Study Desk

Joseph was using an interpreter to talk to his brothers, so the brothers did not know that he understood their language. He heard and understood everything they said, and that made him want to cry. So he turned away and left the room. When he came back, he took one of the brothers, Simeon, and tied him up while the others watched.

So the brothers put the grain on their donkeys and left.

So the brothers took the gifts to give to the governor. And the brothers took twice as much money with them as they took the first time. This time Benjamin went with the brothers to Egypt.

So the brothers went to the servant in charge of Joseph's house.

The brothers heard that they were going to eat with Joseph, so they worked until noon preparing their gifts for him.

Joseph felt a strong desire to show his brother Benjamin that he loved him. He was about to cry and didn't want his brothers to see him, so he ran into his private room and cried there.

Put the youngest brother's money in his sack too. But also put my special silver cup in his sack." So the servant obeyed Joseph.

After they had left the city, Joseph said to his servant, "Go and follow the men. Stop them and say to them, ‘We were good to you! So why have you been bad to us? Why did you steal my master's silver cup?

So the servant obeyed. He rode out to the brothers and stopped them. The servant said to them what Joseph had told him to say.

We brought back the money that we found in our sacks before. So surely we wouldn't steal silver or gold from your master's house.

Judah said, "Sir, there is nothing we can say. There is no way to explain. There is no way to show that we are not guilty. God has judged us guilty for something else we have done. So all of us, even Benjamin, will be your slaves."

And we answered you, ‘We have a father—he is an old man. And we have a younger brother. Our father loves him because he was born while our father was old. This youngest son's brother is dead, so he is the only son who is left from that mother. Our father loves him very much.'

And we said to you, ‘That young boy cannot come. He cannot leave his father. If his father loses him, his father will be so sad that he will die.'

So we went back to our father and told him what you said.

So now I beg you, please let the boy go back with his brothers, and I will stay and be your slave.

Joseph could not control himself any longer. He cried in front of all the people who were there. Joseph said, "Tell everyone to leave here." So all the people left. Only the brothers were left with Joseph. Then he told them who he was.

So Joseph said to his brothers again, "Come here to me. I beg you, come here." When the brothers went to him, he said to them, "I am your brother Joseph. I am the one you sold as a slave to Egypt.

So God sent me here ahead of you so that I can save your people in this country.

Joseph said, "Hurry up and go to my father. Tell him his son Joseph sent this message: ‘God made me the governor of Egypt. So come here to me quickly. Don't wait.

I will take care of you during the next five years of hunger. So you and your family will not lose everything you own.'