43Genesis 43

Joseph's Brothers Return to Egypt with Benjamin

1The famine in Canaan got worse,Select Genesis 43:1

2until finally, Jacob's family had eaten all the grain they had bought in Egypt. So Jacob said to his sons, “Go back and buy some more grain.”Select Genesis 43:2

5Judah replied, “The governor strictly warned us that we would not be allowed to see him unless we brought our youngest brother with us. If you let us take Benjamin along, we will go and buy grain. But we won't go without him!”Select Genesis 43:5

6Jacob asked, “Why did you cause me so much trouble by telling the governor you had another brother?”Select Genesis 43:6

7They answered, “He asked a lot of questions about us and our family. He wanted to know if you were still alive and if we had any more brothers. All we could do was answer his questions. How could we know he would tell us to bring along our brother?”Select Genesis 43:7

8Then Judah said to his father, “Let Benjamin go with me, and we will leave at once, so that none of us will starve to death.Select Genesis 43:8

9I promise to bring him back safely, and if I don't, you can blame me as long as I live.Select Genesis 43:9

10If we had not wasted all this time, we could already have been there and back twice.”Select Genesis 43:10

11Their father said: If Benjamin must go with you, take the governor a gift of some of the best things from our own country, such as perfume, honey, spices, pistachio nuts, and almonds.Select Genesis 43:11

12Also take along twice the amount of money for the grain, because there must have been some mistake when the money was put back in your sacks.Select Genesis 43:12

13Take Benjamin with you and leave at once.Select Genesis 43:13

14When you go in to see the governor, I pray that God All-Powerful will be good to you and that the governor will let your other brother and Benjamin come back home with you. But if I must lose my children, I suppose I must.Select Genesis 43:14

15The brothers took the gifts, twice the amount of money, and Benjamin. Then they hurried off to Egypt. When they stood in front of Joseph,Select Genesis 43:15

16he saw Benjamin and told the servant in charge of his house, “Take these men to my house. Slaughter an animal and cook it, so they can eat with me at noon.”Select Genesis 43:16

17The servant did as he was told and took the brothers to Joseph's house.Select Genesis 43:17

18But on the way they got worried and started thinking, “We are being taken there because of the money that was put back in our sacks last time. He will arrest us, make us his slaves, and take our donkeys.”Select Genesis 43:18

19So when they arrived at Joseph's house, they said to the servant in charge,Select Genesis 43:19

20“Sir, we came to Egypt once before to buy grain.Select Genesis 43:20

21But when we stopped for the night, we each found in our grain sacks the exact amount we had paid. We have brought that money back,Select Genesis 43:21

22together with enough money to buy more grain. We don't know who put the money in our sacks.”Select Genesis 43:22

23“It's all right,” the servant replied. “Don't worry. The God you and your father worship must have put the money there, because I received your payment in full.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.Select Genesis 43:23

24The servant took them into Joseph's house and gave them water to wash their feet. He also tended their donkeys.Select Genesis 43:24

25The brothers got their gifts ready to give to Joseph at noon, since they had heard they were going to eat there.Select Genesis 43:25

26When Joseph came home, they gave him the gifts they had brought, and they bowed down to him.Select Genesis 43:26

27After Joseph had asked how they were, he said, “What about your elderly father? Is he still alive?”Select Genesis 43:27

28They answered, “Your servant our father is still alive and well.” And again they bowed down to Joseph.Select Genesis 43:28

29When Joseph looked around and saw his brother Benjamin, he said, “This must be your youngest brother, the one you told me about. God bless you, my son.”Select Genesis 43:29

30Then, because of his love for Benjamin, he rushed off to his room and cried.Select Genesis 43:30

31After washing his face and returning, he was able to control himself and said, “Serve the meal!”Select Genesis 43:31

32Joseph was served at a table by himself, and his brothers were served at another. The Egyptians sat at yet another table, because Egyptians felt it was disgusting to eat with Hebrews.Select Genesis 43:32

33To the surprise of Joseph's brothers, they were seated in front of him according to their ages, from the oldest to the youngest.Select Genesis 43:33

34They were served food from Joseph's table, and Benjamin was given five times as much as each of the others. So Joseph's brothers ate and drank with him and had a good time.Select Genesis 43:34