Study Desk

So ten of Joseph's brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt.

So the sons of Israel came to buy grain among those who were coming, because the famine was also in the land of Canaan.

"Send one of you and have him get your brother, while you remain confined, so that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you. But if not, by the life of Pharaoh, you are certainly spies!"

So he put them all together in prison for three days.

and bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified, and you will not die." And they did so.

So they loaded their donkeys with their grain and departed from there.

So he said to his brothers, "My money has been returned, and look, it is right in my sack!" Then their hearts sank, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, "What is this that God has done to us?"

'But bring your youngest brother to me so that I may know that you are not spies, but honest men. I will give your brother to you, and you may trade in the land.'"

So it came about, when they had finished eating the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, "Go back, buy us a little food."

Then Israel said, "Why did you treat me so badly, by telling the man whether you still had another brother?"

But they said, "The man specifically asked about us and our relatives, saying, 'Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?' So we answered his questions. Could we possibly know that he would say, 'Bring your brother down'?"

So Judah said to his father Israel, "Send the boy with me and we will arise and go, so that we may live and not die, we as well as you and our little ones.

Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so, then do this: take some of the best products of the land in your bags, and carry down to the man as a gift, a little balsam and a little honey, labdanum resin and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds.

and may God Almighty grant you compassion in the sight of the man, so that he will release to you your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my sons, I am bereaved!"

So the men took this gift, and they took double the money in their hand, and Benjamin; then they set out and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.

So the man did as Joseph said, and brought the men to Joseph's house.

Now the men were afraid, because they were brought to Joseph's house; and they said, "It is because of the money that was returned in our sacks the first time that we are being brought in, so that he may attack us and overpower us, and take us as slaves with our donkeys."

So they approached Joseph's house steward, and spoke to him at the entrance of the house,

and it happened when we came to the campsite, that we opened our sacks, and behold, each man's money was in the opening of his sack, our money in full. So we have brought it back in our hand.

So they prepared the gift for Joseph's arrival at noon; for they had heard that they were to eat a meal there.