(KJV) Genesis 43¹

⥃The Return to Egypt with Benjamin

[1] And the famine [was] sore in the land.² [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 [3] And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man⁴ did solemnly protest⁵ unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face⁶, except 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 not⁷ go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother [be] with you. [6] And Israel said, Wherefore 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 straitly⁸ of our state, and of our kindred, saying, [Is] your father yet alive? have ye [another] brother? and we told him according to the tenor⁹ of these words: could we certainly know¹⁰ that he would say, Bring your brother down? [8] And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me¹¹, and we will arise and go; that we¹² may live, and not die, both we, and thou, [and] also our¹³ little ones. [9] I will be¹⁴ surety for him; of my hand¹⁵ 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 except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time¹⁶.¹⁷ [11] And their father Israel said unto them, If [it must be¹⁸] so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down¹⁹ the man a present, a little balm²⁰²¹, and a little honey²², spices²³, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds: [12] And take double²⁴ money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth²⁵ of your sacks, carry [it] again in your hand; peradventure it [was] an oversight: [13] Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man:²⁶ [14] And God²⁷ Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be²⁸ bereaved [of my children], I am bereaved.²⁹

[15] 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.

⥃Joseph’s Hospitality to His Brothers

[16] And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler³⁰ of his house, Bring [these] men home, and slay³¹, and make ready; for [these] men shall dine with³² me at noon. [17] And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house. [18] And the men³³ were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us³⁴, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and 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 down³⁵ at the first time to buy food: [21] And it came to pass, when we came³⁶ 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 have³⁷ 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, Peace³⁸ [be] to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money³⁹. And he brought Simeon⁴⁰ 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.⁴¹ [25] And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there.⁴²

[26] And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which [was] in their hand into the house, and bowed⁴³ themselves to him to the earth. [27] And he asked them of [their] welfare⁴⁴, and said, [Is] your father well⁴⁵, the old man of whom ye spake? [Is] he yet alive? [28] And they answered, Thy servant our father [is] in good health, he [is] yet alive. And they bowed⁴⁶ down their heads, and made obeisance⁴⁷. [29] And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son⁴⁸, and said, [Is] this your younger brother, of whom⁴⁹ ye spake unto me? And he said, God⁵⁰ be gracious unto thee, my son⁵¹. [30] And Joseph made haste; for his bowels⁵² did yearn upon his brother: and he sought [where] to weep; and he entered into [his] chamber, and wept there⁵³. [31] And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained⁵⁴ himself, and said, Set on bread⁵⁵. [32] And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread⁵⁶ with the Hebrews; for that [is] an abomination⁵⁷ 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 marvelled one at another.⁵⁸ [34] And he took [and sent] messes⁵⁹ unto them from before him: but Benjamin’s mess was five times⁶⁰ so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry⁶¹ with him.