Genesis Chapter 42
Joseph’s Brothers Come to Egypt
1 Jacob found out that Egypt had grain and said to his sons, “Why are you just looking at one another? 2 I’ve heard that Egypt has grain. Go down and buy some so we can stay alive.” 3 Ten of Joseph’s brothers went down, 4 but Jacob didn’t send Joseph’s full brother Benjamin with them; he was afraid something would happen to him. 5 His sons went with other people from Canaan because the famine wore on in Canaan too.
6 Joseph governed the country and was the one that sold people the grain. His brothers came and bowed to the ground. 7 When he recognized them, he disguised himself and was gruff with them, “Where are you from?”
“Canaan; we came to buy food.”
8 They didn’t recognize him. 9 He remembered his dreams about them, and said, “You’re spies. You’ve come to look for weak places in our country.”
10 “No, my lord; we’ve come to buy food. 11 We’re honest men, not spies.”
12 “No, you’ve come to look for weak places in our country!”
13 “We’re 12 brothers, sons of one man in Canaan. The youngest is with our father and one has died.”
14 “The truth is, you’re spies. 15 I’ll check out your claims. By Pharaoh’s life, you won’t leave here unless your youngest brother comes! 16 One of you, go back to get him while the others stay here confined so I can verify what you claim.”
17 He put them in prison together for three days.
Gen 42:1-17
18 The third day, he said,
“Do this and live; I respect God: 19 if you’re telling the truth, one of you can remain in custody. The rest can take grain for your households. 20 Bring your youngest brother, and you won’t die.”
That’s what they did.
21 They said to one another, “We’re guilty about our brother. We saw his distress when he pleaded with us, but we didn’t care. That‘s why this distress has come on us.”
22 Reuben answered, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn’t listen. Now comes the reckoning for his blood.”
23 They didn’t know Joseph understood them; there had been a translator between them. 24 He turned the other way and got tears in his eyes. But when he turned back around and spoke to them, he had Simeon bound right in front of them. 25 He gave orders to fill their bags with grain, put each man’s money back in his sack, and give them supplies for the return trip.
Gen 42:18-25
26 They loaded their donkeys with grain and left. 27 When one of them opened his sack to feed his donkey where they stopped for the night, he saw his money in the top of the sack. 28 He told his brothers, “My money’s been put back in my sack!” Their hearts sank, and they turned to one another shaking, “What’s God done to us?”
29 When they got to Canaan, they told their father what had happened,
30 “The lord of the land was gruff with us and accused us of being spies. 31 But we told him, ‘We’re honest men, not spies. 32 We’re 12 brothers. One’s dead and the youngest is with our father in Canaan.’ 33 The man said, ‘Here’s how I’ll find out if you’re telling the truth: leave one of your brothers. Take the grain for your households and go. 34 Bring your youngest brother to me so I can tell you’re not spies. I’ll release your brother, and you can do business here.’” Gen 42:26-34
35 When they emptied their sacks, every man’s bag of money was in his sack. When they and their father saw their money, they were scared. 36 Jacob said, “You’ve deprived me of my children: Joseph’s gone, Simeon’s gone, and you want to take Benjamin! Everything’s going against me!”
37 Reuben told him, “You can put my two sons to death if I don’t bring him back. Put him in my care.”
38 But Jacob said, “He’s not going. His brother’s dead; he’s the only one left. If something happens to him on the trip, you’ll send my gray hair down to Sheol in grief.” Gen 42:35-38