Study Desk

When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them as strangers and spoke harshly to them. "Where have you come from?" he asked. "From the land of Canaan," they replied. "We are here to buy food."

But they answered, "Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more."

Then they said to one another, "Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us."

But Reuben replied: "Didn't I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you would not listen. Now we must account for his blood!"

But we told him, 'We are honest men, not spies.

But bring your youngest brother back to me so I will know that you are not spies but honest men. Then I will give your brother back to you, and you can trade in the land.'"

But Jacob replied, "My son will not go down there with you, for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. If any harm comes to him on your journey, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow."

But Judah replied, "The man solemnly warned us, 'You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.'

But if you will not send him, we will not go; for the man told us, 'You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.'"

But the men were frightened that they had been taken to Joseph's house. "We have been brought here because of the money that was returned in our bags the first time," they said. "They intend to overpower us and take us as slaves, along with our donkeys."

But when we came to the place we stopped for the night, we opened our sacks and, behold, each of us found his silver in the mouth of his sack! It was the full amount of our money, and we have brought it back with us.

"As you say," replied the steward. "But only the one who is found with the cup will be my slave, and the rest of you shall be free of blame."

But Joseph replied, "Far be it from me to do this. The man who was found with the cup will be my slave. The rest of you may return to your father in peace."

But you said to your servants, 'Unless your younger brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.'

But we answered, 'We cannot go down there unless our younger brother goes with us. So if our younger brother is not with us, we cannot see the man.'

But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians and Pharaoh's household heard him.

Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?" But they were unable to answer him, because they were terrified in his presence.

Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God, who has made me a father to Pharaoh-lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

But pay no regard to your belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt will be yours.'"

He gave new garments to each of them, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five sets of clothes.