Genesis 43:16-34

New American Standard Bible

Joseph Sees Benjamin

¹⁶ When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to his ^(A)house steward, “Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make preparations; for the men are to dine with me at noon.” ¹⁷ So the man did as Joseph said, and ^[a]brought the men to Joseph’s house. ¹⁸ Now 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, so that he may ^[b]attack us and ^[c]overpower us, and take us as slaves with our donkeys.” ¹⁹ So they approached Joseph’s house steward, and spoke to him at the entrance of the house, ²⁰ and said, “Oh, my lord, we indeed came down the first time to buy food, ²¹ and it happened when we came to the campsite, that we opened our sacks, and behold, ^(B)each man’s money was in the opening of his sack, our money in ^[d]full. So ^(C)we have brought it back in our hand. ²² We have also brought down other money in our hand to buy food; we do not know who put our money in our sacks.” ²³ But he said, “Peace be to you, do not be afraid. ^(D)Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; your ^[e]money was in my possession.” Then ^(E)he brought Simeon out to them. ²⁴ Then the man brought the men into Joseph’s house and ^(F)gave them water, and they ^(G)washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys feed. ²⁵ So they prepared ^(H)the gift ^[f]for Joseph’s arrival at noon; for they had heard that they were to eat ^[g]a meal there.

²⁶ When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the gift which was in their hand, and they ^(I)bowed down to the ground before him. ²⁷ Then he asked them about their welfare, and said, “^(J)Is your old father well, of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” ²⁸ And they said, “Your servant our father is well; he is still alive.” Then ^(K)they bowed down again ^[h]in homage. ²⁹ And as he raised his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, he said, “Is this ^(L)your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me?” Then he said, “^(M)May God be gracious to you, my son.” ³⁰ Joseph then hurried out, for ^[i](N)he was deeply stirred over his brother, and he looked for a place to weep; so he entered his chamber and ^(O)wept there. ³¹ Then he washed his face and came out; and he ^(P)controlled himself and said, “^[j]Serve the meal.” ³² Then they served him by himself, and ^[k]Joseph’s brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is an ^(Q)abomination to the Egyptians. ³³ Now they ^[l]were seated before him, from ^(R)the firstborn according to his birthright to the youngest according to his youth, and the men looked at one another in astonishment. ³⁴ Then he took portions to them from ^[m]his own table, ^(S)but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank freely with him.