44:6. He did as he had commanded him. And having overtaken them, he spoke to them the same words.
44:7. And they answered: Why doth our lord speak so, as though thy servants had committed so heinous a fact?
44:8. The money, that we found in the top of our sacks, we brought back to thee from the land of Chanaan: how then should it be that we should steal out of thy lord"s house, gold or silver?
44:9. With whomsoever of thy servants shall be found that which thou seekest, let him die, and we will be the bondmen of my lord.
44:10. And he said to them: Let it be according to your sentence: with whomsoever it shall be found, let him be my servant, and you shall be blameless.
44:11. Then they speedily took down their sacks to the ground, and every man opened his sack.
44:12. Which when he had searched, beginning at the eldest, and ending at the youngest, he found the cup in Benjamin"s sack.
44:13. Then they rent their garments, and loading their a.s.ses again, returned into the town.
44:14. And Juda at the head of his brethren went in to Joseph (for he was not yet gone out of the place) and they all together fell down before him on the ground.
44:15. And he said to them: Why would you do so? know you not that there is no one like me in the science of divining.
The science of divining... He speaks of himself according to what he was esteemed in that kingdom. And indeed, he being truly a prophet, knew more without comparison than any of the Egyptian sorcerers.
44:16. And Juda said to him: What shall we answer my lord? or what shall we say, or be able justly to allege? G.o.d hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are all bondmen to my lord, both we, and he with whom the cup was found.
44:17. Joseph answered: G.o.d forbid that I should do so: he that stole the cup, he shall be my bondman: and go you away free to your father.
44:18. Then Juda coming nearer, said boldly: I beseech thee, my lord, let thy servant speak a word in thy ears, and be not angry with thy servant: for after Pharao thou art.
44:19. My lord. Thou didst ask thy servants the first time: Have you a father or a brother.
44:20. And we answered thee, my lord: We have a father an old man, and a young boy, that was born in his old age; whose brother by the mother is dead; and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him tenderly.
44:21. And thou saidst to thy servants: Bring him hither to me, and I will set my eyes on him.
44:22. We suggested to my lord: The boy cannot leave his father: for if he leave him, he will die.
44:23. And thou saidst to thy servants: Except your youngest brother come with you, you shall see my face no more.
44:24. Therefore when we were gone up to thy servant our father, we told him all that my lord had said.
44:25. And our father said: Go again, and buy us a little wheat.
44:26. And we said to him: We cannot go: if our youngest brother go down with us, we will set out together: otherwise, without him we dare not see the man"s face.
44:27. Whereunto he answered: You know that my wife bore me two.
44:28. One went out, and you said: A beast devoured him; and hitherto he appeareth not.
44:29. If you take this also, and any thing befall him in the way, you will bring down my grey hairs with sorrow unto h.e.l.l.
44:30. Therefore, if I shall go to thy servant, our father, and the boy be wanting, (whereas his life dependeth upon the life of him,)
44:31. And he shall see that he is not with us, he will die, and thy servants shall bring down his grey hairs with sorrow unto h.e.l.l.
His gray hairs... That is, his person, now far advanced in years.-With sorrow unto h.e.l.l... The Hebrew word for h.e.l.l is here sheol, the Greek hades: it is not taken for the h.e.l.l of the d.a.m.ned; but for that place of souls below where the servants of G.o.d were kept before the coming of Christ. Which place, both in the Scripture and in the creed, is named h.e.l.l.
44:32. Let me be thy proper servant, who took him into my trust, and promised, saying: If I bring him not again, I will be guilty of sin against my father for ever.
44:33. Therefore I, thy servant, will stay instead of the boy in the service of my lord, and let the boy go up with his brethren.
44:34. For I cannot return to my father without the boy, lest I be a witness of the calamity that will oppress my father.
Genesis Chapter 45
Joseph maketh himself known to his brethren: and sendeth for his father.
45:1. Joseph could no longer refrain himself before many that stood by: whereupon he commanded that all should go out, and no stranger be present at their knowing one another.
45:2. And he lifted up his voice with weeping, which the Egyptians, and all the house of Pharao heard.
45:3. And he said to his brethren: I am Joseph: Is my father yet living?
His brethren could not answer him, being struck with exceeding great fear.
45:4. And he said mildly to them: Come nearer to me. And when they were come near him, he said: I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.
45:5. Be not afraid, and let it not seem to you a hard case that you sold me into these countries: for G.o.d sent me before you into Egypt for your preservation.
45:6. For it is two years since the famine began to be upon the land, and five years more remain, wherein there can be neither ploughing nor reaping.
45:7. And G.o.d sent me before, that you may be preserved upon the earth, and may have food to live.
45:8. Not by your counsel was I sent hither, but by the will of G.o.d: who hath made me as it were a father to Pharao, and lord of his whole house, and governor in all the land of Egypt.
45:9. Make haste, and go ye up to my father, and say to him: Thus saith thy son Joseph: G.o.d hath made me lord of the whole land of Egypt; come down to me, linger not.
45:10. And thou shalt dwell in the land of Gessen: and thou shalt be near me, thou and thy sons, and thy sons" sons, thy sheep, and thy herds, and all things that thou hast.
45:11. And there I will feed thee, (for there are yet five years of famine remaining) lest both thou perish, and thy house, and all things that thou hast.
45:12. Behold, your eyes, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, see that it is my mouth that speaketh to you.
45:13. You shall tell my father of all my glory, and all things that you have seen in Egypt: make haste and bring him to me.
45:14. And falling upon the neck of his brother Benjamin, he embraced him and wept: and Benjamin in like manner wept also on his neck.
45:15. And Joseph kissed all his brethren, and wept upon every one of them: after which they were emboldened to speak to him.
45:16. And it was heard, and the fame was spread abroad in the king"s court: The brethren of Joseph are come; and Pharao with all his family was glad.
45:17. And he spoke to Joseph that he should give orders to his brethren, saying: Load your beasts, and go into the land of Chanaan,