JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN
Part Four
One should never forget his duty to his parents, and brothers, especially in times of prosperity.
Then Joseph commanded his servants to fill the men’s sacks with food, and to put every man’s money in the sack’s mouth. He also told them to put his own silver cup in the sack of Benjamin, and to let them depart.
Early next morning the brothers saddled their mules and started home with the sacks of corn. Hardly had they gotten on their way, before Joseph sent his men after them to search them and to charge them with taking the money and also his silver cup.
The brothers were greatly afraid when their sacks were opened and they saw the money and the silver cup. When they were brought before Joseph they fell down and protested their innocence. Joseph pretended to be very stern with them and accused them of stealing, and said he would keep Benjamin with him since it was in Benjamin’s sack that the cup was found, and the others might go on back to their father.
Then Judah spoke up and said, “My lord, the lad is beloved of his father, who is old, and if we go not back with him, our father will surely die. His life is bound up in the lad’s life, for one son is dead and he mourned for him. Surely, if the lad stay here and we go back without him the gray hairs of the father will be brought down with sorrow to the grave. I pray thee, therefore, my lord, let the lad go, and let me be bound in his place.”
Then Joseph could not deceive his brothers any longer. He made all others leave the room and when he was alone with his brothers, he said to them, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.” He then kissed Benjamin, and all his brethren, and talked with them, and soon quieted their fears.
They told Joseph all about their father, and the people in Canaan. Then Joseph told them to hasten back and bring Jacob to Egypt. They hurried home to their father and told:
“Joseph is yet alive and is governor over all the land of Egypt.” But Jacob could not believe it, until he saw the rich presents which Joseph had sent and heard more from his sons. Then he said: “It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive; I will go and see him before I die.”