n this market of corn for the people of that country only, but
strangers had liberty to buy also; Joseph being willing that all men,
who are naturally akin to one another, should have assistance from those
that lived in happiness.

2. Now Jacob also, when he understood that foreigners might come,
sent all his sons into Egypt to buy corn, for the land of Canaan was
grievously afflicted with the famine; and this great misery touched
the whole continent. He only retained Benjamin, who was born to him by
Rachel, and was of the same mother with Joseph. These sons of Jacob then
came into Egypt, and applied themselves to Joseph, wanting to buy corn;
for nothing of this kind was done without his approbation, since even
then only was the honor that was paid the king himself advantageous to
the persons that paid it, when they took care to honor Joseph also. Now
when he well knew his brethren, they thought nothing of him; for he
was but a youth when he left them, and was now come to an age so much
greater, that the lineaments of his face were changed, and he was not
known by them: besides this, the greatness of the dignity wherein he
appeared, suffered them not so much as to suspect it was he. He now
made trial what sentiments they had about affairs of the greatest
consequence; for he refused to sell them corn, and said they were
come as spies of the king's affairs; and that they came from several
countries, and joined themselves together, and pretended that they were
of kin, it not being possible that a private man should breed up so many
sons, and those of so great beauty of countenance as they were, such
an education of so many children being not easily obtained by kings
themselves. Now this he did in order to discover what concerned his
father, and what happened to him after his own departure from him, and
as desiring to know what was become of Benjamin his brother; for he was
afraid that they had ventured on the like wicked enterprise against him
that they had done to himself, and had taken him off also.

3. Now these brethren of his were under distraction and terror, and
thought that very great danger hung over them; yet not at all reflecting
upon their brother Joseph, and standing firm under the accusations laid
against them, they made their defense by Reubel, the eldest of them,
who now became their spokesman: "We come not hither," said he, "with any
unjust design, nor in order to bring any harm to the king's affairs; we