The Return to Egypt with Benjamin

1Now the famine was still severe in the land. 2So when Jacob’s sons had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt (land of bondage), their father said to them, “Go back and buy us a little more food.”

3But Judah (praised) replied, “The man solemnly warned us, ‘You⁺ will not see my face again unless your⁺ brother is with you⁺.’ 4If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy food for you. 5But if you will not send him, we will not go; for the man told us, ‘You⁺ will not see my face again unless your⁺ brother is with you⁺.’”

6“Why did you⁺ bring this trouble upon me?” Israel (he wrestles with God) asked. “Why did you⁺ tell the man you⁺ had another brother?”

7They replied, “The man questioned us in detail about ourselves and our family: ‘Is your⁺ father still alive? Do you⁺ have another brother?’ And we answered him accordingly. How could we possibly know that he would say, ‘Bring your⁺ brother here’?”

8And Judah (praised) said to his father Israel (he wrestles with God), “Send the boy with me, and we will go at once, so that we may live and not die—neither we, nor you, nor our children. 9I will guarantee his safety. You may hold me personally responsible. If I do not bring him back and set him before you, then may I bear the guilt before you all my life. 10If we had not delayed, we could have come and gone twice by now.”

11Then their father Israel (he wrestles with God) said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your⁺ packs and carry them down as a gift for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds. 12Take double the silver with you⁺ so that you⁺ may return the silver that was put back into the mouths of your⁺ sacks. Perhaps it was a mistake. 13Take your⁺ brother as well, and return to the man at once. 14May God Almighty {El-Shaddai}a grant you⁺ mercy before the man, that he may release your⁺ other brother along with Benjamin (son of the right hand). As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”

15So the men took these gifts, along with double the amount of silver, and Benjamin as well (son of the right hand). Then they hurried down to Egypt (land of bondage) and stood before Joseph (YHWH has added).

Joseph’s Hospitality to His Brothers

16When Joseph (YHWH has added) saw Benjamin (son of the right hand) with his brothers, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my house. Slaughter an animal and prepare it, for they shall dine with me at noon.” 17The man did as Joseph (YHWH has added) had commanded and took the brothers to Joseph’s house.

18But the brothers were frightened that they had been taken to Joseph’s (YHWH has added) house. “We have been brought here because of the silver that was returned in our bags the first time,” they said. “They intend to overpower us and take us as slaves, along with our donkeys.”

19So they approached Joseph’s (YHWH has added) steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house. 20“Please, sir,” they said, “we really did come down here the first time to buy food. 21But when we came to the place we lodged for the night, we opened our sacks and, behold, each of us found his silver in the mouth of his sack! It was the full amount of our silver, and we have brought it back with us. 22We have brought additional silver with us to buy food. We do not know who put our silver in our sacks.”

23“It is fine,” said the steward. “Do not be afraid. Your⁺ God {Eloheikem}, the God of your⁺ father, gave you⁺ the treasure that was in your⁺ sacks. I received your⁺ silver.” Then he brought Simeon (heard) out to them. 24And the steward took the men into Joseph’s (YHWH has added) house, gave them water to wash their feet, and provided food for their donkeys.

25Since the brothers had been told that they were going to eat a meal there, they prepared their gift for Joseph’s (YHWH has added) arrival at noon. 26When Joseph (YHWH has added) came home, they presented him with the gifts they had brought, and they bowed to the ground before him.

27He asked if they were well, and then he asked, “How is your⁺ elderly father you⁺ told me about? Is he still alive?”

28“Your servant our father is well,” they answered. “He is still alive.” And they bowed down to honor him.

29When Joseph looked up and saw his brother Benjamin (son of the right hand), his own mother’s son, he asked, “Is this your⁺ youngest brother, the one you⁺ told me about?” Then he declared, “May God {Elohim} be gracious to you, my son.”

30Joseph (YHWH has added) hurried out because he was moved to tears for his brother, and he went to a private room to weep. 31Then he washed his face and came back out. Regaining his composure, he said, “Serve the meal.”

32They separately served Joseph, his brothers, and the Egyptians (double straits). They ate separately because the Egyptians would not eat with the Hebrews (those from beyond), since that was detestable to them. 33They were seated before Joseph in order by age, from the firstborn to the youngest, and the men looked at one another in astonishment. 34When the portions were served to them from Joseph’s table, Benjamin’s (son of the right hand) portion was five times larger than any of the others. So they feasted and drank freely with Joseph.