1 And the famine was sore in the land.

2 And it came to pass, when 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.”

3 And Judah spoke unto him, saying, “The man did solemnly declare unto us, saying, ‘Ye shall not see my face, unless your brother be with you.’

4 If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food.

5 But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down, for the man said unto us, ‘Ye shall not see my face, unless your brother be with you.’”

6 And Israel said, “Why dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?”

7 And they said, “The man asked us strictly about our state, and about our kindred, saying, ‘Is your father yet alive? Have ye another brother?’ And we told him according to the tenor of these words. Could we certainly know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?”

8 And Judah said unto Israel his father, “Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and thou, and also our little ones.

9 I will be surety for him; from my hand shalt thou require him. If I bring him not unto thee and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever;

10 for had we not lingered, surely now we would have returned this second time.”

11 And their father Israel said unto them, “If it must be so now, do this: Take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts and almonds.

12 And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand. Perhaps it was an oversight.

13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man;

14 and God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved!”

15 And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and they rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.

16 And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, “Bring these men home, and slay a beast and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon.”

17 And the man did as Joseph bade, and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house.

18 And 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 the first time are we brought in, that he may seek occasion against us and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and also our asses.”

19 And they came near to the steward of Joseph’s house, and they communed with him at the door of the house

20 and said, “O sir, we came indeed down the first time to buy food.

21 And it came to pass, when we came to 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.

22 And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food. We cannot tell who put our money in our sacks.”

23 And he said, “Peace be to you, fear not; your God and the God of your father hath given you treasure in your sacks. I had your money.” And he brought Simeon out unto them.

24 And the man brought the men into Joseph’s house, and gave them water and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender.

25 And they made ready the present for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they should eat bread there.

26 And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves before him to the earth.

27 And he asked them of their welfare and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spoke? Is he yet alive?”

28 And they answered, “Thy servant our father is in good health; he is yet alive.” And they bowed down their heads and made obeisance.

29 And he lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your younger brother of whom ye spoke unto me?” And he said, “God be gracious unto thee, my son.”

30 And Joseph made haste, for his heart yearned for his brother, and he sought somewhere to weep; and he entered into his chamber and wept there.

31 And he washed his face and went out, and restrained himself, and said, “Set on the bread.”

32 And they served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.

33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth; and the men marveled one at another.

34 And he took and sent portions unto them from before him, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. And they drank and were merry with him.

1 And the famine was sore in the land.

2And it came to passe when they had eaten vp the corne, which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said vnto them, Goe againe, buy vs a little foode.

3And Iudah spake vnto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest vnto vs, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.

4If thou wilt send our brother with vs, we will goe downe and buy thee food.

5But if thou wilt not send him, we will not goe downe: for the man saide vnto vs, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.

6And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?

7And they said, The man asked vs straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet aliue? haue yee another brother? and we tolde him according to the tenour of these words: Could we certainely knowe that he would say, Bring your brother downe?

8And Iudah said vnto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and wee will arise and go, that we may liue, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.

9I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not vnto thee, and set him before thee, then let me beare the blame for euer.

10For except we had lingred, surely now wee had returned this second time.

11And their father Israel said vnto them, If it must bee so now, doe this: take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carie downe the man a Present, a litle balme, and a litle honie, spices, and myrrhe, nuts, and almonds.

12And take double money in your hand, and the money that was brought againe in the mouth of your sackes: carie it againe in your hand, peraduenture it was an ouersight.

13Take also your brother, and arise, goe againe vnto the man.

14And God Almightie giue you mercie before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Beniamin: If I be bereaued of my children, I am bereaued.

15 And the men tooke that Present, and they tooke double money in their hand, and Beniamin, and rose vp, and went downe to Egypt, and stood before Ioseph.

16And when Ioseph sawe Beniamin with them, hee said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready: for these men shall dine with me at noone.

17And the man did as Ioseph hade: and the man brought the men into Iosephs house.

18And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Iosephs house, and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sackes at the first time are we brought in, that hee may seeke occasion against vs, and fall vpon vs, and take vs for bondmen, and our asses.

19And they came neere to the steward of Iosephs house, and they communed with him at the doore of the house,

20And said, O Sir, we came indeed downe at the first time to buy food.

21And it came to passe when wee came to the Inne, that wee opened our sackes, and behold, euery mans money was in the mouth of his sacke, our money in ful weight: and we haue brought it againe in our hand.

22And other money haue wee brought downe in our handes to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sackes.

23And he said, Peace be to you, feare not: your God, and the God of your father, hath giuen you treasure in your sackes: I had your money. And hee brought Simeon out vnto them.

24And the man brought the men into Iosephs house, and gaue them water, and they washed their feete, and he gaue their asses prouender.

25And they made ready the Present against Ioseph came at noone: for they heard that they should eate bread there.

26 And when Ioseph came home, they brought him the Present which was in their hand, into the house, and bowed themselues to him to the earth.

27And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet aliue?

28And they answered, Thy seruant our father is in good health, hee is yet aliue: & they bowed downe their heads, and made obeisance.

29And he lift vp his eyes, and sawe his brother Beniamin, his mothers sonne, and said, Is this your yonger brother, of whom yee spake vnto mee? and he said, God be gracious vnto thee, my sonne.

30And Ioseph made haste: for his bowels did yerne vpon his brother: and he sought where to weepe, and hee entred into his chamber, & wept there.

31And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himselfe, and saide, Set on bread.

32And they set on for him by himselfe, and for them by themselues, and for the Egyptians which did eate with him, by themselues: because the Egyptians might not eate bread with the Hebrewes: for that is an abomination vnto the Egyptians.

33And they sate before him, the first borne according to his birthright, and the yongest according to his youth: and the men marueiled one at another.

34And hee tooke and sent measses vnto them from before him: but Beniamins measse was fiue times so much as any of theirs: and they drunke, and were merry with him.

I == Gen 41:54 , 57

III == Gen 42:20 ; 44:23

IX == Gen 44:32 ; Phile 1:18-19

 

 

XI == Gen 32:20 ; 37:25 ; Prov 18:16 ; Jer 8:22

 

XII == Gen 42:25 , 35

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XIV == Esth 4:16

 

 

 

 

 

 

XVI == Gen 24:2 ; 39:4 ; 44:1 ; 1st Sam 25:11

 

 

 

 

 

XVIII ==Job 30:14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XX == Gen 42:3 , 10 XXI == Gen 42:27 , 35

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXIV == Gen 18:4 ; 24:32

 

 

XXVI == gen 37:7 , 10

 

 

XXVII == Gen 37:14 ; 42:11 , 13

 

XXVIII == Gen 37:7 , 10

 

 

XXIX == Gen 35:17-18 ; 42:13

XXX == Gen 42:24 ; 1st Kings 3:26

 

 

XXXI == Gen 43:25

 

XXXII == Gen 46:34 ; Ex 8:26

 

XXXIV == Gen 45:22 ; Hag 1:6 ; John 2:10

1 Now the famine in the land grew more severe.

2 So when they had used up all the rations they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, "Go back and procure us a little more food."

3 But Judah replied: "The man strictly warned us, 'You shall not appear in my presence unless your brother is with you.'

4 If you are willing to let our brother go with us, we will go down to procure food for you.

5 But if you are not willing, we will not go down, because the man told us, 'You shall not appear in my presence unless your brother is with you.'"

6 Israel demanded, "Why did you bring this trouble on me by telling the man that you had another brother?"

7 They answered: "The man kept asking about ourselves and our family: 'Is your father still living? Do you have another brother?' We had to answer his questions. How could we know that he would say, 'Bring your brother down here'?"

8 Then Judah urged his father Israel: "Let the boy go with me, that we may be off and on our way if you and we and our children are to keep from starving to death.

9 I myself will stand surety for him. You can hold me responsible for him. If I fail to bring him back, to set him in your presence, you can hold it against me forever.

10 Had we not dilly-dallied, we could have been there and back twice by now!"

11 Their father Israel then told them: "If it must be so, then do this: Put some of the land's best products in your baggage and take them down to the man as gifts: some balm and honey, gum and resin, and pistachios and almonds.

12 Also take extra money along, for you must return the amount that was put back in the mouths of your bags; it may have been a mistake.

13 Take your brother, too, and be off on your way back to the man.

14 May God Almighty dispose the man to be merciful toward you, so that he may let your other brother go, as well as Benjamin. As for me, if I am to suffer bereavement, I shall suffer it."

15 So the men got the gifts, took double the amount of money with them, and, accompanied by Benjamin, were off on their way down to Egypt to present themselves to Joseph.

16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he told his head steward, "Take these men into the house, and have an animal slaughtered and prepared, for they are to dine with me at noon."

17 Doing as Joseph had ordered, the steward conducted the men to Joseph's house.

18 But on being led to his house, they became apprehensive. "It must be," they thought, "on account of the money put back in our bags the first time, that we are taken inside; they want to use it as a pretext to attack us and take our donkeys and seize us as slaves."

19 So they went up to Joseph's head steward and talked to him at the entrance of the house.

20 "If you please, sir," they said, "we came down here once before to procure food.

21 But when we arrived at a night's encampment and opened our bags, there was each man's money in the mouth of his bag - our money in the full amount! We have now brought it back.

22 We have brought other money to procure food with. We do not know who put the first money in our bags."

23 "Be at ease," he replied; "you have no need to fear. Your God and the God of your father must have put treasures in your bags for you. As for your money, I received it." With that, he led Simeon out to them.

24 The steward then brought the men inside Joseph's house. He gave them water to bathe their feet, and got fodder for their donkeys.

25 Then they set out their gifts to await Joseph's arrival at noon, for they had heard that they were to dine there.

26 When Joseph came home, they presented him with the gifts they had brought inside, while they bowed down before him to the ground.

27 After inquiring how they were, he asked them, "And how is your aged father, of whom you spoke? Is he still in good health?"

28 "Your servant our father is thriving and still in good health," they said, as they bowed respectfully.

29 When Joseph's eye fell on his full brother Benjamin, he asked, "Is this your youngest brother, of whom you told me?" Then he said to him, "May God be gracious to you, my boy!"

30 With that, Joseph had to hurry out, for he was so overcome with affection for his brother that he was on the verge of tears. He went into a private room and wept there.

31 After washing his face, he reappeared and, now in control of himself, gave the order, "Serve the meal."

32 It was served separately to him, to the brothers, and to the Egyptians who partook of his board. (Egyptians may not eat with Hebrews; that is abhorrent to them.)

33 When they were seated by his directions according to their age, from the oldest to the youngest, they looked at one another in amazement;

34 and as portions were brought to them from Joseph's table, Benjamin's portion was five times as large as anyone else's. So they drank freely and made merry with him.

v 1-5 Here Jacob is called Israel as he asks the men to go back to Egypt for grain. Judah has to remind him that there is no way the “Egyptian” will have any dealings with them unless they bring Benjamin along.

 

 

 

 

v 6. Israel blames them for a personal affront to him for telling about Benjamin.

 

v 7-10. They defend themselves that the man frankly asked them about the family, and they felt obligated to answer, with no way of knowing this would happen. Their situation has become desperate, so Judah pledges himself to be in  full responsibility for Benjamin. To avoid further delay he reminds Israel that they could have been back.

 

 

 

 

v 11-14. Israel finally has to admit to himself that there is no other way. He wisely suggests taking a gift of things scarce in Egypt, goodies for the table and spices for embalming, things which would have been very precious in time of famine. The honey was possibly boiled down grape syrup Sending double money for what had been returned should remove them from the charge of theft. He  now throws himself upon the mercy of God, and resigns himself to accept whatever happens.
Ironically, they sold Joseph for 20 pieces of silver, and are taking him 20 bundles of money. 

 

 

v 15. Plans were carried out and the men come before Joseph.

 

 

v 16,17. When Joseph saw they had brought Benjamin, he immediately gave orders for a special reunion meal with them.

 

 

v 18-22. They thought they were in for trouble when they found out they would be going to Joseph’s house and went into full explanation and apology concerning the money in their sacks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 23-25. The steward was either just quoting Joseph, or he had come to know Joseph’s God. He reassured them and gave them guest treatment after restoring Simeon to them. The gifts from Israel, v 11,  would be presented at the meal.

 

 

v 26. Again they bow to Joseph, which they had thought they would never do.

 

v 27-30. Joseph began casual questioning, but at the sight of his little brother Benjamin, he could no longer control his emotions.

 

 

 

 

 

v 31-34. Regaining composure, Joseph ordered the meal to proceed according to custom, and they were amazed that they were seated according to age. It was an honor to receive food from Joseph’s own table. The regular meal was the same for all of the brothers, But the special gift form Joseph’s table was five times what he sent to his brothers. Benjamin’s large portion was evidently a test to see if they still had envy and jealousy for one who had what they did not. They also passed this test.  Herdsmen were an abomination, that is, disgusting to Egyptians.