THE FIRST BOOK OF
MOSES,
called
G E N E S I S
Genesis 43 ©
Jacob, on account of the famine and his sons’ unwillingness, together with the lofty statements of Judah, he gives way at length for Benjamin’s going along with them into Egypt, with presents for the Governor, and double money to satisfy the former mistakes, vs. 1, etc. Joseph, seeing Benjamin among the them, causes them to be brought to his house; whereat they, being troubled and afraid, thought it was about the money that had come back in their sacks, they make their application to Joseph’s steward, who bids them be of good cheer, 16. They prepare and bring in the presents to Joseph, who speaks kindly to them, especially with Benjamin, whereby he is so moved, that he must retire to weep; after which he entertains them with a very solemn feast, but Benjamin in an especial manner, 25.
AND the famine was sore 1in the land.
And it came to pass, 2when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food.
And Judah spake unto him, saying, 3The man 4did solemnly protest unto us, saying, 5Ye shall not see my face, except your 6brother be with you.
If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food:
But ifa thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Yeb shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.
And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as 7to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?
And they said, The man 8asked us straitlyc of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him 9according to the tenor of these words: 10could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?
And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not 11die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.
I will be surety for him; ofd my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the 12blame for ever:
For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.
And their father Israel said unto them, 13If it must be so now, do this; take of the 14best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little 15balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, 16nuts, and almonds:
And take 17double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; 18peradventure it was an oversight:
Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man:
And 19God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. 20If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.
¶And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.
And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and 21slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon.
And the man did as Joseph bade;e and the man brought the men into Joseph's house.
22And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks 23at the first time are we brought in; 24that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take 25us for bondmen, and our asses.
26And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house,
And said, 27O sir, wef28came indeed down 29at the first time to buy food:
And it came to pass, wheng we came 30to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand.
And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks.
And he said, 31Peace be to you, fear not: 32your God, and the God of your father, hath given you 33treasure in your sacks: I had 34your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.
And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, andh gave them water, and 35they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender.
And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat 36bread there.
¶And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, andi37bowed themselves to him to the earth.
And he 38asked them of their welfare, and said, 39Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?
And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance.
And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother, ofj whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee,40my son.
And Joseph made haste; for his 41bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.
And he washed his face, and went out, and 42refrained himself, and said, 43Set on bread.
And they set on for 44him by 45himself, and for 46them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for 47that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.
And they sat 48before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and 49the youngest according to his youth: 50and the men marvelled 51one at another.
And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin’s messk was 52five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and 53were merry with him.