1 Now the famine was severe in the land. 2 And it was, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, “Go back, buy us a little food.”
3 So Judah spoke to him, saying, “The man strictly warned us, saying, ‘Don’t see my face unless your brother is with you.’ 4 If you’ll send our brother with us, we’ll go down and buy you food. 5 But if you don’t send him, we won’t go down; because the man said to us, ‘Don’t see my face unless your brother is with you.’”
6 And Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly, telling the man that you had another brother?”
7 And they said, “The man asked directly concerning ourselves, and concerning our family, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ And we answered according to these questions. Is there any way we could have known that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down?’”
8 Then Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me, and we’ll get up and go, so that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. 9 I’ll be collateral for him. From my hand you may require him. If I don’t bring him to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. 10 For if we hadn’t delayed, surely we would have returned this second time.”
11 So their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take from the best fruits of the land in your bags, and carry down a present for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. 12 And take twice as much silver in your hand, and take back the silver that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight. 13 Take your brother also, get up, and return to the man. 14 May God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release to you your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I lose my children, I lose my children.”
15 So the men took that present, and they took twice as much silver in their hand, and Benjamin; and got up, went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph. 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and butcher an animal and prepare it, because the men will eat with me at noon.”
17 And the man did as Joseph commanded, and the man brought the men to Joseph’s house. 18 And the men were afraid, because they were brought to Joseph’s house; and they said, “Because of the silver that was put back in our sacks the first time, we’re brought in, so that he may roll over us, attack us, and seize us as slaves, along with our donkeys.” 19 So they came near to the steward of Joseph’s house, and they spoke to him at the entrance of the house, 20 and said, “Oh, my master, we indeed came down the first time to buy food, 21 but it happened, when we came to the lodging place, that we opened our sacks, and look, each man’s silver was in the mouth of his sack, our silver in full weight. So we have brought it back in our hand. 22 And we have brought down more silver in our hand to buy food. We don’t know who put our silver in our sacks.”
23 But he said, “Peace to you. Don’t be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks. I received your silver.” Then he brought Shimon out to them. 24 And the man brought the men into Joseph’s house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet. He gave their donkeys fodder. 25 And they prepared the present for Joseph’s coming at noon, because they had heard that they would eat a meal there.
26 Now when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves down to the earth in front of him. 27 And he asked them about their health, and said, “Is your father doing well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?”
28 And they said, “Your servant, our father, is doing well. He is still alive.” And they bowed down. 29 Then he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother of whom you spoke to me?” And he said, “God be gracious to you, my son!” 30 Then Joseph hurried, because his heart yearned for his brother; and he looked for a place to cry. And he went into his room and cried there. 31 Then he washed his face and came out. And he controlled himself and said, “Serve the meal.”
32 So they put him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians don’t eat with the Hebrews, for that is disgusting to the Egyptians. 33 And they sat in front of him, from the firstborn according to his birthright to the youngest according to his youth! And the men were amazed, looking at each other. 34 And he carried servings to them from in front of him. But Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs! And they drank and were merry with him.