One day Pharaoh, the king, sent for Joseph to explain one of the king’s dreams. Joseph told the king that his dream meant that there would be seven years of plenty, when corn would grow in all the land. Then that there would be seven years when no corn would grow. Joseph told the king to gather up the grain while there was plenty; then it could be sold to the people when they needed it.
Pharaoh chose Joseph to do this work, and made him a great ruler in Egypt. He made his servants build storehouses. They brought much grain and put it away. Then by and by when no grain grew the people became hungry. Then Joseph opened the storehouses and sold food to the hungry people.
At Jacob’s home also, food was scarce. So Jacob said to his sons: “Go down to Egypt and buy food for us.” All the sons went to Egypt except Benjamin.
One day ten men came to Joseph to buy grain. They bowed low before Joseph as others did. Joseph looked closely at them, and knew them to be his brothers. But they did not once think that this great ruler was Joseph whom they had sold.
Joseph wanted to know whether his brothers were kinder now than they had been, and whether they loved their father and Benjamin. So he pretended to be very cross to them. He said harshly:
“Where did you come from?” “We have come to buy food. Our father and our youngest brother are at home. One brother is dead,” they replied. “You must bring the youngest brother, then I will believe you,” said Joseph. Simeon, one of the brothers, was kept in Egypt while the others went home to carry food.
When that food was eaten up, Jacob said to his sons: “Go down again to Egypt and buy grain.” But they answered: “We cannot go unless Benjamin goes with us. The great man will not see us nor sell us any grain.”
The old father replied: “Me have ye bereaved of my children; Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take away Benjamin. All those things are against me.” Then said Judah to the old man: “Father, let him go with me, and if I do not bring him back, I will bear the blame.” Then Jacob sent Benjamin with them. The brothers went again into Egypt and bowed low before Joseph as before. “Is your father well?” asked Joseph. “Our father is well,” they said. When Joseph saw Benjamin he had to go to another place to conceal his emotions.
To-morrow we shall find out how Joseph treated his brethren.