The Holy Ivri Heritage Bible

1But the famine prevailed in the land. 2And it came to pass, when they had finished eating the grain which they had brought out of Mitzrayim [Egypt], that their father said to them, “Go again; buy us a little food.” 3And Yehudah [Judas] spoke to him, saying, “The man, the lord of the land, solemnly testified to us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your younger brother is with you.’ 4If then you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food; 5but if you do not send him, we will not go; for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face unless your younger brother is with you.’” 6And Yisra’el said, “Why did you harm me, by telling the man that you had another brother?” 7And they said, “The man asked us carefully about our family, saying, ‘Is your father yet alive? Have you another brother?’ And we answered him according to his words. Could we possibly know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” 8And Yehudah said to his father Yisra’el, “Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you, and also our little ones.” 9I myself will be surety for him; from my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him to you and set him before you, then I shall bear the blame before you forever. 10For if we had not delayed, surely by now we could have returned twice.” 11And Yisra’el their father said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take of the best fruits of the land in your vessels, and carry down to the man a present — a little balm, and honey, spices, myrrh, pistachios, and almonds. 12And take double money in your hand, and the money that was returned in your sacks, carry back with you; perhaps it was an oversight. 13And take your brother also, and arise, go again to the man. 14And may El Shaddai give you mercy before the man, that he may release to you your other brother and Binyamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.” 15And the men took the present, and double money in their hand, and Binyamin; and they rose up, went down to Mitzrayim, and stood before Yosef. 16And Yosef saw Binyamin with them, born of the same mother, and he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make ready; for the men shall dine with me at noon.” 17And the man did as Yosef said, and brought the men into Yosef’s house. 18And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Yosef’s house; and they said, “It is because of the money that was returned in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, to seek occasion against us, to fall upon us, to take us as slaves, and our donkeys.” 19And they came near to the steward of Yosef’s house, and spoke with him at the door of the house, 20and said, “O my lord, we came down at the first time to buy food. 21And it came to pass, when we came to the inn and opened our sacks, behold, every man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight; and we have brought it back in our hand. 22And other money have we brought down with us to buy food; we do not know who put our money in our sacks.” 23And he said, “Shalom [Peace] be to you, fear not; your Elohim, and the Elohim of your fathers, has given you treasure in your sacks. I had your money.” And he brought Shimon [Symeon] out to them. 24And the man brought the men into Yosef’s house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave fodder to their donkeys. 25And they prepared the present for Yosef’s coming at noon, for they heard that they should eat bread there. 26And when Yosef came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the ground. 27And he asked them of their welfare, and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he yet alive?” 28And they said, “Your servant our father is well; he is yet alive.” And he said, “Blessed be that man by Elohim.” And they bowed down their heads and did reverence. 29And Yosef lifted up his eyes, and saw Binyamin his brother, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your younger brother of whom you spoke to me?” And he said, “Elohim be gracious to you, my son.” 30And Yosef’s rachamim [compassion/deep heart] yearned for his brother; and he sought a place to weep, and he entered his chamber and wept there. 31And he washed his face, and came out, and restrained himself, and said, “Set on bread.” 32And they set for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; for the Egyptians could not eat bread with the Ivrim [Hebrews], for that is a to’evah [abomination] to the Egyptians. 33And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth; and the men marveled one at another. 34And Yosef took portions to them from before him; but Binyamin’s portion was chamesh pe’amim [five times] as much as any of theirs. And they drank and were merry with him.