Joseph's Brothers Return to Egypt
1
Now the famine was a severe in the land.
2
And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, "Go b back, buy us a little food."
3
But Judah spoke to him, saying, "The man solemnly warned us, saying, 'You shall not see my face unless your c brother is with you.'
4
"If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food.
5
"But if you will not send him, we will not go down; for the man said to us, 'You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you."'
6
And Israel said, "Why did you deal so wrongfully with me as to tell the man whether you had still another brother?"
7
But they said, "The man asked us pointedly about ourselves and our family, saying, 'Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?' And we told him according to these words. Could we possibly have known that he would say, 'Bring your brother down'?"
8
Then Judah said to Israel his father, "Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may d live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones.
9
"I myself will be surety for him; from my hand you shall require him. e If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever.
10
"For if we had not lingered, surely by now we would have returned this second time."
11
And their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best fruits of the land in your vessels and f carry down a present for the man - a little g balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds.
12
"Take double money in your hand, and take back in your hand the money h that was returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight.
13
"Take your brother also, and arise, go back to the man.
14
"And may God i Almighty j give you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother and Benjamin. k If I am bereaved, I am bereaved!"
15
So the men took that present and Benjamin, and they took double money in their hand, and arose and went l down to Egypt; and they stood before Joseph.
16
When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the m steward of his house, "Take these men to my home, and slaughter an animal and make ready; for these men will dine with me at noon."
17
Then the man did as Joseph ordered, and the man brought the men into Joseph's house.
18
Now the men were n afraid because they were brought into Joseph's house; and they said, "It is because of the money, which was returned in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may make a case against us and seize us, to take us as slaves with our donkeys."
19
When they drew near to the steward of Joseph's house, they talked with him at the door of the house,
20
and said, "O sir, o we indeed came down the first time to buy food;
21
"but p it happened, when we came to the encampment, that we opened our sacks, and there, each man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight; so we have brought it back in our hand.
22
"And we have brought down other money in our hands to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks."
23
But he said, "Peace be with you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money." Then he brought q Simeon out to them.
24
So the man brought the men into Joseph's house and r gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys feed.
25
Then they made the present ready for Joseph's coming at noon, for they heard that they would eat bread there.
26
And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and s bowed down before him to the earth.
27
Then he asked them about their well-being, and said, "Is your father well, the old man t of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?"
28
And they answered, "Your servant our father is in good health; he is still alive." u And they bowed their heads down and prostrated themselves.
29
Then he lifted his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, v his mother's son, and said, "Is this your younger brother w of whom you spoke to me?" And he said, "God be gracious to you, my son."
30
Now x his heart yearned for his brother; so Joseph made haste and sought somewhere to weep. And he went into his chamber and y wept there.
31
Then he washed his face and came out; and he restrained himself, and said, "Serve the z bread."
32
So they set him a place by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat food with the a Hebrews, for that is b an abomination to the Egyptians.
33
And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his c birthright and the youngest according to his youth; and the men looked in astonishment at one another.
34
Then he took servings to them from before him, but Benjamin's serving was d five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.
-
Cross References
Genesis 41:54
And the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. The famine was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
Genesis 41:57
So all countries came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all lands.
Genesis 42:5
And the sons of Israel went to buy grain among those who journeyed, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.
Genesis 45:6
For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.
Genesis 45:11
"There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine."'
-
Cross References
Genesis 42:2
And he said, "Indeed I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down to that place and buy for us there, that we may live and not die.
Genesis 44:25
"And our father said, 'Go back and buy us a little food.'
-
Cross References
Genesis 42:20
And bring your youngest brother to me; so your words will be verified, and you shall not die." And they did so.
Genesis 43:5
"But if you will not send him, we will not go down; for the man said to us, 'You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you."'
Genesis 44:23
"But you said to your servants, 'Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall see my face no more.'
-
Cross References
Genesis 42:2
And he said, "Indeed I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down to that place and buy for us there, that we may live and not die.
Genesis 47:19
"Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants of Pharaoh; give us seed, that we may live and not die, that the land may not be desolate."
-
Cross References
Genesis 42:37
Then Reuben spoke to his father, saying, "Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.
Genesis 44:32
"For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, 'If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father forever.'
-
Cross References
Genesis 32:20
"and also say, 'Behold, your servant Jacob is behind us."' For he said, "I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me."
Genesis 33:10
And Jacob said, "No, please, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me.
Genesis 43:25
Then they made the present ready for Joseph's coming at noon, for they heard that they would eat bread there.
Genesis 43:26
And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed down before him to the earth.
Proverbs 18:16
A man's gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.
-
Cross References
Genesis 37:25
And they sat down to eat a meal. Then they lifted their eyes and looked, and there was a company of Ishmaelites, coming from Gilead with their camels, bearing spices, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry them down to Egypt.
Jeremiah 8:22
Is there no balm in Gilead, Is there no physician there? Why then is there no recovery For the health of the daughter of my people?
Ezekiel 27:17
Judah and the land of Israel were your traders. They traded for your merchandise wheat of Minnith, millet, honey, oil, and balm.
-
Cross References
Genesis 42:25
Then Joseph gave a command to fill their sacks with grain, to restore every man's money to his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. Thus he did for them.
Genesis 42:35
Then it happened as they emptied their sacks, that surprisingly each man's bundle of money was in his sack; and when they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid.
Genesis 43:21
But it happened, when we came to the encampment, that we opened our sacks, and there, each man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight; so we have brought it back in our hand.
Genesis 43:22
"And we have brought down other money in our hands to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks."
-
Cross References
Genesis 17:1
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.
Genesis 28:3
May God Almighty bless you, And make you fruitful and multiply you, That you may be an assembly of peoples.
Genesis 35:11
Also God said to him: "I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body.
Genesis 48:3
Then Jacob said to Joseph: "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me.
-
Cross References
Genesis 39:21
But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
Psalms 106:46
He also made them to be pitied By all those who carried them away captive.
-
Cross References
Genesis 42:36
And Jacob their father said to them, "You have bereaved me: Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin. All these things are against me.
Esther 4:16
"Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!"
-
Cross References
Genesis 39:1
Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there.
Genesis 46:3
So He said, "I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there.
Genesis 46:6
So they took their livestock and their goods, which they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and went to Egypt, Jacob and all his descendants with him.
-
Cross References
Genesis 24:2
So Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, "Please, put your hand under my thigh.
Genesis 39:4
So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority.
Genesis 44:1
And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, "Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man's money in the mouth of his sack.
-
Cross References
Genesis 42:28
So he said to his brothers, "My money has been restored, and there it is, in my sack!" Then their hearts failed them and they were afraid, saying to one another, "What is this that God has done to us?
-
Cross References
Genesis 42:3
So Joseph's ten brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt.
Genesis 42:10
And they said to him, "No, my lord, but your servants have come to buy food.
-
Cross References
Genesis 42:27
But as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey feed at the encampment, he saw his money; and there it was, in the mouth of his sack.
Genesis 42:35
Then it happened as they emptied their sacks, that surprisingly each man's bundle of money was in his sack; and when they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid.
-
Cross References
Genesis 42:24
And he turned himself away from them and wept. Then he returned to them again, and talked with them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes.
-
Cross References
Genesis 18:4
Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.
Genesis 19:2
And he said, "Here now, my lords, please turn in to your servant's house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way." And they said, "No, but we will spend the night in the open square.
Genesis 24:32
Then the man came to the house. And he unloaded the camels, and provided straw and feed for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.
-
Cross References
Genesis 37:7
"There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf."
Genesis 37:10
So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, "What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?
Genesis 42:6
Now Joseph was governor over the land; and it was he who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the earth.
Genesis 44:14
So Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's house, and he was still there; and they fell before him on the ground.
-
Cross References
Genesis 29:6
So he said to them, "Is he well?" And they said...
Genesis 42:11
"We are all one man's sons; we are honest men; ...
Genesis 42:13
And they said, "Your servants are twelve brothe...
Genesis 43:7
But they said, "The man asked us pointedly abou...
Genesis 45:3
Then Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph;...
2 Kings 4:26
"Please run now to meet her, and say to her, ' ...
-
Cross References
Genesis 37:7
"There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf."
Genesis 37:10
So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, "What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?
-
Cross References
Genesis 35:17
Now it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, "Do not fear; you will have this son also.
Genesis 35:18
And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name BenOni; but his father called him Benjamin.
-
Cross References
Genesis 42:13
And they said, "Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and in fact, the youngest is with our father today, and one is no more.
-
Cross References
1 Kings 3:26
Then the woman whose son was living spoke to the king, for she yearned with compassion for her son; and she said, "O my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him!" But the other said, "Let him be neither mine nor yours, but divide him.
-
Cross References
Genesis 42:24
And he turned himself away from them and wept. Then he returned to them again, and talked with them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes.
Genesis 45:2
And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it.
Genesis 45:14
Then he fell on his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck.
Genesis 45:15
Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and after that his brothers talked with him.
Genesis 46:29
So Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel; and he presented himself to him, and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while.
-
Cross References
Genesis 43:25
Then they made the present ready for Joseph's coming at noon, for they heard that they would eat bread there.
-
Cross References
Genesis 41:12
Now there was a young Hebrew man with us there, a servant of the captain of the guard. And we told him, and he interpreted our dreams for us; to each man he interpreted according to his own dream.
Exodus 1:15
Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah.
-
Cross References
Genesis 46:34
"that you shall say, 'Your servants' occupation has been with livestock from our youth even till now, both we and also our fathers,' that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians."
Exodus 8:26
And Moses said, "It is not right to do so, for we would be sacrificing the abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God. If we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, then will they not stone us?
-
Cross References
Genesis 27:36
And Esau said, "Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright, and now look, he has taken away my blessing!" And he said, "Have you not reserved a blessing for me?
Genesis 42:7
Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he acted as a stranger to them and spoke roughly to them. Then he said to them, "Where do you come from?" And they said, "From the land of Canaan to buy food.
Deuteronomy 21:16
Then it shall be, on the day he bequeaths his possessions to his sons, that he must not bestow firstborn status on the son of the loved wife in preference to the son of the unloved, the true firstborn.
Deuteronomy 21:17
But he shall acknowledge the son of the unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.
-
Cross References
Genesis 35:24
The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin.
Genesis 45:22
He gave to all of them, to each man, changes of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of garments.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.