Genesis 43:16–34

Joseph Sees Benjamin

¹⁶When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to his ^ahouse steward, “Bring the men into the house, and slay an animal and make ready; for the men are to dine with me at noon.”

¹⁷So the man did as Joseph said, and ¹brought the men to Joseph’s house.

¹⁸Now the men were afraid, because they were brought to Joseph’s house; and they said, “It is because of the money that was returned in our sacks the first time that we are being brought in, that he may ¹seek occasion against us and fall upon us, and take us for slaves with our donkeys.”

¹⁹So they came near to Joseph’s house steward, and spoke to him at the entrance of the house,

²⁰and said, “Oh, my lord, we indeed came down the first time to buy food,

²¹and it came about when we came to the lodging place, that we opened our sacks, and behold, ^aeach man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in ¹full. So ^bwe have brought it back in our hand.

²²“We have also brought down other money in our hand to buy food; we do not know who put our money in our sacks.”

²³He said, “¹Be at ease, do not be afraid. ^aYour God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; ²I had your money.” Then ^bhe brought Simeon out to them.

²⁴Then the man brought the men into Joseph’s house and ^agave them water, and they ^bwashed their feet; and he gave their donkeys fodder.

²⁵So they prepared ^athe present ¹for Joseph’s coming at noon; for they had heard that they were to eat ²a meal there.

²⁶When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present which was in their hand and ^abowed to the ground before him.

²⁷Then he asked them about their welfare, and said, “^aIs your old father well, of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?”

²⁸They said, “Your servant our father is well; he is still alive.” ^aThey bowed down ¹in homage.

²⁹As he lifted his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, he said, “Is this ^ayour youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me?” And he said, “^bMay God be gracious to you, my son.”

³⁰Joseph hurried out for ^1ahe was deeply stirred over his brother, and he sought a place to weep; and he entered his chamber and ^bwept there.

³¹Then he washed his face and came out; and he ^acontrolled himself and said, “¹Serve the meal.”

³²So they served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is ^1aloathsome to the Egyptians.

³³Now they ¹were seated before him, ^athe firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth, and the men looked at one another in astonishment.

³⁴He took portions to them from ¹his own table, ^abut Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. So they feasted and drank freely with him.