve'H935the menהָאִ֛ישׁha.'IshH376to Joseph’sיוֹסֵֽף׃yo.SefH3130houseבֵּ֥יתָהBei.tahH1004.

18Now the menH376were afraidוַיִּֽירְא֣וּvai.yi.re.'UH3372,becauseכִּ֣יkiH3588they were broughtהֽוּבְאוּ֮hu.ve.'UH935to Joseph’sיוֹסֵף֒yo.SefH3130houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004;and they saidוַיֹּאמְר֗וּvai.yo.me.RuH559, “It isbecauseדְּבַ֤רde.VarH5921 H1697of the moneyהַכֶּ֙סֶף֙ha.Ke.sefH3701that was returnedהַשָּׁ֤בha.ShavH7725in our sacksבְּאַמְתְּחֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙be.'am.te.cho.Tei.nuH572the firstH8462timeH8462that we are being broughtמֽוּבָאִ֑יםmu.va.'ImH935in, that he mayseekH1556occasionH1556againstH5921us and fallוּלְהִתְנַפֵּ֣לu.le.hit.na.PelH5307upon us, and takeוְלָקַ֧חַתve.la.Ka.chatH3947us for slavesלַעֲבָדִ֖יםla.'a.va.DimH5650with our donkeysחֲמֹרֵֽינוּ׃cha.mo.Rei.nuH2543.”

19So they cameH5066nearH5066to Joseph’sיוֹסֵ֑ףyo.SefH3130houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004stewardהָאִ֔ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־ha.'Ish 'a.Sher 'al-H376 H834 H5921,and spokeוַיְדַבְּר֥וּvay.da.be.RuH1696to him at the entranceפֶּ֥תַחPe.tachH6607of the houseהַבָּֽיִת׃ha.Ba.yitH1004,

20and saidוַיֹּאמְר֖וּvai.yo.me.RuH559, “Ohבִּ֣יbiH994,my lordאֲדֹנִ֑י'a.do.NiH113,we indeedH3381cameH3381downH3381the firstH8462timeH8462to buyלִשְׁבָּר־lish.bor-H7666foodאֹֽכֶל׃'O.khelH400,

21and it cameוַֽיְהִ֞יvay.HiH1961about whenכִּי־ki-H3588we cameבָ֣אנוּVa.nuH935to the lodgingהַמָּל֗וֹןha.ma.LonH4411placeH4411,that we openedוַֽנִּפְתְּחָה֙va.nif.te.ChahH6605our sacksאַמְתְּחֹתֵ֔ינוּ'am.te.cho.Tei.nuH572,and beholdוְהִנֵּ֤הve.hi.NehH2009,eachH376man’sאִישׁ֙'ishH376moneyכֶֽסֶף־khe.sef-H3701was in the mouthבְּפִ֣יbe.FiH6310of his sackאַמְתַּחְתּ֔וֹ'am.tach.ToH572,our moneyכַּסְפֵּ֖נוּkas.Pe.nuH3701infullבְּמִשְׁקָל֑וֹbe.mish.ka.LoH4948. Sowe have broughtH7725it backוַנָּ֥שֶׁבva.Na.shevH7725in our handבְּיָדֵֽנוּ׃be.ya.De.nuH3027.

22We have also broughtH3381downהוֹרַ֥דְנוּho.Rad.nuH3381otherאַחֵ֛ר'a.CherH312moneyוְכֶ֧סֶףve.Khe.sefH3701in our handבְיָדֵ֖נוּve.ya.De.nuH3027to buyלִשְׁבָּר־lish.bor-H7666foodאֹ֑כֶל'O.khelH400;we do not knowיָדַ֔עְנוּya.Da'.nuH3045whoמִי־mi-H4310putשָׂ֥םsamH7760our moneyכַּסְפֵּ֖נוּkas.Pe.nuH3701in our sacksבְּאַמְתְּחֹתֵֽינוּ׃be.'am.te.cho.Tei.nuH572.”

23He saidוַיֹּאמֶר֩vai.yo.MerH559, “Be at easeשָׁל֨וֹםsha.LomH7965,do not be afraidתִּירָ֗אוּti.Ra.'uH3372.Your Godאֱלֹ֨הֵיכֶ֜ם'e.Lo.hei.KhemH430and the Godוֵֽאלֹהֵ֤יve.lo.HeiH430of your fatherאֲבִיכֶם֙'a.vi.KhemH1has givenנָתַ֨ןna.TanH5414you treasureמַטְמוֹן֙mat.mOnH4301in your sacksבְּאַמְתְּחֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔םbe.'am.te.Cho.tei.KhemH572;I hadבָּ֣אba'H935your moneyכַּסְפְּכֶ֖םkas.pe.KhemH3701.” Thenhe broughtוַיּוֹצֵ֥אvai.yo.Tze'H3318Simeonשִׁמְעֽוֹן׃shim.'onH8095out to them.

24Then the manהָאִ֛ישׁha.'IshH376broughtוַיָּבֵ֥אvai.ya.Ve'H935the menH376into Joseph’sיוֹסֵ֑ףyo.SefH3130houseבֵּ֣יתָהBei.tahH1004andgaveוַיִּתֶּן־vai.yi.ten-H5414them waterמַ֙יִם֙ma.yimH4325, and theywashedוַיִּרְחֲצ֣וּvai.yir.cha.TzuH7364their feetרַגְלֵיהֶ֔םrag.lei.HemH7272;and he gaveוַיִּתֵּ֥ןvai.yi.TenH5414their donkeysלַחֲמֹֽרֵיהֶֽם׃la.cha.Mo.rei.HemH2543fodderמִסְפּ֖וֹאmis.Po'H4554.

25So they preparedוַיָּכִ֙ינוּ֙vai.ya.Khi.nuH3559the presentהַמִּנְחָ֔הha.min.ChahH4503for Joseph’sיוֹסֵ֖ףyo.SefH3130comingבּ֥וֹאBo'H935at noonבַּֽצָּהֳרָ֑יִםba.tzo.ho.Ra.yimH6672;for they had heardשָֽׁמְע֔וּsha.me.'UH8085that they were to eatיֹ֥אכְלוּYo.khe.luH398a mealלָֽחֶם׃La.chemH3899thereשָׁ֖םshamH8033.

26When Josephיוֹסֵף֙yo.SefH3130cameוַיָּבֹ֤אvai.ya.Vo'H935homeהַבַּ֔יְתָהha.Bay.tahH1004,they broughtוַיָּבִ֥יאּוּvai.ya.Vi'.'uH935into the houseהַבָּ֑יְתָהha.Ba.ye.tahH1004to him the presentהַמִּנְחָ֥הha.min.ChahH4503whichאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834was in their handבְּיָדָ֖םbe.ya.DamH3027andbowedוַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ־vai.yish.ta.cha.vu-H7812to the groundאָֽרְצָה׃'A.re.tzahH776before him.

27Then he askedוַיִּשְׁאַ֤לvai.yish.'AlH7592them about their welfareלְשָׁל֔וֹםle.sha.LomH7965,and saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Is your oldהַזָּקֵ֖ןha.za.KenH2205fatherאֲבִיכֶ֥ם'a.vi.KhemH1wellהֲשָׁל֛וֹםha.sha.LomH7965,of whomאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834you spokeאֲמַרְתֶּ֑ם'a.mar.TemH559?Is he stillהַעוֹדֶ֖נּוּha.'o.De.nuH5750aliveחָֽי׃ChaiH2416?”

28They saidוַיֹּאמְר֗וּvai.yo.me.RuH559, “Your servantלְעַבְדְּךָ֥le.'av.de.KhaH5650our fatherלְאָבִ֖ינוּle.'a.Vi.nuH1is wellשָׁל֛וֹםsha.LomH7965;he is stillעוֹדֶ֣נּוּo.De.nuH5750aliveחָ֑יChaiH2416.”They bowedוַֽיִּקְּד֖וּvai.yi.ke.DuH6915downוַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוּֽוּ׃vai.yish.ta.chuH7812in homageH7812.

29As he liftedוַיִּשָּׂ֣אvai.yi.Sa'H5375his eyesעֵינָ֗יו'ei.NavH5869and sawוַיַּ֞רְאvai.Yar'H7200his brotherאָחִיו֮'a.ChivH251Benjaminבִּנְיָמִ֣יןbin.ya.MinH1144,his mother’sאִמּוֹ֒'i.MoH517sonבֶּן־ben-H1121,he saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Is thisהֲזֶה֙ha.ZehH2088your youngestהַקָּטֹ֔ןha.ka.TonH6996brotherאֲחִיכֶ֣ם'a.chi.KhemH251,of whomאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834you spokeאֲמַרְתֶּ֖ם'a.mar.TemH559to me?” And he saidוַיֹּאמַ֕רvai.yo.MarH559, “May Godאֱלֹהִ֥ים'E.lo.HimH430be graciousיָחְנְךָ֖ya.che.ne.KhaH2603to you, my sonבְּנִֽי׃be.NiH1121.”

30Josephיוֹסֵ֗ףyo.SefH3130hurriedוַיְמַהֵ֣רvay.ma.HerH4116out forhe was deeplyרַחֲמָיו֙ra.cha.MavH7356stirredנִכְמְר֤וּnikh.me.RuH3648overאֶל־'el-H413his brotherאָחִ֔יו'a.ChivH251,and he soughtוַיְבַקֵּ֖שׁvay.va.KeshH1245a placeto weepלִבְכּ֑וֹתliv.KotH1058;and he enteredוַיָּבֹ֥אvai.ya.Vo'H935his chamberהַחַ֖דְרָהha.Chad.rahH2315andweptוַיֵּ֥בְךְּvai.Ye.vekH1058thereשָֽׁמָּה׃Sha.mahH8033.

31Then he washedוַיִּרְחַ֥ץvai.yir.ChatzH7364his faceפָּנָ֖יוpa.NavH6440and cameוַיֵּצֵ֑אvai.ye.Tze'H3318out; and hecontrolledוַיִּ֨תְאַפַּ֔קvai.Yit.'a.PakH662himself and saidוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Serveשִׂ֥ימוּSi.muH7760the mealלָֽחֶם׃La.chemH3899.”

32So they servedוַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּvai.ya.Si.muH7760him by himselfלְבַדּ֖וֹle.va.DoH905,and them by themselvesלְבַדָּ֑םle.va.DamH905,and the EgyptiansH4713who ateהָאֹכְלִ֤יםha.'o.khe.LimH398with him by themselvesלְבַדָּ֔םle.va.DamH905,becauseH3588the EgyptiansH4713couldיוּכְל֜וּןyu.khe.LunH3201not eatלֶאֱכֹ֤לle.'e.KholH398breadלֶ֔חֶםLe.chemH3899with the Hebrewsהָֽעִבְרִים֙ha.'iv.RimH5680, for that isloathsomeתוֹעֵבָ֥הto.'e.VahH8441to the EgyptiansH4714.

33Now theywere seatedוַיֵּשְׁב֣וּvai.ye.she.VuH3427beforeלְפָנָ֔יוle.fa.NavH6440him,the firstbornהַבְּכֹר֙ha.be.KhorH1060according to his birthrightכִּבְכֹ֣רָת֔וֹkiv.Kho.ra.ToH1062and the youngestוְהַצָּעִ֖ירve.ha.tza.'IrH6810according to his youthכִּצְעִרָת֑וֹkitz.'i.ra.ToH6812,and the menH376lookedH8539at oneH376anotherרֵעֵֽהוּ׃re.'E.huH7453in astonishmentוַיִּתְמְה֥וּvai.yit.me.HuH8539.

34He tookוַיִּשָּׂ֨אvai.yi.Sa'H5375portionsH4864to them fromhis own tableפָּנָיו֮pa.NavH6440,but Benjamin’sבִּנְיָמִ֛ןbin.ya.MinH1144portionH4864was fiveחָמֵ֣שׁcha.MeshH2568timesיָד֑וֹתya.DotH3027as muchוַתֵּ֜רֶבva.Te.revH7235as anyכֻּלָּ֖םku.LamH3605of theirs. So they feastedוַיִּשְׁתּ֥וּvai.yish.TuH8354and drankH7937freelyH7937with him.

The Return to Egypt

Joseph Sees Benjamin

Commentaries on Genesis 43