Efrayimbenshalom

• La legislación de la Torá, al imponer restricciones, está diseñada para

combatir la manera en que el ietzer hará , de otro modo, gradualmente

convertiría nuestra mente en la herramienta de nuestro cuerpo, en lugar de

lo contrario. Por lo tanto, la Torá ofrece cinco remedios contra los cinco

frentes en los que el ietzer hará nos ataca: 1) La Providencia de los Cielos,

que asiste incluso a quienes rara vez la necesitan, siendo casi perfecta

(como el rabino Eliezer ben Hyrkanus). 2) Padres y maestros para quienes

están al nivel de un rabino Joshua ben Jananyah (feliz la mujer que lo dio a

luz). 3) Los preceptos de la Torá y el sistema de recompensas y castigos (el

camino del rabino Shimori ben Nataniel, la persona temerosa de hakadosh

barujú). 4) Nos narra las vidas exitosas de quienes poseen un interés

amoroso por las criaturas del soberano (el camino del rabino Yossi, el

piadoso). 5) Ilumina nuestras mentes con sus enseñanzas, como lo ilustra

el rabino Eleazar ben Arach. (el pozo burbujeante). La prueba de que la

niddah de las mujeres y el keree del hombre son similares en naturaleza,

parte de la condición humana general como tal, se encuentra en el hecho

de que el cambio de un estado de impureza a un estado de pureza (basado

en la ley de la Torá) es inmediato; no hay un período de espera después de

que la condición ha pasado. Zivah , un flujo anormal de sangre de la misma

fuente, por otro lado, requiere un período de espera de siete días, lo que

sugiere que una impureza severa requiere tiempo para que su sujeto se

libere de ella por completo. Es interesante que la Torá escriba las leyes de

la circuncisión en el octavo día adyacente a las leyes de purificación de la

niddah . El hombre también se purifica a través de la circuncisión en el

octavo día. Esta es la purificación de las impurezas absorbidas por la

especie humana cuando la primera pareja de seres humanos comió del

árbol del conocimiento a instancias de la serpiente.

Las dos Parashiot (mejubarot -unidas) que se leen esta semana hacen referencia a las leyes de

pureza e impureza de la mujer que concibiere y a aquellas relativas a quienes contraían “tzaará” -

especie de lepra- por la comisión de ciertos pecados. Se describen los distintos tipos de lepra y el

proceso de purificación que se deben hacer al haber sufrido esta aflicción.

A simple vista pareciera que la lepra connota únicamente impureza, es decir lo negativo, pero no es

así. No tan sólo alude desorden y mala condición de la piel, sino también puede verse lo positivo en

su esencia. Incluso Mashíaj al estar en el Galut -exilio- varias veces es denominado como leproso por

el Talmud, como está descrito: “Mashíaj sufre por nuestras acciones y nuestras enfermedades son

de él”. Siendo obvio el hecho de que Mashíaj no connota mal de ninguna forma. Mashíaj como

sabemos, existe en cada generación y por lo tanto debe pasar por todos los sufrimientos del exilio

junto a Am Israel.

De qué manera sufre Mashíaj? Lepra, como aclara Jasidut, es la situación que afecta la piel del

cuerpo, es una infección de la capa externa que no se relaciona de ningún modo con los órganos

internos.

En resumen, la lepra representa a una persona que internamente está refinada e intacta y lo único

que le falta es purificar su cáscara exterior. En el caso de Mashíaj la “cáscara” consiste de todas las

debilidades del pueblo de Israel. Y en nuestras manos cae el deber de purificarnos para que el

Mashíaj pueda liberarnos del Galut. Según lo antedicho es muy obvia la relación entre la Metzorá -

lepra- y Mashíaj, por lo cual se entiende que las leyes están relacionadas con el proceso de la

revelación de Mashíaj y el proceso de refinamiento por el cual los judíos tienen que pasar en el

momento de su revelación, pues Mashíaj espera impacientemente por el día en el cual su

sufrimiento cesará y HaShem traerá la redención final.

A partir de la segunda noche de Pésaj y hasta la víspera de Shavuot todas las noches se cuenta el

Omer -ofrenda que se llevaba al Templo de Jerusalem. Cuando Moshé informó al pueblo de Israel de

su liberación de la esclavitud también le dijo la finalidad de esa redención que era el recibimiento de

la Torá en el Sinaí. Por ello inmediatamente después de la salida de Egipto los israelitas empezaron a

contar los días y las semanas a la espera del recibimiento de la Torá. Estas siete semanas -cuarenta y

nueve días- se considera un período de crecimiento espiritual. También señala el gran potencial para

el cambio que tuvo el pueblo ya que pasó en un tiempo muy corto, de un nivel máximo de impureza

cuando se encontraba en Egipto a uno de máxima pureza al recibir la Torá.

Se recalca la importancia de la concepción y de la maternidad. En los primeros cuarenta días de la

concepción se decide el futuro de la persona. HaKadosh BarujHu determina su sexo, su salud, su

grado de inteligencia, su apariencia y sus posibilidades físicas y mentales así como su destino. Lo

único que no es decidido es si será buena persona -tzadik- o mala persona -rashá. El grado de su

observancia de la Torá depende del esfuerzo que haga. Cuando el niño está en el vientre materno se

le enseña toda la Torá, se le muestra una visión del Gan Edén -Paraíso- y del infierno -Guehinom- y el

Malaj encargado de ello le aconseja a ser un tzadik y no un rashá. Cuando el niño nace el Malaj toca

sus labios provocando el olvido de toda la Torá que haya aprendido. Sin embargo este conocimiento

queda registrado a nivel subconsciente.

El bebé humano es el único de los animales que succiona de la parte superior del cuerpo de su

madre -cerca de su cabeza- demostrándonos la atención que Boré Olam dispensa a la dignidad y

santidad -kedushá- del género humano. En el principio, el nacimiento se producía inmediatamente

después de la concepción y sin dolor. La situación actual es producto del pecado cometido por Java.

Sin embargo en el futuro se volverá a la situación original tal como se prevé en la profecía de

Yeshayahu -Isaias

Generalmente se usa el término “tzaará” como lepra y “metzorá” como leprosos, pero debe tenerse

en cuenta que se trata de un tipo especial de lepra mandada por Elohim, que sólo afectaba a los

hijos de Israel en tiempos del Beit Hamikdash . Existían algunas faltas o pecados (idolatría, blasfemia,

inmoralidad, asesinato) por las cuales la persona podía ser atacada con la enfermedad de tzaará:

“Lashón Hará” -hablar mal, chismosear- era considerado uno de los pecados más graves y aún lo es

en nuestros días. De todos los órganos del cuerpo, la lengua es la que se mueve con menos dificultad

y a mayor velocidad, por eso el pecado que se comete con mayor frecuencia es el de Lashón Hará.

Debemos darnos cuenta que las palabras dichas no se evaporan sin antes dejar una marca que no

puede ser borrada ni recogida. La lengua es un arma muy potente, lo hablado por una persona

puede perjudicar a otra que se encuentre a gran distancia, incluso en otro continente, cosa que no

puede hacer un revólver o un puñal, además el lashón hará liquida a tres personas

simultáneamente: al que habla, al que escucha y aquel sobre el que se habla.

Para ser salvados del chisme diariamente le pedimos a HaKadosh BarujHu en nuestras plegarias que

impida que hablemos mal de otros. Cada persona debe ocuparse de sus propias fallas y limitaciones

para superarlas. Las imperfecciones que uno ve en los demás generalmente son proyección de las

propias.

Exodus 10:1–13:16

The name of the Parshah, "Bo," means "Come [to Pharaoh]" and it is found in Exodus 10:1.

The last three of the Ten Plagues are visited on Egypt: a swarm of locusts devours all the crops and greenery; a thick, palpable darkness envelops the land; and all the firstborn of Egypt are killed at the stroke of midnight of the 15th of the month of Nissan.

G‑d commands the first mitzvah to be given to the people of Israel: to establish a calendar based on the monthly rebirth of the moon. The Israelites are also instructed to bring a “Passover offering” to G‑d: a lamb or kid goat is to be slaughtered, and its blood sprinkled on the doorposts and lintel of every Israelite home, so that G‑d should pass over these homes when He comes to kill the Egyptian firstborn. The roasted meat of the offering is to be eaten that night together with matzah (unleavened bread) and bitter herbs.

The death of the firstborn finally breaks Pharaoh’s resistance, and he literally drives the children of Israel from his land. So hastily do they depart that there is no time for their dough to rise, and the only provisions they take along are unleavened. Before they go, they ask their Egyptian neighbors for gold, silver and garments—fulfilling the promise made to Abraham that his descendants would leave Egypt with great wealth.

The children of Israel are commanded to consecrate all firstborn, and to observe the anniversary of the Exodus each year by removing all leaven from their possession for seven days, eating matzah, and telling the story of their redemption to their children. They are also commanded to wear tefillin on the arm and head as a reminder of the Exodus and their resultant commitment to G‑d.

Exodus 6:2–9:35

The name of the Parshah, "Va’era," means "and I appeared" and it is found in Exodus 6:3.

G‑d reveals Himself to Moses. Employing the “four expressions of redemption,” take out the Children of Israel from Egypt, deliver them from their enslavement, redeem them, and acquire them as His own chosen people at “Mount Sinai”; He will then bring them to the land He promised to the Patriarchs as their eternal heritage.

Moses and Aaron repeatedly come before Pharaoh to demand in the name of G‑d, “Let My people go, so that they may serve Me in the wilderness.” Pharaoh repeatedly refuses. Aaron’s staff turns into a snake and swallows the magic sticks of the Egyptian sorcerers. G‑d then sends a series of plagues upon the Egyptians.

The waters of the Nile turn to blood; swarms of frogs overrun the land; lice infest all men and beasts. Hordes of wild animals invade the cities; a pestilence kills the domestic animals; painful boils afflict the Egyptians. For the seventh plague, fire and ice combine to descend from the skies as a devastating hail. Still, “the heart of Pharaoh was hardened and he would not let the children of Israel go, as G‑d had said to Moses.”

The name of the Parshah, "Vayechi," means "And he lived" and it is found in Genesis 47:28.

Jacob lives the final 17 years of his life in Egypt. Before his passing, he asks Joseph to take an oath that he will bury him in the Holy Land. He blesses Joseph’s two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, elevating them to the status of his own sons as progenitors of tribes within the nation of Israel.

The patriarch desires to reveal the end of days to his children, but is prevented from doing so.

Jacob blesses his sons, assigning to each his role as a tribe: Judah will produce leaders, legislators and kings; priests will come from Levi, scholars from Issachar, seafarers from Zebulun, schoolteachers from Simeon, soldiers from Gad, judges from Dan, olive-growers from Asher, and so on. Reuben is rebuked for “confusing his father’s marriage bed”; Simeon and Levi, for the massacre of Shechem and the plot against Joseph. Naphtali is granted the swiftness of a deer, Benjamin the ferociousness of a wolf, and Joseph is blessed with beauty and fertility.

A large funeral procession consisting of Jacob’s descendants, Pharaoh’s ministers, the leading citizens of Egypt and the Egyptian cavalry accompanies Jacob on his final journey to the Holy Land, where he is buried in the Machpelah Cave in Hebron.

Joseph, too, dies in Egypt, at the age of 110. He, too, instructs that his bones be taken out of Egypt and buried in the Holy Land, but this would come to pass only with the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt many years later. Before his passing, Joseph conveys to the Children of Israel the testament from which they will draw their hope and faith in the difficult years to come: “G‑d will surely remember you, and bring you up out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

El Talmud Eyruvin 40 cita dos interpretaciones del versículo <> se refiere a los siete días de la creación, mientras que «ocho>> se refiere a los ocho días previos a la circuncisión. El rabino Joshua dice que los siete días son los siete días de Pésaj, los ocho días son los ocho días de Sucot y Sheminí Atzeret, mientras que las palabras <> en el versículo se refieren a Rosh Hashaná y Yom Kipur.

Antes de la creación, el término "Tiempo" carecía de sentido, ya que solo podía adquirir significado en relación con los eventos anteriores y posteriores a la creación. Mientras solo existía Dios, no había necesidad de crear el "Tiempo". Una vez iniciado el proceso de creación, encontramos la "tarde" y la "mañana". Estos son puntos cruciales con los que se pueden medir y cronometrar los eventos. Los conceptos de "antes" y "después" surgieron tras un bereshit, un "comienzo". El término zeman, "estación", se refiere al tiempo como marco general de los eventos; el término et, "tiempo", como un marco temporal específico para sucesos claramente definidos. El término "bajo los cielos" se aplica a todo lo que ocurre en nuestro cosmos, que es, por definición, móvil, en constante movimiento. No ocurre lo mismo con lo sobrenatural. En ese mundo abstracto, no hay movimiento; por lo tanto, no hay progreso ni regresión.

Cuando la Mishná, en Avot 4,22, afirma que «una hora de arrepentimiento en este mundo vale más que todo el mundo futuro», el significado es doble. A) Incluso un breve lapso de tiempo es sumamente valioso. B) Cuando ese tiempo se invierte de forma constructiva, puede duplicar y triplicar su valor, ya que representa la entrada a un mundo de permanencia. Por esta razón, el Rabino Meir aconseja minimizar las actividades terrenales y maximizar el estudio de la Torá, ya que el <> fue concedido para dedicarse al estudio de la Torá. <

Tehilim 105: 19 b

"...el decreto de Adonay lo purificó."

"¡Crea en mí, Elohim, un corazón limpio, y renueva un rúaj recto dentro de mí!"

(Salmo 51:10)

"Si confesamos nuestros pecados, él es fiel y justo para perdonar nuestros pecados y limpiarnos de toda maldad."

(1 Juan 1:9)

"Ya vosotros estáis limpios por la palabra que os he hablado."

(Juan 15:3)

"Pero si andamos en luz, como él está en luz, tenemos comunión unos con otros y la sangre de Yeshúa HaMashíaj, su Hijo, nos limpia de todo pecado."

(1 Juan 1:7)

"Amados, ahora somos hijos de Elohim y aún no se ha manifestado lo que hemos de ser; pero sabemos que cuando él se manifieste, seremos semejantes a él, porque lo veremos tal como él es. Y todo aquel que tiene esta esperanza en él, se purifica a sí mismo, así como él es puro."

(1 Juan 3:2-3)

"Muchos serán limpios, emblanquecidos y purificados; los impíos procederán impíamente, y ninguno de los impíos entenderá; pero los entendidos comprenderán."

(Daniel 12:10)

"Él se dió a sí mismo por nosotros para redimirnos de toda maldad y purificar para sí un pueblo propio, celoso de buenas obras."

(Tito 2:14)

"¿Cuánto más la sangre de Mashíaj, el cual mediante el Rúaj eterno se ofreció a sí mismo sin mancha a Elohim, limpiará vuestras conciencias de obras muertas para que sirváis al Elohim vivo?"

(Hebreos 9:14)

"Él, que es el resplandor de su gloria, la imágen misma de su sustancia y quien sustenta todas las cosas con la palabra de su poder, habiendo efectuado la purificación de nuestros pecados por medio de sí mismo, se sentó a la diestra de la Majestad en las alturas."

(Hebreos 1:3)

"Venid luego, dice Adonay, y estemos a cuenta: aunque vuestros pecados sean como la grana, como la nieve serán emblanquecidos; aunque sean rojos como el carmesí, vendrán a ser como blanca lana."

(Isaías 1:18)

"Y así, con una sola ofrenda hizo perfectos para siempre a los santificados."

(Hebreos 10:14)

"¿Quién nos separará del amor de Mashíaj? ¿Tribulación, o angustia, o persecución, o hambre, o desnudez, o peligro, o espada?

Como está escrito:

"Por causa de ti somos muertos todo el tiempo;

Somos contados como ovejas de matadero."

Antes, en todas estas cosas somos más que vencedores por medio de aquel que nos amó. Por lo cual estoy seguro de que ni la muerte, ni la vida, ni malajim, ni principados, ni potestades, ni lo presente, ni lo por venir, ni lo alto, ni lo profundo, ni ninguna otra cosa creada nos podrá separar del amor de Adonay, que es en Yeshúa HaMashíaj Adón nuestro."

PARASHAT SHEMINÍ

Comprendida desde VaYikrá 9:1- 11:47

Ocho: por encima de la naturaleza

Si colocamos vasos iguales, uno de ellos en el centro y el resto alrededor, el número de vasos que completarán el círculo alrededor del vaso central será siempre de seis. En esa formación hay siete vasos y no queda lugar siquiera para una pequeña copita, así será también con cualquier tamaño del círculo. Este hecho está explicado por los sabios de Israel de acuerdo a la regla que dice que el número siete enseña acerca del cierre del círculo en los ciclos de la naturaleza.

El ordenamiento del tiempo en semanas que como es sabido fue fijado por el Creador y no por los seres humanos, también está compuesto por siete días cuyo centro es el Shabat. Después del Shabat no continuamos contando ocho y sucesivamente, sino que se vuelve a un principio para formar otro ciclo, un nuevo círculo.

Ese ejemplo es uno de los tantos que expresan la perfección de la naturaleza -sistema formado por unidades de siete. Sabemos también acerca de la ley de la Torá que obliga a descansar en el séptimo año del trabajo de la tierra, el campo, el huerto o la viña. A partir del séptimo año y al concluir la cuenta de siete años por siete veces consecutivas, completamos un sistema más amplio que abarca cuarenta y nueve años, después de los cuales será el año del “Iovel” -jubileo- que tiene muchas leyes particulares que lo regulan.

La inauguración del Mishkan duró siete días. El octavo día, primero de Nisán del año 2.449 después de la Creación se reveló la Presencia del Eterno, y Aharón asumió por primera vez su función como Cohén Gadol. El número siete está relacionado con la naturaleza del mundo, con la parte exterior y limitada de la Creación.

El número ocho en cambio expresa lo que está más allá del orden natural, muestra la revelación espiritual, la Kavod de HaKadosh BarujHu que está por encima de la naturaleza. Por ello sólo después de los siete días de consagración tuvieron los hijos de Israel el privilegio de presenciar la Gloria de Elohim.

Parashá Sheminí comienza:

“… y fue en el octavo día que llamó Moshé…” e inmediatamente surge la pregunta: por qué llama la Torá a ese día “el octavo día”, si una vez que los siete días de consagración concluyeron la cuenta…? No debería comenzar el ciclo nuevamente ?

La explicación concuerda con lo que se explicó anteriormente. Los siete días de consagración concluyeron cerrando el círculo. Más el día que los siguió, día en que se inauguró el Altar, no sólo no fue un día común sino que fue un dia de gran importancia. Eso significa que hay sucesos excepcionales en los que se revelan fuerzas que rompen con las limitaciones de la naturaleza y que están representadas en el número ocho. Por eso, al finalizar con la descripción de lo que sucedió en ese día la Torá relata (Lev.9:23):

“… y se mostró el Esplendor de Elohim a todo el pueblo…”, tan sólo en el octavo día.

Después de los siete días de consagración tuvieron los hijos de Israel el privilegio de tener la revelación de la Presencia de HaShem que está por encima de la naturaleza.

Aharón es considerado como la personificación de la shalom ya que la amaba y hacía todo lo que estuviera a su alcance para conseguirla. La primera palabra de la Parashá es Vayehí: y pasó. Para algunos de nuestros sabios cuando se usa este término, se alude a algún acontecimiento trágico como lo fue en este caso la muerte de dos de los hijos de Aharón: Nadav y Abihú, quienes poseían un alto nivel espiritual. Su muerte se produjo por exceso porque trataron de asumir una cercanía a HaShem por encima de la permitida y por tanto fueron castigados con severidad aún cuando sus intenciones eran puras.

En Yom Kipur en la Lectura de la Torá -Ajarei Mot Vaykrá 16:7- se menciona también el fallecimiento de los hijos de Aharón haciendo un paralelo entre un tzadik y Yom Kipur. Así como el día de Yom Kipur expía nuestros errores y pecados trayendo perdón, así también el fallecimiento de un tzadik trae perdón a su comunidad.

Eso nos muestra el paralelismo increíble de la muerte de Yeshúa quien dió Su vida como expiación por la humanidad. Para que las ovejas perdidas de Casa de Israel pudieran retornar, es decir, las 10 tribus perdidas en el exilio.

Juan 11: 50 nos dice:

"-Ustedes no saben nada. Es mucho mejor para ustedes que muera solamente un hombre por el pueblo y no que sea destruida toda la nación."

Eso lo dijo Caifás el Cohen Gadol que estaba en ese tiempo. Es decir, que el mismo Cohen Gadol lo estaba expresando, contradiciendo así las filosofías del judaísmo moderno.

HaKadosh BarujHu instruye a Aharón sobre algunas de las leyes que deben ser cumplidas por los cohanim entre las cuales se destacan la prohibición de estar en contacto con un cadáver, salvo que se trate de sus familiares más cercanos: padre, madre, hermanos, hijos o esposa. El Cohén tampoco podía hacer el Servicio en el Templo después de haber tomado alguna bebida alcohólica ya que la intoxicación produce sueño y disminución de la claridad mental. En la actualidad esta regla sigue vigente para aquellos que deben juzgar una decisión según la Halajá. El carácter de una persona puede ser evaluado según tres criterios:

✓Bekosó -en su copa- observando sus hábitos en la bebida;

✓Bekisó -en su bolsillo- al observar su forma de trabajar, negociar y dar tzedaká (caridad); y

✓Bekaasó -al enojarse- según como maneje su enojo y temperamento.

En esta Parashá se establecen las señales que diferencian a los animales que son casher de aquellos que no lo son. Para que un animal sea considerado casher debe tener dos características:

pezuña hendida (completamente) y ser rumiante. Existen cinco clases de animales que sólo tienen una de estas características, y por lo tanto no pueden ser ingeridos. Ellos son: el camello, el conejo, la liebre, los animales llamado sh´sua que son rumiantes pero que no tienen la pezuña hendida, y el cerdo que tiene la pezuña hendida pero no es rumiante.

Los animales casher son: gacela, corzo, antílope, búfalo, cabra montés, gamuza, bisonte, toro, oveja, cabra, carnero, ciervo. Los peces casher son los que tienen aletas y escamas.

La Torá lista 24 aves que no son casher entre las cuales se mencionan: águila, buitre, cisne, alcatraz, cigueña, cuervo, halcón, buho y gaviota. las demás a excepción de las listadas en la Torá pueden ser consumidas y entre ellas encontramos: pollo, gallina, gallo, pato, ganso y pavo. Todas las especies animales están mencionadas en la Torá. No hay ninguna especie que se haya descubierto con posterioridad.

Then Judah came near unto him, and said: “Oh my Lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my Lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant; for thou art even as Pharaoh.

44,19My Lord asked his servants, saying: Have ye a father, or a brother?

44,20And we said unto my Lord: We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him.

44,21And thou saidst unto thy servants: Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him.

44,22And we said unto my Lord: The lad cannot leave his father; for if he should leave his father, his father would die.

44,23And thou saidst unto thy servants: Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more.

44,24And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my Lord.

44,25And our father said: Go again, buy us a little food.

44,26And we said: We cannot go down; if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down; for we may not see the man's face, except our youngest brother be with us.

44,27And thy servant my father said unto us: Ye know that my wife bore me two sons;

44,28and the one went out from me, and I said: Surely he is torn in pieces; and I have not seen him since;

44,29and if ye take this one also from me, and harm befall him, ye will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.

44,30Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad is not with us; seeing that his soul is bound up with the lad's soul;

44,31it will come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die; and thy servants will bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave.

44,32For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying: If I bring him not unto thee, then shall I bear the blame to my father for ever.

44,33Now therefore, let thy servant, I pray thee, abide instead of the lad a bondman to my Lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren.

44,34For how shall I go up to my father, if the lad be not with me? lest I look upon the evil that shall come on my father.’’

45,1Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried: “Cause every man to go out from me.’’ And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.

45,2And he wept aloud; and the Egyptians heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard.

45,3And Joseph said unto his brethren: “I am Joseph; doth my father yet live?' And his brethren could not answer him; for they were affrighted at his presence.

45,4And Joseph said unto his brethren: “Come near to me, I pray you.’’ And they came near. And he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.

45,5And now be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither; for God did send me before you to preserve life.

45,6For these two years hath the famine been in the land; and there are yet five years, in which there shall be neither plowing nor harvest.

45,7And God sent me before you to give you a remnant on the earth, and to save you alive for a great deliverance.

45,8So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God; and He hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and Lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

45,9Hasten ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him: Thus saith thy son Joseph: God hath made me Lord of all Egypt; come down unto me, tarry not.

45,10And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast;

45,11and there will I sustain thee; for there are yet five years of famine; lest thou come to poverty, thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast.

45,12And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you.

45,13And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall hasten and bring down my father hither.’’

45,14And he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck.

45,15And he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them; and after that his brethren talked with him.

45,16And the report thereof was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying: “Joseph's brethren are come'; and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.

45,17And Pharaoh said unto Joseph: “Say unto thy brethren: This do ye: lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan;

45,18and take your father and your households, and come unto me; and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land.

45,19Now thou art commanded, this do ye: take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.

45,20Also regard not your stuff; for the good things of all the land of Egypt are yours.’’

45,21And the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.

45,22To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver, and five changes of raiment.

45,23And to his father he sent in like manner ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she-asses laden with corn and bread and victual for his father by the way.

45,24So he sent his brethren away, and they departed; and he said unto them: “See that ye fall not out by the way.’’

45,25And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father.

45,26And they told him, saying: “Joseph is yet alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.’’ And his heart fainted, for he believed them not.

45,27And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them; and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived.

45,28And Israel said: “It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive; I will go and see him before I die.’’

46,1And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beer-sheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.

46,2And God spoke unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said: “Jacob, Jacob.’’ And he said: “Here am I.’’

46,3And He said: “I am God, the God of thy father; fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation.

46,4I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again; and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.’’

46,5And Jacob rose up from Beer-sheba; and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.

46,6And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him;

46,7his sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt. {S}

46,8And these are the names of the children of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob's first-born.

46,9And the sons of Reuben: Hanoch, and Pallu, and Hezron, and Carmi.

46,10And the sons of Simeon: Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman.

46,11And the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

46,12And the sons of Judah: Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Perez, and Zerah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.

46,13And the sons of Issachar: Tola, and Puvah, and Iob, and Shimron.

46,14And the sons of Zebulun: Sered, and Elon, and Jahleel.

46,15These are the sons of Leah, whom she bore unto Jacob in Paddan-aram, with his daughter Dinah; all the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty and three.

46,16And the sons of Gad: Ziphion, and Haggi, Shuni, and Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi, and Areli.

46,17And the sons of Asher: Imnah, and Ishvah, and Ishvi, and Beriah, and Serah their sister; and the sons of Beriah: Heber, and Malchiel.

46,18These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter, and these she bore unto Jacob, even sixteen souls.

46,19The sons of Rachel Jacob's wife: Joseph and Benjamin.

46,20And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath the daughter of Poti-phera priest of On bore unto him.

46,21And the sons of Benjamin: Bela, and Becher, and Ashbel, Gera, and Naaman, Ehi, and Rosh, Muppim, and Huppim, and Ard.

46,22These are the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob; all the souls were fourteen.

46,23And the sons of Dan: Hushim.

46,24And the sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shillem.

46,25These are the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave unto Rachel his daughter, and these she bore unto Jacob; all the souls were seven.

46,26All the souls belonging to Jacob that came into Egypt, that came out of his loins, besides Jacob's sons' wives, all the souls were threescore and six.

46,27And the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two souls; all the souls of the house of Jacob, that came into Egypt, were threescore and ten. {S}

46,28And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to show the way before him unto Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen.

46,29And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen; and he presented himself unto him, and fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.

46,30And Israel said unto Joseph: “Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, that thou art yet alive.’’

46,31And Joseph said unto his brethren, and unto his father's house: “I will go up, and tell Pharaoh, and will say unto him: My brethren, and my father's house, who were in the land of Canaan, are come unto me;

46,32and the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of cattle; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.

46,33And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say: What is your occupation?

46,34that ye shall say: Thy servants have been keepers of cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and our fathers; that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians.’’

47,1Then Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, and said: “My father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen.’’

47,2And from among his brethren he took five men, and presented them unto Pharaoh.

47,3And Pharaoh said unto his brethren: “What is your occupation?' And they said unto Pharaoh: “Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and our fathers.’’

47,4And they said unto Pharaoh: “To sojourn in the land are we come; for there is no pasture for thy servants' flocks; for the famine is sore in the land of Canaan. Now therefore, we pray thee, let thy servants dwell in the land of Goshen.’’

47,5And Pharaoh spoke unto Joseph, saying: “Thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee;

47,6the land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and thy brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell. And if thou knowest any able men among them, then make them rulers over my cattle.’’

47,7And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh. And Jacob blessed Pharaoh.

47,8And Pharaoh said unto Jacob: “How many are the days of the years of thy life?'

47,9And Jacob said unto Pharaoh: “The days of the years of my sojournings are a hundred and thirty years; few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojournings.’’

47,10And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from the presence of Pharaoh.

47,11And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.

47,12And Joseph sustained his father, and his brethren, and all his father's household, with bread, according to the want of their little ones.

47,13And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished by reason of the famine.

47,14And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought; and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house.

47,15And when the money was all spent in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said: “Give us bread; for why should we die in thy presence? for our money faileth.’’

47,16And Joseph said: “Give your cattle, and I will give you [bread] for your cattle, if money fail.’’

47,17And they brought their cattle unto Joseph. And Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, and for the flocks, and for the herds, and for the asses; and he fed them with bread in exchange for all their cattle for that year.

47,18And when that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him: “We will not hide from my Lord, how that our money is all spent; and the herds of cattle are my Lord's; there is nought left in the sight of my Lord, but our bodies, and our lands.

47,19Wherefore should we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be bondmen unto Pharaoh; and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, and that the land be not desolate.’’

47,20So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine was sore upon them; and the land became Pharaoh's.

47,21And as for the people, he removed them city by city, from one end of the border of Egypt even to the other end thereof.

47,22Only the land of the priests bought he not, for the priests had a portion from Pharaoh, and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them; wherefore they sold not their land.

47,23Then Joseph said unto the people: “Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh. Lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land.

47,24And it shall come to pass at the ingatherings, that ye shall give a fifth unto Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for them of your households, and for food for your little ones.’’

47,25And they said: “Thou hast saved our lives. Let us find favour in the sight of my Lord, and we will be Pharaoh's bondmen.’’

47,26And Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth; only the land of the priests alone became not Pharaoh's.

47,27And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen; and they got them possessions therein, and were fruitful, and multiplied exceedingly.

And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.

41,2And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, well-favoured and fat-fleshed; and they fed in the reed-grass.

41,3And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and lean-fleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river.

41,4And the ill-favoured and lean-fleshed kine did eat up the seven well-favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.

41,5And he slept and dreamed a second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good.

41,6And, behold, seven ears, thin and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them.

41,7And the thin ears swallowed up the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.

41,8And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof; and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.

41,9Then spoke the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying: “I make mention of my faults this day:

41,10Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in the ward of the house of the captain of the guard, me and the chief baker.

41,11And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.

41,12And there was with us there a young man, a Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret.

41,13And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was: I was restored unto mine office, and he was hanged.’’

41,14Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon. And he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.

41,15And Pharaoh said unto Joseph: “I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it; and I have heard say of thee, that when thou hearest a dream thou canst interpret it.’’

41,16And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying: “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.’’

41,17And Pharaoh spoke unto Joseph: “In my dream, behold, I stood upon the brink of the river.

41,18And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fat-fleshed and well-favoured; and they fed in the reed-grass.

41,19And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill-favoured and lean-fleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness.

41,20And the lean and ill-favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine.

41,21And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ill-favoured as at the beginning. So I awoke.

41,22And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up upon one stalk, full and good.

41,23And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them.

41,24And the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. And I told it unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me.’’

41,25And Joseph said unto Pharaoh: “The dream of Pharaoh is one; what God is about to do He hath declared unto Pharaoh.

41,26The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.

41,27And the seven lean and ill-favoured kine that came up after them are seven years, and also the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind; they shall be seven years of famine.

41,28That is the thing which I spoke unto Pharaoh: what God is about to do He hath shown unto Pharaoh.

41,29Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt.

41,30And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;

41,31and the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine which followeth; for it shall be very grievous.

41,32And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice, it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

41,33Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.

41,34Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint overseers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven years of plenty.

41,35And let them gather all the food of these good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it.

41,36And the food shall be for a store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.’’

41,37And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.

41,38And Pharaoh said unto his servants: “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom the spirit of God is?'

41,39And Pharaoh said unto Joseph: “Forasmuch as God hath shown thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou.

41,40Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled; only in the throne will I be greater than thou.’’

41,41And Pharaoh said unto Joseph: “See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.’’

41,42And Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck.

41,43And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him: “Abrech'; and he set him over all the land of Egypt.

41,44And Pharaoh said unto Joseph: “I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or his foot in all the land of Egypt.’’

41,45And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-phera priest of On. And Joseph went out over the land of Egypt. --

41,46And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. --And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.

41,47And in the seven years of plenty the earth brought forth in heaps.

41,48And he gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities; the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.

41,49And Joseph laid up corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until they left off numbering; for it was without number.

41,50And unto Joseph were born two sons before the year of famine came, whom Asenath the daughter of Poti-phera priest of On bore unto him.

41,51And Joseph called the name of the first-born Manasseh: “for God hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house.’’

41,52And the name of the second called he Ephraim: “for God hath made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.’’

41,53And the seven years of plenty, that was in the land of Egypt, came to an end.

41,54And the seven years of famine began to come, according as Joseph had said; and there was famine in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.

41,55And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread; and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians: “Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.’’

41,56And the famine was over all the face of the earth; and Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine was sore in the land of Egypt.

41,57And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph to buy corn; because the famine was sore in all the earth.

42,1Now Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, and Jacob said unto his sons: “Why do ye look one upon another?'

42,2And he said: “Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt. Get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.’’

42,3And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn from Egypt.

42,4But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said: “Lest peradventure harm befall him.’’

42,5And the sons of Israel came to buy among those that came; for the famine was in the land of Canaan.

42,6And Joseph was the governor over the land; he it was that sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down to him with their faces to the earth.

42,7And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spoke roughly with them; and he said unto them: “Whence come ye?' And they said: “From the land of Canaan to buy food.’’

42,8And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew him not.

42,9And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them: “Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.’’

42,10And they said unto him: “Nay, my Lord, but to buy food are thy servants come.

42,11We are all one man's sons; we are upright men, thy servants are no spies.’’

42,12And he said unto them: “Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.’’

42,13And they said: “We thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not.’’

42,14And Joseph said unto them: “That is it that I spoke unto you, saying: Ye are spies.

42,15Hereby ye shall be proved, as Pharaoh liveth, ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither.

42,16Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be bound, that your words may be proved, whether there be truth in you; or else, as Pharaoh liveth, surely ye are spies.’’

42,17And he put them all together into ward three days.

42,18And Joseph said unto them the third day.’’ This do, and live; for I fear God:

42,19if ye be upright men, let one of your brethren be bound in your prison-house; but go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses;

42,20and bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die.’’ And they did so.

42,21And they said one to another: “We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.’’

42,22And Reuben answered them, saying: “Spoke I not unto you, saying: Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore also, behold, his blood is required.’’

42,23And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for the interpreter was between them.

42,24And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and he returned to them, and spoke to them, and took Simeon from among them, and bound him before their eyes.

42,25Then Joseph commanded to fill their vessels with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way; and thus was it done unto them.

42,26And they laded their asses with their corn, and departed thence.

42,27And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the lodging-place, he espied his money; and, behold, it was in the mouth of his sack.

42,28And he said unto his brethren: “My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack.’’ And their heart failed them, and they turned trembling one to another, saying: “What is this that God hath done unto us?'

42,29And they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of Canaan, and told him all that had befallen them, saying:

42,30'The man, the Lord of the land, spoke roughly with us, and took us for spies of the country.

42,31And we said unto him: We are upright men; we are no spies.

42,32We are twelve brethren, sons of our father; one is not, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.

42,33And the man, the Lord of the land, said unto us: Hereby shall I know that ye are upright men: leave one of your brethren with me, and take corn for the famine of your houses, and go your way.

42,34And bring your youngest brother unto me; then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are upright men; so will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffic in the land.’’

42,35And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack; and when they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were afraid.

42,36And Jacob their father said unto them: “Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away; upon me are all these things come.’’

42,37And Reuben spoke unto his father, saying: “Thou shalt slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee; deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him back to thee.’’

42,38And he said: “My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he only is left; if harm befall him by the way in which ye go, then will ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.

43,1And the famine was sore in the land.

43,2And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, that their father said unto them: “Go again, buy us a little food.’’

43,3And Judah spoke unto him, saying: “The man did earnestly forewarn us, saying: Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.

43,4If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food;

43,5but if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down, for the man said unto us: Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.’’

43,6And Israel said: “Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?'

43,7And they said: “The man asked straitly concerning ourselves, and concerning our kindred, saying: Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words; could we in any wise know that he would say: Bring your brother down?'

43,8And Judah said unto Israel his father: “Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.

43,9I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him; if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever.

43,10For except we had lingered, surely we had now returned a second time.’’

43,11And their father Israel said unto them: “If it be so now, do this: take of the choice fruits of the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spicery and ladanum, nuts, and almonds;

43,12and take double money in your hand; and the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks carry back in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight;

43,13take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man;

43,14and God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release unto you your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.’’

43,15And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.

43,16And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house: “Bring the men into the house, and kill the beasts, and prepare the meat; for the men shall dine with me at noon.’’

43,17And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph's house.

43,18And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house; and they said: “Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.’’

43,19And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they spoke unto him at the door of the house,

43,20and said: “Oh my Lord, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food.

43,21And it came to pass, when we came to the lodging-place, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight; and we have brought it back in our hand.

43,22And other money have we brought down in our hand to buy food. We know not who put our money in our sacks.’’

43,23And he said: “Peace be to you, fear not; your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money.’’ And he brought Simeon out unto them.

43,24And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender.

43,25And they made ready the present against Joseph's coming at noon; for they heard that they should eat bread there.

43,26And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed down to him to the earth.

43,27And he asked them of their welfare, and said: “Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spoke? Is he yet alive?'

43,28And they said: “Thy servant our father is well, he is yet alive.’’ And they bowed the head, and made obeisance.

43,29And he lifted up his eyes, and saw Benjamin his brother, his mother's son, and said: “Is this your youngest brother of whom ye spoke unto me?' And he said: “God be gracious unto thee, my son.’’

43,30And Joseph made haste; for his heart yearned toward his brother; and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.

43,31And he washed his face, and came out; and he refrained himself, and said: “Set on bread.’’

43,32And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, that did eat with him, by themselves; because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.

43,33And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth; and the men marvelled one with another.

43,34And portions were taken unto them from before him; but Benjamin's portion was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.

44,1And he commanded the steward of his house, saying: “Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his sack's mouth.

44,2And put my goblet, the silver goblet, in the sack's mouth of the youngest, and his corn money.’’ And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.

44,3As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.

44,4And when they were gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward: “Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them: Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?

44,5Is not this it in which my Lord drinketh, and whereby he indeed divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.’’

44,6And he overtook them, and he spoke unto them these words.

44,7And they said unto him: “Wherefore speaketh my Lord such words as these? Far be it from thy servants that they should do such a thing.

44,8Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks' mouths, we brought back unto thee out of the land of Canaan; how then should we steal out of thy Lord's house silver or gold?

44,9With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, let him die, and we also will be my Lord's bondmen.’’

44,10And he said: “Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my bondman; and ye shall be blameless.’’

44,11Then they hastened, and took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.

44,12And he searched, beginning at the eldest, and leaving off at the youngest; and the goblet was found in Benjamin's sack.

44,13And they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city.

44,14And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house, and he was yet there; and they fell before him on the ground.

44,15And Joseph said unto them: “What deed is this that ye have done? know ye not that such a man as I will indeed divine?'

44,16And Judah said: “What shall we say unto my Lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants; behold, we are my Lord's bondmen, both we, and he also in whose hand the cup is found.’’

44,17And he said: “Far be it from me that I should do so; the man in whose hand the goblet is found, he shall be my bondman; but as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.’’ {S}