Study Desk

So the brothers loaded their donkeys with the grain and headed for home.

But when they stopped for the night and one of them opened his sack to get grain for his donkey, he found his money in the top of his sack.

"Then the man who is governor of the land told us, ‘This is how I will find out if you are honest men. Leave one of your brothers here with me, and take grain for your starving families and go on home.

As they emptied out their sacks, there in each man's sack was the bag of money he had paid for the grain! The brothers and their father were terrified when they saw the bags of money.

Then Reuben said to his father, "You may kill my two sons if I don't bring Benjamin back to you. I'll be responsible for him, and I promise to bring him back."

But as we were returning home, we stopped for the night and opened our sacks. Then we discovered that each man's money—the exact amount paid—was in the top of his sack! Here it is; we have brought it back with us.

The manager then led the men into Joseph's palace. He gave them water to wash their feet and provided food for their donkeys.

They were told they would be eating there, so they prepared their gifts for Joseph's arrival at noon.

Then Joseph hurried from the room because he was overcome with emotion for his brother. He went into his private room, where he broke down and wept.

Then put my personal silver cup at the top of the youngest brother's sack, along with the money for his grain." So the manager did as Joseph instructed him.

Judah answered, "Oh, my lord, what can we say to you? How can we explain this? How can we prove our innocence? God is punishing us for our sins. My lord, we have all returned to be your slaves—all of us, not just our brother who had your cup in his sack."

But we said to you, ‘My lord, the boy cannot leave his father, for his father would die.'

If he sees that the boy is not with us, our father will die. We, your servants, will indeed be responsible for sending that grieving, white-haired man to his grave.

For how can I return to my father if the boy is not with me? I couldn't bear to see the anguish this would cause my father!"

But don't be upset, and don't be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives.

This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.

I will take care of you there, for there are still five years of famine ahead of us. Otherwise you, your household, and all your animals will starve.'"

Then Joseph added, "Look! You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that I really am Joseph!

Go tell my father of my honored position here in Egypt. Describe for him everything you have seen, and then bring my father here quickly."

Don't worry about your personal belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.'"