Genesis Chapter 43:
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Genesis Verses, Chapter 43 of the Book of Genesis of the Bible.
The second trip to Egypt
- 1. Famine continued severe in the land.
- 2. When he had finished eating the grain they had brought from Egypt, his father said to them, "Go back and buy us some more grain."
- 3. But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, 'You will not see my face again unless you have your brother with you.'
- 4. If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy grain for you.
- 5. But if you do not send him, we will not go down, because the man said, 'You will not see my face again if you do not have your brother with you'”.
- 6. Israel asked, “Why have you caused me so much trouble? Why did they tell the man they had another brother?”
- 7. They replied, “The man asked us specifically about us and our family. He asked us: 'Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?' We answer his questions. How could we know that he would say, 'Bring your brother'?”
- 8. Then Judah said to Israel his father, “Let the boy go with me, so that we may get up and go. So we and you and our children will live and not die.
- 9. I commit myself personally to him; thou mayest demand of him. If I don't bring him back and present him to you, I will be guilty before you for the rest of my life.
- 10. If we hadn't been late, we'd be back twice”.
- 11. Then Israel their father said to them, “If it be so, so be it. Do this: take some of the best fruits on earth in your bags and take them as a gift to the man, a little balsam, a little honey, some spices and myrrh, dates and almonds.
- 12. Also take twice as much money, take back the money that was returned in your sacks of grain. Maybe it was a mistake.
- 13. Take your brother and go back to the man.
- 14. May Almighty God grant you mercy before the man, so that he may release Simeon and Benjamin. As for me, if I remain childless, I will remain childless.”
- 15. The men took the gift, twice as much money, and Benjamin. They got up, went to Egypt and presented themselves to Joseph.
- 16. When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, "Take these men home, kill an animal and prepare dinner, for they will eat with me at noon."
- 17. The steward did as Joseph told him and took them to Joseph's house.
- 18. As they approached Joseph's house, the brothers were terrified and said to one another, “Because of the money that was returned in our sacks of grain, we were brought here. He will attack us, dominate us and turn us into slaves, and take our donkeys.”
- 19. So they approached the steward of Joseph's house and at the gate said to him:
- 20. “Please sir, we were brought here the first time to buy grain.
- 21. But when we arrived at the place where we had spent the night and opened our sacks of grain, we found everyone's money exact and in its place. We brought that money back.
- 22. We also brought more money to buy more grain. We don't know who put the money in our grain bags.”
- 23. The steward replied, “Don't worry. Do not be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks of grain. The money you paid for your grain is in my possession.” And he brought Simeon to them.
- 24. The steward took them to Joseph's house, gave them water to wash their feet and fodder for their donkeys.
- 25. They prepared the gift for Joseph's arrival at noon, because they knew they would eat there.
- 26. When Joseph arrived home, they brought him the gift they had brought and prostrated themselves before him to the ground.
- 27. Joseph asked how they were and said, “How is your father, the old man you told me about? Are you still alive?”
- 28. They replied, “Yes, your servant our father is alive and well.” And they bowed down and prostrated themselves.
- 29. Joseph lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and asked, "Is this your youngest brother, of whom you told me?" And he added: "God be gracious to you, my son."
- 30. Excited because of his brother, Joseph looked for a place where he could cry. He went into his room and wept there.
- 31. After washing his face, he went out and, controlling himself, ordered: “Serve the food”.
- 32. They served Joseph separately, the brothers also separately and the Egyptians who ate with him also separately, for the Egyptians could not eat with the Hebrews, which they considered an abomination.
- 33. They sat down opposite him, the eldest first and the youngest last, and looked at one another in astonishment.
- 34. He served them the food that was set before him, but he gave Benjamin's portion five times as much as that of the others. And they drank and made merry with him.
