Study Desk

When they came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them. They said,

"The man who is lord over the land spoke harshly to us and treated us as though we were spying on the land.

But we said to him, 'We are honest men; we are not spies.

We were twelve brothers, sons of one father. One is no more, and the youngest is now with our father in Canaan.'

"Then the man who is lord over the land said to us, 'This is how I will know whether you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers here with me, and take food for your starving households and go.

But bring your youngest brother to me so I will know that you are not spies but honest men. Then I will give your brother back to you, and you can trade ^(F207) in the land.' "

As they were emptying their sacks, there in each man's sack was his pouch of silver! When they and their father saw the money pouches, they were frightened.

Their father Jacob said to them, "You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!"

Then Reuben said to his father, "You may put both of my sons to death if I do not bring him back to you. Entrust him to my care, and I will bring him back."

But Jacob said, "My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow."