A. THE HARD TEST

And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, "Fill the men's sacks

with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his

sack's mouth. And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of

the youngest, and his grain money."

And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. As soon as the

morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses. And

when they were gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph

said unto his steward, "Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost

overtake them, say unto them, 'Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?

Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby he indeed

divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.'"

And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these words. And they said

unto him, "Wherefore speaketh my lord such words as these? God forbid

that thy servants should do such a thing. Behold, the money, which we

found in our sacks' mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land

of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or

gold? With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, let him die, and we

also will be my lord's bondmen."

And he said, "Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom

it is found shall be my bondman; and ye shall be blameless."

Then they hasted, and took down every man his sack to the ground, and

opened every man his sack. And he searched, and began at the eldest, and

left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. Then

they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to

the city. And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house; and he was

yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.

And Joseph said unto them, "What deed is this that ye have done? know ye

not that such a man as I can indeed divine?"

And Judah said, "What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or

how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy

servants: behold, we are my lord's bondmen, both we, and he also in

whose hand the cup is found."

And he said, "God forbid that I should do so: the man in whose hand the

cup is found, he shall be my bondman; but as for you, get you up in

peace unto your father."

Heroes of Israel Text of the Hero Stories with Notes and Questions for Young Students · 第 177 / 533 题