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G ENESIS 44
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that they were being taken into Joseph’s house.
“It’s because of the money someone put in our
sacks last time we were here,” they said. “He
plans to pretend that we stole it. Then he will
seize us, make us slaves, and take our donkeys.”
A Feast at Joseph’s Palace
19 The brothers approached the manager of
Joseph’s household and spoke to him at the
entrance to the palace. 20 “Sir,” they said, “we
came to Egypt once before to buy food. 21 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.
22 We also have additional money to buy more
food. We have no idea who put our money in
our sacks.”
23 “Relax. Don’t be afraid,” the household
manager told them. “Your God, the God of
your father, must have put this treasure into
your sacks. I know I received your payment.”
Then he released Simeon and brought him out
to them.
24 The manager then led the men into Joseph’s palace. He gave them water to wash
their feet and provided food for their donkeys.
25 They were told they would be eating there,
so they prepared their gifts for Joseph’s arrival
at noon.
26 When Joseph came home, they gave him
the gifts they had brought him, then bowed low
to the ground before him. 27 After greeting them,
he asked, “How is your father, the old man you
spoke about? Is he still alive?”
28 “Yes,” they replied. “Our father, your servant, is alive and well.” And they bowed low
again.
29 Then Joseph looked at his brother Benjamin, the son of his own mother. “Is this
your youngest brother, the one you told me
about?” Joseph asked. “May God be gracious
to you, my son.” 30 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. 31 After
washing his face, he came back out, keeping
himself under control. Then he ordered, “Bring
out the food!”
32 The waiters served Joseph at his own table,
and his brothers were served at a separate table.
The Egyptians who ate with Joseph sat at their
own table, because Egyptians despise Hebrews
and refuse to eat with them. 33 Joseph told each
of his brothers where to sit, and to their amazement, he seated them according to age, from oldest to youngest. 34 And Joseph filled their plates
with food from his own table, giving Benjamin
44:5 As in Greek version; Hebrew lacks this phrase.
five times as much as he gave the others. So they
feasted and drank freely with him.
Joseph’s Silver Cup
When his brothers were ready to leave,
Joseph gave these instructions to his
palace manager: “Fill each of their sacks with
as much grain as they can carry, and put each
man’s money back into his sack. 2 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.
3 The brothers were up at dawn and were sent
on their journey with their loaded donkeys. 4 But
when they had gone only a short distance and
were barely out of the city, Joseph said to his
palace manager, “Chase after them and stop
them. When you catch up with them, ask them,
‘Why have you repaid my kindness with such
evil? 5 Why have you stolen my master’s silver
cup,* which he uses to predict the future? What
a wicked thing you have done!’”
6 When the palace manager caught up with
the men, he spoke to them as he had been instructed.
7 “What are you talking about?” the brothers
responded. “We are your servants and would
never do such a thing! 8 Didn’t we return the
money we found in our sacks? We brought it
back all the way from the land of Canaan. Why
would we steal silver or gold from your master’s
house? 9 If you find his cup with any one of us,
let that man die. And all the rest of us, my lord,
will be your slaves.”
10 “That’s fair,” the man replied. “But only the
one who stole the cup will be my slave. The rest
of you may go free.”
11 They all quickly took their sacks from the
backs of their donkeys and opened them. 12 The
palace manager searched the brothers’ sacks,
from the oldest to the youngest. And the cup
was found in Benjamin’s sack! 13 When the
brothers saw this, they tore their clothing in despair. Then they loaded their donkeys again and
returned to the city.
14 Joseph was still in his palace when Judah
and his brothers arrived, and they fell to the
ground before him. 15 “What have you done?”
Joseph demanded. “Don’t you know that a man
like me can predict the future?”
16 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.”
17 “No,” Joseph said. “I would never do such
a thing! Only the man who stole the cup will be
my slave. The rest of you may go back to your
father in peace.”
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