Barashyt(Genesis) — 43

1 But the famine continued to ravage the land of Canaan. 

2 When the grain they had brought from Mitzraym was almost gone, Ya'aqub said to his sons, “Go back and buy us a little more food.”

3 But Yahudah said, “The man was serious when he warned us, ‘You won’t see my face again unless your brother is with you.’ 

4 If you send Banyamyn with us, we will go down and buy more food. 

5 But if you don’t let Banyamyn go, we won’t go either. Remember, the man said, ‘You won’t see my face again unless your brother is with you.’”

6 “Why were you so cruel to me?” Ya'aqub moaned. “Why did you tell him you had another brother?”

7 “The man kept asking us questions about our family,” they replied. “He asked, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ So we answered his questions. How could we know he would say, ‘Bring your brother down here’?”

8 Yahudah said to his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will be on our way. Otherwise we will all die of starvation and not only we, but you and our little ones. 

9 I personally guarantee his safety. You may hold me responsible if I don’t bring him back to you. Then let me bear the blame forever. 

10 If we hadn’t wasted all this time, we could have gone and returned twice by now.”

11 So their father, Ya'aqub, finally said to them, “If it can’t be avoided, then at least do this. Pack your bags with the best products of this land. Take them down to the man as gifts—balm, honey, gum, aromatic resin, pistachio nuts, and almonds. 

12 Also take double the money that was put back in your sacks, as it was probably someone’s mistake. 

13 Then take your brother, and go back to the man. 

14 May 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH give you mercy as you go before the man, so that he will release Simaun and let Banyamyn return. But if I must lose my children, so be it.”

15 So the men packed Ya'aqub’s gifts and double the money and headed off with Banyamyn. They finally arrived in Mitzraym and presented themselves to Ya'asaf. 

16 When Ya'asaf saw Banyamyn with them, he said to the manager of his household, “These men will eat with me this noon. Take them inside the palace. Then go slaughter an animal, and prepare a big feast.” 

17 So the man did as Ya'asaf told him and took them into Ya'asaf’s palace.

18 The brothers were terrified when they saw that they were being taken into Ya'asaf’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 Ya'asaf’s Palace

19 The brothers approached the manager of Ya'asaf’s household and spoke to him at the entrance to the palace. 

20 “Sir,” they said, “we came to Mitzraym 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 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of your father, must have put this treasure into your sacks. I know I received your payment.” Then he released Simaun and brought him out to them.

24 The manager then led the men into Ya'asaf’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 Ya'asaf’s arrival at noon.

26 When Ya'asaf 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 Ya'asaf looked at his brother Banyamyn, the son of his own mother. “Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?” Ya'asaf asked. “May 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH be merciful to you, my son.” 

30 Then Ya'asaf 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 Ya'asaf at his own table, and his brothers were served at a separate table. The Mitzraym who ate with Ya'asaf sat at their own table, because Mitzraym despise Abarym (Hebrews) and refuse to eat with them. 

33 Ya'asaf told each of his brothers where to sit, and to their amazement, he seated them according to age, from oldest to youngest. 

34 And Ya'asaf filled their plates with food from his own table, giving Banyamyn five times as much as he gave the others. So they feasted and drank freely with him.