⁸ And Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may ^(A)live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones.

² And he said, “Behold, I have heard that there is grain for sale in Egypt. Go down and buy grain for us there, that we may ^(A)live and not die.”

Fasting and Prayer for Protection

^21 (A)Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river ^(B)Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, ^(C)to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods.

¹³ And one of his servants said, “Let some men take five of the remaining horses, seeing that those who are left here will fare like the whole multitude of Israel who have already perished. Let us send and see.”

⁴ If we say, ‘Let us enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. So now come, let us go over to the camp of the Syrians. If they spare our lives we shall live, and if they kill us we shall but die.”

^31 (A)But your little ones, who you said would become a prey, I will bring in, and they shall know the land that ^(B)you have rejected.

^12 (A)“Honor your father and your mother, ^(B)that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

²¹ So do not fear; ^(A)I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.