Joseph's Brothers Return to Egypt with Benjamin
Genesis 43, verse 1. Now the famine was severe in the land. Genesis 43, verse 2. So it came to pass, when they had eaten the grain they brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back, and buy us a little food.” Genesis 43, verse 3. But Judah spoke to him, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ Genesis 43, verse 4. If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. Genesis 43, verse 5. But if you will 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.’” Genesis 43, verse 6. Then Israel said, “Why did you deal so wrongfully with me as to tell the man whether you had yet another brother?” Genesis 43, verse 7. But they said, “The man asked us pointedly about ourselves and our family, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ Thus we replied to him according to these words. Could we possibly have known he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” Genesis 43, verse 8. Then Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and all we have. Genesis 43, verse 9. I myself will be surety for him; 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 all my days. Genesis 43, verse 10. For if we had not lingered, surely by now we would have returned this second time.” Genesis 43, verse 11. Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the best fruits of the land in your vessels and carry down a present for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. Genesis 43, verse 12. Take double money in your hand, and take back in your hand the money returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight. Genesis 43, verse 13. Take your brother also, and arise, go back to the man. Genesis 43, verse 14. May God give you grace before the man, that he may release your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved.” Genesis 43, verse 15. So the men took that present and Benjamin, and they took double money in their hand, and arose and went down to Egypt; and they stood before Joseph. Genesis 43, verse 16. When Joseph saw Benjamin, his brother by the same mother, with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my home, and slaughter an animal and make ready; for these men will dine with me at noon.” Genesis 43, verse 17. Then the man did as Joseph ordered, and the man brought the men into Joseph's house. Genesis 43, verse 18. Now the men were afraid because they were brought into Joseph's house, and they said, “It is because of the money returned to our sacks the first time, that we are brought here to make a case against us and fall upon us, to take us as slaves with our donkeys.” Genesis 43, verse 19. When they drew near to the steward of Joseph's house, they talked with him at the door of the house, Genesis 43, verse 20. saying, “We entreat you, my lord, we indeed came down the first time to buy food; Genesis 43, verse 21. but it happened, when we came to the encampment, that we opened our sacks, and there to our surprise, each man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight; so we have brought it back in our hand. Genesis 43, verse 22. And we have brought down other money in our hands to buy food. We do not know who put the money in our sacks.” Genesis 43, verse 23. But he said, “Mercy be on you; do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; and I am receiving your genuine money as full payment.” Then he brought Simeon out to them. Genesis 43, verse 24. So the man brought the men into Joseph's house and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys feed. Genesis 43, verse 25. Then they made the present ready for Joseph's coming at noon, for they heard he would eat bread there. Genesis 43, verse 26. Thus when Joseph came home, they brought the present in their hand to him in the house, and bowed down before him to the earth. Genesis 43, verse 27. Then he asked them about their well-being, and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” Genesis 43, verse 28. So they answered, “Your servant our father is in good health; he is still alive.” Then he said, “Blessed be that man in God”; and they bowed their heads down and prostrated themselves. Genesis 43, verse 29. Then Joseph lifted his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, “Is this your younger brother you said you would bring to me?” So he said, “May God grant you mercy, my son.” Genesis 43, verse 30. Now his heart yearned for his brother; so Joseph made haste and sought somewhere to weep. Then he went into his inner chamber and wept there. Genesis 43, verse 31. He then washed his face and came out; and he composed himself, and said, “Serve the bread.” Genesis 43, verse 32. So they set him a place by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat food with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians. Genesis 43, verse 33. Now they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth; and the men looked in astonishment at one another. Genesis 43, verse 34. Then he took servings to them from before him, but Benjamin's serving was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.