GENESIS

Joseph's revelation

Chapter 43 - 45

The famine was still severe in the land and the food which Reuben and his brothers had brought had finished.

They had to go back to buy food from Egypt and with reluctance, Isreal let his son, Benjamin, go with the promise of his safe arrival.

They took double the amount of money meant for the food they wanted to buy, the money that was returned and a few gifts for the overseer, Joseph, in order to clear their name.

On their arrival, after Joseph had seen them with Benjamin,  he ordered for them to be taken to his house and a ram be killed for a feast. Although the brothers were afraid of this gesture, they still had the feast.

Joseph was glad to see his little brother,  Benjamin, once more and went into his room to cry, overwhelmed. After he got out they continued the feast.

They were then sent back with food they bought, but Joseph ordered for their money to be added to each of their sacks. He also ordered for his silver cup to be placed in Benjamin's sack.

As they were on their way, men were sent by Joseph accusing them of stealing the silver cup. They undoubtedly denied it, promising to enslave themselves if they were wrong.

"Far be it from us to do such a thing " Reuben said " we brought back the money that we discovered in our sacks, how then could we possibly steal silver or gold from your lord's house?"

"We still have to check sir" said one of the men so the twelve of them let down their sacks to be inspected starting from the oldest to the youngest.

Unfortunately, the silver cup was found in Benjamin's sack and they had to return to Egypt.

They all bowed down, ashamed, to Joseph, offering themselves as slaves but Joseph demanded only for Benjamin to be his slave.

" only the man in whose hand the cup was found shall be my slave, as for the rest of you, go up in peace to your father" he had said.

Judah then stepped forward, asking to whisper in Joseph's ears. He then pleaded on behalf of his brother and father. He told him how reluctant his father was to give up Benjamin and how Reuben had promised to return him. He then asked to be enslaved in his place.

Judah's words must have had a great effect on Joseph because he burst out crying and all the household could hear him. He then revealed that he was their brother and asked about the welfare of his father.

They were stunned and couldn't say anything but he assured them that he wasn't offended. He told them it was what God had wanted so starvation during the farmine would be prevented.

He went to his brother, Benjamin, and hugged him tight as they both cried into each others shoulders.

"I thought you were dead" Benjamin sobbed.

"No... I'm right here " he said, hugging him tighter.

He turned towards his remaining brothers and hugged them.

"Joseph..." Reuben whispered sadly as his long lost brother hugged him "... I'm so sorry"

" Please don't be" he said " without you all, I wouldn't be here" .

His other brothers lowered their heads, ashamed of themselves as they got hugged.

He then sent them to report to his father that he was alive, with camels and she-camels, loaded with goods for him. He adorned his brothers each with fine apparel but gave Benjamin four extra.

The news other Joseph's brothers spread round the land and Pharaoh ordered that his family be brought to Egypt. They were to be given land, and all their needs provided for freely.

When his brothers arrived at Cannan and met their father. They told him about what happened. He couldn't believe it until he noticed the camels and all the goods they conveyed.

"It is enough " he said, relieved " my son is alive and I will see him before I die."