The Return to Egypt with Benjamin
1 The famine was severe in the land. 2 When they had eaten all the grain which they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back, buy us a little more food.”
3 Judah spoke to him, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.’ 4 If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. 5 If you do not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ ”
6 Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly, telling the man that you had another brother?”
7 They said, “The man asked directly concerning us and concerning our relatives, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ We just answered his questions. Is there any way we could know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down?’ ”
8 Judah said to Israel, his father, “Send the boy with me, and we’ll get up and go so that we may live and not die, we and you, and also our little ones. 9 I will be collateral for him. He will be in my hands and will be my responsibility. If I do not bring him to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever, 10 for if we had not delayed, surely we could have returned a second time by now.”
11 Their father, Israel, said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take from the choice fruits of the land in your bags and carry a present down for the man, a little balm, a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts, and almonds. 12 Take double the money and take back the money that was returned in the opening of your bags. Perhaps it was an oversight. 13 Take your brother also. Get up and return to the man. 14 May God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release to you your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”
15 The men took that present, and they took double the money and Benjamin, and got up and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.
Joseph’s Hospitality to his Brothers
16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house and butcher an animal and prepare it, for the men will dine with me at noon.”
17 The man did as Joseph commanded and brought the men to Joseph’s house. 18 The men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph’s house, and they said, “Because of the money that was returned in our bags the first time, we are being brought in so that he may seek a case against us, attack us, and seize us as slaves, along with our donkeys.”
19 They came near to the steward of Joseph’s house, and they spoke to him at the door of the house 20 and said, “Oh, my lord, we indeed came down the first time to buy food. 21 When we came to the lodging place, we opened our bags, and each man’s money was in the opening of his bag, the entire amount of it. We have brought it back in our hands. 22 We have also brought with us, other money to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our bags.”
23 He said, “Peace be with you. Don’t be afraid. Your God, and the God of your father, has given you treasure in your bags. I received your money.” He brought Simeon out to them. 24 The steward brought the men into Joseph’s house and gave them water, and they washed their feet. He gave their donkeys fodder. 25 They prepared their present for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they should eat bread there.
26 When Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house and bowed down to the earth before him. 27 He asked them of their welfare and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?”
28 They said, “Your servant, our father, is well. He is still alive.” They bowed down humbly. 29 He looked up and saw Benjamin, his brother, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me?” He said, “God be gracious to you, my son.” 30 Joseph hurried, for his heart ached for his brother, and he sought a place to weep. He entered into his room and wept there. 31 He washed his face and came out. Controlling himself, he said, “Serve the meal.”
32 They served Joseph by himself, and his brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians do not eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians. 33 They sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth, and the men marveled with one another. 34 He sent portions to them from before him, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. They feasted and became drunk with Joseph.