The famine was sore in all lands, but in Egypt there was grain. And
Jacob sent ten of his sons to Egypt to buy grain; but he would not let
Benjamin go. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down themselves to
him. They knew not him, but he knew them, and remembered his dreams.
They said: We are twelve brothers; the youngest is this day with our
father, and one is not. But Joseph said: Ye are spies. And he kept them
in prison for three days. On the third day he said to them: One of you
shall remain in prison; but the others may go home with the grain, and
ye shall bring your youngest brother to me, that I may see whether ye
speak the truth. They said one to another: We are verily guilty
concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul when he
besought us, and we would not hear him. And they knew not that Joseph
understood them; but he turned himself about from them and wept. Simeon
was kept, and the others went home.
Jacob would not let Benjamin go with them, but said: Joseph is no more,
Simeon is no more, and Benjamin ye will also take! But the famine was
sore in the land, so he must needs send Benjamin. The brothers went to
Egypt and stood before Joseph. When he saw Benjamin he said: God be
gracious to thee, my son. And he went out and wept. And he washed his
face, and he went in and refrained himself, and said to his servants:
Set on bread.--And he commanded the steward of his house: Fill the men’s
sacks with grain and put my silver cup in Benjamin’s sack. When they
were not yet gone far off he sent his steward after them, the sacks were
searched, and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. Joseph would retain
Benjamin as his slave; but Judah stood forth and said: Let me remain in
his stead, for if we have not him with us, we will bring our father’s
gray hairs with sorrow into the grave. (Gen. 42-44.)