The famine, which inflicted hardships first upon the wealthy among the
Egyptians, gradually extended its ravages as far as Phoenicia, Arabia,
and Palestine.[197] Though the sons of Jacob, being young men,
frequented the streets and the highways, yet they were ignorant of what
their old home-keeping father Jacob knew, that corn could be procured
in Egypt. Jacob even suspected that Joseph was in Egypt. His prophetic
spirit, which forsook him during the time of his grief for his son, yet
manifested itself now and again in dim visions, and he was resolved to
send his sons down into Egypt.[198] There was another reason. Though he
was not yet in want, he nevertheless had them go thither for food,
because he was averse from arousing the envy of the sons of Esau and
Ishmael by his comfortable state.[199] For the same reason, to avoid
friction with the surrounding peoples, he bade his sons not appear in
public with bread in their hands, or in the accoutrements of war.[200]
And as he knew that they were likely to attract attention, on account
of their heroic stature and handsome appearance, he cautioned them
against going to the city all together through the same gate, or,
indeed, showing themselves all together anywhere in public, that the
evil eye be not cast upon them.[201]
The famine in Canaan inspired Joseph with the hope of seeing his
brethren. To make sure of their coming, he issued a decree concerning
the purchase of corn in Egypt, as follows: "By order of the king and
his deputy, and the princes of the realm, be it enacted that he who
desireth to buy grain in Egypt may not send his slave hither to do his
bidding, but he must charge his own sons therewith. An Egyptian or a
Canaanite that hath bought grain and then selleth it again shall be put
to death, for none may buy more than he requireth for the needs of his
household. Also, who cometh with two or three beasts of burden, and
loads them up with grain, shall be put to death."
At the gates of the city of Egypt, Joseph stationed guards, whose
office was to inquire and take down the name of all that should come to
buy corn, and also the name of their father and their grandfather, and
every evening the list of names thus made was handed to Joseph. These
precautions were bound to bring Joseph's brethren down to Egypt, and
also acquaint him with their coming as soon as they entered the land.
On their journey his brethren thought more of Joseph than of their
errand. They said to one another: "We know that Joseph was carried down
into Egypt, and we will make search for him there, and if we should
find him, we will ransom him from his master, and if his master should
refuse to sell him, we will use force, though we perish
ourselves."[202]
At the gates of the city of Egypt, the brethren of Joseph were asked
what their names were, and the names of their father and grandfather.
The guard on duty happened to be Manasseh, the son of Joseph. The
brethren submitted to being questioned, saying "Let us go into the
town, and we shall see whether this taking down of our names be a
matter of taxes. If it be so, we shall not demur; but if it be
something else, we shall see to-morrow what can be done in the
case."[203]
On the evening of the day they entered Egypt, Joseph discovered their
names in the list, which he was in the habit of examining daily, and he
commanded that all stations for the sale of corn be closed, except one
only. Furthermore, even at this station no sales were to be negotiated
unless the name of the would-be purchaser was first obtained. His
brethren, with whose names Joseph furnished the overseer of the place,
were to be seized and brought to him as soon as they put in appearance.
But the first thought of the brethren was for Joseph, and their first
concern, to seek him. For three days they made search for him
everywhere, even in the most disreputable quarters of the city.
Meantime Joseph was in communication with the overseer of the station
kept open for the sale of corn, and, hearing that his brethren had not
appeared there, he dispatched some of his servants to look for them,
but they found them neither in Mizraim, the city of Egypt, nor in
Goshen, nor in Raamses. Thereupon he sent sixteen servants forth to
make a house to house search for them in the city, and they discovered
the brethren of Joseph in a place of ill-fame and haled them before
their master.