GENESIS

Joseph meets his brothers

Chapter 42

"Next" Joseph said as a middle aged man walked in and prostrated in front of him with his face flat on the ground.

"I seek to buy two barrels of wheat governor "

"For how many people? " Joseph inquired, the wheat had to be given out wisely afterall, other countries also came to buy food stuff.

"My family of six for a fortnight" Joseph nodded and the barrels were given to him while the money was collected.

"Next" he said once the man was gone. A few men piled in and his breath caught in his throat as his eyes widened in recognition.

Ten men entered the room simultaneously and all bowed down in front of Joseph. They were all much older but he could never forget their faces.

Then he remembered his dreams of her his brothers would bow down to him and he cleared the shock from his face.

"Sir..." Reuben, the eldest said " we have come to buy food " Joseph stared into the eyes of his older brother.

"In that number?" He said sharply " well surely you must be spies sent to find the weakness of this country "

"No sir" Reuben said " we were all sent by our father to buy food"

"Are you saying I'm wrong. You were sent to get the weakness of this land weren't you? "

"No sir" Simeon spoke up " we are your servant and humble men. We were truly sent by our father to get food"

"Why would I believe the words of spies?"

"Sir, we are humble brothers of twelve from the land of Canaan. Our youngest is with our father while the other is dead"

"It is as I've said, you are spies. Guards!" He called out " seize them" the guards advanced on them and gripped their arms.

"Please sir. We are not spies" Reuben pleaded but it fell on deaf ears

"I shall release one of you, if truly you are not spies, then you will bring me your youngest" with that they were all locked up.

***

"Why is this happening " Dan complained as they all stared hopelessly at each other in their cells.

"What could have possibly made him so angry as to accuse us without hearing is out? It's been three days already" Naphtali said and everyone remained silent for a while; all thinking the same thing.

"It's possibly because of what we did to Joseph" Gad finally spoke up

"How can you say that?" Dan harshly said.

"It's true and you know it" Gad said dismissively.

"Calm down you two" Simeon said, sensing a fight about to start. " we are guilty of what we did to our brother and we're receiving due punishment."

"I did warn you not to sin against the lad. There's now a reckoning for his blood"

Before anyone could say anything,  the doors opened and they were ordered to come out.

Joseph suddenly allowed them to go, giving them the food they requested for money but keeping Simeon as hostage " go and deliver the food to your father and bring back your youngest unless I won't release your brother "

Although it pained him to do that to his brothers, he still wanted to see his blood brother before he disclosed his identity

They quickly departed with their camels.

"Hold up" Asher said, slowing down his camel. "Mine is getting a little tired " he said and reached into his sack to feed the camel only to see his money still intact.  "You guys" he said, raising up the money.

"What?!" Reuben said " how could you have that?"

"I... I don't know, it was just lying there. We could go back and retur..."

"No" Zebulun cut him off " he said not to return until we have Benjamin " he continued leading his camel away leaving the others behind and they soon followed behind.

***

"No" Israel said sternly " I won't " the brothers made a look at each other, knowing that was what their father was going to say.

"Father" Reuben said, placing his sack of foodstuff in front of Isreal. On cue they all opened their sacks to reveal their money in tact
"You know we can't keep this money" Reuben continued "we have to return it but we can't go back without Benjamin "

"I said no" Isreal said turning his head away from the sacks " I've lost two sons now, Simeon and Joseph. I will not lose Benjamin also" he's the only son left of Rachael, he thought.

"Father I promise you, we will bring him back safe and sound" Reuben pleaded again but he still saw the reluctance in his father " if not, you can kill my two sons" Reuben couldn't just let go of his younger brother, nobody else was closer to him than Simeon.

Isreal stared at his son, unbelievably " My son shall not go down with you, his brother is dead, he is the only one left. If harm should befall him on this journey, you would bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Shoel."