Study Desk

And Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, "For," he said, "God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household."

And he named the second Ephraim, "For," he said, "God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction."

Then all the land of Egypt was famished, and the people cried out to Pharaoh for bread; and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you, you shall do."

Then he said, "Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down there and buy some for us from there, so that we may live and not die."

But Jacob did not send Joseph's brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, "Lest any harm befall him."

So the sons of Israel came to buy grain among those who were coming, for the famine was in the land of Canaan also.

Then he put them all together in prison for three days.

And Joseph said to them on the third day, "Do this and live, for I fear God:

if you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined in your prison; but as for the rest of you, go, bring grain for the famine of your households,

Now they did not know that Joseph was listening, for there was an interpreter between them.

Then Joseph gave a command to fill their bags with grain and to restore every man's money in his sack and to give them provisions for the journey. And thus it was done for them.

"The man, the lord of the land, spoke harshly with us and took us for spies of the country.

Then the man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘By this I will know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me and take grain for the famine of your households, and go.

But Jacob said, "My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he alone remains. If harm should befall him on the journey on which you are going, then you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow."

But if you do not send him, we will not go down; for the man said to us, ‘You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.'"

I myself will be the guarantee for him; from my hand you may require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then I shall bear the sin before you all my days.

For if we had not delayed, surely by now we could have returned twice."

and may God Almighty grant you compassion before the man, so that he will release to you your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved."

Then Joseph saw Benjamin with them and said to his house steward, "Bring the men into the house, and slay an animal and prepare it; for the men are to eat with me at noon."

And the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph's house; and they said, "It is because of the money that was returned in our sacks the first time that we are being brought in, that he may seek occasion against us and fall upon us and take us for slaves with our donkeys."