Benjamin and the Silver Cup

1  וַיְצַ֞ו (And he commanded) אֶת־ (-) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (the one) עַל־ (over) בֵּיתוֹ֮ (his house), לֵאמֹר֒ (saying), מַלֵּ֞א (Fill) אֶת־ (-) אַמְתְּחֹ֤ת (the bags) הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ (of the men) אֹ֔כֶל (with food), כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר (as much) יוּכְל֖וּן (as they are able) שְׂאֵ֑ת (carry), וְשִׂ֥ים (and put) כֶּֽסֶף־ (the silver) אִ֖ישׁ (of each man) בְּפִ֥י (in the mouth) אַמְתַּחְתּֽוֹ׃ (of his bag). 2  וְאֶת־ (And) גְּבִיעִ֞י (my cup), גְּבִ֣יעַ (cup) הַכֶּ֗סֶף (the silver), תָּשִׂים֙ (put) בְּפִי֙ (in the mouth) אַמְתַּ֣חַת (of the bag) הַקָּטֹ֔ן (of the youngest), וְאֵ֖ת (and) כֶּ֣סֶף (the silver) שִׁבְר֑וֹ (for his grain).

וַיַּ֕עַשׂ (And he did) כִּדְבַ֥ר (according to the word) יוֹסֵ֖ף (Joseph) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) דִּבֵּֽר׃ (had spoken).

3  הַבֹּ֖קֶר (The morning) א֑וֹר (was light), וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים (and the men) שֻׁלְּח֔וּ (were sent away), הֵ֖מָּה (they) וַחֲמֹרֵיהֶֽם׃ (and their donkeys). 4  הֵ֠ם (They) יָֽצְא֣וּ (had gone out) אֶת־ (of) הָעִיר֮ (the city), לֹ֣א (not) הִרְחִיקוּ֒ (they had gone far), וְיוֹסֵ֤ף (and Joseph) אָמַר֙ (said) לַֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר (to the one) עַל־ (over) בֵּית֔וֹ (his house), ק֥וּם (Get up), רְדֹ֖ף (pursue) אַחֲרֵ֣י (after) הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֑ים (the men). וְהִשַּׂגְתָּם֙ (And you shall overtake them) וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ (and you shall say) אֲלֵהֶ֔ם (to them), לָ֛מָּה (Why) שִׁלַּמְתֶּ֥ם (have you⁺ repaid) רָעָ֖ה (evil) תַּ֥חַת (for) טוֹבָֽה׃ (good)? 5  הֲל֣וֹא (Is it not) זֶ֗ה (this) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (which) יִשְׁתֶּ֤ה (drinks) אֲדֹנִי֙ (my lord) בּ֔וֹ (from), וְה֕וּא (and he) נַחֵ֥שׁ (divining) יְנַחֵ֖שׁ (practices divination) בּ֑וֹ (with it)? הֲרֵעֹתֶ֖ם (You⁺ have done evil) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (in that which) עֲשִׂיתֶֽם׃ (you⁺ have done).

6  וַֽיַּשִּׂגֵ֑ם (And he overtook them), וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר (and he spoke) אֲלֵהֶ֔ם (to them) אֶת־ (-) הַדְּבָרִ֖ים (the words) הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ (these).

7  וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ (And they said) אֵלָ֔יו (to him), לָ֚מָּה (Why) יְדַבֵּ֣ר (speak) אֲדֹנִ֔י (my lord) כַּדְּבָרִ֖ים (words) הָאֵ֑לֶּה (according to these)? חָלִ֙ילָה֙ (Far be it) לַעֲבָדֶ֔יךָ (to your servants) מֵעֲשׂ֖וֹת (from doing) כַּדָּבָ֥ר (word) הַזֶּֽה׃ (according to this). 8  הֵ֣ן (Behold), כֶּ֗סֶף (the silver), אֲשֶׁ֤ר (that) מָצָ֙אנוּ֙ (we found) בְּפִ֣י (in the mouth) אַמְתְּחֹתֵ֔ינוּ (of our bags) הֱשִׁיבֹ֥נוּ (we returned) אֵלֶ֖יךָ (to you) מֵאֶ֣רֶץ (from the land) כְּנָ֑עַן (of Canaan). וְאֵ֗יךְ (And how) נִגְנֹב֙ (could we steal) מִבֵּ֣ית (from the house) אֲדֹנֶ֔יךָ (of your lord) כֶּ֖סֶף (silver) א֥וֹ (or) זָהָֽב׃ (gold)? 9  אֲשֶׁ֨ר (With whomever) יִמָּצֵ֥א (is found) אִתּ֛וֹ (it) מֵעֲבָדֶ֖יךָ (of your servants), וָמֵ֑ת (then he shall die), וְגַם־ (and also) אֲנַ֕חְנוּ (we) נִֽהְיֶ֥ה (will be) לַֽאדֹנִ֖י (to my lord) לַעֲבָדִֽים׃ (as servants).

10  וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (And he said), גַּם־ (Also) עַתָּ֥ה (now) כְדִבְרֵיכֶ֖ם (according to your⁺ words) כֶּן־ (so) ה֑וּא (it is), אֲשֶׁ֨ר (whoever) יִמָּצֵ֤א (is found) אִתּוֹ֙ (with it) יִהְיֶה־ (shall be) לִּ֣י (to me) עָ֔בֶד (a servant), וְאַתֶּ֖ם (and you⁺) תִּהְי֥וּ (shall be) נְקִיִּֽם׃ (blameless). 11  וַֽיְמַהֲר֗וּ (And they hurried) וַיּוֹרִ֛דוּ (and they lowered)

אִ֥ישׁ (each man) אֶת־ (-) אַמְתַּחְתּ֖וֹ (his bag) אָ֑רְצָה (to the earth), וַֽיִּפְתְּח֖וּ (and they opened) אִ֥ישׁ (each man) אַמְתַּחְתּֽוֹ׃ (his bag). 12  וַיְחַפֵּ֕שׂ (And he searched); בַּגָּד֣וֹל (with the oldest) הֵחֵ֔ל (he began), וּבַקָּטֹ֖ן (and with the youngest) כִּלָּ֑ה (he finished). וַיִּמָּצֵא֙ (And was found) הַגָּבִ֔יעַ (the cup) בְּאַמְתַּ֖חַת (in the bag) בִּנְיָמִֽן׃ (of Benjamin). 13  וַֽיִּקְרְע֖וּ (And they tore) שִׂמְלֹתָ֑ם (their clothes), וַֽיַּעֲמֹס֙ (and loaded) אִ֣ישׁ (each man) עַל־ (-) חֲמֹר֔וֹ (his donkey) וַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּ (and they returned) הָעִֽירָה׃ (to the city).

14  וַיָּבֹ֨א (And came) יְהוּדָ֤ה (Judah) וְאֶחָיו֙ (and his brothers) בֵּ֣יתָה (to the house) יוֹסֵ֔ף (of Joseph), וְה֖וּא (and he was) עוֹדֶ֣נּוּ (still) שָׁ֑ם (there), וַיִּפְּל֥וּ (and they fell) לְפָנָ֖יו (before him) אָֽרְצָה׃ (on the ground).

15  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) לָהֶם֙ (to them) יוֹסֵ֔ף (Joseph), מָֽה־ (What) הַמַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה (deed is) הַזֶּ֖ה (this) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) עֲשִׂיתֶ֑ם (you⁺ have done)? הֲל֣וֹא (Did not) יְדַעְתֶּ֔ם (you⁺ know) כִּֽי־ (that) נַחֵ֧שׁ (a diviner) יְנַחֵ֛שׁ (can divine) אִ֖ישׁ (a man) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (such) כָּמֹֽנִי׃ (as I)?

16  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) יְהוּדָ֗ה (Judah), מַה־ (What) נֹּאמַר֙ (shall we say) לַֽאדֹנִ֔י (to my lord)? מַה־ (What) נְּדַבֵּ֖ר (shall we speak)? וּמַה־ (And how) נִּצְטַדָּ֑ק (shall we justify ourselves)? הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים (God) מָצָא֙ (has found out) אֶת־ (-) עֲוֺ֣ן (the iniquity) עֲבָדֶ֔יךָ (of your servants); הִנֶּנּ֤וּ (behold, we are) עֲבָדִים֙ (as servants) לַֽאדֹנִ֔י (to my lord), גַּם־ (both) אֲנַ֕חְנוּ (we) גַּ֛ם (and he also) אֲשֶׁר־ (whom) נִמְצָ֥א (was found) הַגָּבִ֖יעַ (the cup) בְּיָדֽוֹ׃ (with).

17  וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (And he said), חָלִ֣ילָה (Far be it) לִּ֔י (to me) מֵעֲשׂ֖וֹת (from doing) זֹ֑את (this); הָאִ֡ישׁ (the man) אֲשֶׁר֩ (whose) נִמְצָ֨א (was found) הַגָּבִ֜יעַ (the cup) בְּיָד֗וֹ (in hand), ה֚וּא (he) יִהְיֶה־ (shall be) לִּ֣י (to me) עָ֔בֶד (a servant). וְאַתֶּ֕ם (And you⁺), עֲל֥וּ (go up) לְשָׁל֖וֹם (in peace) אֶל־ (to) אֲבִיכֶֽם׃פ (your⁺ father).

Judah Pleads for Benjamin

18  וַיִּגַּ֨שׁ (And came near) אֵלָ֜יו (to him) יְהוּדָ֗ה (Judah) וַיֹּאמֶר֮ (and said), בִּ֣י (Please) אֲדֹנִי֒ (my lord), יְדַבֶּר־ (let speak) נָ֨א (please) עַבְדְּךָ֤ (your servant) דָבָר֙ (a word) בְּאָזְנֵ֣י (in the ears) אֲדֹנִ֔י (of my lord), וְאַל־ (and not) יִ֥חַר (do let burn) אַפְּךָ֖ (your anger) בְּעַבְדֶּ֑ךָ (against your servant); כִּ֥י (for) כָמ֖וֹךָ (you are like) כְּפַרְעֹֽה׃ (Pharaoh). 19  אֲדֹנִ֣י (My lord) שָׁאַ֔ל (asked) אֶת־ (-) עֲבָדָ֖יו (his servants), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), הֲיֵשׁ־ (Is there) לָכֶ֥ם (for you⁺) אָ֖ב (a father) אוֹ־ (or) אָֽח׃ (a brother)?

20  וַנֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And we said) אֶל־ (to) אֲדֹנִ֔י (my lord), יֶשׁ־ (We have) לָ֙נוּ֙ (to us) אָ֣ב (a father), זָקֵ֔ן (an old man), וְיֶ֥לֶד (and a son) זְקֻנִ֖ים (of his old age), קָטָ֑ן (who is young), וְאָחִ֨יו (and his brother) מֵ֜ת (died), וַיִּוָּתֵ֨ר (and is left) ה֧וּא (he) לְבַדּ֛וֹ (alone) לְאִמּ֖וֹ (to his mother), וְאָבִ֥יו (and his father) אֲהֵבֽוֹ׃ (loves him).

21  וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And you said) אֶל־ (to) עֲבָדֶ֔יךָ (your servants), הוֹרִדֻ֖הוּ (Bring him down) אֵלָ֑י (to me), וְאָשִׂ֥ימָה (and let me set) עֵינִ֖י (my eye) עָלָֽיו׃ (on him).

22  וַנֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And we said) אֶל־ (to) אֲדֹנִ֔י (my lord), לֹא־ (Not) יוּכַ֥ל (is able) הַנַּ֖עַר (the boy) לַעֲזֹ֣ב (to leave) אֶת־ (-) אָבִ֑יו (his father), וְעָזַ֥ב (and for if he should leave) אֶת־ (-) אָבִ֖יו (his father), וָמֵֽת׃ (then he shall die).

23  וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And you said) אֶל־ (to) עֲבָדֶ֔יךָ (your servants), אִם־ (If) לֹ֥א (not) יֵרֵ֛ד (comes down) אֲחִיכֶ֥ם (your⁺ brother) הַקָּטֹ֖ן (the youngest) אִתְּכֶ֑ם (with you⁺), לֹ֥א (no) תֹסִפ֖וּן (you⁺ shall again) לִרְא֥וֹת (see) פָּנָֽי׃ (my face).

24  וַיְהִי֙ (And it came to pass) כִּ֣י (when) עָלִ֔ינוּ (we went up) אֶֽל־ (to) עַבְדְּךָ֖ (your servant) אָבִ֑י (my father), וַנַּ֨גֶּד־ (that we told) ל֔וֹ (to) אֵ֖ת (him) דִּבְרֵ֥י (the words) אֲדֹנִֽי׃ (of my lord).

25  וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (And said) אָבִ֑ינוּ (our father), שֻׁ֖בוּ (Return); שִׁבְרוּ־ (buy) לָ֥נוּ (for us) מְעַט־ (a little) אֹֽכֶל׃ (food).

26  וַנֹּ֕אמֶר (And we said), לֹ֥א (Not) נוּכַ֖ל (are we able) לָרֶ֑דֶת (to go down). אִם־ (If) יֵשׁ֩ (is) אָחִ֨ינוּ (our brother) הַקָּטֹ֤ן (the youngest) אִתָּ֙נוּ֙ (with us), וְיָרַ֔דְנוּ (and we will go down). כִּי־ (For) לֹ֣א (not) נוּכַ֗ל (are we able) לִרְאוֹת֙ (to see) פְּנֵ֣י (face) הָאִ֔ישׁ (of the man), וְאָחִ֥ינוּ (and our brother) הַקָּטֹ֖ן (the youngest) אֵינֶ֥נּוּ (is not) אִתָּֽנוּ׃ (with us).

27  וַיֹּ֛אמֶר (And said) עַבְדְּךָ֥ (your servant) אָבִ֖י (my father) אֵלֵ֑ינוּ (to us), אַתֶּ֣ם (You⁺) יְדַעְתֶּ֔ם (know) כִּ֥י (that) שְׁנַ֖יִם (two sons) יָֽלְדָה־ (bore) לִּ֥י (to me) אִשְׁתִּֽי׃ (my wife). 28  וַיֵּצֵ֤א (And went out) הָֽאֶחָד֙ (the one) מֵֽאִתִּ֔י (from me) וָאֹמַ֕ר (and I said), אַ֖ךְ (Surely) טָרֹ֣ף (being torn) טֹרָ֑ף (he is torn to pieces). וְלֹ֥א (And not) רְאִיתִ֖יו (I have seen him) עַד־ (until) הֵֽנָּה׃ (now). 29  וּלְקַחְתֶּ֧ם (And if you⁺ take) גַּם־ (also) אֶת־ (-) זֶ֛ה (this one) מֵעִ֥ם (from) פָּנַ֖י (me), וְקָרָ֣הוּ (and befalls him) אָס֑וֹן (harm), וְהֽוֹרַדְתֶּ֧ם (and you⁺ shall bring down) אֶת־ (-) שֵׂיבָתִ֛י (my gray hair) בְּרָעָ֖ה (in evil) שְׁאֹֽלָה׃ (to Sheol).

30  וְעַתָּ֗ה (And now) כְּבֹאִי֙ (when I come) אֶל־ (to) עַבְדְּךָ֣ (your servant) אָבִ֔י (my father) וְהַנַּ֖עַר (and the boy is) אֵינֶ֣נּוּ (not) אִתָּ֑נוּ (with us), וְנַפְשׁ֖וֹ (and his soul) קְשׁוּרָ֥ה (is bound up) בְנַפְשֽׁוֹ׃ (in his soul), 31  וְהָיָ֗ה (and it will come to pass), כִּרְאוֹת֛וֹ (when he sees) כִּי־ (that) אֵ֥ין (is no more) הַנַּ֖עַר (the boy), וָמֵ֑ת (then he will die). וְהוֹרִ֨ידוּ (And will bring down) עֲבָדֶ֜יךָ (your servants) אֶת־ (-) שֵׂיבַ֨ת (the gray hair) עַבְדְּךָ֥ (of your servant) אָבִ֛ינוּ (our father) בְּיָג֖וֹן (in sorrow) שְׁאֹֽלָה׃ (to Sheol). 32  כִּ֤י (For) עַבְדְּךָ֙ (your servant) עָרַ֣ב (guaranteed) אֶת־ (-) הַנַּ֔עַר (the boy) מֵעִ֥ם (to) אָבִ֖י (my father), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), אִם־ (If) לֹ֤א (not) אֲבִיאֶ֙נּוּ֙ (I do bring him back) אֵלֶ֔יךָ (to you), וְחָטָ֥אתִי (and I shall bear the blame) לְאָבִ֖י (to my father) כָּל־ (all) הַיָּמִֽים׃ (the days).

33  וְעַתָּ֗ה (And now) יֵֽשֶׁב־ (let remain) נָ֤א (please) עַבְדְּךָ֙ (your servant) תַּ֣חַת (instead) הַנַּ֔עַר (of the boy) עֶ֖בֶד (as a servant) לַֽאדֹנִ֑י (to my lord), וְהַנַּ֖עַר (and the boy) יַ֥עַל (let go up) עִם־ (with) אֶחָֽיו׃ (his brothers). 34  כִּי־ (For) אֵיךְ֙ (how) אֶֽעֱלֶ֣ה (shall I go up) אֶל־ (to) אָבִ֔י (my father) וְהַנַּ֖עַר (and the boy is) אֵינֶ֣נּוּ (not) אִתִּ֑י (with me)? פֶּ֚ן (Lest) אֶרְאֶ֣ה (I see) בָרָ֔ע (the evil) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) יִמְצָ֖א (will find) אֶת־ (-) אָבִֽי׃ (my father).