Joseph's Brothers Return to Egypt

43 Now the famine was (A)severe in the land. And when they had eaten the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.” But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your (B)brother is with you.’ If you will 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.’” Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?” They replied, “The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ What we told him was in answer to these questions. Could we in any way know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” And Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may (C)live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. (D)If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. 10 If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice.”

11 Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry a present down to the man, a little (E)balm and a little honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds. 12 Take double the money with you. Carry back with you the money (F)that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight. 13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man. 14 May (G)God Almighty[a] (H)grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, (I)if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”

15 So the men took this present, and they took double the money with them, and Benjamin. They arose and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.

16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the (J)steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make ready, for the men are to dine with me at noon.” 17 The man did as Joseph told him and brought the men to Joseph's house. 18 And the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph's house, and they said, “It is because of the money, which was replaced in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may assault us and fall upon us to make us servants and seize our donkeys.” 19 So they went up to the steward of Joseph's house and spoke with him at the door of the house, 20 and said, (K)“Oh, my lord, (L)we came down the first time to buy food. 21 And (M)when we came to the lodging place we opened our sacks, and there was each man's money in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight. So we have brought it again with us, 22 and we have brought other money down with us to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.” 23 He replied, “Peace to you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you. I received your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them. 24 And when the man had brought the men into Joseph's house and (N)given them water, and they had washed their feet, and when he had given their donkeys fodder, 25 they prepared (O)the present for Joseph's coming at noon, for they heard that they should eat bread there.

26 When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present that they had with them and (P)bowed down to him to the ground. 27 And he inquired about their welfare and said, “Is your father well, the old man (Q)of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” 28 They said, “Your servant our father is well; he is still alive.” And they (R)bowed their heads and prostrated themselves. 29 And he lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, (S)his mother's son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, (T)of whom you spoke to me? God be gracious to you, my son!” 30 Then Joseph hurried out, for (U)his compassion grew warm for his brother, and he sought a place to weep. And he entered his chamber and (V)wept there. 31 Then he washed his face and came out. And (W)controlling himself he said, “Serve the food.” 32 They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat with the Hebrews, for that is (X)an abomination to the Egyptians. 33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth. And the men looked at one another in amazement. 34 (Y)Portions were taken to them from Joseph's table, but Benjamin's portion was (Z)five times as much as any of theirs. And they drank and were merry[b] with him.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 43:14 Hebrew El Shaddai
  2. Genesis 43:34 Hebrew and became intoxicated

Los hermanos de José vuelven a Egipto

43 El hambre seguía aumentando en aquel país. Llegó el momento en que se les acabó el alimento que habían llevado de Egipto. Entonces su padre dijo:

—Vuelvan a Egipto y compren un poco más de alimento para nosotros.

Pero Judá le recordó:

—Aquel hombre nos advirtió claramente que no nos presentáramos ante él, a menos que lo hiciéramos con nuestro hermano menor. Si tú nos permites llevar a nuestro hermano menor, iremos a comprarte alimento. De lo contrario, no iremos. Aquel hombre fue muy claro en cuanto a no presentarnos ante él sin nuestro hermano menor.

—¿Por qué me han causado este mal? —inquirió Israel—. ¿Por qué le dijeron a ese hombre que tenían otro hermano?

—Porque aquel hombre nos preguntó específicamente acerca de nuestra familia —respondieron ellos—. “¿Vive todavía el padre de ustedes? —nos preguntó—. ¿Tienen algún otro hermano?”. Lo único que hicimos fue responder a sus preguntas. ¿Cómo íbamos a saber que nos pediría llevar a nuestro hermano menor?

Judá dijo a su padre Israel:

—Bajo mi responsabilidad, envía al muchacho y nos iremos ahora mismo, para que nosotros y nuestros hijos podamos seguir viviendo. Yo te respondo por su seguridad; a mí me pedirás cuentas. Si no te lo devuelvo sano y salvo, yo seré el culpable ante ti para toda la vida. 10 Si no nos hubiéramos demorado tanto, ¡ya habríamos ido y vuelto dos veces!

11 Entonces Israel, su padre, dijo:

—Ya que no hay más remedio, hagan lo siguiente: Echen en sus costales los mejores productos de esta región y llévenselos de regalo a ese hombre: un poco de bálsamo, un poco de miel, perfumes, mirra, nueces, almendras. 12 Lleven también el doble del dinero, pues deben devolver el que estaba en sus bolsas, ya que seguramente fue un error. 13 Vayan con su hermano menor y preséntense ante ese hombre. 14 ¡Que el Dios Todopoderoso permita que ese hombre les tenga compasión y deje libre a su otro hermano, y además vuelvan con Benjamín! En cuanto a mí, si he de perder a mis hijos, ¡qué le voy a hacer! ¡Los perderé!

15 Ellos tomaron los regalos, el doble del dinero y a Benjamín; entonces emprendieron el viaje a Egipto. Allí se presentaron ante José. 16 Cuando este vio a Benjamín con ellos, dijo a su mayordomo: «Lleva a estos hombres a mi casa. Luego, mata un animal y prepáralo, pues estos hombres comerán conmigo al mediodía».

17 El mayordomo cumplió la orden y los llevó a la casa de José. 18 Al ver ellos que los llevaban a la casa de José, se asustaron mucho y se dijeron: «Nos llevan por causa del dinero que se puso en nuestras bolsas la vez pasada. Ahora nos atacarán, nos acusarán y hasta nos harán sus esclavos con nuestros asnos».

19 Entonces se acercaron al mayordomo de la casa de José y antes de entrar le dijeron:

20 —Perdón, señor, nosotros ya vinimos antes para comprar alimento; 21 pero a nuestro regreso, cuando acampamos para pasar la noche, descubrimos que en cada una de nuestras bolsas estaba el dinero que habíamos pagado. Pero lo hemos traído para devolverlo. 22 También hemos traído más dinero para comprar alimento. ¡No sabemos quién pudo haber puesto el dinero de vuelta en nuestras bolsas!

23 —Está bien, no tengan miedo —contestó aquel hombre—. El Dios de ustedes y de su padre habrá puesto ese tesoro en sus bolsas. A mí me consta que recibí el dinero que ustedes pagaron.

El mayordomo llevó a Simeón 24 y a todos los hizo pasar a la casa de José. Allí les dio agua para que se lavaran los pies y dio de comer a sus asnos. 25 Ellos, por su parte, prepararon los regalos, mientras esperaban que José llegara al mediodía, pues habían oído que comerían allí.

26 Cuando José entró en su casa, le entregaron los regalos que habían llevado y se postraron rostro en tierra ante él. 27 José les preguntó cómo estaban y añadió:

—¿Cómo está su padre, el anciano del cual me hablaron? ¿Vive todavía?

28 —Nuestro padre, su siervo, se encuentra bien y todavía vive —respondieron ellos.

Enseguida se arrodillaron y se postraron ante él para honrarlo. 29 José miró a su alrededor y al ver a Benjamín, su hermano de padre y madre, preguntó:

—¿Es este su hermano menor, del cual me habían hablado? ¡Que Dios te bendiga, hijo mío!

30 Conmovido por la presencia de su hermano y no pudiendo contener el llanto, José salió de prisa. Entró en su habitación y allí se echó a llorar.

31 Después se lavó la cara y, ya más calmado, salió y ordenó: «¡Sirvan la comida!».

32 A José le sirvieron en un sector, a los hermanos en otro, y en otro más a los egipcios que comían con José. Los egipcios no comían con los hebreos porque, para los habitantes de Egipto, era una abominación. 33 Los hermanos de José estaban sentados frente a él, de mayor a menor, y unos a otros se miraban con asombro. 34 Las porciones eran servidas desde la mesa de José, pero a Benjamín se le servían porciones cinco veces más grandes que a los demás. En compañía de José, todos bebieron y se alegraron.

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