¹⁶When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he spoke to the manager of his house. “Take these men to my house,” he said. “Kill an animal and prepare dinner. I want them to eat with me at noon.”

¹⁷The manager did what Joseph told him to do. He took the men to Joseph’s house.

¹⁸They were afraid when they were taken to Joseph’s house. They thought, “We were brought here because of the money that was put back in our sacks the first time. He wants to attack us and overpower us. Then he can hold us as slaves and take our donkeys.”

¹⁹So they went up to Joseph’s manager. They spoke to him at the entrance to the house. ²⁰“Please, sir,” they said. “We came down here the first time to buy food. ²¹We opened our sacks at the place where we stopped for the night. Each of us found in our sacks the money we had paid. So we’ve brought it back with us. ²²We’ve also brought more money with us to buy food. We don’t know who put our money in our sacks.”

²³“It’s all right,” the manager said. “Don’t be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you riches in your sacks. I received your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.

²⁴The manager took the men into Joseph’s house. He gave them water to wash their feet. He provided feed for their donkeys. ²⁵They prepared their gifts for Joseph. He was planning to arrive at noon. They had heard that they were going to eat there.

²⁶When Joseph came home, they gave him the gifts they had brought into the house. They bowed down to the ground in front of him.

²⁷He asked them how they were. Then he said, “How is your old father you told me about? Is he still living?”

²⁸They replied, “Your servant our father is still alive and well.” And they bowed low to show him honor.

²⁹Joseph looked around. Then he saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother’s son. He asked, “Is this your youngest brother? Is he the one you told me about?” He continued, “May God be gracious to you, my son.”

³⁰It moved him deeply to see his brother. So Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to cry. He went into his own room and cried there.

³¹Then he washed his face and came out. He calmed down and said, “Serve the food.”

³²They served Joseph by himself. They served the brothers by themselves. They also served the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves. Because of their beliefs, Egyptians couldn’t eat with Hebrews.

³³The brothers had been given places in front of Joseph. They had been seated in the order of their ages, from the oldest to the youngest. That made them look at each other in great surprise.

³⁴While they were eating, some food was brought to them from Joseph’s table. Benjamin was given five times as much as anyone else. So all of Joseph’s brothers ate and drank a lot with him.

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