Self-interpreting Bible

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Genesis 43

1Jacob is hardly persuaded to send Benjamin. 15Joseph's brethren are brought into Joseph's house. 19They discover their fears to the steward, who pacifieth them. 26Joseph maketh them a feast.

1 AND the famine was a*sore in the land.

2 And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us ba little food.

3 And Judah spake unto him, saying, cThe man did solemnly 1protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see dmy face, except your brother be with you.

4 If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food:

    5 But if thou wilt not send him, ewe will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.

    6 And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?

      7 And they said, The man 2asked us *straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the 3tenor of these words: 4could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?

      • 2: Heb. asking asked us.
      • *: straitly-strictly, closely.
      • 3: Heb. mouth.
      • 4: Heb. knowing could we know.

      8 And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the flad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.

      9 I will gbe surety for him; of my hand shalt thou *require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever:

      10 For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned 5this second time.

      • 5: Or, twice by this.

      11 And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; htake of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:

      12 And itake double money in your hand; and the money jthat was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; *peradventure it was an oversight:

      13 kTake also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man:

      14 And lGod Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. 6If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.

      15 ¶And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.

        16 And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the mruler of his house, Bring these men home, and 7slay, and make ready; for these men shall 8dine with me at noon.

        17 And the man did as Joseph *bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph's house.

        • *: bade-told, commanded.

        18 And the men were nafraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may 9seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.

        19 And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house,

          20 And said, O sir, 10we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:

          21 And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that owe opened our sacks, and, behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: pand we have brought it again in our hand.

          22 And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks.

            23 And he said, qPeace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: 11I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.

            24 And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, and rgave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses *provender.

            25 And they made ready sthe present against Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there.

            26 ¶And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and tbowed themselves to him to the earth.

            27 And he asked them of their 12welfare, and said, 13Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?

            28 And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made *obeisance.

            • *: obeisance-expression of submission, often a bow.

            29 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, uhis mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother, vof whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, wmy son.

            30 And Joseph made haste; xfor his *bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and ywept there.

            31 And he washed his face, and went out, and zrefrained himself, and said, Set on bread.

            32 And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not aeat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an babomination unto the Egyptians.

            33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another.

              34 And che took and sent *messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was dfive times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and 14were merry with him.