Joseph’s Brothers Sent to Egypt

1  וַיַּ֣רְא (And saw) יַעֲקֹ֔ב (Jacob) כִּ֥י (that) יֶשׁ־ (there was) שֶׁ֖בֶר (grain) בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם (in Egypt), וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (and said) יַעֲקֹב֙ (Jacob) לְבָנָ֔יו (to his sons), לָ֖מָּה (Why) תִּתְרָאֽוּ׃ (do you⁺ look at one another)?

2  וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (And he said), הִנֵּ֣ה (Behold), שָׁמַ֔עְתִּי (I have heard) כִּ֥י (that) יֶשׁ־ (there is) שֶׁ֖בֶר (grain) בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם (in Egypt); רְדוּ־ (go down) שָׁ֙מָּה֙ (there), וְשִׁבְרוּ־ (and buy) לָ֣נוּ (for us) מִשָּׁ֔ם (from there), וְנִחְיֶ֖ה (and we shall live) וְלֹ֥א (and not) נָמֽוּת׃ (die).

3  וַיֵּרְד֥וּ (And went down) אֲחֵֽי־ (brothers) יוֹסֵ֖ף (of Joseph) עֲשָׂרָ֑ה (ten) לִשְׁבֹּ֥ר (to buy) בָּ֖ר (grain) מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃ (from Egypt). 4  וְאֶת־ (And) בִּנְיָמִין֙ (Benjamin), אֲחִ֣י (brother) יוֹסֵ֔ף (of Joseph), לֹא־ (not) שָׁלַ֥ח (did send) יַעֲקֹ֖ב (Jacob) אֶת־ (with) אֶחָ֑יו (his brothers); כִּ֣י (for) אָמַ֔ר (he said), פֶּן־ (Lest) יִקְרָאֶ֖נּוּ (befall him) אָסֽוֹן׃ (harm).

5  וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ (And came) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) לִשְׁבֹּ֖ר (to buy) בְּת֣וֹךְ (in the midst) הַבָּאִ֑ים (the ones coming), כִּֽי־ (for) הָיָ֥ה (was) הָרָעָ֖ב (the famine) בְּאֶ֥רֶץ (in the land) כְּנָֽעַן׃ (of Canaan).

6  וְיוֹסֵ֗ף (And Joseph) ה֚וּא (he was) הַשַּׁלִּ֣יט (the ruler) עַל־ (over) הָאָ֔רֶץ (the land), ה֥וּא (he was) הַמַּשְׁבִּ֖יר (the one selling) לְכָל־ (to all) עַ֣ם (the people) הָאָ֑רֶץ (of the land). וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ (And came) אֲחֵ֣י (brothers) יוֹסֵ֔ף (of Joseph), וַיִּשְׁתַּֽחֲווּ־ (and they bowed themselves) ל֥וֹ (before him) אַפַּ֖יִם (noses) אָֽרְצָה׃ (to the earth). 7  וַיַּ֥רְא (And saw) יוֹסֵ֛ף (Joseph) אֶת־ (-) אֶחָ֖יו (his brothers) וַיַּכִּרֵ֑ם (and he recognized them), וַיִּתְנַכֵּ֨ר (and he made himself strange) אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם (to them) וַיְדַבֵּ֧ר (and spoke) אִתָּ֣ם (to them) קָשׁ֗וֹת (harshly). וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And he said) אֲלֵהֶם֙ (to them) מֵאַ֣יִן (From where) בָּאתֶ֔ם (have you⁺ come)?

וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (And they said), מֵאֶ֥רֶץ (From the land) כְּנַ֖עַן (of Canaan) לִשְׁבָּר־ (to buy) אֹֽכֶל׃ (food).

8  וַיַּכֵּ֥ר (And recognized) יוֹסֵ֖ף (Joseph) אֶת־ (-) אֶחָ֑יו (his brothers), וְהֵ֖ם (and they) לֹ֥א (not) הִכִּרֻֽהוּ׃ (did recognize him). 9  וַיִּזְכֹּ֣ר (And remembered) יוֹסֵ֔ף (Joseph) אֵ֚ת (-) הַחֲלֹמ֔וֹת (the dreams) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) חָלַ֖ם (he had dreamed) לָהֶ֑ם (about them); וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (and he said) אֲלֵהֶם֙ (to them) מְרַגְּלִ֣ים (Spies) אַתֶּ֔ם (you⁺ are)! לִרְא֛וֹת (To see) אֶת־ (-) עֶרְוַ֥ת (the nakedness) הָאָ֖רֶץ (of the land) בָּאתֶֽם׃ (you⁺ have come).

10  וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ (And they said) אֵלָ֖יו (to him) לֹ֣א (No), אֲדֹנִ֑י (my lord), וַעֲבָדֶ֥יךָ (and your servants) בָּ֖אוּ (have come) לִשְׁבָּר־ (to buy) אֹֽכֶל׃ (food). 11  כֻּלָּ֕נוּ (All) בְּנֵ֥י (sons) אִישׁ־ (of man) אֶחָ֖ד (one) נָ֑חְנוּ (we are). כֵּנִ֣ים (Honest) אֲנַ֔חְנוּ (we are); לֹא־ (not) הָי֥וּ (are) עֲבָדֶ֖יךָ (your servants) מְרַגְּלִֽים׃ (spies).

12  וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (And he said) אֲלֵהֶ֑ם (to them) לֹ֕א (No), כִּֽי־ (but rather) עֶרְוַ֥ת (the nakedness) הָאָ֖רֶץ (of the land) בָּאתֶ֥ם (you⁺ have come) לִרְאֽוֹת׃ (to see).

13  וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ (And they said), שְׁנֵ֣ים (Two) עָשָׂר֩ (and ten) עֲבָדֶ֨יךָ (your servants) אַחִ֧ים׀ (brothers) אֲנַ֛חְנוּ (we are), בְּנֵ֥י (sons) אִישׁ־ (of man) אֶחָ֖ד (one) בְּאֶ֣רֶץ (in the land) כְּנָ֑עַן (of Canaan); וְהִנֵּ֨ה (and behold), הַקָּטֹ֤ן (the youngest is) אֶת־ (with) אָבִ֙ינוּ֙ (our father) הַיּ֔וֹם (today), וְהָאֶחָ֖ד (and the one is) אֵינֶֽנּוּ׃ (no more).

14  וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said) אֲלֵהֶ֖ם (to them) יוֹסֵ֑ף (Joseph), ה֗וּא (It is) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that which) דִּבַּ֧רְתִּי (I spoke) אֲלֵכֶ֛ם (to you⁺), לֵאמֹ֖ר (saying), מְרַגְּלִ֥ים (spies) אַתֶּֽם׃ (You⁺ are)! 15  בְּזֹ֖את (By this) תִּבָּחֵ֑נוּ (you⁺ shall be tested): חֵ֤י (By the life) פַרְעֹה֙ (of Pharaoh), אִם־ (not) תֵּצְא֣וּ (you⁺ shall go forth) מִזֶּ֔ה (from this), כִּ֧י (except) אִם־ (if) בְּב֛וֹא (comes) אֲחִיכֶ֥ם (your⁺ brother) הַקָּטֹ֖ן (the youngest) הֵֽנָּה׃ (here). 16  שִׁלְח֨וּ (Send) מִכֶּ֣ם (of you⁺) אֶחָד֮ (one), וְיִקַּ֣ח (and let him bring) אֶת־ (-) אֲחִיכֶם֒ (your⁺ brother), וְאַתֶּם֙ (and you⁺) הֵאָ֣סְר֔וּ (shall be confined), וְיִבָּֽחֲנוּ֙ (and shall be tested) דִּבְרֵיכֶ֔ם (your⁺ words), הַֽאֱמֶ֖ת (whether truth) אִתְּכֶ֑ם (is with you⁺). וְאִם־ (And if) לֹ֕א (not), חֵ֣י (by the life) פַרְעֹ֔ה (of Pharaoh) כִּ֥י (surely) מְרַגְּלִ֖ים (spies) אַתֶּֽם׃ (you⁺ are).

17  וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ף (And he put all together) אֹתָ֛ם (them) אֶל־ (in) מִשְׁמָ֖ר (custody) שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת (three) יָמִֽים׃ (days). 18  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) אֲלֵהֶ֤ם (to them) יוֹסֵף֙ (Joseph) בַּיּ֣וֹם (on the day) הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י (the third), זֹ֥את (This) עֲשׂ֖וּ (do), וִֽחְי֑וּ (and live)— אֶת־ (-) הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (God) אֲנִ֥י (I) יָרֵֽא׃ (fear): 19  אִם־ (If) כֵּנִ֣ים (honest) אַתֶּ֔ם (you⁺ are), אֲחִיכֶ֣ם (of your⁺ brothers) אֶחָ֔ד (one) יֵאָסֵ֖ר (let be confined) בְּבֵ֣ית (in the house) מִשְׁמַרְכֶ֑ם (of your⁺ custody); וְאַתֶּם֙ (and you⁺), לְכ֣וּ (go) הָבִ֔יאוּ (and carry) שֶׁ֖בֶר (grain) רַעֲב֥וֹן (for the famine) בָּתֵּיכֶֽם׃ (of your⁺ houses). 20  וְאֶת־ (And) אֲחִיכֶ֤ם (your⁺ brother) הַקָּטֹן֙ (the youngest) תָּבִ֣יאוּ (you⁺ shall bring) אֵלַ֔י (to me), וְיֵאָמְנ֥וּ (and will be verified) דִבְרֵיכֶ֖ם (your⁺ words), וְלֹ֣א (and not) תָמ֑וּתוּ (you⁺ shall die).

וַיַּעֲשׂוּ־ (And they did) כֵֽן׃ (so).

21  וַיֹּאמְר֞וּ (And they said) אִ֣ישׁ (each man) אֶל־ (to) אָחִ֗יו (his brother), אֲבָל֮ (Truly) אֲשֵׁמִ֣ים׀ (guilty) אֲנַחְנוּ֮ (we are) עַל־ (concerning) אָחִינוּ֒ (our brother), אֲשֶׁ֨ר (for) רָאִ֜ינוּ (we saw) צָרַ֥ת (the distress) נַפְשׁ֛וֹ (of his soul) בְּהִתְחַֽנְנ֥וֹ (when he pleaded) אֵלֵ֖ינוּ (with us), וְלֹ֣א (and not) שָׁמָ֑עְנוּ (we did listen). עַל־ (Upon) כֵּן֙ (thus) בָּ֣אָה (has come) אֵלֵ֔ינוּ (upon us) הַצָּרָ֖ה (distress) הַזֹּֽאת׃ (this).

22  וַיַּעַן֩ (And answered) רְאוּבֵ֨ן (Reuben) אֹתָ֜ם (them), לֵאמֹ֗ר (saying), הֲלוֹא֩ (Did not) אָמַ֨רְתִּי (I speak) אֲלֵיכֶ֧ם׀ (to you⁺), לֵאמֹ֛ר (saying), אַל־ (Not) תֶּחֶטְא֥וּ (do sin) בַיֶּ֖לֶד (against the boy)’ וְלֹ֣א (and not) שְׁמַעְתֶּ֑ם (you⁺ did listen)! וְגַם־ (And also) דָּמ֖וֹ (his blood), הִנֵּ֥ה (behold), נִדְרָֽשׁ׃ (it is required).

23  וְהֵם֙ (And they) לֹ֣א (not) יָֽדְע֔וּ (did know) כִּ֥י (that) שֹׁמֵ֖עַ (was listening) יוֹסֵ֑ף (Joseph), כִּ֥י (for) הַמֵּלִ֖יץ (the interpreter) בֵּינֹתָֽם׃ (he spoke to them). 24  וַיִּסֹּ֥ב (And he turned himself away) מֵֽעֲלֵיהֶ֖ם (from them) וַיֵּ֑בְךְּ (and wept), וַיָּ֤שָׁב (and he returned) אֲלֵהֶם֙ (to them) וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר (and spoke) אֲלֵהֶ֔ם (to them), וַיִּקַּ֤ח (and he took) מֵֽאִתָּם֙ (from them) אֶת־ (-) שִׁמְע֔וֹן (Simeon) וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ר (and bound) אֹת֖וֹ (him) לְעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃ (before their eyes).

Joseph’s Brothers Return to Canaan

25  וַיְצַ֣ו (And commanded) יוֹסֵ֗ף (Joseph) וַיְמַלְא֣וּ (and they filled) אֶת־ (-) כְּלֵיהֶם֮ (their vessels) בָּר֒ (with grain), וּלְהָשִׁ֤יב (and to return) כַּסְפֵּיהֶם֙ (their silver) אִ֣ישׁ (each man) אֶל־ (to) שַׂקּ֔וֹ (his sack), וְלָתֵ֥ת (and to give) לָהֶ֛ם (to them) צֵדָ֖ה (provisions) לַדָּ֑רֶךְ (for the journey). וַיַּ֥עַשׂ (And he did) לָהֶ֖ם (for them) כֵּֽן׃ (so). 26  וַיִּשְׂא֥וּ (And they lifted) אֶת־ (-) שִׁבְרָ֖ם (the grain) עַל־ (upon) חֲמֹרֵיהֶ֑ם (their donkeys) וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ (and departed) מִשָּֽׁם׃ (from there).

27  וַיִּפְתַּ֨ח (And opened) הָאֶחָ֜ד (the one) אֶת־ (-) שַׂקּ֗וֹ (his sack) לָתֵ֥ת (to give) מִסְפּ֛וֹא (feed) לַחֲמֹר֖וֹ (to his donkey) בַּמָּל֑וֹן (at the lodging place), וַיַּרְא֙ (and he saw) אֶת־ (-) כַּסְפּ֔וֹ (his silver). וְהִנֵּה־ (And behold) ה֖וּא (it was) בְּפִ֥י (in the mouth) אַמְתַּחְתּֽוֹ׃ (of his bag). 28  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And he said) אֶל־ (to) אֶחָיו֙ (his brothers), הוּשַׁ֣ב (Has been returned) כַּסְפִּ֔י (my silver), וְגַ֖ם (and also) הִנֵּ֣ה (behold) בְאַמְתַּחְתִּ֑י (it is in my bag).

וַיֵּצֵ֣א (And went out) לִבָּ֗ם (their hearts), וַיֶּֽחֶרְד֞וּ (and they trembled), אִ֤ישׁ (each man) אֶל־ (to) אָחִיו֙ (his brother), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), מַה־ (What is) זֹּ֛את (this) עָשָׂ֥ה (that has done) אֱלֹהִ֖ים (God) לָֽנוּ׃ (to us).

29  וַיָּבֹ֛אוּ (And they came) אֶל־ (to) יַעֲקֹ֥ב (Jacob) אֲבִיהֶ֖ם (their father) אַ֣רְצָה (in the land) כְּנָ֑עַן (of Canaan) וַיַּגִּ֣ידוּ (and they told) ל֔וֹ (him) אֵ֛ת (-) כָּל־ (all) הַקֹּרֹ֥ת (that had happened) אֹתָ֖ם (to them), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 30  דִּ֠בֶּר (Spoke) הָאִ֨ישׁ (the man), אֲדֹנֵ֥י (the lord) הָאָ֛רֶץ (of the land), אִתָּ֖נוּ (to us) קָשׁ֑וֹת (harshly), וַיִּתֵּ֣ן (and treated) אֹתָ֔נוּ (us) כִּֽמְרַגְּלִ֖ים (as spies) אֶת־ (-) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (of the land).

31  וַנֹּ֥אמֶר (And we said) אֵלָ֖יו (to him) כֵּנִ֣ים (Honest) אֲנָ֑חְנוּ (we are); לֹ֥א (not) הָיִ֖ינוּ (we are) מְרַגְּלִֽים׃ (spies). 32  שְׁנֵים־ (Two) עָשָׂ֥ר (and ten) אֲנַ֛חְנוּ (we are) אַחִ֖ים (brothers), בְּנֵ֣י (sons) אָבִ֑ינוּ (of our father). הָאֶחָ֣ד (The one is) אֵינֶ֔נּוּ (no more), וְהַקָּטֹ֥ן (and the youngest) הַיּ֛וֹם (this day) אֶת־ (is with) אָבִ֖ינוּ (our father) בְּאֶ֥רֶץ (in the land) כְּנָֽעַן׃ (of Canaan).

33  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) אֵלֵ֗ינוּ (to us) הָאִישׁ֙ (the man), אֲדֹנֵ֣י (the lord) הָאָ֔רֶץ (of the land), בְּזֹ֣את (By this) אֵדַ֔ע (I will know) כִּ֥י (that) כֵנִ֖ים (honest) אַתֶּ֑ם (you⁺ are): אֲחִיכֶ֤ם (Your⁺ brother) הָֽאֶחָד֙ (the one) הַנִּ֣יחוּ (leave) אִתִּ֔י (with me), וְאֶת־ (and) רַעֲב֥וֹן (for the famine) בָּתֵּיכֶ֖ם (of your⁺ houses) קְח֥וּ (take food), וָלֵֽכוּ׃ (and go). 34  וְ֠הָבִיאוּ (And bring) אֶת־ (-) אֲחִיכֶ֣ם (your⁺ brother) הַקָּטֹן֮ (the youngest) אֵלַי֒ (to me). וְאֵֽדְעָ֗ה (And I shall know) כִּ֣י (that) לֹ֤א (not) מְרַגְּלִים֙ (spies) אַתֶּ֔ם (you⁺ are), כִּ֥י (but) כֵנִ֖ים (honest) אַתֶּ֑ם (that you⁺ are) אֶת־ (-). אֲחִיכֶם֙ (Your⁺ brother) אֶתֵּ֣ן (I will give) לָכֶ֔ם (to you⁺), וְאֶת־ (and) הָאָ֖רֶץ (in the land) תִּסְחָֽרוּ׃ (you⁺ may trade).

35  וַיְהִ֗י (And it came to pass) הֵ֚ם (they) מְרִיקִ֣ים (were empyting) שַׂקֵּיהֶ֔ם (their sacks), וְהִנֵּה־ (and behold), אִ֥ישׁ (each man’s) צְרוֹר־ (bundle) כַּסְפּ֖וֹ (of his silver was) בְּשַׂקּ֑וֹ (in his sack); וַיִּרְא֞וּ (and they saw) אֶת־ (-) צְרֹר֧וֹת (the bundles) כַּסְפֵּיהֶ֛ם (of their silver), הֵ֥מָּה (they) וַאֲבִיהֶ֖ם (and their father), וַיִּירָֽאוּ׃ (and they were afraid).

36  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) אֲלֵהֶם֙ (to them) יַעֲקֹ֣ב (Jacob) אֲבִיהֶ֔ם (their father) אֹתִ֖י (Me) שִׁכַּלְתֶּ֑ם (you⁺ have bereaved). יוֹסֵ֤ף (Joseph) אֵינֶ֙נּוּ֙ (is no more), וְשִׁמְע֣וֹן (and Simeon) אֵינֶ֔נּוּ (is no more), וְאֶת־ (and) בִּנְיָמִ֣ן (Benjamin) תִּקָּ֔חוּ (you⁺ will take). עָלַ֖י (Against me) הָי֥וּ (are) כֻלָּֽנָה׃ (all these things)!

37  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) רְאוּבֵן֙ (Reuben) אֶל־ (to) אָבִ֣יו (his father), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), אֶת־ (-) שְׁנֵ֤י (My two) בָנַי֙ (sons) תָּמִ֔ית (you will put to death), אִם־ (if) לֹ֥א (not) אֲבִיאֶ֖נּוּ (I do bring him back) אֵלֶ֑יךָ (to you)! תְּנָ֤ה (Put) אֹתוֹ֙ (him) עַל־ (in) יָדִ֔י (my hand), וַאֲנִ֖י (and I) אֲשִׁיבֶ֥נּוּ (will return him) אֵלֶֽיךָ׃ (to you).

38  וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (And he said), לֹֽא־ (Not) יֵרֵ֥ד (shall go down) בְּנִ֖י (my son) עִמָּכֶ֑ם (with you⁺), כִּֽי־ (for) אָחִ֨יו (his brother) מֵ֜ת (is dead), וְה֧וּא (and he) לְבַדּ֣וֹ (alone) נִשְׁאָ֗ר (is left); וּקְרָאָ֤הוּ (and if should befall him) אָסוֹן֙ (harm) בַּדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ (in the way) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (which) תֵּֽלְכוּ־ (you⁺ go) בָ֔הּ (in), וְהוֹרַדְתֶּ֧ם (and you⁺ would bring down) אֶת־ (-) שֵׂיבָתִ֛י (my gray hair) בְּיָג֖וֹן (in sorrow) שְׁאֽוֹלָה׃ (to Sheol).