Study Desk

He also let him ride in the chariot next to his own, and people shouted, "Make way for Joseph!" So Joseph was governor of Egypt.

In fact, there was so much grain that they stopped keeping record, because it was like counting the grains of sand along the beach.

The famine became bad everywhere in Egypt, so Joseph opened the storehouses and sold the grain to the Egyptians.

I have heard there is grain in Egypt. Now go down and buy some, so we won't starve to death."

So Jacob's sons joined others from Canaan who were going to Egypt because of the terrible famine.

"That isn't so!" Joseph insisted. "You've come here to find out where our country is weak."

But bring your youngest brother to me, so I can be certain that you are honest men and not spies. After that, I'll let your other brother go free, and you can stay here and trade."

When the brothers started emptying their sacks of grain, they found their moneybags in them. They were frightened, and so was their father Jacob,

until finally, Jacob's family had eaten all the grain they had bought in Egypt. So Jacob said to his sons, "Go back and buy some more grain."

Jacob asked, "Why did you cause me so much trouble by telling the governor you had another brother?"

Then Judah said to his father, "Let Benjamin go with me, and we will leave right away, so that none of us will starve to death.

he saw Benjamin and told the servant in charge of his house, "Take these men to my house. Slaughter an animal and cook it, so they can eat with me at noon."

So when they arrived at Joseph's house, they said to the servant in charge,

They were served food from Joseph's table, and Benjamin was given five times as much as each of the others. So Joseph's brothers drank with him and had a good time.

But they had not gone far from the city when Joseph told the servant, "Go after those men! When you catch them, say, ‘My master has been good to you. So why have you stolen his silver cup?

We even returned the money we found in our grain sacks when we got back to Canaan. So why would we want to steal any silver or gold from your master's house?

This upset the brothers so much that they began tearing their clothes in sorrow. Then they loaded their donkeys and returned to the city.

When Judah and his brothers got there, Joseph was still at home. So they bowed down to Joseph,

So we told you, "Our father is a very old man. In fact, he was already old when Benjamin was born. Benjamin's brother is dead. Now Benjamin is the only one of the two brothers who is still alive, and our father loves him very much."

You ordered us to bring him here, so you could see him for yourself.