Genesis 43 · Parashat Miketz

And the famine was severe in the land.

And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Miżrayim, their father said to them, Go back, buy us a little food.

And Yehuda spoke to him, saying, The man did solemnly protest to us, saying, You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.

If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food:

but if thou wilt 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.

And Yisra᾽el said, Why did you treat me so ill, as to tell the man whether you had another brother?

And they said, The man asked us particularly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have you another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we possibly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?

And Yehuda said to Yisra᾽el his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.

I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not to thee, and set him before thee, then I shall have sinned to thee for ever.

For if we had not lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.

And their father Yisra᾽el said to them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, gum, ladanum, nuts, and almonds:

and take double money in your hand; and the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks, carry it back in your hand; perhaps it was an oversight:

take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man:

and God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release to you your other brother, and Binyamin. If I be bereaved of my children, then I am bereaved.

And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Binyamin; and they rose up, and went down to Miżrayim, and stood before Yosef.

And when Yosef saw Binyamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slaughter a beast, and make it ready; for the men shall dine with me at noon.

And the man did as Yosef bade; and the man brought the men into Yosef’s house.

And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Yosef’s house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.

And they came near to the steward of Yosef’s house, and they spoke with him at the door of the house,

and said, O sir, we came down indeed at the first time to buy food:

and it came to pass, when we came to the lodging place, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight:

and we have brought it back in our hand. And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks.

And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Shim῾on out to them.

And the man brought the men into Yosef’s house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender.

And they made ready the present for when Yosef came at noon: for they had heard that they should eat bread there.

And when Yosef came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.

And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?

And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is still alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance.

And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Binyamin, his mother’s son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom you spoke to me? And he said, God be gracious to thee, my son.

And Yosef made haste: for his affection was kindled towards his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.

And he washed his face, and went out, and restrained himself, and said, Set on bread.

And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Miżrim who did eat with them, by themselves: because the Miżrim might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination to the Miżrim.

And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another.

And he took and sent portions to them from before him: but Binyamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.