Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/150



UT after  some  months  the  corn  which  the  sons  of  Jacob had brought  from  Egypt  was  consumed,  and  the  famine still continued. Therefore Jacob  said  to  his  sons: “Go  again  into Egypt and  bring  us  a little  food.”  Juda  told  his  father  that  the governor had  forbidden  them  to  come  back  to  Egypt,  unless  they brought Benjamin  with  them. And Juda  added: “Send  the  boy with me  that  we  may  set  forward,  lest  both  we  and  our  children perish. I take the  boy  upon  me;  require  him  at  my  hand.” So Jacob  consented  to  let  Benjamin  go. And he  told  his sons to  take  some  of  the  best  fruits  of  the  country  as  presents to the  governor  of  Egypt,  and  also  to  return  the  money,  which they had  found  in  their  sacks,  lest  perhaps  it  was  done  by  mistake. Then he  prayed  that  God  might  prosper  their  journey, and make  the  governor  of  Egypt  favourable  to  them,  and  send them back  with  Simeon  and  Benjamin.

Then they  went  down  to  Egypt,  and  stood  before  Joseph. When Joseph  saw  them,  and  Benjamin  in  their  midst,  he  commanded his  steward  to  conduct  them  to  his  house,  and  prepare a banquet. The steward  obeyed. But the  brothers,  on  finding themselves in  the  governor’s  house,  were  seized  with  fear,  and  said one to  another:  “Because  of  the  money,  which  we  carried  back the first  time  in  our  sacks,  we  are  brought  in  that  he  may  bring upon us  a false  accusation,  and  by  violence  make  slaves  of  us.” Therefore, they  went  to  the  steward  at  the  door,  and  said: “We cannot  tell  who  put  that  money  in  our  bags.”  But  he  said to them:  “Peace  be  to  you;  fear  not.”  And  he  brought  Simeon out to  them. Joseph having  now  entered  the  house,  they  bowed down before  him  and  offered  their  gifts. He kindly  saluted  them in return,  and  asked  if  their  aged  father  was  still  living.