APPENDIX I.
A Narrative of the Great Famine in the Land of Egypt,as recorded in the Talmud.[91]
A Narrative of the Great Famine in the Land of Egypt,as recorded in the Talmud.[91]
A Narrative of the Great Famine in the Land of Egypt,
as recorded in the Talmud.[91]
Pharaoh the King issued a proclamation throughout the whole land of Egypt to the wise men thereof. And he called upon all the wise men to seek his presence and listen to the dreams which troubled him.
“He who can properly interpret to me the meaning of these visions shall have his dearest wishes granted as they issue from his lips; but he who is able to read dreams and neglects my bidding shall surely be put to death.”
Then the wise men, and the soothsayers, and the magicians of the land of Egypt, came and stood before the King.
And the King related to them his dream, and though many interpreted, no two agreed as to its meaning. They contradicted one another, and they served but to confuse the King. Many were the interpretations.
“The seven fat cows,” said one, “are seven kings who will arise over Egypt from royal families, and the seven lean cows are seven princes who will arise from them, and in the end of days destroy the seven kings. The seven rank ears are seven great princes of this land who shall in a coming time of war fall into the power of seven princes, now weak and in no wise to be feared.”
“The seven fat cows,” said another, “are seven queens whom thou shalt marry in the coming days, and the seven lean cows declare that these queens shall die during thy life, O King! The seven rank ears and the seven lean ears are fourteen children whom thou shalt beget, and they will fight among themselves, and the seven weaker ones shall conquer their stronger brethren.”
But the King was not satisfied with these interpretations. His mind was still unquiet, for the Lord had ordained that Joseph was to be released from his prison and elevated to a princely position; therefore did Pharaoh remain unsatisfied with the words of his wise men.
And the King was wroth, and he dismissed the wise men from his presence; and all the wise men and the soothsayers and magicians of Egypt went out from the presence of their King in shame and confusion. And the King commanded in his wrath that all these men should be put to death.
When the chief butler heard this he sought the presence of the King, and in deep obeisance before him spoke as follows:
“O King, live for ever! May thy greatness, O King, increase for ever through the land. Lo, thou wast wroth with thy servant, and thou didst place him in confinement. For a year was I imprisoned, I and the chief baker. And with us in our dungeon was a Hebrew servant who belonged to the captain of the guard. His name was Joseph, and his master growing wroth with him, had placed him in prison, where he served the captain of the guard, and he served us also.
“And it came to pass when we had been in the prison for a year we dreamed, each, a dream, and the Hebrew slave interpreted for each of us his dream. And lo, as he interpreted our dreams so was the reality. As he spoke so did it come to pass.
“Therefore, my lord King, I pray thee, do not kill the wise men of Egypt for naught. Behold, this slave is still in the prison. If it be pleasing in the eyes of the King let him be sent for. Let him listen to the dreams which trouble the mind of the King, and he will be able to solve them correctly.”
The King listened to the words of the chief butler, and he ordered that Joseph should be brought before him. But he commanded his officers to be careful not to frighten the lad, lest through fear he should be unable to interpret correctly.
And the servants of the King brought Joseph forth from his dungeon, and shaved him and clothed him in new garments, and carried him before the King. The King was seated upon his throne, and the glare and glitter of the jewels which ornamented the throne dazzled and astonished the eyes of Joseph.
Now the throne of the King was reached by seven steps, and it was the custom of Egypt for a prince or noble who held audience with the King, to ascend to the sixth step; but when an inferior or a private citizen of the land was called into his presence, the King descended to the third step and from there spoke with him. So when Joseph came into the presence of the King he bowed to the ground at the foot of the throne, and the King descended to the third step and spoke to him.
And he said:
“Behold, I have dreamed a dream, and among all the wise men and magicians of the land there is not one able to read for me its meaning. I have heard that thou art far-sighted and blest with the gift of divination, and I have sent for thee to solve my dream.”
And Joseph answered:
“O King, the power is not with me; but God will answer and give Pharaoh peace.”
And Joseph found favour in the eyes of the King, and he told to him his dream. And the spirit of God was upon Joseph, and the King inclined his ears and heart to the words of Joseph.
And Joseph said to Pharaoh:
“Let not the King think that his dreams are two and distinct; they have but a single portent, and what the Lord intends doing upon the earth He has shown to Pharaoh in a vision. Let me advise thee, O King, how thou mayest preserve thy life and the lives of all the inhabitants of thy land from the grievous evils of the famine which is soon to drain and dry up its fruitfulness and its plenty. Let the King appoint a man wise and discreet, a man well versed in the laws of the country, and let him appoint other officers under him to go out through all the length and breadth of the land to gather food during the years of plenty and store it carefully away for future use, that the land may not die in the years of famine which will follow. And let the King command the people of the land, that they shall each and every one gather and store up in the years of plenty of the produce of the fields, to provide for their wants when the ground shall be barren and the fields unproductive.”
And the King answered, “How knowest thou that thou hast read the dream aright?”
And Joseph said, “Lo, this shall be a sign that my words are true. A son shall be born to the King, and upon the day of his birth, thy first-born son, who is now two years old, shall die.”
And when Joseph finished speaking these words, he bowed low before the King and departed from his presence.
The occurrence which Joseph predicted came to pass. The queen bore a son, and upon the day when it was told to the King he rejoiced greatly. But as the messenger of glad tidings retired, the servants of the King found his first-born son dead, and there was a great crying and wailing in the palace of the King.
And when Pharaoh inquired as to the cause of this great cry he was informed of his loss, and remembering the words of Joseph he acknowledged them as true.
After these things the King sent and gathered together all his princes, officers, and men of rank, and when they came before him, he said: “You have seen and heard all the words of this Hebrew, and you know that as he spoke so has the thing occurred; therefore must we believe that his solution of my dream was the correct one, and that his words of advice were of good weight and consideration. We must take measures of protection against the famine which is surely to come upon us. Therefore search, I pray you, over all Egypt for a man with wisdom and knowledge in his heart, that we may appoint him over the land.”
And they answered the King: “The advice of this Hebrew was very good; behold, the country is in the hands of the King to do with it what is pleasing in his eyes; but the Hebrew has proved himself wise and skilful, why should our lord the King not select and appoint him as governor over the land?”
“Yea, surely,” said the King, “if God has made these things known to the Hebrew, then there is none among us as wise and discreet as he is. What you have suggested is in accordance with my own thoughts; we will appoint the Hebrew our governor, and through his wisdom shall our country be saved the pangs of want.”
And Pharaoh sent for Joseph and said to him: “Thou didst advise me to appoint a wise and discreet man to deliver the land from the anguish of famine. Surely, there can be none more discreet than thyself to whom God has made known all these things. Thy name shall no more be Joseph, but ‘Zaphenath-Päaneah’ (Revealer of hidden things) shalt thou hereafter be called among men.
“Thou shalt be second to me only, and according to thy words shall the land of Egypt be ruled; only upon the throne shall I be greater than thyself.”
Then the King removed his ring from his finger and placed it upon the hand of Joseph. And he dressed Joseph in royal apparel, and placed a crown upon his head and a chain of gold about his neck. And Pharaoh commanded that Joseph should ride in his second chariot throughout the land of Egypt. And the people followed him with music, and a large concourse accompanied him upon his journey.
Five thousand soldiers with drawn swords in their hands, swords glittering in the sunlight, preceded him, and twenty thousand soldiers followed. And the people of the land, men, women, and children, gazed upon the pageant from windows and from house-tops, and the beauty of Joseph pleased all eyes.
And flowers were strewn in his path when he walked, and the air was made sweet with perfume, and the savoury odour of balms and spices. And proclamations were placed in prominent places declaring the authority of Joseph, and threatening death to those who failed to pay him homage; for he was considered as dishonouring his King who failed to honour the man made second in the kingdom. The people bowed down and shouted, “Long live the King and his Viceroy!” And Joseph, seated in his chariot, lifted his eyes to heaven, and exclaimed in the fulness of his heart, “He raiseth the poor from the dust; from the dunghill He lifteth up the needy. O Lord of Hosts, happy is the man who trusteth in thee!”
And it came to pass after this, that Joseph saw Osnath, the daughter of Potipharah, a pearl among the beauties of the land, and he loved her and she became his wife. And Joseph was but thirty years old when he was elevated to his honourable and trustworthy position. He built for himself a palace, elegant and complete in its details and surroundings, so elaborate that three years’ time was required for its completion. And the Lord was with Joseph, and increased his wisdom and understanding, and blessed him with manners so affable and deserving that he quickly won the love and favour of all the inhabitants of the country.
And during seven years, as Joseph had foretold, the Lord increased the produce of Egypt sevenfold. And Joseph appointed officers to gather up the plenty. They built huge storehouses[92]and heaped up corn during the seven years of plenty, till the amount stored grew so great that no man could number it. And Joseph and his officers were watchful and diligent that their stores of grain should not suffer from moth or mould. The people of the land, too, stored up their surplus crop, but they were not as careful and watchful as was Joseph and his assistants.
And the wife of Joseph bore him two sons, Manassah and Ephraim, and their father taught them diligently the way of truth; they listened to his words and departed not from the paths of pleasantness either to the right hand or to the left.
They grew up bright and intelligent lads, and were honoured among the people as were the children of the King.
But the seven years of plenty drew to an end, and the fields became barren and the trees gave forth no fruit, and the famine which Joseph had predicted threw its gloomy shadow and threatening presence over the once fruitful land.
And when the people opened their storehouses, they found to their sorrow that moth and mould had taken advantage of their neglect. And they cried aloud to Pharaoh, “Give us food; let us not die of hunger before thee, we and our children; give to us, we pray thee, from the plenty of thy storehouses.”[93]
And Pharaoh answered, “Why cry ye unto me, O careless people? did Joseph not tell ye of the famine which has come upon us? Why did ye not hearken to his voice, and obey his commands to be frugal and painstaking?”
“By thy life, our lord,” replied the people, “as Joseph spoke, so did we, and gathered in our corn during the years of plenty, but lo, when the pangs of hunger and the barrenness of the land bid us open our granaries, the moth had destroyed the provisions which we had garnered.”
The King became alarmed lest all their precaution should prove unavailing against the famine’s blight, and he bade the people to go to Joseph. “Obey his commands and rebel not against his words.”
And the people repeated to Joseph the cry for food they had addressed to Pharaoh.
When Joseph heard the words of the people and learned the result of their want of care, he opened the storehouses of the King and sold food unto the hungry people.
And the famine grew sore in the land of Egypt and spread through Canaan and the land of the Philistines, and to the other side of the Jordan. And when the inhabitants of these countries heard that corn could be obtained in Egypt, they came all of them into that country to buy, so that Joseph was obliged to appoint many officers to sell corn to the large multitude of people.
And Joseph’s thoughts reverted to his father’s home, and he knew that his brothers would be obliged to come to Egypt to purchase food, for the famine was very grievous in their neighbourhood. Therefore he gave orders that no man desiring corn should send his servant to purchase it, but the head of each family should personally appear as a purchaser; either the father of a family or his sons. He proclaimed also, as the order of the King and his viceroy, that no man should be allowed to purchase corn in Egypt to sell it again in other countries, but only such as he required for the support of his immediate family; neither should any purchaser be allowed to buy more corn than one animal could carry.
And he put guards at all the gates of Egypt, and every man who passed through the gates was obliged to record his name and the name of his father in a book, which was brought by the guards every night for Joseph’s inspection.
Thus did Joseph design to ascertain when his brothers came to buy food; and all the commands which he had given were faithfully executed.
Now, when the patriarch Jacob learned that food could be purchased in Egypt, he bade his sons proceed thither and obtain a stock of provisions, for the famine was growing very severe, and he feared that his family would suffer from its pangs. Jacob instructed his sons to enter the city by different gates, so that no objection should be made to the amount of their purchases; and as he commanded, so they did.
Thus did the sons of Jacob go down to Egypt, and while upon the way they thought of their brother Joseph, and their hearts chid them for their cruelty towards him, and they said one to the other:
“Behold, we know that Joseph was carried down to Egypt; now, when we come to the city let us seek for him, perchance we may discover his whereabouts, and then we will redeem him from his master.”
And so did Jacob’s ten sons travel to Egypt. Benjamin was not with them, for his father feared that mischief might befall him as it did the other son of Rachel, and he kept him at home by his side.
By ten different gates did the ten sons of the patriarch enter into the land of Egypt, and the guards at the gates took down their names, which were sent with the other names to Joseph at the close of the day. When Joseph read the names he commanded that all the storehouses[94]save one should be closed, and he ordered further, that every purchaser at this storehouse should be required to give his name; and mentioning the names of his brethren, he said, “If these men come before ye, see that ye seize them, every one.”
When the sons of Jacob had entered the city they met together, and before buying their corn they resolved to make a thorough search for their brother. They visited all places of public resort, and the houses of divination, but though they continued their search for three days, it proved unavailing.
Now when three days had passed, and his brothers had not put in an appearance at the storehouse, Joseph wondered at their delay, and he sent sixteen of his servants to search for them quietly through the city. They were found among the Egyptian players, and brought straightway before the viceroy.
Joseph was seated upon his throne dressed in his royal apparel, with his officers around him, when his brothers bowed to the ground before him. They wondered exceedingly at the magnificence, the handsome appearance and the majestic presence of the powerful man before them, but they did not recognise in him their brother.
And Joseph spoke to them, saying, “Whence came ye?” “From the land of Canaan,” they answered, “and to buy food, for lo! the famine is sore in the land; and thy servants learning that corn might be purchased in Egypt, have journeyed hither to provide for their support and the support of their families.”
But Joseph said, “Nay, ye are spies, else why did ye enter the city by ten different gates?”
They answered, “We are true men; thy servants have never been spies. Thy servants are brothers, the sons of one father, and by his command did we enter the city separately, for coming together he feared our appearance might attract unfavourable attention.”
But Joseph repeated, “Ye are spies; to spy out the nakedness of our land have ye come. Behold, every man who comes to buy corn, makes his purchase and departs; but ye, lo, three days have ye been in the city, in public places and among the players; it is as I have spoken, ye are spies.”
“God forbid!” they exclaimed; “our lord misjudges us. We are altogether twelve brothers, the sons of Jacob, in the land of Canaan; Jacob, the son of Isaac, and grandson of Abraham the Hebrew. Behold, our youngest brother is with his father, we ten are here, and the other brother, alas, he is not with us, we know not where he is. We thought perchance he might be in your land, therefore have we searched all public places these three days.”
“And what should the son of Jacob be doing in the public places?” asked Joseph.
“We heard,” they answered, “that the Ishmaelites had sold him in Egypt, and being of very handsome appearance, we thought he might have been sold in one of the play-houses, therefore we went there hoping to find and to redeem him.”
“Suppose you had found him,” said Joseph, “and his master had asked for him an enormous amount of money; were you prepared to comply with extraordinary demands?”
The brothers answered in the affirmative, and Joseph continued:
“Suppose again that you should find him and his master should refuse to sell or deliver him to you under any circumstances, what would you do in such a case?”
“In such a case,” they answered, “if neither prayers nor money should prove of avail, we would rescue our brother by violence: aye, even the death of his master, and flee with him to our father’s house.”
“It is as I have said,” retorted Joseph; “ye are spies; lo, with evil designs upon the inhabitants of our city ye have come. We have heard and know indeed how ye killed all the males of Shechem in the land of Canaan on your sister’s account, and now ye would treat the men of Egypt in the same way for the sake of a brother. But yet we will give ye an opportunity to prove yourselves true men. Send one of your number to your father’s house to bring hither the youngest brother of whom you have spoken. If ye will do this, I shall know that you have spoken truly. Take three days to consider.”
And in obedience to Joseph’s commands his brothers were held in ward for three days.
After this time the brothers concluded to leave one of their number as a hostage, while the others returned to Canaan to bring Benjamin down to Egypt. So Menasseh, the son of Joseph, chose Simeon as the hostage, and he was kept in ward.
Ere his brothers departed, Joseph spoke to them once more. “Take heed,” said he, “that ye forget not my commands. If ye bring this brother to me, I shall consider ye true men, and ye shall be free to traffic in the land; neither will I do harm to your brother; he shall be at liberty to return with ye to your father’s house in peace.”
They bowed down to the ground and departed from Egypt. As they proceeded upon their homeward journey, they stopped at an inn to feed their asses, and Levi opened his sack to provide the corn for the meal. And lo, when he opened the sack, his money which he had paid for the corn was lying on the top. And he was exceedingly afraid, and he told the thing to his brethren, and they, too, were filled with alarm. And when every man found his money returned they cried aloud:
“What is this that God has done to us? Has the Lord withdrawn from us the mercy which He showed to our ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, that He has given us into the hands of Egypt’s prince to mock us and make merry with us?”
But Judah said, “It is just! Are we not guilty and sinful before the Lord? We sold our brother, our flesh. Why should we now complain that the favour God has lavished on our ancestors is denied to us?”
“Did I not warn ye, ‘sin not against the child?’” said Reuben, “and ye would not hearken to my words. His blood is upon us. Why do ye say, therefore, ‘Where is the kindness which the Lord promised unto our fathers?’ Verily we have forfeited His protection.”
When Jacob’s sons approached their home, and the patriarch came forth to meet them, he quickly missed the face of Simeon, and he asked, “Where is Simeon, your brother?”
Then the brothers told their father all that had happened to them in Egypt, and Jacob said to them: “What is this that ye have done to me? Your brother Joseph I sent to ye to inquire of your welfare, and his face I looked upon no more,—his bloody garments ye brought me, saying, ‘Lo, the wild beasts of the forest have destroyed thy son.’ Simeon I sent with ye to purchase food, and ye tell me that he is imprisoned in a cruel land; and now Benjamin ye wish to take also,—for Joseph and for Benjamin ye would bring my grey hairs in sorrow to the grave. No, my son shall not go with ye.”
And Reuben said, “The lives of my two sons I place in your hands; if we do not bring back Benjamin safely to thee, their lives shall prove the forfeit.”
But Jacob said, “Neither shall ye return again to Egypt; stay here, for my son shall not go with ye, to die as did his brother.”
And Judah said to his brothers, “Urge him no more at present. Let us wait until these provisions have been consumed, and when cruel want and hunger press us he will consent to what we ask.”
And it came to pass when the provisions were gone, that the sons of his children gathered around Jacob and cried to him, “Oh, give us bread.”
And the heart of Jacob was torn with anguish at the cry, and summoning his sons, he said to them, “Hear ye not the voices of your children crying for food? ‘Give us bread,’ they cried to me, and I—I have none to give them. Get ye down to Egypt, I pray ye, and buy us a little food.”
Then Judah answered, and said to his father, “If thou wilt send Benjamin with us, we will go,—otherwise we cannot. The King of Egypt is a mighty potentate; we dare not trifle with him. Should we return to Egypt, and our youngest brother be not with us, lo, he would destroy us all. Our father, we cannot disobey this King; greater even is he than Abimelech, the Philistine. Thou hast not seen, as we have, his throne, his palace, his myriads of officers; thou hast not witnessed, as have we, his wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. God has blessed him with unequalled gifts; greater is he than all on earth beside. Our names he told us; what had happened to us in our youth; he inquired of thee, saying, ‘Is your father yet alive? Are all things well with him?’ Thou hast not heard, as we have, of his power; over his people he is supreme; upon his word they go out, and upon his word they come in; his word governs, and the voice of his master, Pharaoh, is not required. Oh, my father, send the lad,—we cannot go without him; if thou refusest, we must see our children die with hunger.”
And Jacob said, in his sorrow: “Why did ye tell the man ye had a brother? Oh, evil, evil is this thing which ye have done!” “Give the boy into my hands,” said Judah, “and let us go down to Egypt and buy the corn. If I do not return him safely to thee, a sinner against my father shall I be considered all my days. Our children weep before thee, and we have naught to stay their cries; have mercy on them, send our brother with us. Hast thou not often told us of the mercy which our God has promised to thee? Lo, He will protect thy son and return him to thee safely. Pray unto the Lord for our sakes, entreat Him to give us grace and favour in the eyes of Egypt’s prince. Lo, had we not tarried thus long, we should have now been back with food; yea, back twice to thee, and with thy son in safety.”
And Jacob answered: “The Lord God give you grace in the eyes of the King and officers of Egypt. In Him will I put my trust. Arise, go unto the man, take with ye gifts, the best the land affords; the Lord will be with ye, and ye shall bring back to me your brothers, Benjamin and Simeon.”
Then the sons of Jacob went down again to Egypt. And they took Benjamin with them, and they took, also, presents and twofold money.
“Take heed of the lad,” were Jacob’s parting words; “separate not from him either in Egypt or upon the road”; and when they had gone, he sought the presence of the Almighty in prayer.
And the wives of Jacob’s sons, and his grandchildren, they, too, lifted their eyes and hearts to Heaven.
Jacob also addressed the following letter, to be delivered by his sons into the hands of Joseph:
“From thy servant, Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham the Hebrew.
“The prince of God unto the mighty and wise King Zaphenath-Päaneah, the King of Egypt, peace.
“My lord, the King, knows well that the famine is sore in the land of Canaan; therefore I sent my sons to thee to buy food for our sustenance. I charged them not to enter the city by the same gate, lest coming together they might attract the attention of the inhabitants. And, lo, their obedience to my orders has caused them to be accused by thee as spies. Oh, my lord, could not an intelligent man, such as thou art, read truth upon the faces of my sons? Much have I heard of thy wisdom and the understanding which thou didst display in the interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams, in foretelling this grievous famine,—how, then, was it possible that thou shouldst suspect my sons?
“Behold, I am surrounded with children; I am very old, and my eyes wax dim; tearful have they been for twenty years in lamenting the loss of my son Joseph, and now I have sent to thee his brother Benjamin as thou didst command; I pray thee, O my lord, to be good to him, and return him to me with his brothers. The strength of God has ever been with us; He has listened to our prayers, and He has never forsaken us; protect thou my son who is coming unto thee, and God will look favourably upon thee and upon thy kingdom. Send him home again with his brothers, and Simeon also send with them in peace.”
This letter was entrusted into Judah’s hands.
Thus the sons of Jacob went down again to Egypt with Benjamin and with the presents, and they stood before Joseph. And Joseph released Simeon from prison, and restored him to his brethren. And Simeon told them of the kind treatment which he had received since their departure.
Then Judah took Benjamin and brought him before Joseph, and they prostrated themselves to the ground. And the brothers gave Joseph the presents which their father had sent to him. And Joseph asked them whether all went well with their children and with their old father, and they answered, “It is well with all of us.”
Then Judah delivered his father’s letter to Joseph, and the latter recognised his father’s hand, and his feelings grew too strong for him; the recollections of his youth overpowered him, and retiring into a side apartment he wept bitterly.
Returning to the presence of his brothers, Joseph’s eyes rested upon Benjamin, his mother’s son, and he asked, “Is this your youngest brother of whom ye told me?” And when Benjamin drew near, Joseph laid his hand upon his brother’s head, and said, “God be gracious unto thee, my son.”
Then restraining his feelings, he ordered his officers to prepare the dining-tables.
Then when the meal was ready Joseph took into his hand a cup,—a cup of solid silver, set with precious stones, and holding it in his hand in the presence of his brothers, Joseph said, “I know by this cup that Reuben is the first-born of your father, therefore shall he sit first, and Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun shall follow him in this order, according to their ages; the rest shall follow these according to their ages.”
And he said further, “I know that your youngest brother has no mother, neither have I a mother, therefore will we two sit together.”
And the men marvelled much at the words of Joseph, as they ate and drank with Joseph upon that day.
In the morning Joseph dismissed his brethren, and bade them return to their father in peace. But when they had departed he called his servants, and ordered them to pursue after, overtake them, and bring them back.
And when the servants of Joseph overtook them, and said to them, “Why have ye done this thing to steal our master’s cup?” the brothers of Joseph were indignant, and they answered, “If ye find the cup in the possession of any one of us, lo, he shall die, and we, his brethren, shall be your master’s slaves”; but when the cup was found where Joseph had ordered it to be put, in Benjamin’s sack, they returned, grieving and crestfallen, to the presence of Joseph.
The viceroy was seated upon his throne, and his officers of state were gathered about him when his brethren entered, and speaking roughly to them, he said: “What evil deed is this which you have wrought? Why did ye take my silver cup? Is it because you could not find that brother you spoke of in the country that you stole the cup instead? Answer and tell me why have ye done this thing?”
And Judah spoke, saying, “What shall we say unto my lord? What shall we speak, for how shall we justify ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants, and sent this calamity upon us.”
Then Joseph arose, and grasping hold of Benjamin he led him to another room, and pushing him therein closed the door upon him. He then told the others to return to their homes in peace, saying, “I will keep the one in whose possession the cup was found; return ye in peace.”
Then Judah answered: “Know that I became a surety with our father for the lad’s safe return. ‘If he comes not back with us,’ I said, ‘lo, I shall be considered as sinning before thee all my days.’ Oh, my lord, let me find grace in thy eyes; let me but take the lad home to his father, and I will return to take his place as thy servant. See, I am stronger and older than he is, let me be thy servant instead of Benjamin.”
“Upon one condition,” replied Joseph, “the lad may go with you. Bring before me his brother, his mother’s son of whom you have spoken, and I will take him in place of Benjamin. You did become a surety for him to your father, therefore let me have him, and the brother for whom you did become a surety shall return home with you.”
Then Simeon drew near and answered: “Did we not tell my lord, when first we came before him, that this lost brother we could not find? Wherefore will my lord speak such idle words? We know not, alas! whether this brother be alive or dead.”
“Suppose, then,” said Joseph, “that I should call him before me, will ye then give him to me in place of Benjamin?” And, raising his voice, he called aloud, “Joseph! Joseph! appear Joseph, and sit before thy brethren.”
The sons of Jacob wondered much at these words, and their blood grew chill as they looked around in fear and amazement to see from whence their brother was to appear.
And Joseph said to them: “Why do ye look around? Your brother is before you. I am Joseph whom ye sold to Egypt. But nay, be not alarmed, ye were but instruments, and to save life did God send me hither.”
And the men were much frightened, and Judah especially was terrified at the startling words. Benjamin, who was in the inner court, heard them, and hurrying before Joseph, he threw himself upon the latter’s breast, and kissing him, they wept together. The other brothers too were much affected, and the people about wondered, and the report of the occurrence reached Pharaoh’s palace.
Pharaoh was pleased with the news, and sent a deputation of his officers to welcome Joseph’s brethren, and to bid them, in his name, to bring their families and their household goods and make their homes in Egypt.
And Joseph clad his brethren in new and elegant garments, and made them many generous presents, and gave to each of them three hundred pieces of silver; and then he took them before Pharaoh and introduced them to the King.
And when Pharaoh saw what goodly men the sons of Jacob were he was much pleased and very gracious towards them.
And when it became time for them to return to Canaan, Joseph procured eleven of Pharaoh’s chariots and added to them his own, for their accommodation. And he sent rich presents to his father, and garments and presents to the children of his brothers and sister, and to his brothers’ wives. And he accompanied his brethren upon their journey to the boundaries of Egypt, and parting with them, he said: “Do not, my brethren, quarrel on the way. This thing was wrought through God’s wisdom; ye were but the instruments to save from famine and hunger a vast multitude.” He also commanded them to be careful in imparting the great news they carried to their father, lest speaking suddenly, it might have a bad effect upon so old a man. And the sons of Jacob returned unto the land of Canaan in gladness with happy hearts.
And it came to pass when they drew near to Canaan that they said one to the other, “How shall we break this news unto our father? We cannot tell him suddenly that Joseph is still alive.”
But it chanced when they reached Beer-Shebah that Serach, the daughter of Asher, came to meet her father and her uncles. And Serach was a sweet singer, and she played upon the harp. So they said unto her, “Take thy harp, and go and sit before our father and play to him, and as thou playest, sing; sing of his son Joseph, and let him know in this manner that Joseph lives.”
And the maiden did as she was bid, and sitting before her grandfather, she sang to him a song, wherein she repeated seven times these words:
“Lo, Joseph is not dead; he lives,My uncle rules o’er Egypt’s land.”
“Lo, Joseph is not dead; he lives,My uncle rules o’er Egypt’s land.”
“Lo, Joseph is not dead; he lives,My uncle rules o’er Egypt’s land.”
“Lo, Joseph is not dead; he lives,
My uncle rules o’er Egypt’s land.”
And Jacob was pleased with her singing and playing; happiness seemed to find birth in his heart at her sweet voice, and he smiled upon the maiden and blessed her. And while he was talking to her his sons arrived with their horses and chariots, and Jacob arose and met them at the door, and they said to him, “We have joyful tidings for our father. Joseph, our brother, is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.”
But Jacob remained cool and unaffected, for he did not believe their words, until he saw the presents which Joseph had sent, and all the signs of his greatness; then his eyes brightened and gladness sparkled in their depths, and he said: “Enough, my son lives; I will go and see him before I die.”
And the inhabitants of Beer-Shebah and the surrounding countries heard the news, and came and congratulated Jacob, and he made a great feast for them. And he said, “I will go down to Egypt and see my son, and then will I return to Canaan, as the Lord has spoken to Abraham, giving this land unto his seed.”
And the word of the Lord came to Jacob, saying, “Go down to Egypt; be not afraid, for I am with thee, and will make of thee a great nation.”
And Jacob commanded his sons and their families to prepare to go down with him to Egypt, as the Lord had spoken, and they arose and started upon the way. And Jacob sent Judah in advance, to announce his coming and to select a place for his residence.
And when Joseph learned that his father was upon the way he gathered together his friends and officers, and soldiers of the realm, and they attired themselves in rich garments and gold and silver ornaments, and the troops were armed with all the implements of war, and they gathered together and formed a great company to meet Jacob upon the way and escort him to Egypt. Music and gladness filled the land, and all the people, the women and the children, assembled upon the house-tops to view the magnificent display.
Joseph was dressed in royal robes, with the crown of state upon his head; and when he came within fifty cubits of his father’s company, he descended from his chariot and walked to meet his father. And when the nobles and princes saw this, they too descended from their steeds and chariots and walked with him.
And when Jacob saw all this great procession he wondered exceedingly, and he was much pleased thereat, and turning to Judah he asked, “Who is the man who marcheth at the head of this great array in royal robes?” and Judah answered, “That is thy son.” And when Joseph drew nigh to his father he bowed down before him, and his officers also bowed low to Jacob.
And Jacob ran towards his son and fell upon his neck and kissed him, and they wept. And Joseph greeted his brethren with affection.
And Jacob said to Joseph, “Now let me die. I have seen thy face; my eyes have beheld thee living and in great honour.”
And the great company escorted Jacob and his family to Egypt, and there Joseph gave to his relatives the best of the land, even Goshen.
And Joseph lived in the land and governed it wisely. And the two sons of Joseph were great favourites with their grandfather, and were ever in his house.[95]And Jacob taught them the ways of the Lord, and pointed out to them the path of happiness and peace in His service.
And Jacob and his family lived in Goshen, and had possession of the land and multiplied therein exceedingly.[96]