New American Standard Bible 1995

Genesis 44

The Brothers Are Brought Back

1Then he commandedוַיְצַ֞וvay.TzavH6680his houseבֵּיתוֹ֮bei.ToH1004stewardעַל־'al-H834 H5921,sayingלֵאמֹר֒le.MorH559, “Fillמַלֵּ֞אma.Le'H4390the men’sאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376sacksאַמְתְּחֹ֤ת'am.te.ChotH572with foodאֹ֔כֶל'O.khelH400,as muchH3512as they canיוּכְל֖וּןyu.khe.LunH3201carryשְׂאֵ֑תse.'EtH5375,and putוְשִׂ֥יםve.SimH7760eachH376man’sH376moneyכֶּֽסֶף־ke.sef-H3701in the mouthבְּפִ֥יbe.FiH6310of his sackאַמְתַּחְתּֽוֹ׃'am.tach.ToH572.

2Putתָּשִׂים֙ta.SimH7760my cupגְּבִיעִ֞יge.vi.'IH1375,the silverהַכֶּ֗סֶףha.Ke.sefH3701cupגְּבִ֣יעַge.Vi.a'H1375,in the mouthבְּפִי֙be.FiH6310of the sackאַמְתַּ֣חַת'am.Ta.chatH572of the youngestהַקָּטֹ֔ןha.ka.TonH6996,and his moneyכֶּ֣סֶףKe.sefH3701for the grainשִׁבְר֑וֹshiv.RoH7668.”And he didוַיַּ֕עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213as Josephיוֹסֵ֖ףyo.SefH3130had toldדִּבֵּֽר׃di.BerH1696him.

3As soonהַבֹּ֖קֶרha.Bo.kerH1242as it was lightא֑וֹר'orH215,the menH376were sentH7971awayH7971,they with their donkeysוַחֲמֹרֵיהֶֽם׃va.cha.mo.rei.HemH2543.

4They had justgoneיָֽצְא֣וּya.tze.'UH3318out ofthe cityהָעִיר֮ha.'IrH5892, andwere not farהִרְחִיקוּ֒hir.chi.KuH7368off, when Josephוְיוֹסֵ֤ףve.yo.SefH3130saidאָמַר֙'a.MarH559to his houseבֵּית֔וֹbei.ToH1004stewardלַֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־la.'a.Sher 'al-H834 H5921, “Up, followרְדֹ֖ף אַחֲרֵ֣יre.Dof 'a.cha.ReiH7291 H310the menH376;and when you overtakeוְהִשַּׂגְתָּם֙ve.hi.sag.TamH5381them, sayוְאָמַרְתָּ֣ve.'a.mar.TaH559to them, ‘Whyלָ֛מָּהLa.mahH4100have you repaidשִׁלַּמְתֶּ֥םshi.lam.TemH7999evilH7463for goodH2899?

5Is not thisזֶ֗הZehH2088the one from whichאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834my lordאֲדֹנִי֙'a.do.NiH113drinksיִשְׁתֶּ֤הyish.TehH8354and which he indeedנַחֵ֥שׁna.CheshH5172usesH5172fordivinationיְנַחֵ֖שׁye.na.CheshH5172?You have doneH7489wrongH7489in doingעֲשִׂיתֶֽם׃'a.si.TemH6213thisאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834.’”

6So he overtookוַֽיַּשִּׂגֵ֑םvai.ya.si.GemH5381them and spokeוַיְדַבֵּ֣רvay.da.BerH1696theseהָאֵֽלֶּה׃ha.'E.lehH428wordsהַדְּבָרִ֖יםha.de.va.RimH1697to them.

7They saidוַיֹּאמְר֣וּvai.yo.me.RuH559to him, “Whyלָ֚מָּהLa.mahH4100does my lordאֲדֹנִ֔י'a.do.NiH113speakיְדַבֵּ֣רye.da.BerH1696such wordsכַּדְּבָרִ֖יםka.de.va.RimH1697as theseהָאֵ֑לֶּהha.'E.lehH428?Farחָלִ֙ילָה֙cha.Li.lahH2486be it from your servantsלַעֲבָדֶ֔יךָla.'a.va.Dei.khaH5650to doמֵעֲשׂ֖וֹתme.'a.SotH6213suchהַזֶּֽה׃ha.ZehH2088a thingכַּדָּבָ֥רka.da.VarH1697.

8Beholdהֵ֣ןhenH2005,the moneyכֶּ֗סֶףKe.sefH3701whichאֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834we foundמָצָ֙אנוּ֙ma.Tza.nuH4672in the mouthבְּפִ֣יbe.FiH6310of our sacksאַמְתְּחֹתֵ֔ינוּ'am.te.cho.Tei.nuH572we have broughtH7725backהֱשִׁיבֹ֥נוּhe.shi.Vo.nuH7725to you from the landמֵאֶ֣רֶץme.'E.retzH776of Canaanכְּנָ֑עַןke.Na.'anH3667.Howוְאֵ֗יךְve.'EikhH349then could we stealנִגְנֹב֙nig.NoH1589silverכֶּ֖סֶףKe.sefH3701orא֥וֹ'oH176goldזָהָֽב׃za.HavH2091from your lord’sאֲדֹנֶ֔יךָ'a.do.Nei.khaH113houseמִבֵּ֣יתmi.BeitH1004?

9With whomeverאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834of your servantsמֵעֲבָדֶ֖יךָme.'a.va.Dei.khaH5650it is foundיִמָּצֵ֥אyi.ma.Tze'H4672,let him dieוָמֵ֑תva.MetH4191,and we alsoוְגַם־ve.gam-H1571will be my lord’sלַֽאדֹנִ֖יla.do.NiH113slavesלַעֲבָדִֽים׃la.'a.va.DimH5650.”

10So he saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Nowעַתָּ֥ה'a.TahH6258let it alsoגַּם־gam-H1571be according to your wordsכְדִבְרֵיכֶ֖םkhe.div.rei.KhemH1697;he with whomאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834it is foundיִמָּצֵ֤אyi.ma.Tze'H4672shall be my slaveעָ֔בֶד'A.vedH5650, and the rest ofyou shall be innocentנְקִיִּֽם׃ne.ki.YimH5355.”

11Then they hurriedוַֽיְמַהֲר֗וּvay.ma.ha.RuH4116,eachH376manאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376loweredוַיּוֹרִ֛דוּvai.yo.Ri.duH3381his sackאַמְתַּחְתּ֖וֹ'am.tach.ToH572to the groundאָ֑רְצָה'A.re.tzahH776,and eachH376manאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376openedוַֽיִּפְתְּח֖וּvai.yif.te.ChuH6605his sackאַמְתַּחְתּֽוֹ׃'am.tach.ToH572.

12He searchedוַיְחַפֵּ֕שׂvay.cha.PesH2664,beginningהֵחֵ֔לhe.ChelH2490with the oldestבַּגָּד֣וֹלba.ga.DolH1419and endingכִּלָּ֑הki.LahH3615with the youngestוּבַקָּטֹ֖ןu.va.ka.TonH6996, andthe cupהַגָּבִ֔יעַha.ga.Vi.a'H1375was foundוַיִּמָּצֵא֙vai.yi.ma.Tze'H4672in Benjamin’sבִּנְיָמִֽן׃bin.ya.MinH1144sackבְּאַמְתַּ֖חַתbe.'am.Ta.chatH572.

13Then theytoreוַֽיִּקְרְע֖וּvai.yik.re.'UH7167their clothesשִׂמְלֹתָ֑םsim.lo.TamH8071,and when eachH376manאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376loadedוַֽיַּעֲמֹס֙vai.ya.'a.MosH6006his donkeyחֲמֹר֔וֹcha.mo.RoH2543,they returnedוַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּvai.ya.Shu.vuH7725tothe cityהָעִֽירָה׃ha.'I.rahH5892.

14When Judahיְהוּדָ֤הye.hu.DahH3063and his brothersוְאֶחָיו֙ve.'e.ChavH251cameוַיָּבֹ֨אvai.ya.Vo'H935to Joseph’sיוֹסֵ֔ףyo.SefH3130houseבֵּ֣יתָהBei.tahH1004,he was stillעוֹדֶ֣נּוּo.De.nuH5750thereשָׁ֑םShamH8033, andthey fellוַיִּפְּל֥וּvai.yi.pe.LuH5307to the groundאָֽרְצָה׃'A.re.tzahH776beforeלְפָנָ֖יוle.fa.NavH6440him.

15Josephיוֹסֵ֔ףyo.SefH3130saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to them, “Whatמָֽה־mah-H4100is thisהַזֶּ֖הha.ZehH2088deedהַמַּעֲשֶׂ֥הha.ma.'a.SehH4639that you have doneעֲשִׂיתֶ֑ם'a.si.TemH6213?Do you not knowיְדַעְתֶּ֔םye.da'.TemH3045that suchכָּמֹֽנִי׃ka.Mo.niH3644a manאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376as I can indeedH5172practiceH5172divinationH5172?”

16So Judahיְהוּדָ֗הye.hu.DahH3063saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Whatמַה־mah-H4100can we sayנֹּאמַר֙no.MarH559to my lordלַֽאדֹנִ֔יla.do.NiH113?Whatמַה־mah-H4100can we speakנְּדַבֵּ֖רne.da.BerH1696?And howוּמַה־u.mah-H4100can we justifyנִּצְטַדָּ֑קnitz.ta.DakH6663ourselves? Godהָאֱלֹהִ֗יםha.'E.lo.HimH430has foundמָצָא֙ma.Tza'H4672out the iniquityעֲוֹ֣ן'a.VonH5771of your servantsעֲבָדֶ֔יךָ'a.va.Dei.khaH5650;beholdH2009,we are my lord’sלַֽאדֹנִ֔יla.do.NiH113slavesעֲבָדִים֙'a.va.DimH5650,bothH1571we and the one in whoseאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834possessionבְּיָדֽוֹ׃be.ya.DoH3027the cupהַגָּבִ֖יעַha.ga.Vi.a'H1375has been foundנִמְצָ֥אnim.Tza'H4672.”

17But he saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Farחָלִ֣ילָהcha.Li.lahH2486be it from me to doמֵעֲשׂ֖וֹתme.'a.SotH6213thisH2088.The manהָאִ֡ישׁha.'IshH376in whoseאֲשֶׁר֩'a.SherH834possessionבְּיָד֗וֹbe.ya.DoH3027the cupהַגָּבִ֜יעַha.ga.Vi.a'H1375has been foundנִמְצָ֨אnim.Tza'H4672,he shall be my slaveעָ֔בֶד'A.vedH5650;but as for you, goעֲל֥וּ'a.LuH5927up in peaceלְשָׁל֖וֹםle.sha.LomH7965to your fatherאֲבִיכֶֽם׃ פ'a.vi.KhemH1.”

18Then Judahיְהוּדָ֗הye.hu.DahH3063approachedוַיִּגַּ֨שׁvai.yi.GashH5066him, and saidוַיֹּאמֶר֮vai.yo.MerH559, “Ohבִּ֣יbiH994my lordאֲדֹנִי֒'a.do.NiH113,may your servantעַבְדְּךָ֤'av.de.KhaH5650pleaseנָ֨אna'H4994speakיְדַבֶּר־ye.da.ber-H1696a wordדָבָר֙da.VarH1697in my lord’sאֲדֹנִ֔י'a.do.NiH113earsבְּאָזְנֵ֣יbe.'a.ze.NeiH241, anddo not be angryיִ֥חַר אַפְּךָ֖Yi.char 'a.pe.KhaH639 H2734with your servantבְּעַבְדֶּ֑ךָbe.'av.De.khaH5650; foryou are equal to Pharaohכְּפַרְעֹֽה׃ke.far.'OhH6547.

19My lordאֲדֹנִ֣י'a.do.NiH113askedשָׁאַ֔לsha.'AlH7592his servantsעֲבָדָ֖יו'a.va.DavH5650,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559, ‘Haveהֲיֵשׁ־ha.yesh-H3426you a fatherאָ֖ב'avH1orאוֹ־'ov-H176a brotherאָֽח׃'AchH251?’

20We saidוַנֹּ֙אמֶר֙va.No.merH559to my lordאֲדֹנִ֔י'a.do.NiH113, ‘We haveיֶשׁ־yesh-H3426an oldזָקֵ֔ןza.KenH2205fatherאָ֣ב'avH1anda littleקָטָ֑ןka.TanH6996childוְיֶ֥לֶדve.Ye.ledH3206of hisoldזְקֻנִ֖יםze.ku.NimH2208ageH2208. Nowhis brotherוְאָחִ֨יוve.'a.ChivH251is deadמֵ֜תmetH4191,so he aloneלְבַדּ֛וֹle.va.DoH905is leftוַיִּוָּתֵ֨רvai.yi.va.TerH3498of his motherלְאִמּ֖וֹle.'i.MoH517,and his fatherוְאָבִ֥יוve.'a.VivH1lovesאֲהֵבֽוֹ׃'a.he.VoH157him.’

21Then you saidוַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙va.To.merH559to your servantsעֲבָדֶ֔יךָ'a.va.Dei.khaH5650, ‘Bringהוֹרִדֻ֖הוּho.ri.Du.huH3381him downH3381to me that I may setוְאָשִׂ֥ימָהve.'a.Si.mahH7760my eyesעֵינִ֖י'ei.NiH5869on him.’

22But we saidוַנֹּ֙אמֶר֙va.No.merH559to my lordאֲדֹנִ֔י'a.do.NiH113, ‘The ladהַנַּ֖עַרha.Na.'arH5288cannotלֹא־ יוּכַ֥לlo'- yu.KhalH3201 H3808leaveלַעֲזֹ֣בla.'a.ZoH5800his fatherאָבִ֑יו'a.VivH1,for if he should leaveוְעָזַ֥בve.'a.ZavH5800his fatherאָבִ֖יו'a.VivH1,his father would dieוָמֵֽת׃va.MetH4191.’

23You saidוַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙va.To.merH559to your servantsעֲבָדֶ֔יךָ'a.va.Dei.khaH5650, however, ‘Unlessאִם־'im-H518 H3808your youngestהַקָּטֹ֖ןha.ka.TonH6996brotherאֲחִיכֶ֥ם'a.chi.KhemH251comesיֵרֵ֛דye.RedH3381downH3381with you, you will not seeלִרְא֥וֹתlir.'otH7200my faceפָּנָֽי׃pa.NaiH6440againתֹסִפ֖וּןto.si.FunH3254.’

24Thus it cameוַיְהִי֙vay.HiH1961about whenכִּ֣יkiH3588we wentעָלִ֔ינוּ'a.Li.nuH5927up to your servantעַבְדְּךָ֖'av.de.KhaH5650my fatherאָבִ֑י'a.ViH1,we toldוַנַּ֨גֶּד־va.Na.ged-H5046him the wordsדִּבְרֵ֥יdiv.ReiH1697of my lordאֲדֹנִֽי׃'a.do.NiH113.

25Our fatherאָבִ֑ינוּ'a.Vi.nuH1saidוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, ‘Goשֻׁ֖בוּShu.vuH7725backH7725,buyשִׁבְרוּ־shiv.ru-H7666us a littleמְעַט־me.'at-H4592foodאֹֽכֶל׃'O.khelH400.’

26But we saidוַנֹּ֕אמֶרva.No.merH559, ‘We cannotלֹ֥א נוּכַ֖לlo' nu.KhalH3201 H3808goלָרֶ֑דֶתla.Re.detH3381downH3381.Ifאִם־'im-H518our youngestהַקָּטֹ֤ןha.ka.TonH6996brotherאָחִ֨ינוּ'a.Chi.nuH251is with us, then we will goוְיָרַ֔דְנוּve.ya.Rad.nuH3381downH3381;for we cannotלֹ֣א נוּכַ֗לlo' nu.KhalH3201 H3808seeלִרְאוֹת֙lir.'OtH7200the man’sהָאִ֔ישׁha.'IshH376faceפְּנֵ֣יpe.NeiH6440unlessאֵינֶ֥נּוּ'ei.Ne.nuH369our youngestהַקָּטֹ֖ןha.ka.TonH6996brotherוְאָחִ֥ינוּve.'a.Chi.nuH251is with us.’

27Your servantעַבְדְּךָ֥'av.de.KhaH5650my fatherאָבִ֖י'a.ViH1saidוַיֹּ֛אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to us, ‘You knowיְדַעְתֶּ֔םye.da'.TemH3045thatmy wifeאִשְׁתִּֽי׃'ish.TiH802boreיָֽלְדָה־Yal.dah-H3205me twoשְׁנַ֖יִםshe.Na.yimH8147sons;

28and the oneהָֽאֶחָד֙ha.'e.ChadH259wentוַיֵּצֵ֤אvai.ye.Tze'H3318out from me, andI saidוָאֹמַ֕רva.'o.MarH559, “Surelyאַ֖ךְ'akhH389he is tornטָרֹ֣ףta.RofH2963in piecesטֹרָ֑ףto.RafH2963,”and I have not seenרְאִיתִ֖יוre.'i.TivH7200him sinceעַד־ הֵֽנָּה׃'ad- He.nahH5704 H2008.

29If you takeוּלְקַחְתֶּ֧םu.le.kach.TemH3947thisH2088oneזֶ֛הzehH2088alsoגַּם־gam-H1571fromme, and harmאָס֑וֹן'a.SonH611befallsוְקָרָ֣הוּve.ka.Ra.huH7136him, you willbringH3381my grayשֵׂיבָתִ֛יsei.va.TiH7872hairH7872downוְהֽוֹרַדְתֶּ֧םve.ho.rad.TemH3381to Sheolשְׁאֹֽלָה׃she.'O.lahH7585insorrowH7463.’

30Nowוְעַתָּ֗הve.'a.TahH6258,therefore, when I comeכְּבֹאִי֙ke.vo.'IH935to your servantעַבְדְּךָ֣'av.de.KhaH5650my fatherאָבִ֔י'a.ViH1,and the ladוְהַנַּ֖עַרve.ha.Na.'arH5288is not with us, sincehis lifeוְנַפְשׁ֖וֹve.naf.ShoH5315is boundקְשׁוּרָ֥הke.shu.RahH7194up in the lad’s lifeבְנַפְשֽׁוֹ׃ve.naf.ShoH5315,

31when he seesכִּרְאוֹת֛וֹkir.'o.ToH7200that the ladהַנַּ֖עַרha.Na.'arH5288is not with us,he will dieוָמֵ֑תva.MetH4191.Thus your servantsעֲבָדֶ֜יךָ'a.va.Dei.khaH5650willbringוְהוֹרִ֨ידוּve.ho.Ri.duH3381the grayשֵׂיבַ֨תsei.VatH7872hairH7872of your servantעַבְדְּךָ֥'av.de.KhaH5650our fatherאָבִ֛ינוּ'a.Vi.nuH1downH3381to Sheolשְׁאֹֽלָה׃she.'O.lahH7585in sorrowבְּיָג֖וֹןbe.ya.GonH3015.

32For your servantעַבְדְּךָ֙'av.de.KhaH5650becameH6148suretyעָרַ֣ב'a.RavH6148for the ladהַנַּ֔עַרha.Na.'arH5288to my fatherאָבִ֖י'a.ViH1,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559, ‘Ifאִם־'im-H518I do not bringאֲבִיאֶ֙נּוּ֙'a.vi.'E.nuH935him back to you, thenlet me bearH2398the blameH2398before my fatherלְאָבִ֖יle.'a.ViH1foreverכָּל־ הַיָּמִֽים׃kol- hai.ya.MimH3605 H3117.’

33Nowוְעַתָּ֗הve.'a.TahH6258,therefore, pleaseנָ֤אna'H4994let your servantעַבְדְּךָ֙'av.de.KhaH5650remainיֵֽשֶׁב־ye.shev-H3427insteadתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478of the ladהַנַּ֔עַרha.Na.'arH5288a slaveעֶ֖בֶד'E.vedH5650to my lordלַֽאדֹנִ֑יla.do.NiH113,and let the ladוְהַנַּ֖עַרve.ha.Na.'arH5288goיַ֥עַלYa.'alH5927up with his brothersאֶחָֽיו׃'e.ChavH251.

34For howאֵיךְ֙'eiKhH349shall I goאֶֽעֱלֶ֣ה'e.'e.LehH5927up to my fatherאָבִ֔י'a.ViH1if the ladוְהַנַּ֖עַרve.ha.Na.'arH5288is not with me--for fearפֶּ֚ןpenH6435that I seeאֶרְאֶ֣ה'er.'EhH7200the evilבָרָ֔עva.Ra'H7451that wouldovertakeיִמְצָ֖אyim.Tza'H4672my fatherאָבִֽי׃'a.ViH1?”

The Brothers Are Brought Back

Commentaries on Genesis 44