Study Desk

When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he disguised himself to them and spoke to them harshly. He said to them, "Where have you come from?" And they said, "From the land of Canaan, to buy food."

And they said to him, "No, my lord, but your servants have come to buy food.

But they said, "Your servants are twelve brothers in all, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and behold, the youngest is with our father today, and one is no longer alive."

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?"

Now it came about, as they were emptying their sacks, that behold, every man's bag of money was in his sack; and when they and their father saw their bags of money, they were afraid.

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 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.

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,

Then the man brought the men into Joseph's house and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys feed.

When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the gift which was in their hand, and they bowed down to the ground before him.

And they said, "Your servant our father is well; he is still alive." Then they bowed down again in homage.

Then they served him by himself, and Joseph's brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.

Now they were seated before him, from the firstborn according to his birthright to the youngest according to his youth, and the men looked at one another in astonishment.

Then he commanded his house steward, saying, "Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man's money in the opening of his sack.

They had just left the city, and were not far away, when Joseph said to his house steward, "Up, follow the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, 'Why have you repaid evil for good?

And they said to him, "Why does my lord say such words as these? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing!

Then they hurried, each man lowered his sack to the ground, and each man opened his sack.