⁸ Then Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the lad 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, “Indeed I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down to that place and buy for us there, that we may ^(A)live and not die.”

Fasting and Prayer for Protection

²¹ Then I ^(A)proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might ^(B)humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the ^(C)right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions.

¹³ And one of his servants answered and said, “Please, let several men take five of the remaining horses which are left in the city. Look, they may either become like all the multitude of Israel that are left in it; or indeed, I say, they may become like all the multitude of Israel left from those who are consumed; so let us send them and see.”

⁴ If we say, ‘We will enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore, come, let us surrender to the ^(A)army of the Syrians. If they keep us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall only die.”

^31 (A)But your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall ^[a]know the land which ^(B)you have despised.

²¹ Now therefore, do not be afraid; ^(A)I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke ^[a]kindly to them.