42:35. When they had told this, they poured out their corn, and every man found his money tied in the mouth of his sack: and all being astonished together,
42:36. Their father Jacob said: You have made me to be without children: Joseph is not living, Simeon is kept in bonds, and Benjamin you will take away: all these evils are fallen upon me.
42:37. And Ruben answered him: Kill my two sons, if I bring him not again to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will restore him to thee.
42:38. But he said: My son shall not go down with you: his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if any mischief befall him in the land to which you go, you will bring down my grey hairs with sorrow to h.e.l.l.
To h.e.l.l... That is, to that place, where the souls then remained, as above, chapter 37. ver. 35.
Genesis Chapter 43
The sons of Jacob go again into Egypt with Benjamin. They are entertained by Joseph.
43:1. In the mean time the famine was heavy upon all the land.
43:2. And when they had eaten up all the corn, which they had brought out of Egypt, Jacob said to his sons: Go again, and buy us a little food.
43:3. Juda answered: The man declared unto us with the attestation of an oath, saying: You shall not see my face, unless you bring your youngest brother with you.
43:4. If therefore thou wilt send him with us, we will set out together, and will buy necessaries for thee.
43:5. But if thou wilt not, we will not go: for the man, as we have often said, declared unto us, saying: You shall not see my face without your youngest brother.
43:6. Israel said to them: You have done this for my misery, in that you told him you had also another brother.
43:7. But they answered: The man asked us in order concerning our kindred: if our father lived: if we had a brother: and we answered him regularly, according to what he demanded: could we know that he would say: Bring hither your brother with you?
43:8. And Juda said to his father: Send the boy with me, that we may set forward, and may live: lest both we and our children perish.
43:9. I take the boy upon me, require him at my hand: unless I bring him again, and restore him to thee, I will be guilty of sin against thee for ever.
43:10. If delay had not been made, we had been here again the second time.
43:11. Then Israel said to them: If it must needs be so, do what you will: take of the best fruits of the land in your vessels, and carry down presents to the man, a little balm, and honey, and storax, myrrh, turpentine, and almonds.
Balm... Literally rosin, resinae; but here by that name is meant balm.
43:12. And take with you double money, and carry back what you found in your sacks, lest perhaps it was done by mistake.
43:13. And take also your brother, and go to the man.
43:14. And may my almighty G.o.d make him favourable to you: and send back with you your brother, whom he keepeth, and this Benjamin: and as for me I shall be desolate without children.
43:15. So the men took the presents, and double money, and Benjamin: and went down into Egypt, and stood before Joseph.
43:16. And when he had seen them, and Benjamin with them, he commanded the steward of his house, saying: Bring in the men into the house, and kill victims, and prepare a feast: because they shall eat with me at noon.
43:17. He did as he was commanded, and brought the men into the house.
43:18. And they being much afraid, said there one to another: Because of the money, which we carried back the first time in our sacks, we are brought in: that he may bring upon us a false accusation, and by violence make slaves of us and our a.s.ses.
43:19. Wherefore, going up to the steward of the house, at the door,
43:20. They said: Sir, we desire thee to hear us. We came down once before to buy food:
43:21. And when we had bought, and were come to the inn, we opened our sacks, and found our money in the mouths of the sacks: which we have now brought again in the same weight.
43:22. And we have brought other money besides, to buy what we want: we cannot tell who put it in our bags.
43:23. But he answered: Peace be with you, fear not: your G.o.d, and the G.o.d of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks. For the money, which you gave me, I have for good. And he brought Simeon out to them.
43:24. And having brought them into the house, he fetched water, and they washed their feet, and he gave provender to their a.s.ses.
43:25. But they made ready the presents, against Joseph came at noon: for they had heard that they should eat bread there.
43:26. Then Joseph came in to his house, and they offered him the presents, holding them in their hands; and they bowed down with their face to the ground.
43:27. But he courteously saluting them again, asked them, saying: Is the old man your father in health, of whom you told me? Is he yet living?
43:28. And they answered: Thy servant our father, is in health; he is yet living. And bowing themselves, they made obeisance to him.
43:29. And Joseph lifting up his eyes, saw Benjamin, his brother by the same mother, and said: Is this your young brother, of whom you told me?
And he said: G.o.d be gracious to thee, my son.
43:30. And he made haste, because his heart was moved upon his brother, and tears gushed out: and going into his chamber, he wept.
43:31. And when he had washed his face, coming out again, he refrained himself, and said: Set bread on the table.
43:32. And when it was set on, for Joseph apart, and for his brethren apart, for the Egyptians also that ate with him apart, (for it is unlawful for the Egyptians to eat with the Hebrews, and they think such a feast profane):
43:33. They sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his age. And they wondered very much;
43:34. Taking the messes which they received of him: and the greater mess came to Benjamin, so that it exceeded by five parts. And they drank, and were merry with him.
Genesis Chapter 44
Joseph"s contrivance to stop his brethren. The humble supplication of Juda.
44:1. And Joseph commanded the steward of his house, saying: Fill their sacks with corn, as much as they can hold: and put the money of every one in the top of his sack.
44:2. And in the mouth of the younger"s sack put my silver cup, and the price which he gave for the wheat. And it was so done.
44:3. And when the morning arose, they were sent away with their a.s.ses.
44:4. And when they were now departed out of the city, and had gone forward a little way: Joseph sending for the steward of his house, said: Arise, and pursue after the men: and when thou hast overtaken them, say to them: Why have you returned evil for good?
44:5. The cup which you have stolen, is that in which my lord drinketh, and in which he is wont to divine: you have done a very evil thing.