Genesis 43

Genesis 43:1

Now the famine was still severe in the land.

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Genesis 43:2

So when Jacob’s sons had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back and buy us a little more food.”

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Genesis 43:3

But Judah replied, “The man solemnly warned us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’

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Genesis 43:4

If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy food for you.

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Genesis 43:5

But if you will not send him, we will not go; for the man told us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’”

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Genesis 43:6

“Why did you bring this trouble upon me?” Israel asked. “Why did you tell the man you had another brother?”

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Genesis 43:7

They replied, “The man questioned us in detail about ourselves and our family: ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ And we answered him accordingly. How could we possibly know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother here’?”

Genesis 43:7 · BSB

tenor Heb. mouth

Genesis 43:8

And Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me, and we will go at once, so that we may live and not die—neither we, nor you, nor our children.

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Genesis 43:9

I will guarantee his safety. You may hold me personally responsible. If I do not bring him back and set him before you, then may I bear the guilt before you all my life.

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Genesis 43:10

If we had not delayed, we could have come and gone twice by now.”

Genesis 43:10 · BSB

this second time or , twice by this

Genesis 43:11

Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your packs and carry them down as a gift for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds.

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Genesis 43:12

Take double the silver with you so that you may return the silver that was put back into the mouths of your sacks. Perhaps it was a mistake.

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Genesis 43:13

Take your brother as well, and return to the man at once.

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Genesis 43:14

May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother along with Benjamin. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved."

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Genesis 43:15

So the men took these gifts, along with double the amount of silver, and Benjamin as well. Then they hurried down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.

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Genesis 43:16

When Joseph saw Benjamin with his brothers, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my house. Slaughter an animal and prepare it, for they shall dine with me at noon.”

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dine with Heb. eat

Genesis 43:18

But the brothers were frightened that they had been taken to Joseph’s house. “We have been brought here because of the silver that was returned in our bags the first time,” they said. “They intend to overpower us and take us as slaves, along with our donkeys.”

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Genesis 43:19

So they approached Joseph’s steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house.

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Genesis 43:20

“Please, sir,” they said, “we really did come down here the first time to buy food.

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Genesis 43:21

But when we came to the place we lodged for the night, we opened our sacks and, behold, each of us found his silver in the mouth of his sack! It was the full amount of our silver, and we have brought it back with us.

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Genesis 43:22

We have brought additional silver with us to buy food. We do not know who put our silver in our sacks.”

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Genesis 43:23

“It is fine,” said the steward. “Do not be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, gave you the treasure that was in your sacks. I received your silver.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.

Genesis 43:23 · BSB

I had your money Heb. Your money came to me , Caspechem ba ailai , "your money comes to me . " as I am the steward , the cash for the corn belongs to me. Ye have no occasion to be apprehensive of any evil; the whole transaction is between myself and you; receive therefore the money as a present from "the God of your father ," no matter whose hands he employs to convey it.

Genesis 43:24

And the steward took the men into Joseph’s house, gave them water to wash their feet, and provided food for their donkeys.

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Genesis 43:25

Since the brothers had been told that they were going to eat a meal there, they prepared their gift for Joseph’s arrival at noon.

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Genesis 43:26

When Joseph came home, they presented him with the gifts they had brought, and they bowed to the ground before him.

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Genesis 43:27

He asked if they were well, and then he asked, “How is your elderly father you told me about? Is he still alive?”

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Genesis 43:28

“Your servant our father is well,” they answered. “He is still alive.” And they bowed down to honor him.

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Genesis 43:29

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

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Genesis 43:30

Joseph hurried out because he was moved to tears for his brother, and he went to a private room to weep.

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Genesis 43:31

Then he washed his face and came back out. Regaining his composure, he said, “Serve the meal.”

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Genesis 43:32

They separately served Joseph, his brothers, and the Egyptians. They ate separately because the Egyptians would not eat with the Hebrews, since that was detestable to them.

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Genesis 43:33

They were seated before Joseph in order by age, from the firstborn to the youngest, and the men looked at one another in astonishment.

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Genesis 43:34

When the portions were served to them from Joseph's table, Benjamin's portion was five times larger than any of the others. So they feasted and drank freely with Joseph.

Genesis 43:34 · BSB