Jacob's Sons Return Bringing Benjamin
Scriptures | Genesis 43 |
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Genesis Chapter 431 Now the famine was severe in the land.2 And when they had eaten the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, āGo again, buy us a little food.ā3 But Judah said to him, āThe man solemnly warned us, saying, āYou shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.ā4 If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food.5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, āYou shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.ā ā6 Israel said, āWhy did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?ā7 They replied, āThe man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, āIs your father still alive? Do you have another brother?āWhat we told him was in answer to these questions. Could we in any way know that he would say, āBring your brother downā?ā8 And Judah said to Israel his father, āSend the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones.9 I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever.10 If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice.ā11 Then their father Israel said to them, āIf it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry a present down to the man, a little balm and a little honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds.12 Take double the money with you. Carry back with you the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight.13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man.14 May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.ā15 So the men took this present, and they took double the money with them, and Benjamin. They arose and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, āBring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make ready, for the men are to dine with me at noon.ā17 The man did as Joseph told him and brought the men to Josephās house.18 And the men were afraid because they were brought to Josephās house, and they said, āIt is because of the money, which was replaced in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may assault us and fall upon us to make us servants and seize our donkeys.ā19 So they went up to the steward of Josephās house and spoke with him at the door of the house,20 and said, āOh, my lord, we came down the first time to buy food.21 And when we came to the lodging place we opened our sacks, and there was each manās money in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight. So we have brought it again with us,22 and we have brought other money down with us to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.ā23 He replied, āPeace to you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you. I received your money.ā Then he brought Simeon out to them.24 And when the man had brought the men into Josephās house and given them water, and they had washed their feet, and when he had given their donkeys fodder,25 they prepared the present for Josephās coming at noon, for they heard that they should eat bread there.26 When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present that they had with them and bowed down to him to the ground.27 And he inquired about their welfare and said, āIs your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?ā28 They said, āYour servant our father is well; he is still alive.ā And they bowed their heads and prostrated themselves.29 And he lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his motherās son, and said, āIs this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me? God be gracious to you, my son!ā30 Then Joseph hurried out, for his compassion grew warm for his brother, and he sought a place to weep. And he entered his chamber and wept there.31 Then he washed his face and came out. And controlling himself he said, āServe the food.ā32 They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth. And the men looked at one another in amazement.34 Portions were taken to them from Josephās table, but Benjaminās portion was five times as much as any of theirs. And they drank and were merry with him. |
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