Genesis 43:1The famine was very bad in that country.
Genesis 43:2 The people ate all the grain they had brought from Egypt. When that grain was gone, Jacob said to his sons, “Go to Egypt and buy some more grain for us to eat.”
Genesis 43:3 But Judah said to Jacob, “But the governor of that country warned us. He said, ‘If you don’t bring your brother back to me, I will refuse to talk to you.’
Genesis 43: 4 If you send Benjamin with us, we will go down and buy grain
Genesis 43: 5 But if you refuse to send Benjamin, we will not go. The man warned us to not come back without him.
Genesis 43:6 Israel said, “Why did you tell him you had another brother? Why did you do such a bad thing to me?”
Genesis 43:7 The brothers answered, “He asked lots of questions. He wanted to know all about us and about our family. He asked us, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother at home?’ We only answered his questions. We didn’t know he would ask us to bring our brother to him!
Genesis 43:8 Then Judah said to his father Israel, “Let Benjamin go with me. I will take care of him. We have to go to Egypt to get food. If we don’t go, we will all die, including our children.
Genesis 43:9 I will make sure he is safe. I will be responsible for him. If I don’t bring him back to you, you can blame me forever.
Genesis 43:10 If you had let us go before, we could have already made two trips for food.”
Genesis 43:11 Then their father Israel said, “If it is really true, take Benjamin with you. But take some gifts to the governor. Take some of the things we have been able to gather in our land. Take him some honey, pistachio nuts, almonds, spices, and myrrh.
Genesis 43:12 Take twice as much money with you this time. Take the money that was given back to you after you paid last time. Maybe the governor made a mistake.
Genesis 43:13 Take Benjamin and go back to the man.
Genesis 43:14 I pray that God All-Powerful will help
Genesis 43:15 Joseph’s brothers took the gifts and more money than they had the first time, and they took Benjamin with them. They went to Egypt, and they stood before Joseph.
Genesis 43:16 When Joseph saw that Benjamin was with them, he told the manager of his house: ‘Bring these men to my house. Kill a cow and prepare food. They will eat with me at noon today
Genesis 43:17 The man did what Joseph said, and he took Joseph’s brothers to Joseph’s house.
Genesis 43:18 The brothers were afraid when the man took them to Joseph’s house. Joseph’s brothers said: It is because of the money that was in our bags the first time we came. They are bringing us here to catch us and put us in prison. We will be their slaves, and they will take our donkeys.
Genesis 43:19 Joseph’s brethren went to talk to the man who was the manager of Joseph’s house.
Genesis 43:20 Joseph’s brethren said, Please, sir, we came here before to buy food.
Genesis 43:21 When we came to the place where we wanted to sleep, we opened our bags and then we saw that each man’s money was still in his bag. It was the money that we had paid for the corn. We have brought the money back.
Genesis 43:22 We have also brought more money to buy food. We do not know who put our money back into our bags.
Genesis 43:23 The manager of the house said: You must not be worried or afraid. Your God, and your father’s God gave you the money in your bags. I have the money that you paid. Then he took Simeon to them
Genesis 43:24 The manager took the brothers to Joseph’s house. The manager gave them water to wash their feet, and he gave their donkeys food
Genesis 43:25 Joseph’s brothers heard that they were going to eat with Joseph, so they worked until noon preparing their gifts for him.
Genesis 43:26 When Joseph came home, Joseph’s brothers brought their gifts and then Joseph’s brothers bowed down before Joseph.
Genesis 43:27Joseph asked his brothers how they were and Joseph also asked: How is your father who is so old that you told me about? Is he still alive?
Genesis 43:28 Joseph’s brothers answered: Our father is in good health. He is still alive. And again, Joseph Brothers bowed down before Joseph.
Genesis 43:29 Then Joseph saw his brother Benjamin. (Benjamin and Joseph had the same mother.) Joseph said, Is this your youngest brother that you told me about? Then Joseph said to Benjamin, God bless you, my son!
Genesis 43:30 Joseph went out of the room quickly because his heart was deeply touched over his brother. Joseph went to a private room to cry so Joseph went into his bedroom to cry.
Genesis 43:31 Joseph washed his face, and he came back. Joseph was calm again and said: Put the food on the table.
Genesis 43:32 Joseph’s servants seated Joseph at a table by himself. Joseph’s brothers were at another table by themselves, and the Egyptians were at a table by themselves. The Egyptians believed that it was wrong for them to eat with Hebrews
Genesis 43:33 Joseph’s brothers were seated at a table facing him. The brothers were looking at each other because, to their surprise, they had been seated in order, from the oldest to the youngest.