Jan 10 - Genesis 43-45
Genesis
1Meanwhile, the famine pressed heavily on all the land2And having consumed the provisions that they had brought out of Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, "Return and buy us a little food.3Judah answered: "The man himself declared to us, under the attestation of an oath, saying: ‘You will not see my face, unless you bring your youngest brother with you.4If therefore you are willing to send him with us, we will travel together, and we will buy necessities for you5But if you are not willing, we will not go. For the man, as we have often said, declared to us, saying: ‘You will not see my face without your youngest brother.’ 6Israel said to them, "You have done this for my misery, in that you revealed to him that you also had another brother.7But they responded: "The man questioned us in order, concerning our family: whether our father lived, if we had a brother. And we answered him respectively, according to what he demanded. How could we know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother with you?’ 8Likewise, Judah said to his father: "Send the boy with me, so that we may set out and be able to live, lest we and our little ones should die9I accept the boy; require him at my hand. Unless I lead him back and restore him to you, I will be guilty of a sin against you for all time10If a delay had not intervened, by now we would have returned here a second time.11Therefore, their father Israel said to them: "If it is necessary to do so, then do what you will. Take, in your vessels, from the best fruits of the land, and carry down gifts to the man: a little resin, and honey, and storax ointment, oil of myrrh, turpentine, and almonds12Also, take with you double the money, and carry back what you found in your sacks, lest perhaps it was done in error13But also take your brother, and go to the man14Then may my Almighty God cause him to be pleased by you. And send your brother, whom he holds, back with you, along with this one, Benjamin. But as for me, without my children, I will be like one who is bereaved.15Therefore, the men took the gifts, and double the money, and Benjamin. And they went down into Egypt, and they stood in the presence of Joseph16And when he had seen them and Benjamin together, he instructed the steward of his house, saying: "Lead the men into the house, and kill victims, and prepare a feast, because they will be eating with me at midday.17He did what he had been ordered to do, and he brought the men into the house18And there, being terrified, they said one to another: "Because of the money, which we carried back the first time in our sacks, we have been brought in, so that he may unleash a false accusation against us, and by violence subjugate both us and our donkeys into servitude.19For this reason, approaching the steward of the house at his door20they said: "We beg you, lord, to hear us. We came down once before to buy food21And having bought it, when we arrived at the inn, we opened our sacks and found the money in the mouths of the sacks, which we now have carried back in the same amount22But we have also brought other silver, so that we may buy those things that are necessary for us. It is not on our conscience who had placed it in our bags.23But he responded: "Peace be with you. Do not be afraid. Your God, and the God of your father, has given you the treasure in your sacks. As for the money that you gave to me, I held it as a test." And he led Simeon out to them24And having led them into the house, he brought water, and they washed their feet, and he gave fodder to their donkeys25But they also prepared the gifts, until Joseph entered at midday. For they had heard that they would eat bread there26And so Joseph entered his house, and they offered him the gifts, holding them in their hands. And they reverenced prone on the ground27But he, gently greeting them again, questioned them, saying: "Is your father, the old man about whom you spoke to me, in good health? Is he still alive?28And they answered: "Your servant, our father, is safe; he is still alive." And bowing, they reverenced him29Then Joseph, lifting up his eyes, saw Benjamin, his brother of the same womb, and he said, "Is this your little brother, about whom you spoke to me?" And again, he said, "May God be compassionate to you, my son.30And he hurried out, because his heart had been moved over his brother, and tears gushed out. And going into his chamber, he wept31And when he had washed his face, coming out again, he composed himself, and he said, "Set out bread.32And when it was set out, separately for Joseph, and separately for his brothers, likewise separately for the Egyptians, who ate at the same time, (for it is unlawful for Egyptians to eat with Hebrews, and they consider feasting in this way to be profane33they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his state of life. And they wondered exceedingly34taking the portions that they received from him. And the greater portion went to Benjamin, so much so that it exceeded five parts. And they drank and became inebriated along with him
1Then Joseph instructed the steward of his house, saying: "Fill their sacks with grain, as much as they are able to hold. And place each one’s money at the top of the sack2But place my silver bowl, and the price that he gave for the wheat, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest." And so it was done3And when morning arose, they were sent away with their donkeys4And now they had departed from the city and had set out a short distance. Then Joseph, sending for the steward of his house, said: "Rise up and pursue the men. And when you have overtaken them, say: ‘Why have you returned evil for good5The cup that you have stolen, it is that from which my lord drinks, and in which he is accustomed to discern signs. You have done a very sinful thing.’ 6He did as he had been ordered. And having overtaken them, he spoke to them according to the order7And they responded: "Why does our lord speak in this way, as though your servants had committed such a shameful act8The money, which we found at the top of our sacks, we carried back to you from the land of Canaan. So in what way does it follow that we would steal, from the house of your lord, gold or silver9Whichever of your servants will be found to have what you seek, may he die, and we shall be the servants of my lord.10And he said to them: "Let it be according to your verdict. With whomever it will be found, let him be my servant, but you will be unharmed.11And so, they quickly placed their sacks down to the ground, and each one was opened12And when he had searched, beginning with the oldest, all the way to the youngest, he found the cup in Benjamin’s sack13But they, tearing their garments and burdening their donkeys again, returned to the town14And Judah, first among his brothers, entered to Joseph (for he had not yet departed from the place) and together they all fell down before him to the ground15And he said to them: "Why would you choose to act in this way? Could you be ignorant that there is no one like me in the knowledge of discerning signs?16And Judah said to him, "What could we answer to my lord? And what would we be able to say, or to justly claim? God has discovered the iniquity of your servants. See, we have all become servants to my lord, both we, and he with whom the cup was found.17Joseph responded: "Far be it from me that I should act in this way. He who stole the cup, he will be my servant. But you may go away free to your father.18Then Judah, approaching closer, said confidently: "I beg you, my lord, let your servant speak a word in your ears, and do not be angry with your servant. For you are next to Pharaoh19My lord, you questioned your servants before: ‘Do you have a father or a brother?20And we answered you, my lord: ‘There is our father, an old man, and a young boy, who was born in his old age. His brother of the same womb has died, and he alone is left to his mother and father, who truly love him tenderly.21And you said to your servants, ‘Bring him to me, and I will set my eyes on him.22We suggested to my lord: ‘The boy is not able to leave his father. For if he sends him away, he will die.23And you said to your servants: ‘Unless your youngest brother arrives with you, you will not see my face any more.24Therefore, when we had gone up to your servant our father, we explained to him all that my lord had spoken25And our father said: ‘Return and buy us a little wheat.26And we said to him: ‘We cannot go. If our youngest brother descends with us, we will set out together. Otherwise, in his absence, we do not dare to see the face of the man.27To which he responded: ‘You know that my wife conceived twice by me28One went out, and you said, "A beast devoured him." And since then, he has not appeared29If you take this one also, and anything happens to him on the way, you will lead my grey hairs down with grief to the grave.30Therefore, if I would have gone to your servant, our father, with the boy not present, (though his life depends upon the life of him31and if he were to see that he is not with us, he would die, and your servants will lead his grey hairs down with sorrow to the grave32Let me be your very own servant, for I accepted this one into my trust, and I promised, saying: ‘Unless I lead him back, I will be guilty of a sin against my father for all time.33And so I, your servant, will remain in place of the boy, in ministry to my lord, and then let the boy go up with his brothers34For I cannot return to my father without the boy, lest I appear as a witness to the calamity that will oppress my father.
1Joseph was unable to restrain himself any longer, standing before so many. Therefore, he instructed that all should go outside, and that no stranger should be among them as they recognized one another2And he lifted up his voice with weeping, which the Egyptians heard, along with the entire house of Pharaoh3And he said to his brothers: "I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?" His brothers were unable to respond, being terrified by a very great fear4And he said to them mildly, "Approach toward me." And when they had approached close by, he said: "I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt5Do not be afraid, and let it not seem to you to be a hardship that you sold me into these regions. For God sent me before you into Egypt for your salvation6For it is two years since the famine began to be upon the land, and five years more remain, in which there can be neither plowing, nor reaping7And God sent me ahead, so that you may be preserved upon the earth, and so that you would be able to have food in order to live8I was sent here, not by your counsel, but by the will of God. He has caused me to be like a father to Pharaoh, and to be the lord of his entire house, as well as governor throughout all the land of Egypt9Hurry, and go up to my father, and say to him: ‘Your son Joseph commands this: God has caused me to be lord of the entire land of Egypt. Come down to me, do not delay10and you will live in the land of Goshen. And you will be next to me, you and your sons and the sons of your sons, your sheep and your herds, and all that you possess11And there I will pasture you, (for there are still five years of famine remaining) lest both you and your house perish, along with all that you possess.12Behold, your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin can see that it is my mouth speaking to you13You will report to my father about all my glory, and about all that you have seen in Egypt. Hurry, and bring him to me.14And then falling upon the neck of his brother Benjamin, he embraced him and wept. And likewise, Benjamin wept at the same time on his neck15And Joseph kissed all his brothers, and he cried over each one. After this, they were emboldened to speak to him16And it was overheard, and the news spread by word throughout the king’s court. The brothers of Joseph had arrived, and Pharaoh was gladdened along with all his family17And he told Joseph that he should command his brothers, saying: " ‘Burden your beasts, and go into the land of Canaan18and take from there your father and kindred, and come to me. And I will give you all the good things of Egypt, so that you may eat from the marrow of the land.’ 19"And you may even instruct that they take wagons from the land of Egypt, in order to transport their little ones as well as their wives. And say: ‘Take your father, and come quickly, as soon as possible20You need not give up anything from your household, for all the riches of Egypt will be yours.’ 21And the sons of Israel did just as they were commanded. And Joseph gave them wagons, according to the command of Pharaoh, and provisions for the journey22Likewise, he ordered two robes for each of them to be brought. Yet truly, to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver along with five of the best robes23And he sent just as much money and clothing to his father, adding also ten male donkeys, with which to transport all the riches of Egypt, and as many female donkeys, carrying wheat and bread for the journey24Thus he sent away his brothers, and as they set out he said, "Do not become angry on the way.25And they ascended out of Egypt, and they arrived in the land of Canaan, to their father Jacob26And they reported to him, saying: "Your son Joseph is alive, and he is ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. When Jacob heard this, he was stirred up, as if from a deep sleep, yet he did not believe them27To the contrary, they explained the entire matter in order. And when he had seen the wagons, and all that he had sent, his spirit revived28and he said: "It is enough for me, if my son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.