Genesis 43

1The famine was severe in the land.Cross-references: Gen 12:10 · Gen 18:13 · Gen 41:54 · Gen 42:5 · Eccl 9:1 · Lam 5:10 · +1 more

2When they had eaten up the grain which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little more food.”Cross-references: Gen 42:1 · Gen 43:4 · Gen 43:20 · Prov 15:16 · Prov 16:18 · Prov 31:16 · +2 more

3Judah spoke to him, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.’Cross-references: Gen 42:15 · Gen 42:33 · Gen 43:5 · Gen 44:23 · 2Sam 3:13 · 2Sam 14:24 · +5 more

4If you’ll send our brother with us, we’ll go down and buy you food;

5but if you don’t send him, we won’t go down, for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.’”Cross-references: Gen 42:38 · Gen 44:26 · Ex 20:12

6Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly, telling the man that you had another brother?”

7They said, “The man asked directly concerning ourselves, and concerning our relatives, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ We just answered his questions. Is there any way we could know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?”Cross-references: Gen 42:13 · Gen 43:3 · Gen 43:27

8Judah said to Israel, his father, “Send the boy with me, and we’ll get up and go, so that we may live, and not die, both we, and you, and also our little ones.Cross-references: Gen 42:2 · Gen 42:38 · Gen 44:26 · Gen 45:19 · Gen 50:8 · Gen 50:21 · +7 more

9I’ll be collateral for him. From my hand will you require him. If I don’t bring him to you, and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever;Cross-references: Gen 9:5 · Gen 31:39 · Gen 42:37 · Gen 44:32 · 1Ki 1:21 · Job 17:3 · +8 more

10for if we hadn’t delayed, surely we would have returned a second time by now.”Cross-references: Gen 19:16

11Their father, Israel, said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take from the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry down a present for the man, a little balm, a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts, and almonds;Cross-references: Gen 32:13 · Gen 33:10 · Gen 37:25 · Gen 43:14 · Lev 20:24 · Deut 33:14 · +24 more

12and take double money in your hand, and take back the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight.Cross-references: Gen 42:25 · Gen 42:35 · Rom 12:17 · Rom 13:8 · 2Cor 8:21 · Phil 4:8 · +3 more

13Take your brother also, get up, and return to the man.Cross-references: Gen 42:38

14May God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release to you your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”Cross-references: Gen 17:1 · Gen 22:14 · Gen 28:3 · Gen 32:11 · Gen 35:11 · Gen 39:21 · +20 more

15The men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and got up, went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.

16When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and butcher an animal, and prepare; for the men will dine with me at noon.”Cross-references: Gen 15:2 · Gen 21:8 · Gen 24:2 · Gen 26:30 · Gen 31:54 · Gen 39:4 · +5 more

17The man did as Joseph commanded, and the man brought the men to Joseph’s house.

18The men were afraid, because they were brought to Joseph’s house; and they said, “Because of the money that was returned in our sacks the first time, we’re brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, attack us, and seize us as slaves, along with our donkeys.”Cross-references: Gen 42:21 · Gen 42:28 · Gen 42:35 · Deut 22:14 · Deut 22:17 · Judg 13:22 · +9 more

19They came near to the steward of Joseph’s house, and they spoke to him at the door of the house,

20and said, “Oh, my lord, we indeed came down the first time to buy food.Cross-references: Gen 42:3 · Gen 42:10 · Gen 42:27 · Gen 42:35 · Gen 43:3 · Gen 43:7

21When we came to the lodging place, we opened our sacks, and behold, each man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight. We have brought it back in our hand.Cross-references: Gen 42:27 · Gen 43:12 · Gen 43:15 · Rom 12:17 · Rom 13:8 · Heb 13:5 · +3 more

22We have brought down other money in our hand to buy food. We don’t know who put our money in our sacks.”

23He said, “Peace be to you. Don’t be afraid. Your God, and the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks. I received your money.” He brought Simeon out to them.Cross-references: Gen 42:24 · Gen 42:28 · Gen 42:36 · Gen 43:14 · Judg 6:23 · Judg 19:20 · +9 more

24The man brought the men into Joseph’s house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet. He gave their donkeys fodder.Cross-references: Gen 18:4 · Gen 19:2 · Gen 24:32 · Luke 7:44 · John 13:4

25They prepared the present for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they should eat bread there.Cross-references: Gen 43:11 · Gen 43:16

26When Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves down to the earth before him.Cross-references: Gen 27:29 · Gen 37:7 · Gen 37:19 · Gen 42:6 · Gen 43:28 · Ps 72:9 · +2 more

27He asked them of their welfare, and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he yet alive?”Cross-references: Gen 37:14 · Gen 41:16 · Gen 42:11 · Gen 42:13 · Gen 43:7 · Ex 18:7 · +4 more

28They said, “Your servant, our father, is well. He is still alive.” They bowed down humbly.Cross-references: Gen 37:7 · Gen 37:9 · Gen 43:26 · Ex 18:7 · 2Sam 1:2 · 2Sam 14:4 · +2 more

29He lifted up his eyes, and saw Benjamin, his brother, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me?” He said, “God be gracious to you, my son.”Cross-references: Gen 30:22 · Gen 35:17 · Gen 42:11 · Gen 42:13 · Gen 45:8 · Num 6:25 · +14 more

30Joseph hurried, for his heart yearned over his brother; and he sought a place to weep. He entered into his room, and wept there.Cross-references: Gen 42:24 · Gen 45:2 · Gen 45:14 · Gen 46:29 · 1Ki 3:26 · Jer 31:20 · +10 more

31He washed his face, and came out. He controlled himself, and said, “Serve the meal.”Cross-references: Gen 45:1 · Isa 42:14 · Jer 31:16 · 1Pet 3:10

32They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians don’t eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.Cross-references: Gen 31:54 · Gen 43:16 · Gen 46:34 · Ex 8:26

33They sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth, and the men marveled with one another.

34He sent portions to them from before him, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. They drank, and were merry with him.Cross-references: Gen 45:22 · 1Sam 1:5 · 1Sam 9:22 · 2Sam 11:8 · Prov 31:6 · Eccl 9:7 · +5 more