Genesis 43

The Return to Egypt

11Now the famine was severe in the land. 2So it came about, when they had finished eating the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, “Go back, buy us a little food.” 3Judah spoke to him, however, saying, “2The man sternly warned 3us, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ 4If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. 5But if you do not send him, we will not go down; for the man said to us, ‘You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.’” 6Then Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly, 4by telling the man whether you still had another brother?” 7But they said, “The man specifically asked about us and our relatives, saying, ‘5Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ So we 6answered his questions. Could we possibly know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” 8So Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me and we will arise and go, 7so that we may live and not die, we as well as you and our little ones. 98I myself will take responsibility for him! You may demand him back from 9me. If I do not bring him back to you and present him to you, then 10you can let me take the blame forever. 10For if we had not delayed, surely by now we could have returned twice.”

11Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the best products of the land in your 11bags, and carry down to the man 12as a gift, a little 13balsam and a little honey, labdanum resin and 14myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. 12And take double the money in your hand, and take back in your hand 15the money that was returned in the opening of your sacks; perhaps it was a mistake. 13Take your brother also, and arise, return to the man; 14and may 1617God Almighty 18grant you compassion in the sight of the man, so that he will release to you 19your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, 20if I am bereaved of my sons, I am bereaved!” 15So the men took 21this gift, and they took double the money in their hand, and Benjamin; then they set out and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.

Joseph Sees Benjamin

16When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to his 22house steward, “Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make preparations; for the men are to dine with me at noon.” 17So the man did as Joseph said, and 23brought the men to Joseph’s house. 18Now the men were afraid, because they were brought to Joseph’s house; and they said, “It is because of the money that was returned in our sacks the first time that we are being brought in, so that he may 24attack us and 25overpower us, and take us as slaves with our donkeys.” 19So they approached Joseph’s house steward, and spoke to him at the entrance of the house, 20and said, “Oh, my lord, we indeed came down the first time to buy food, 21and it happened when we came to the campsite, that we opened our sacks, and behold, 26each man’s money was in the opening of his sack, our money in 27full. So 28we have brought it back in our hand. 22We have also brought down other money in our hand to buy food; we do not know who put our money in our sacks.” 23But he said, “Peace be to you, do not be afraid. 29Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; your 30money was in my possession.” Then 31he brought Simeon out to them. 24Then the man brought the men into Joseph’s house and 32gave them water, and they 33washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys feed. 25So they prepared 34the gift 35for Joseph’s arrival at noon; for they had heard that they were to eat 36a meal there.

26When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the gift which was in their hand, and they 37bowed down to the ground before him. 27Then he asked them about their welfare, and said, “38Is your old father well, of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” 28And they said, “Your servant our father is well; he is still alive.” Then 39they bowed down again 40in homage. 29And as he raised his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, he said, “Is this 41your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me?” Then he said, “42May God be gracious to you, my son.” 30Joseph then hurried out, for 4344he was deeply stirred over his brother, and he looked for a place to weep; so he entered his chamber and 45wept there. 31Then he washed his face and came out; and he 46controlled himself and said, “47Serve the meal.” 32Then they served him by himself, and 48Joseph’s brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is an 49abomination to the Egyptians. 33Now they 50were seated before him, from 51the firstborn according to his birthright to the youngest according to his youth, and the men looked at one another in astonishment. 34Then he took portions to them from 52his own table, 53but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank freely with him.