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Genesis 43
New English Translation

The Second Journey to Egypt

43 Now the famine was severe in the land.[a] 2 When they finished eating the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Return, buy us a little more food.”

3 But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned[b] us, ‘You will not see my face[c] unless your brother is with you.’ 4 If you send[d] our brother with us, we’ll go down and buy food for you. 5 But if you will not send him, we won’t go down there because the man said to us, ‘You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.’”

6 Israel said, “Why did you bring this trouble[e] on me by telling[f] the man you had one more brother?”

7 They replied, “The man questioned us[g] thoroughly[h] about ourselves and our family, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’[i] So we answered him in this way.[j] How could we possibly know[k] that he would say,[l] ‘Bring your brother down’?”

8 Then Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me and we will go immediately.[m] Then we will live[n] and not die—we and you and our little ones. 9 I myself pledge security[o] for him; you may hold me liable. If I do not bring him back to you and place him here before you, I will bear the blame before you all my life.[p] 10 But if we had not delayed, we could have traveled there and back[q] twice by now!”

11 Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best products of the land in your bags, and take a gift down to the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds. 12 Take double the money with you;[r] you must take back[s] the money that was returned in the mouths of your sacks—perhaps it was an oversight. 13 Take your brother too, and go right away[t] to the man.[u] 14 May the Sovereign God[v] grant you mercy before the man so that he may release[w] your other brother[x] and Benjamin! As for me, if I lose my children I lose them.”[y]

15 So the men took these gifts, and they took double the money with them, along with Benjamin. Then they hurried down to Egypt[z] and stood before Joseph. 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the servant who was over his household, “Bring the men to the house. Slaughter an animal and prepare it, for the men will eat with me at noon.” 17 The man did just as Joseph said; he[aa] brought the men into Joseph’s house.[ab]

18 But the men were afraid when they were brought to Joseph’s house. They said, “We are being brought in because of[ac] the money that was returned in our sacks last time.[ad] He wants to capture us,[ae] make us slaves, and take[af] our donkeys!” 19 So they approached the man who was in charge of Joseph’s household and spoke to him at the entrance to the house. 20 They said, “My lord, we did indeed come down[ag] the first time[ah] to buy food. 21 But when we came to the place where we spent the night, we opened our sacks and each of us found his money—the full amount[ai]—in the mouth of his sack. So we have returned it.[aj] 22 We have brought additional money with us to buy food. We do not know who put the money in our sacks!”

23 “Everything is fine,”[ak] the man in charge of Joseph’s household told them. “Don’t be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks.[al] I had your money.”[am] Then he brought Simeon out to them.

24 The servant in charge[an] brought the men into Joseph’s house. He gave them water, and they washed their feet. Then he gave food to their donkeys. 25 They got their gifts ready for Joseph’s arrival[ao] at noon, for they had heard[ap] that they were to have a meal[aq] there.

26 When Joseph came home, they presented him with the gifts they had brought inside,[ar] and they bowed down to the ground before him. 27 He asked them how they were doing.[as] Then he said, “Is your aging father well, the one you spoke about? Is he still alive?” 28 “Your servant our father is well,” they replied. “He is still alive.” They bowed down in humility.[at]

29 When Joseph looked up[au] and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, he said, “Is this your youngest brother, whom you told me about?” Then he said, “May God be gracious to you, my son.”[av] 30 Joseph hurried out, for he was overcome by affection for his brother[aw] and was at the point of tears.[ax] So he went to his room and wept there.

31 Then he washed his face and came out. With composure he said,[ay] “Set out the food.” 32 They set a place for him, a separate place for his brothers,[az] and another for the Egyptians who were eating with him. (The Egyptians are not able to eat with Hebrews, for the Egyptians think it is disgusting[ba] to do so.)[bb] 33 They sat before him, arranged by order of birth, beginning with the firstborn and ending with the youngest.[bc] The men looked at each other in astonishment.[bd] 34 He gave them portions of the food set before him,[be] but the portion for Benjamin was five times greater than the portions for any of the others. They drank with Joseph until they all became drunk.[bf]

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 43:1 tn The disjunctive clause gives supplemental information that is important to the storyline.
  2. Genesis 43:3 tn The infinitive absolute with the finite verb stresses the point. The primary meaning of the verb is “to witness; to testify.” It alludes to Joseph’s oath, which was tantamount to a threat or warning.
  3. Genesis 43:3 tn The idiom “see my face” means “have an audience with me.”
  4. Genesis 43:4 tn Heb “if there is you sending,” that is, “if you send.”
  5. Genesis 43:6 tn The verb may even have a moral connotation here, “Why did you do evil to me?”
  6. Genesis 43:6 tn The infinitive construct here explains how they brought trouble on Jacob.
  7. Genesis 43:7 tn The word “us” has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
  8. Genesis 43:7 tn The infinitive absolute with the perfect verbal form emphasizes that Joseph questioned them thoroughly.
  9. Genesis 43:7 sn The report given here concerning Joseph’s interrogation does not exactly match the previous account where they supplied the information to clear themselves (see 42:13). This section may reflect how they remembered the impact of his interrogation, whether he asked the specific questions or not. That may be twisting the truth to protect themselves, not wanting to admit that they volunteered the information. (They admitted as much in 42:31, but now they seem to be qualifying that comment.) On the other hand, when speaking to Joseph later (see 44:19), Judah claims that Joseph asked for the information about their family, making it possible that 42:13 leaves out some of the details of their first encounter.
  10. Genesis 43:7 tn Heb “and we told to him according to these words.”
  11. Genesis 43:7 tn The infinitive absolute emphasizes the imperfect verbal form, which here is a historic future (that is, future from the perspective of a past time).
  12. Genesis 43:7 tn Once again the imperfect verbal form is used as a historic future (that is, future from the perspective of past time).
  13. Genesis 43:8 tn Heb “and we will rise up and we will go.” The first verb is adverbial and gives the expression the sense of “we will go immediately.”
  14. Genesis 43:8 tn After the preceding cohortatives, the prefixed verbal form (either imperfect or cohortative) with the prefixed conjunction here indicates purpose or result.
  15. Genesis 43:9 tn The pronoun before the first person verbal form draws attention to the subject and emphasizes Judah’s willingness to be personally responsible for the boy.
  16. Genesis 43:9 sn I will bear the blame before you all my life. It is not clear how this would work out if Benjamin did not come back. But Judah is offering his life for Benjamin’s if Benjamin does not return.
  17. Genesis 43:10 tn Heb “we could have returned.”
  18. Genesis 43:12 tn Heb “in your hand.”
  19. Genesis 43:12 tn Heb “take back in your hand.” The imperfect verbal form probably has an injunctive or obligatory force here, since Jacob is instructing his sons.
  20. Genesis 43:13 tn Heb “arise, return,” meaning “get up and go back,” or “go back immediately.”
  21. Genesis 43:13 sn The man refers to the Egyptian official, whom the reader or hearer of the narrative knows is Joseph. In this context both the sons and Jacob refer to him simply as “the man” (see vv. 3-7).
  22. Genesis 43:14 tn Heb “El Shaddai.” See the extended note on the phrase “Sovereign God” in Gen 17:1.
  23. Genesis 43:14 tn Heb “release to you.” After the jussive this perfect verbal form with prefixed vav (ו) probably indicates logical consequence, as well as temporal sequence.
  24. Genesis 43:14 sn Several Jewish commentators suggest that the expression your other brother refers to Joseph. This would mean that Jacob prophesied unwittingly. However, it is much more likely that Simeon is the referent of the phrase “your other brother” (see Gen 42:24).
  25. Genesis 43:14 tn Heb “if I am bereaved I am bereaved.” With this fatalistic sounding statement Jacob resolves himself to the possibility of losing both Benjamin and Simeon.
  26. Genesis 43:15 tn Heb “they arose and went down to Egypt.” The first verb has an adverbial function and emphasizes that they departed right away.
  27. Genesis 43:17 tn Heb “the man.” This has been replaced in the translation by the pronoun “he” for stylistic reasons.
  28. Genesis 43:17 sn This verse is a summary statement. The next verses delineate intermediate steps (see v. 24) in the process.
  29. Genesis 43:18 tn Heb “over the matter of.”
  30. Genesis 43:18 tn Heb “in the beginning,” that is, at the end of their first visit.
  31. Genesis 43:18 tn Heb “to roll himself upon us and to cause himself to fall upon us.” The infinitives here indicate the purpose (as viewed by the brothers) for their being brought to Joseph’s house.
  32. Genesis 43:18 tn The word “take” has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
  33. Genesis 43:20 tn The infinitive absolute is used for emphasis before the finite verbal form.
  34. Genesis 43:20 tn Heb “in the beginning” (see the note on the phrase “last time” in v. 18).
  35. Genesis 43:21 tn Heb “his silver in its weight.”
  36. Genesis 43:21 tn Heb “brought it back in our hand.”
  37. Genesis 43:23 tn Heb “and he said, ‘peace to you.’” Here the statement has the force of “everything is fine,” or perhaps even “calm down.” The referent of “he” (the man in charge of Joseph’ household) has been specified in the translation for clarity, and the order of the introductory clause and the direct discourse has been rearranged for stylistic reasons.
  38. Genesis 43:23 sn Your God and the God of your father…This is the first clear reference in the story to the theme of divine providence—that God works through the human actions to do his will.
  39. Genesis 43:23 tn Heb “your money came to me.”
  40. Genesis 43:24 tn Heb “the man.”
  41. Genesis 43:25 tn The construction uses the infinitive construct after the preposition, followed by the subjective genitive.
  42. Genesis 43:25 tn The action precedes the action of preparing the gift, and so must be translated as past perfect.
  43. Genesis 43:25 tn Heb “eat bread.” The imperfect verbal form is used here as a historic future (future from the perspective of the past).
  44. Genesis 43:26 tn Heb “into the house.”
  45. Genesis 43:27 tn Heb “concerning peace.”
  46. Genesis 43:28 tn Heb “and they bowed low and they bowed down.” The use of synonyms here emphasizes the brothers’ humility.
  47. Genesis 43:29 tn Heb “and he lifted his eyes.” The referent of “he” (Joseph) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  48. Genesis 43:29 sn Joseph’s language here becomes warmer and more personal, culminating in calling Benjamin my son.
  49. Genesis 43:30 tn Heb “for his affection boiled up concerning his brother.” The same expression is used in 1 Kgs 3:26 for the mother’s feelings for her endangered child.
  50. Genesis 43:30 tn Heb “and he sought to weep.”
  51. Genesis 43:31 tn Heb “and he controlled himself and said.”
  52. Genesis 43:32 tn Heb “them”; the referent (Joseph’s brothers) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  53. Genesis 43:32 tn Or “disgraceful.” The Hebrew word תּוֹעֵבָה (toʿevah, “abomination”) describes something that is loathsome or off-limits. For other practices the Egyptians considered disgusting, see Gen 46:34 and Exod 8:22.
  54. Genesis 43:32 tn Heb “and they set for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians who were eating with him by themselves, for the Egyptians are not able to eat food with the Hebrews, for it is an abomination for the Egyptians.” The imperfect verbal form in the explanatory clause is taken as habitual in force, indicating a practice that was still in effect in the narrator’s time.sn That the Egyptians found eating with foreigners disgusting is well-attested in extra-biblical literature by writers like Herodotus, Diodorus, and Strabo.
  55. Genesis 43:33 tn Heb “the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth.”
  56. Genesis 43:33 sn The brothers’ astonishment indicates that Joseph arranged them in this way. They were astonished because there was no way, as far as they were concerned, that Joseph could have known the order of their birth.
  57. Genesis 43:34 tn Heb “and he lifted up portions from before his face to them.”
  58. Genesis 43:34 tn Heb “and they drank and were intoxicated with him” (cf. NIV “drank freely with him”; NEB “grew merry”; NRSV “were merry”). The brothers were apparently relaxed and set at ease, despite Joseph’s obvious favoritism toward Benjamin.
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创世记 43
Chinese New Version (Simplified)

雅各再差遣众子往埃及买粮

43 那地的饥荒十分严重。 2 他们把从埃及带回来的粮食都吃完了。他们的父亲就对他们说：“你们再去替我们买些粮食回来吧。” 3 犹大对他说：“那人认真地警告我们说：‘如果你们的弟弟不与你们一起来，你们就不得见我的面。’ 4 如果你让我们的弟弟与我们同去，我们就下去替你买粮食。 5 如果你不让他去，我们也不下去，因为那人对我们说：‘如果你们的弟弟不与你们一起来，你们就不得见我的面。’” 6 以色列说：“你们为甚么这样害我，告诉那人你们还有个弟弟呢？” 7 他们回答：“那人确实查问有关我们和我们亲属的事，说：‘你们的父亲还活着吗？你们还有其他的兄弟吗？’我们就照着这些话回答他。我们怎么知道他会说：‘你们必要把你们的弟弟带下来’呢？” 8 犹大对他父亲以色列说：“你若打发那孩子与我同去，我们就立刻起程，好叫我们和你，以及我们的孩子都可以存活，不至饿死。 9 我愿意亲自担保他的安全，你可以从我手里追回他。如果我不把他带回来给你，交在你面前，我愿终生承担这罪。 10 要不是我们耽延，现在第二次也回来了。”

11 他们的父亲以色列对他们说：“如果必须如此，你们就这样作：你们把本地最好的出产放在袋里，带下去给那人作礼物，就是一点乳香、一点蜂蜜、香料、没药、粟子和杏仁。 12 你们手里要多带一倍银子，因为你们要把那放回在你们袋口里的银子带回去，那可能是弄错了的。 13 你们带着你们的弟弟，起程再到那人那里去吧。 14 愿全能的　神使那人怜悯你们，给你们释放你们那个兄弟和便雅悯。至于我，如果要丧失儿子，就丧失了吧。” 15 于是，他们带着这些礼物，手里拿着多一倍的银子，并且带着便雅悯，起程下到埃及去，站在约瑟面前。

约瑟为兄弟摆设筵席

16 约瑟见便雅悯与他们同来，就对管家说：“把这些人带到我家里，要宰杀牲畜，预备筵席，因为在正午的时候，这些人要与我一起吃饭。” 17 管家就照着约瑟所吩咐的去作，把这些人带到约瑟的家里。 18 他们因为被领到约瑟的家里，就害怕起来，说：“我们被领到这里来，必定是为了头一次放回在我们袋里的银子，现在他们想攻击我们，制伏我们，逼我们作奴仆，又夺去我们的驴。” 19 他们于是走近约瑟的管家，在屋门口与他说话。 20 他们说：“先生啊，我们头一次下来，实在是要买粮食的。 21 后来我们来到住宿的地方，打开布袋的时候，不料各人的银子仍然在各人的袋口里，分文不少；现在我们手里又带回来了。 22 我们手里又另外带来银子，是买粮食用的。我们不知道头一次谁把我们的银子放在我们的布袋里。” 23 管家说：“你们可以放心，不要害怕，是你们的　神，你们父亲的　神，把财宝赐给你们，放在你们的布袋里。你们的银子我早已收到了。”接着他把西缅带出来交给他们。 24 管家把他们领到约瑟的家里，给他们水洗脚，又给他们饲料喂驴。 25 于是，他们预备好了礼物，等候约瑟中午到来，因为他们听说他们要在那里吃饭。

26 约瑟回到家里，他们就把手中的礼物带进屋里送给他，又俯伏在地向他下拜。 27 约瑟先向他们问安，然后又问：“你们的父亲，就是你们所说的那老人家平安吗？他还在吗？” 28 他们回答：“你仆人我们的父亲平安，他还在。”于是他们低头下拜。 29 约瑟举目观看，看见自己同母所生的弟弟便雅悯，就问：“这就是你们向我提过那最小的弟弟吗？”又说：“我儿啊，愿　神赐恩给你。” 30 约瑟爱弟弟之情激动起来，就急忙去找个可哭的地方。于是他进了自己的内室，在那里哭了一阵。 31 他洗了面，然后出来，抑制着自己的感情，吩咐人说：“开饭吧。” 32 他们就给约瑟单独摆了一席，给那些人另外摆了一席，又给那些与约瑟一同吃饭的埃及人摆了一席，因为埃及人不能与希伯来人一同吃饭，这是埃及人所厌恶的。 33 约瑟使众兄弟在他面前排列坐下，都是照着他们长幼的次序。众兄弟就彼此对望，惊奇不已。 34 约瑟拿起自己面前的食物，分给他们，但是便雅悯分得的食物，比别人多五倍。他们就与约瑟一同喝酒宴乐。

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Genesis 43
New King James Version

Joseph’s Brothers Return with Benjamin

43 Now the famine was (A)severe in the land. 2 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.”

3 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.’ 4 If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. 5 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.’ ”

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

7 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’?”

8 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. 9 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
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Genesis 43
New International Version

The Second Journey to Egypt

43 Now the famine was still severe in the land.(A) 2 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)

3 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) 4 If you will send our brother along with us, we will go down and buy food for you.(F) 5 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)’”

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

7 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)

8 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) 9 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
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