The Return to Egypt with Benjamin

1  וְהָרָעָ֖ב (And the famine) כָּבֵ֥ד (was severe) בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ (in the land). 2  וַיְהִ֗י (And it came to pass), כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר (when) כִּלּוּ֙ (they had finished) לֶאֱכֹ֣ל (eating) אֶת־ (-) הַשֶּׁ֔בֶר (the grain) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) הֵבִ֖יאוּ (they had brought) מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם (from Egypt), וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (that said) אֲלֵיהֶם֙ (to them) אֲבִיהֶ֔ם (their father), שֻׁ֖בוּ (Return), שִׁבְרוּ־ (buy) לָ֥נוּ (for us) מְעַט־ (a little) אֹֽכֶל׃ (food).

3  וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (And said) אֵלָ֛יו (to him) יְהוּדָ֖ה (Judah), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), הָעֵ֣ד (Warning) הֵעִד֩ (he has warned) בָּ֨נוּ (us) הָאִ֤ישׁ (the man), לֵאמֹר֙ (saying), לֹֽא־ (Not) תִרְא֣וּ (you⁺ shall see) פָנַ֔י (my face) בִּלְתִּ֖י (unless) אֲחִיכֶ֥ם (your⁺ brother is) אִתְּכֶֽם׃ (with you⁺). 4  אִם־ (If) יֶשְׁךָ֛ (you) מְשַׁלֵּ֥חַ (send) אֶת־ (-) אָחִ֖ינוּ (our brother) אִתָּ֑נוּ (with us), נֵרְדָ֕ה (we will go down) וְנִשְׁבְּרָ֥ה (and we will buy) לְךָ֖ (for you) אֹֽכֶל׃ (food). 5  וְאִם־ (But if) אֵינְךָ֥ (not) מְשַׁלֵּ֖חַ (you are sending him), לֹ֣א (not) נֵרֵ֑ד (we will go down), כִּֽי־ (for) הָאִ֞ישׁ (the man) אָמַ֤ר (said) אֵלֵ֙ינוּ֙ (to us), לֹֽא־ (Not) תִרְא֣וּ (you⁺ shall see) פָנַ֔י (my face), בִּלְתִּ֖י (unless) אֲחִיכֶ֥ם (your⁺ brother is) אִתְּכֶֽם׃ (with you⁺).

6  וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And said) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Israel), לָמָ֥ה (Why) הֲרֵעֹתֶ֖ם (have you⁺ done evil) לִ֑י (to me) לְהַגִּ֣יד (as to tell) לָאִ֔ישׁ (the man), הַע֥וֹד (you had yet) לָכֶ֖ם (to you⁺) אָֽח׃ (a brother)?

7  וַיֹּאמְר֡וּ (And they said), שָׁא֣וֹל (Asking) שָֽׁאַל־ (he asked) הָ֠אִישׁ (the man) לָ֣נוּ (about us) וּלְמֽוֹלַדְתֵּ֜נוּ (and about our family), לֵאמֹ֗ר (saying), הַע֨וֹד (Is still) אֲבִיכֶ֥ם (your⁺ father) חַי֙ (alive)? הֲיֵ֣שׁ (Is there) לָכֶ֣ם (unto you⁺) אָ֔ח (a brother)? וַנַ֨גֶּד־ (And we told) ל֔וֹ (him) עַל־ (according to) פִּ֖י (the mouth) הַדְּבָרִ֣ים (the words). הָאֵ֑לֶּה (These), הֲיָד֣וֹעַ (knowing) נֵדַ֔ע (how could we know) כִּ֣י (that) יֹאמַ֔ר (he would say), הוֹרִ֖ידוּ (Bring down) אֶת־ (-) אֲחִיכֶֽם׃ (your⁺ brother)?

8  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) יְהוּדָ֜ה (Judah) אֶל־ (to) יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל (Israel) אָבִ֗יו (his father), שִׁלְחָ֥ה (Send) הַנַּ֛עַר (the boy) אִתִּ֖י (with me), וְנָק֣וּמָה (and we will arise) וְנֵלֵ֑כָה (and let us go) וְנִֽחְיֶה֙ (that we may live) וְלֹ֣א (and not) נָמ֔וּת (die), גַּם־ (both) אֲנַ֥חְנוּ (we) גַם־ (and) אַתָּ֖ה (you) גַּם־ (and also) טַפֵּֽנוּ׃ (our little ones). 9  אָֽנֹכִי֙ (I myself) אֶֽעֶרְבֶ֔נּוּ (will guarantee him) מִיָּדִ֖י (from my hand); תְּבַקְשֶׁ֑נּוּ (you shall require him) אִם־ (if) לֹ֨א (not) הֲבִיאֹתִ֤יו (I bring him back) אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ (to you) וְהִצַּגְתִּ֣יו (and set him) לְפָנֶ֔יךָ (before you), וְחָטָ֥אתִֽי (and shall bear the blame) לְךָ֖ (to you) כָּל־ (all) הַיָּמִֽים׃ (the days); 10  כִּ֖י (for) לוּלֵ֣א (if not) הִתְמַהְמָ֑הְנוּ (we had lingered), כִּֽי־ (surely) עַתָּ֥ה (now) שַׁ֖בְנוּ (we would have returned) זֶ֥ה (these) פַעֲמָֽיִם׃ (two times).

11  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) אֲלֵהֶ֜ם (to them) יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל (Israel) אֲבִיהֶ֗ם (their father), אִם־ (If) כֵּ֣ן׀ (so) אֵפוֹא֮ (then), זֹ֣את (this) עֲשׂוּ֒ (do): קְח֞וּ (Take) מִזִּמְרַ֤ת (from the best products) הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ (of the land) בִּכְלֵיכֶ֔ם (in your⁺ vessels), וְהוֹרִ֥ידוּ (and carry down) לָאִ֖ישׁ (to the man) מִנְחָ֑ה (as a gift), מְעַ֤ט (a little) צֳרִי֙ (balm), וּמְעַ֣ט (and a little) דְּבַ֔שׁ (honey), נְכֹ֣את (spices) וָלֹ֔ט (and myrrh), בָּטְנִ֖ים (pistachios) וּשְׁקֵדִֽים׃ (and almonds). 12  וְכֶ֥סֶף (And silver) מִשְׁנֶ֖ה (double) קְח֣וּ (take) בְיֶדְכֶ֑ם (in your⁺ hand); וְאֶת־ (and) הַכֶּ֜סֶף (the silver) הַמּוּשָׁ֨ב (that was returned) בְּפִ֤י (in the mouth) אַמְתְּחֹֽתֵיכֶם֙ (of your⁺ bags), תָּשִׁ֣יבוּ (you⁺ shall return) בְיֶדְכֶ֔ם (in your⁺ hand). אוּלַ֥י (Perhaps) מִשְׁגֶּ֖ה (a mistake) הֽוּא׃ (it was). 13  וְאֶת־ (And) אֲחִיכֶ֖ם (your⁺ brother) קָ֑חוּ (take), וְק֖וּמוּ (and arise), שׁ֥וּבוּ (return) אֶל־ (to) הָאִֽישׁ׃ (the man). 14  וְאֵ֣ל (And El-) שַׁדַּ֗י (Shaddai) יִתֵּ֨ן (may give) לָכֶ֤ם (to you⁺) רַחֲמִים֙ (mercy) לִפְנֵ֣י (before) הָאִ֔ישׁ (the man), וְשִׁלַּ֥ח (and may he release) לָכֶ֛ם (to you⁺) אֶת־ (-) אֲחִיכֶ֥ם (your⁺ brother) אַחֵ֖ר (other), וְאֶת־ (and) בִּנְיָמִ֑ין (Benjamin). וַאֲנִ֕י (And I), כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר (if) שָׁכֹ֖לְתִּי (I am bereaved), שָׁכָֽלְתִּי׃ (I am bereaved).

15  וַיִּקְח֤וּ (And took) הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ (the men) אֶת־ (-) הַמִּנְחָ֣ה (the gift) הַזֹּ֔את (this), וּמִשְׁנֶה־ (and double) כֶּ֛סֶף (the silver) לָקְח֥וּ (they took) בְיָדָ֖ם (in their hand), וְאֶת־ (and) בִּנְיָמִ֑ן (Benjamin). וַיָּקֻ֙מוּ֙ (And they arose) וַיֵּרְד֣וּ (and went down) מִצְרַ֔יִם (to Egypt), וַיַּֽעַמְד֖וּ (and they stood) לִפְנֵ֥י (before) יוֹסֵֽף׃ (Joseph).

Joseph’s Hospitality to His Brothers

16  וַיַּ֨רְא (And saw) יוֹסֵ֣ף (Joseph) אִתָּם֮ (with them) אֶת־ (-) בִּנְיָמִין֒ (Benjamin), וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (and he said) לַֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר (to the one) עַל־ (over) בֵּית֔וֹ (his house), הָבֵ֥א (Bring) אֶת־ (-) הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים (the men) הַבָּ֑יְתָה (to the house) וּטְבֹ֤חַ (and slaughter) טֶ֙בַח֙ (an animal) וְהָכֵ֔ן (and prepare it); כִּ֥י (for) אִתִּ֛י (with me) יֹאכְל֥וּ (will eat) הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים (the men) בַּֽצָּהֳרָֽיִם׃ (at noon). 17  וַיַּ֣עַשׂ (And did) הָאִ֔ישׁ (the man) כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר (as) אָמַ֣ר (had said) יוֹסֵ֑ף (Joseph), וַיָּבֵ֥א (and brought) הָאִ֛ישׁ (the man) אֶת־ (-) הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים (the men) בֵּ֥יתָה (into the house) יוֹסֵֽף׃ (of Joseph).

18  וַיִּֽירְא֣וּ (And were afraid) הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֗ים (the men), כִּ֣י (because) הֽוּבְאוּ֮ (they were brought) בֵּ֣ית (into the house) יוֹסֵף֒ (of Joseph). וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ (And they said), עַל־ (It is because) דְּבַ֤ר (of) הַכֶּ֙סֶף֙ (the silver) הַשָּׁ֤ב (that was returned) בְּאַמְתְּחֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙ (in our bags) בַּתְּחִלָּ֔ה (the first time) אֲנַ֖חְנוּ (we) מֽוּבָאִ֑ים (are being brought in), לְהִתְגֹּלֵ֤ל (to roll himself) עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ (upon us) וּלְהִתְנַפֵּ֣ל (and to fall) עָלֵ֔ינוּ (upon us) וְלָקַ֧חַת (and to take) אֹתָ֛נוּ (us) לַעֲבָדִ֖ים (for servants), וְאֶת־ (and) חֲמֹרֵֽינוּ׃ (our donkeys).

19  וַֽיִּגְּשׁוּ֙ (And they drew near) אֶל־ (to) הָאִ֔ישׁ (the man) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (who) עַל־ (was over) בֵּ֣ית (the house) יוֹסֵ֑ף (of Joseph), וַיְדַבְּר֥וּ (and they spoke) אֵלָ֖יו (to him) פֶּ֥תַח (at the door) הַבָּֽיִת׃ (of the house). 20  וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ (And they said), בִּ֣י (Please) אֲדֹנִ֑י (my lord), יָרֹ֥ד (coming down) יָרַ֛דְנוּ (we came down) בַּתְּחִלָּ֖ה (the first time) לִשְׁבָּר־ (to buy) אֹֽכֶל׃ (food). 21  וַֽיְהִ֞י (And it came to pass), כִּי־ (when) בָ֣אנוּ (we came) אֶל־ (to) הַמָּל֗וֹן (the lodging place), וַֽנִּפְתְּחָה֙ (and we opened) אֶת־ (-) אַמְתְּחֹתֵ֔ינוּ (our bags), וְהִנֵּ֤ה (and behold) כֶֽסֶף־ (silver was) אִישׁ֙ (of each man) בְּפִ֣י (was in the mouth) אַמְתַּחְתּ֔וֹ (of his bag)— כַּסְפֵּ֖נוּ (our silver) בְּמִשְׁקָל֑וֹ (in its weight). וַנָּ֥שֶׁב (And we have brought back) אֹת֖וֹ (it) בְּיָדֵֽנוּ׃ (in our hands). 22  וְכֶ֧סֶף (And silver) אַחֵ֛ר (other) הוֹרַ֥דְנוּ (we have brought down) בְיָדֵ֖נוּ (in our hand) לִשְׁבָּר־ (to buy) אֹ֑כֶל (food); לֹ֣א (not) יָדַ֔עְנוּ (we do know) מִי־ (who) שָׂ֥ם (put) כַּסְפֵּ֖נוּ (our silver) בְּאַמְתְּחֹתֵֽינוּ׃ (in our bags).

23  וַיֹּאמֶר֩ (And he said), שָׁל֨וֹם (Peace) לָכֶ֜ם (to you⁺). אַל־ (Not) תִּירָ֗אוּ (do fear); אֱלֹ֨הֵיכֶ֜ם (your⁺ God) וֵֽאלֹהֵ֤י (and the God) אֲבִיכֶם֙ (of your⁺ father) נָתַ֨ן (has given) לָכֶ֤ם (to you⁺) מַטְמוֹן֙ (hidden treasure) בְּאַמְתְּחֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם (in your⁺ bags); כַּסְפְּכֶ֖ם (your⁺ silver) בָּ֣א (came) אֵלָ֑י (to me). וַיּוֹצֵ֥א (And he brought out) אֲלֵהֶ֖ם (to them) אֶת־ (-) שִׁמְעֽוֹן׃ (Simeon). 24  וַיָּבֵ֥א (And brought) הָאִ֛ישׁ (the man) אֶת־ (-) הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים (the men) בֵּ֣יתָה (into the house) יוֹסֵ֑ף (of Joseph), וַיִּתֶּן־ (and gave) מַ֙יִם֙ (water), וַיִּרְחֲצ֣וּ (and they washed) רַגְלֵיהֶ֔ם (their feet). וַיִּתֵּ֥ן (And he gave) מִסְפּ֖וֹא (feed) לַחֲמֹֽרֵיהֶֽם׃ (to their donkeys).

25  וַיָּכִ֙ינוּ֙ (And they prepared) אֶת־ (-) הַמִּנְחָ֔ה (the gift) עַד־ (for) בּ֥וֹא (the coming) יוֹסֵ֖ף (of Joseph) בַּֽצָּהֳרָ֑יִם (at noon); כִּ֣י (for) שָֽׁמְע֔וּ (they heard) כִּי־ (that) שָׁ֖ם (there) יֹ֥אכְלוּ (they would eat) לָֽחֶם׃ (bread). 26  וַיָּבֹ֤א (And came) יוֹסֵף֙ (Joseph) הַבַּ֔יְתָה (into the house), וַיָּבִ֥יאּוּ (and they brought) ל֛וֹ (to him) אֶת־ (-) הַמִּנְחָ֥ה (the gift) אֲשֶׁר־ (that was) בְּיָדָ֖ם (in their hand) הַבָּ֑יְתָה (into the house), וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ־ (and they bowed themselves) ל֖וֹ (before him) אָֽרְצָה׃ (to the earth).

27  וַיִּשְׁאַ֤ל (And he asked) לָהֶם֙ (them) לְשָׁל֔וֹם (about their wellbeing), וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (he said), הֲשָׁל֛וֹם (Is well) אֲבִיכֶ֥ם (your⁺ father), הַזָּקֵ֖ן (the old man) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (of whom) אֲמַרְתֶּ֑ם (you⁺ spoke)? הַעוֹדֶ֖נּוּ (Is he still) חָֽי׃ (alive)?

28  וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ (And they said), שָׁל֛וֹם (It is well) לְעַבְדְּךָ֥ (for your servant) לְאָבִ֖ינוּ (for our father); עוֹדֶ֣נּוּ (he is still) חָ֑י (alive). וַֽיִּקְּד֖וּ (And they bowed down) וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ׃ (and worshiped).

29  וַיִּשָּׂ֣א (And he lifted up) עֵינָ֗יו (his eyes), וַיַּ֞רְא (and saw) אֶת־ (-) בִּנְיָמִ֣ין (Benjamin) אָחִיו֮ (his brother), בֶּן־ (son) אִמּוֹ֒ (of his mother), וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (and he said), הֲזֶה֙ (Is this) אֲחִיכֶ֣ם (your⁺ brother) הַקָּטֹ֔ן (the youngest), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (of whom) אֲמַרְתֶּ֖ם (you⁺ spoke) אֵלָ֑י (to me)? וַיֹּאמַ֕ר (And he said), אֱלֹהִ֥ים (God) יָחְנְךָ֖ (be gracious to you) בְּנִֽי׃ (my son)!

30  וַיְמַהֵ֣ר (And hurried) יוֹסֵ֗ף (Joseph), כִּֽי־ (for) נִכְמְר֤וּ (yearned) רַחֲמָיו֙ (his compassions) אֶל־ (for) אָחִ֔יו (his brother), וַיְבַקֵּ֖שׁ (and he sought) לִבְכּ֑וֹת (to weep), וַיָּבֹ֥א (and he went) הַחַ֖דְרָה (into the chamber) וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ (and wept) שָֽׁמָּה׃ (there). 31  וַיִּרְחַ֥ץ (And he washed) פָּנָ֖יו (his face) וַיֵּצֵ֑א (and went out), וַיִּ֨תְאַפַּ֔ק (and he restrained himself) וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (and said), שִׂ֥ימוּ (Set) לָֽחֶם׃ (the bread).

32  וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ (And they set) ל֛וֹ (for him) לְבַדּ֖וֹ (by himself), וְלָהֶ֣ם (and for them) לְבַדָּ֑ם (by themselves), וְלַמִּצְרִ֞ים (and for the Egyptians) הָאֹכְלִ֤ים (who were eating) אִתּוֹ֙ (with him) לְבַדָּ֔ם (by themselves), כִּי֩ (because) לֹ֨א (not) יוּכְל֜וּן (are able) הַמִּצְרִ֗ים (the Egyptians) לֶאֱכֹ֤ל (to eat) אֶת־ (with) הָֽעִבְרִים֙ (the Hebrews) לֶ֔חֶם (bread); כִּי־ (for) תוֹעֵבָ֥ה (an abomination) הִ֖וא (that is) לְמִצְרָֽיִם׃ (to Egypt). 33  וַיֵּשְׁב֣וּ (And they sat) לְפָנָ֔יו (before him), הַבְּכֹר֙ (the firstborn) כִּבְכֹ֣רָת֔וֹ (according to his birthright), וְהַצָּעִ֖יר (and the youngest) כִּצְעִרָת֑וֹ (according to his youth), וַיִּתְמְה֥וּ (and were astonished) הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים (the men) אִ֥ישׁ (each man) אֶל־ (to) רֵעֵֽהוּ׃ (his neighbor). 34  וַיִּשָּׂ֨א (And he lifted up) מַשְׂאֹ֜ת (portions) מֵאֵ֣ת (from) פָּנָיו֮ (before him) אֲלֵהֶם֒ (to them), וַתֵּ֜רֶב (and was greater) מַשְׂאַ֧ת (the portion) בִּנְיָמִ֛ן (of Benjamin) מִמַּשְׂאֹ֥ת (than the portions) כֻּלָּ֖ם (of all of them), חָמֵ֣שׁ (five) יָד֑וֹת (hands). וַיִּשְׁתּ֥וּ (And they drank) וַֽיִּשְׁכְּר֖וּ (and became drunk) עִמּֽוֹ׃ (with him).