rever. He must go, or we shall die for want of
food; and we might have gone down to Egypt and come home again, if we
had not been kept back."

And Jacob said, "If he must go, then he must. But take a present to the
man, some of the choicest fruits of the land, some spices, and perfumes,
and nuts, and almonds. And take twice as much money, besides the money
that was in your sacks. Perhaps that was a mistake, when the money was
given back to you. And take your brother Benjamin, and may the Lord God
make the man kind to you, so that he will set Simeon free, and let you
bring Benjamin back. But if it is God's will that I lose my children, I
cannot help it."

So ten brothers of Joseph went down a second time to Egypt, Benjamin
going in place of Simeon. They came to Joseph's office, the place where
he sold grain to the people; and they stood before their brother, and
bowed as before. Joseph saw that Benjamin was with them, and he said to
his steward, the man who was over his house:

"Make ready a dinner, for all these men shall dine with me today."

When Joseph's brothers found that they were taken into Joseph's house,
they were filled with fear. They said to each other:

"We have been taken here on account of the money in our sacks. They will
say that we have stolen it, and then they will sell us all for slaves."

But Joseph's steward, the man who was over his house, treated the men
kindly; and when they spoke of the money in their sacks, he would not
take it again, saying:

"Never fear; your God must have sent you this as a gift. I had your
money."

The stewards received the men into Joseph's house, and washed their
feet, according to the custom of the land. And at noon, Joseph came in
to meet them. They brought him the present from their father, and again
they bowed before him, with their faces on the ground.

And Joseph asked them if they were well, and said: "Is your father still
living, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he well?"

And they said, "Our father is well and he is living." And again they
bowed to Joseph.

And Joseph looked at his younger brother Benjamin, the child of his own
mother Rachel, and said:

"Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me? God be gracious
unto you, my son."

And Joseph's heart was so full that he could not keep back the tears. He
went in haste to his own room, and wept there. Then he washed his face,
and came out again, and ordered the table to be set for din