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Chapter 43

The Sons of Jacob Set Out Again for Egypt.[a] The famine continued to grow more severe in the land. When they had finished eating the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Return there to buy a little more food for us.”

But Judah said to him, “That man told us harshly, ‘You shall not come into my presence if you do not have your brother with you.’ If you are willing to let us leave with our brother, then we will go down there and buy grain. But if you will not let him leave, we will not go because of what that man told us: ‘You shall not come into my presence if you do not have your brother with you.’ ”

Israel said, “Why have you done this evil thing to me, to let that man know that you had another brother?”

They answered, “That man interrogated us, demanding to know about us and our family: ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have some other brothers?’ and we answered his questions. How could we know that he would have said, ‘Bring your brother here’?”

Judah said to Israel his father, “Let the young one come with me. We will leave immediately, so that we might live and not die, we, you, and our children. I will make myself the pledge for him. You will receive him from my hand. If I do not bring him back to you, I will bear this guilt in your eyes all my life. 10 If you had not hesitated, we could have already gone there and back twice by now.”

11 Israel their father answered, “If this is the way it is, do it. Pack your bags with the choice products of the land to give to that man as a gift: some balsam, a bit of honey, resin, gum, pistachio nuts, and almonds. 12 Take double the amount of money with you. Take back the money that you found in the mouth of your sacks; maybe there was a mistake. 13 Take your brother as well; leave and return to that man. 14 May God Almighty help you to find mercy with that man so that he will release your other brother and Benjamin. As for me, if I must mourn my children, I will do so.”

15 The Sons of Jacob Are Guests of Joseph.[b] The men therefore took the gifts, double the money, and Benjamin and left. They went down to Egypt and presented themselves to Joseph. 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to his head steward: “Bring these men into the house. Slaughter an animal and prepare it. They are to eat the noonday meal with me.”

17 The steward did what Joseph had ordered and brought the men into his house. 18 They were worried when they were brought into Joseph’s house and they said, “He brought us here because of the money that was placed back in our sacks the other time. They are going to fall upon us and make us slaves and take our donkeys as well.”

19 So they approached Joseph’s head steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house 20 saying, “My lord, we came one other time to buy provisions. 21 When we arrived at the place where we spent the night, we opened our sacks and each one discovered his money in the mouth of the sack. It was the exact amount of money we had brought. But we have brought it back 22 and we brought some other money as well to buy more food. We do not know who placed our money in the sacks.”

23 But he told them, “Be at peace! Do not fear! Your God and the God of your fathers placed riches in your sacks. I received your money.” And he brought Simeon to them.

24 The steward led the men into Joseph’s house, and gave them water to wash their feet, and provided forage for their donkeys. 25 They prepared their gifts while they waited for Joseph to arrive at noon, for they knew that they were to eat in that place.

26 When Joseph arrived, they presented to him the gifts that they had with them, and they bowed their faces to the ground before him. 27 He asked them how they were and said, “How is your aged father, the one about whom you have spoken? Is he still alive?”

28 They answered, “Your servant, our father, is well, and he is still alive,” and they knelt and bowed down.

29 Looking up, he saw Benjamin, his brother, the son of his mother, and said, “Is this your youngest brother about whom you have spoken?” He added, “God bless you, my son!” 30 Joseph went out in a rush, for he was deeply moved at seeing his brother and he was close to tears. He went into his room and wept there.

31 Then he washed his face, went out, and, controlling his emotions, ordered, “Serve the meal.”

32 He was served separately, then his brothers, and then the Egyptians, for Egyptians cannot eat with Hebrews. It would be an abomination for them. 33 He sat them before himself from the firstborn to the youngest, each in the order of his birth. They looked at each other with awe. 34 He served them a portion taken from his own table, but the portion he gave to Benjamin was five times larger than that given to all the others. They then drank with him until they were lighthearted.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 43:1 With deep sadness of soul, the Patriarch gives in to the desire of the demanding viceroy and consents to let his youngest son go to Egypt. The difference between the traditions, along the lines already noted, reappears here: according to the Elohist it was Reuben who offered himself as surety (Gen 42:37); in the Yahwist story it is Judah who once more takes the lead (43:8-10).
  2. Genesis 43:15 After the misadventures of the first visit, the sons of Jacob are hard put to believe the kindness with which they are being treated, and they are reassured only at the banquet that is offered to them.

Joseph’s Brothers Return with Benjamin

43 Now the famine was (A)severe in the land. And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, “Go (B)back, buy us a little food.”

But Judah spoke to him, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your (C)brother is with you.’ If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. But if you will not send him, we will not go down; for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ ”

And Israel said, “Why did you deal so [a]wrongfully with me as to tell the man whether you had still another brother?”

But they said, “The man asked us pointedly about ourselves and our family, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ And we told him according to these words. Could we possibly have known that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?”

Then Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may (D)live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. I myself will be surety for him; from my hand you shall require him. (E)If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. 10 For if we had not lingered, surely by now we would have returned this second time.”

11 And their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best fruits of the land in your vessels and (F)carry down a present for the man—a little (G)balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. 12 Take double money in your hand, and take back in your hand the money (H)that was returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight. 13 Take your brother also, and arise, go back to the man. 14 And may God (I)Almighty (J)give you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother and Benjamin. (K)If I am bereaved, I am bereaved!”

15 So the men took that present and Benjamin, and they took double money in their hand, and arose and went (L)down to Egypt; and they stood before Joseph. 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the (M)steward of his house, “Take these men to my home, and slaughter [b]an animal and make ready; for these men will dine with me at noon.” 17 Then the man did as Joseph ordered, and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house.

18 Now the men were (N)afraid because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, “It is because of the money, which was returned in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may [c]make a case against us and seize us, to take us as slaves with our donkeys.”

19 When they drew near to the steward of Joseph’s house, they talked with him at the door of the house, 20 and said, “O sir, (O)we indeed came down the first time to buy food; 21 but (P)it happened, when we came to the encampment, that we opened our sacks, and there, each man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight; so we have brought it back in our hand. 22 And we have brought down other money in our hands to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.”

23 But he said, “Peace be with you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money.” Then he brought (Q)Simeon out to them.

24 So the man brought the men into Joseph’s house and (R)gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys feed. 25 Then they made the present ready for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they would eat bread there.

26 And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and (S)bowed down before him to the earth. 27 Then he asked them about their well-being, and said, “Is your father well, the old man (T)of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?”

28 And they answered, “Your servant our father is in good health; he is still alive.” (U)And they bowed their heads down and prostrated themselves.

29 Then he lifted his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, (V)his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your younger brother (W)of whom you spoke to me?” And he said, “God be gracious to you, my son.” 30 Now (X)his heart yearned for his brother; so Joseph made haste and sought somewhere to weep. And he went into his chamber and (Y)wept there. 31 Then he washed his face and came out; and he restrained himself, and said, “Serve the (Z)bread.”

32 So they set him a place by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat food with the (AA)Hebrews, for that is (AB)an abomination to the Egyptians. 33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his (AC)birthright and the youngest according to his youth; and the men looked in astonishment at one another. 34 Then he took servings to them from before him, but Benjamin’s serving was (AD)five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 43:6 Lit. wickedly
  2. Genesis 43:16 Lit. a slaughter
  3. Genesis 43:18 Lit. roll himself upon us

Los hermanos de José regresan a Egipto

43 El hambre iba agravándose en la tierra(A). Y cuando acabaron de comer el grano que habían traído de Egipto, su padre les dijo: «Vuelvan allá y cómprennos un poco de alimento».

Pero Judá le respondió: «Aquel[a] hombre claramente nos advirtió[b]: “No verán mi rostro si su hermano no está con ustedes(B)”. Si envías a nuestro hermano con nosotros, descenderemos y compraremos alimento. Pero si no lo envías, no descenderemos. Porque el hombre nos dijo: “No verán mi rostro si su hermano no está con ustedes”».

Entonces Israel respondió: «¿Por qué me han tratado tan mal, informando[c] al hombre que tenían un hermano más?». Pero ellos dijeron: «El hombre nos preguntó específicamente acerca de nosotros y nuestros familiares, diciendo: “¿Vive aún su padre? ¿Tienen otro hermano?”. Y nosotros contestamos sus preguntas[d](C). ¿Acaso podíamos nosotros saber que él diría: “Traigan[e] a su hermano”?».

Y Judá dijo a su padre Israel: «Envía al muchacho conmigo. Nos levantaremos e iremos, para que vivamos y no perezcamos(D), tanto nosotros como tú y nuestros pequeños. Yo me haré responsable[f] de él. De mi mano lo demandarás. Si yo no te lo vuelvo a traer[g](E) y lo pongo delante de ti, que lleve yo la culpa para siempre delante de ti[h]. 10 Porque si no hubiéramos perdido tiempo, sin duda ya habríamos regresado por segunda vez».

11 Entonces su padre Israel les dijo: «Si así tiene que ser, hagan esto: tomen de los mejores productos de la tierra en sus vasijas, y lleven a aquel[i] hombre como presente(F) un poco de bálsamo y un poco de miel, resina aromática(G) y mirra, nueces y almendras. 12 Y tomen doble cantidad de dinero en su mano, y lleven de nuevo en su mano el dinero que fue devuelto en la boca de sus costales(H). Tal vez fue un error. 13 Tomen también a su hermano, levántense y vuelvan a aquel[j] hombre. 14 Que el Dios Todopoderoso[k](I) les conceda misericordia ante aquel[l] hombre(J) para que ponga en libertad a su otro hermano(K) y a Benjamín. En cuanto a mí, si he de ser privado de mis hijos(L), que así sea[m]».

15 Tomaron, pues, los hombres este presente(M), doble cantidad de dinero en su mano y a Benjamín. Se levantaron y descendieron a Egipto y se presentaron delante de José.

José y Benjamín

16 Cuando José vio a Benjamín con ellos, dijo al mayordomo de su casa(N): «Haz entrar a estos[n] hombres a casa, y mata un animal y prepáralo, porque estos[o] hombres comerán conmigo al mediodía». 17 El hombre hizo como José le dijo, y llevó[p] a los hombres a casa de José.

18 Ellos tenían miedo porque eran llevados a casa de José y dijeron: «Por causa del dinero que fue devuelto en nuestros costales la primera vez hemos sido traídos aquí, para tener pretexto contra[q] nosotros y caer sobre nosotros y tomarnos por esclavos con nuestros asnos». 19 Entonces se acercaron al mayordomo de la casa de José, y le hablaron a la entrada de la casa, 20 y dijeron: «Oh señor mío, ciertamente descendimos la primera vez para comprar alimentos. 21 Y cuando llegamos a la posada, abrimos nuestros costales, y el dinero de cada uno estaba en la boca de su costal(O), todo nuestro dinero[r]. Así que lo hemos vuelto a traer en nuestra mano(P). 22 También hemos traído otro dinero en nuestra mano para comprar alimentos. No sabemos quién puso nuestro dinero en nuestros costales».

23 Y el mayordomo les dijo: «No se preocupen[s], no teman. El Dios de ustedes y el Dios de su padre les ha dado ese tesoro en sus costales(Q). Yo haré constar que recibí el dinero de ustedes[t]». Entonces les sacó a Simeón(R).

24 Después el hombre llevó a los hombres a casa de José, y les dio agua y se lavaron los pies(S). También dio forraje a sus asnos. 25 Entonces prepararon el presente(T) para[u] la venida de José al mediodía, pues habían oído que iban a comer[v] allí.

26 Cuando José regresó a su casa, ellos le trajeron a la casa el presente que traían en su mano y se postraron ante él en tierra(U). 27 Entonces él les preguntó cómo se encontraban, y añadió: «¿Cómo está su anciano padre de quien me hablaron? ¿Vive todavía(V)?». 28 «Su siervo nuestro padre está bien; todavía vive», contestaron. Y ellos se inclinaron en reverencia[w](W). 29 Al alzar José sus ojos y ver a su hermano Benjamín, hijo de su madre, les preguntó: «¿Es este su hermano menor de quien me hablaron(X)?». Y dijo: «Dios te imparta Su favor(Y), hijo mío». 30 José se apresuró a salir, pues se sintió profundamente conmovido[x](Z) a causa de su hermano y buscó dónde llorar. Entró en su aposento y lloró(AA) allí.

31 Después se lavó la cara y salió, y controlándose(AB), dijo: «Sirvan la comida[y]». 32 Le sirvieron a José en un lado, a los hermanos en otro lado, y a los egipcios que comían con él, también les sirvieron aparte. Porque los egipcios no podían comer[z] con los hebreos, pues esto es abominación para los egipcios(AC). 33 Los sentaron[aa] delante de él, el primogénito conforme a su derecho de primogenitura, y el más joven conforme a su edad. Ellos se miraban(AD) unos a otros con asombro. 34 Él les llevó porciones de su propia mesa[ab], pero la porción de Benjamín(AE) era cinco veces mayor que la de cualquiera de ellos. Bebieron, pues, y se alegraron con él.

Footnotes

  1. 43:3 Lit. El.
  2. 43:3 Lit. testificó.
  3. 43:6 Lit. al informar.
  4. 43:7 Lit. le informamos conforme a estas palabras.
  5. 43:7 Lit. Desciendan.
  6. 43:9 Lit. fiador.
  7. 43:9 Lit. traigo.
  8. 43:9 Lit. habré pecado delante de ti todos los días.
  9. 43:11 Lit. y bajen al.
  10. 43:13 Lit. al.
  11. 43:14 Heb. El Shaddai.
  12. 43:14 Lit. ante los ojos del.
  13. 43:14 Lit. privado sea.
  14. 43:16 Lit. los.
  15. 43:16 Lit. los.
  16. 43:17 Lit. el hombre llevó.
  17. 43:18 Lit. para rodar sobre.
  18. 43:21 Lit. nuestro dinero en su peso.
  19. 43:23 Lit. La paz sea con ustedes.
  20. 43:23 Lit. su dinero había venido a mí.
  21. 43:25 Lit. hasta.
  22. 43:25 Lit. comer pan.
  23. 43:28 Lit. inclinaron y se postraron.
  24. 43:30 Lit. su compasión se encendió.
  25. 43:31 Lit. Pongan el pan.
  26. 43:32 Lit. comer pan.
  27. 43:33 Lit. estaban sentados.
  28. 43:34 Lit. su rostro.

The Second Journey to Egypt

43 Now the famine was still severe in the land.(A) So when they had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt,(B) their father said to them, “Go back and buy us a little more food.”(C)

But Judah(D) said to him, “The man warned us solemnly, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’(E) If you will send our brother along with us, we will go down and buy food for you.(F) But if you will not send him, we will not go down, because the man said to us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.(G)’”

Israel(H) asked, “Why did you bring this trouble(I) on me by telling the man you had another brother?”

They replied, “The man questioned us closely about ourselves and our family. ‘Is your father still living?’(J) he asked us. ‘Do you have another brother?’(K) We simply answered his questions. How were we to know he would say, ‘Bring your brother down here’?”(L)

Then Judah(M) said to Israel(N) his father, “Send the boy along with me and we will go at once, so that we and you and our children may live and not die.(O) I myself will guarantee his safety; you can hold me personally responsible for him.(P) If I do not bring him back to you and set him here before you, I will bear the blame(Q) before you all my life.(R) 10 As it is, if we had not delayed,(S) we could have gone and returned twice.”

11 Then their father Israel(T) said to them, “If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products(U) of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift(V)—a little balm(W) and a little honey, some spices(X) and myrrh,(Y) some pistachio nuts and almonds. 12 Take double the amount(Z) of silver with you, for you must return the silver that was put back into the mouths of your sacks.(AA) Perhaps it was a mistake. 13 Take your brother also and go back to the man at once.(AB) 14 And may God Almighty[a](AC) grant you mercy(AD) before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you.(AE) As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”(AF)

15 So the men took the gifts and double the amount of silver,(AG) and Benjamin also. They hurried(AH) down to Egypt and presented themselves(AI) to Joseph. 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin(AJ) with them, he said to the steward of his house,(AK) “Take these men to my house, slaughter an animal and prepare a meal;(AL) they are to eat with me at noon.”

17 The man did as Joseph told him and took the men to Joseph’s house.(AM) 18 Now the men were frightened(AN) when they were taken to his house.(AO) They thought, “We were brought here because of the silver that was put back into our sacks(AP) the first time. He wants to attack us(AQ) and overpower us and seize us as slaves(AR) and take our donkeys.(AS)

19 So they went up to Joseph’s steward(AT) and spoke to him at the entrance to the house. 20 “We beg your pardon, our lord,” they said, “we came down here the first time to buy food.(AU) 21 But at the place where we stopped for the night we opened our sacks and each of us found his silver—the exact weight—in the mouth of his sack. So we have brought it back with us.(AV) 22 We have also brought additional silver with us to buy food. We don’t know who put our silver in our sacks.”

23 “It’s all right,” he said. “Don’t be afraid. Your God, the God of your father,(AW) has given you treasure in your sacks;(AX) I received your silver.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.(AY)

24 The steward took the men into Joseph’s house,(AZ) gave them water to wash their feet(BA) and provided fodder for their donkeys. 25 They prepared their gifts(BB) for Joseph’s arrival at noon,(BC) because they had heard that they were to eat there.

26 When Joseph came home,(BD) they presented to him the gifts(BE) they had brought into the house, and they bowed down before him to the ground.(BF) 27 He asked them how they were, and then he said, “How is your aged father(BG) you told me about? Is he still living?”(BH)

28 They replied, “Your servant our father(BI) is still alive and well.” And they bowed down,(BJ) prostrating themselves before him.(BK)

29 As he looked about and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother’s son,(BL) he asked, “Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?”(BM) And he said, “God be gracious to you,(BN) my son.” 30 Deeply moved(BO) at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept(BP) there.

31 After he had washed his face, he came out and, controlling himself,(BQ) said, “Serve the food.”(BR)

32 They served him by himself, the brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews,(BS) for that is detestable to Egyptians.(BT) 33 The men had been seated before him in the order of their ages, from the firstborn(BU) to the youngest;(BV) and they looked at each other in astonishment. 34 When portions were served to them from Joseph’s table, Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as anyone else’s.(BW) So they feasted(BX) and drank freely with him.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 43:14 Hebrew El-Shaddai

43 And the famine was sore in the land.

And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food.

And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.

If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food:

But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.

And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?

And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?

And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.

I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever:

10 For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.

11 And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:

12 And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight:

13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man:

14 And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.

15 And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.

16 And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon.

17 And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph's house.

18 And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.

19 And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house,

20 And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:

21 And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand.

22 And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks.

23 And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.

24 And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender.

25 And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there.

26 And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.

27 And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?

28 And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance.

29 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son.

30 And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.

31 And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.

32 And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.

33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another.

34 And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of their's. And they drank, and were merry with him.