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JANUARY 22
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 43:33 the firstborn…the youngest. To be
wrongfully with me as to tell the man whether seated at the table in birth order in the house
you had still another brother?” of an Egyptian official was startling—how did
7 But they said, “The man asked us pointed- he know this of Jacob’s sons? Enough clues
ly about ourselves and our family, saying, ‘Is had been given in Joseph’s previous questions
your father still alive? Have you another broth- about the family and his use of God’s name for
er?’ And we told him according to these them to wonder about him and his personal
words. Could we possibly have known that he knowledge of them. Obviously, they simply
would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” did not believe Joseph was alive (44:20) and
8 Then Judah said to Israel his father, “Send certainly not as a personage of such immense
the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that influence and authority. They had probably
laughed through the years at the memory of
we may live and not die, both we and you and Joseph’s dreams of superiority.
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also our little ones. I myself will be surety for
him; from my hand you shall require him. If I
do not bring him back to you and set him money in full weight; so we have brought it
before you, then let me bear the blame forev- back in our hand. And we have brought down
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er. For if we had not lingered, surely by now other money in our hands to buy food. We do
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we would have returned this second time.” not know who put our money in our sacks.”
11 And their father Israel said to them, “If it 23 But he said, “Peace be with you, do not be
must be so, then do this: Take some of the best afraid. Your God and the God of your father has
fruits of the land in your vessels and carry given you treasure in your sacks; I had your
down a present for the man—a little balm and money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.
a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts 24 So the man brought the men into Joseph’s
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and almonds. Take double money in your house and gave them water, and they washed
hand, and take back in your hand the money their feet; and he gave their donkeys feed.
that was returned in the mouth of your sacks; 25 Then they made the present ready for Jo-
perhaps it was an oversight. Take your broth- seph’s coming at noon, for they heard that
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er also, and arise, go back to the man. And they would eat bread there.
may God Almighty give you mercy before the 26 And when Joseph came home, they brought
man, that he may release your other brother him the present which was in their hand into
and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved!” the house, and bowed down before him to the
15 So the men took that present and Benja- earth. Then he asked them about their well-
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min, and they took double money in their being, and said, “Is your father well, the old
hand, and arose and went down to Egypt; and man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?”
they stood before Joseph. When Joseph saw 28 And they answered, “Your servant our
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Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of father is in good health; he is still alive.” And
his house, “Take these men to my home, and they bowed their heads down and prostrated
slaughter an animal and make ready; for these themselves.
men will dine with me at noon.” Then the 29 Then he lifted his eyes and saw his broth-
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man did as Joseph ordered, and the man er Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is
brought the men into Joseph’s house. this your younger brother of whom you spoke
18 Now the men were afraid because they to me?” And he said, “God be gracious to you,
were brought into Joseph’s house; and they my son.” Now his heart yearned for his
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said, “It is because of the money, which was brother; so Joseph made haste and sought
returned in our sacks the first time, that we somewhere to weep. And he went into his
are brought in, so that he may make a case chamber and wept there. Then he washed
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against us and seize us, to take us as slaves his face and came out; and he restrained him-
with our donkeys.” self, and said, “Serve the bread.”
19 When they drew near to the steward of Jo- 32 So they set him a place by himself, and them
seph’s house, they talked with him at the door by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with
of the house, and said, “O sir, we indeed him by themselves; because the Egyptians
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came down the first time to buy food; but it could not eat food with the Hebrews, for that is
happened, when we came to the encampment, an abomination to the Egyptians. And they sat
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that we opened our sacks, and there, each before him, the firstborn according to his birth-
man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our right and the youngest according to his youth;
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