Thematic Bible
Genesis 43:1 (show verse)
Now the famine was severe in the land.
Genesis 43:2 (show verse)
When they finished eating the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, "Return, buy us a little more food."
Genesis 43:3 (show verse)
But Judah said to him, "The man solemnly warned us, 'You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.'
Genesis 43:4 (show verse)
If you send our brother with us, we'll go down and buy food for you.
Genesis 43:5 (show verse)
But if you will not send him, we won't go down there because the man said to us, 'You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.'"
Genesis 43:6 (show verse)
Israel said, "Why did you bring this trouble on me by telling the man you had one more brother?"
Genesis 43:7 (show verse)
They replied, "The man questioned us thoroughly about ourselves and our family, saying, 'Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?' So we answered him in this way. How could we possibly know that he would say, 'Bring your brother down'?"
Genesis 43:8 (show verse)
Then Judah said to his father Israel, "Send the boy with me and we will go immediately. Then we will live and not die -- we and you and our little ones.
Genesis 43:9 (show verse)
I myself pledge security for him; you may hold me liable. If I do not bring him back to you and place him here before you, I will bear the blame before you all my life.
Genesis 43:10 (show verse)
But if we had not delayed, we could have traveled there and back twice by now!"
Genesis 43:11 (show verse)
Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best products of the land in your bags, and take a gift down to the man -- a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds.
Almond » Fruit of
Balm » A medicinal balsam
Food » List of articles » Honey
Fruits » Often sent as presents
Honey » Often sent as a present
Honey » Sent as a present by jacob to egypt
jacob » Sends to egypt to buy corn (grain)
myrrh » Traffic in
Presents » Things given as » Eatables
Spices » Sent as a present by jacob to joseph
Trees » Varieties » Almond
Victuals » List of articles » Honey
Balm » A medicinal balsam
Food » List of articles » Honey
Fruits » Often sent as presents
Honey » Often sent as a present
Honey » Sent as a present by jacob to egypt
jacob » Sends to egypt to buy corn (grain)
myrrh » Traffic in
Presents » Things given as » Eatables
Spices » Sent as a present by jacob to joseph
Trees » Varieties » Almond
Victuals » List of articles » Honey
Genesis 43:12 (show verse)
Take double the money with you; you must take back the money that was returned in the mouths of your sacks -- perhaps it was an oversight.
Genesis 43:13 (show verse)
Take your brother too, and go right away to the man.
Genesis 43:14 (show verse)
May the sovereign God grant you mercy before the man so that he may release your other brother and Benjamin! As for me, if I lose my children I lose them."
Genesis 43:15 (show verse)
So the men took these gifts, and they took double the money with them, along with Benjamin. Then they hurried down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.
Genesis 43:16 (show verse)
When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the servant who was over his household, "Bring the men to the house. Slaughter an animal and prepare it, for the men will eat with me at noon."
Genesis 43:17 (show verse)
The man did just as Joseph said; he brought the men into Joseph's house.
Genesis 43:18 (show verse)
But the men were afraid when they were brought to Joseph's house. They said, "We are being brought in because of the money that was returned in our sacks last time. He wants to capture us, make us slaves, and take our donkeys!"
Genesis 43:19 (show verse)
So they approached the man who was in charge of Joseph's household and spoke to him at the entrance to the house.
Genesis 43:20 (show verse)
They said, "My lord, we did indeed come down the first time to buy food.
Genesis 43:21 (show verse)
But when we came to the place where we spent the night, we opened our sacks and each of us found his money -- the full amount -- in the mouth of his sack. So we have returned it.
Genesis 43:22 (show verse)
We have brought additional money with us to buy food. We do not know who put the money in our sacks!"
Genesis 43:23 (show verse)
"Everything is fine," the man in charge of Joseph's household told them. "Don't be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks. I had your money." Then he brought Simeon out to them.
Genesis 43:24 (show verse)
The servant in charge brought the men into Joseph's house. He gave them water, and they washed their feet. Then he gave food to their donkeys.
Ablution » Of the feet
Ablution » Cleanliness » Examples of
Cleanliness » Examples of
Entertainments » Guests at » Had their feet washed when they came a distance
Guests » Hospitality to » Washing the feet of
Servants » Duties of, to masters » To be kind and attentive to their guests
Social life » Guests advices to » Washing the feet of
Washing » Of feet
Ablution » Cleanliness » Examples of
Cleanliness » Examples of
Entertainments » Guests at » Had their feet washed when they came a distance
Guests » Hospitality to » Washing the feet of
Servants » Duties of, to masters » To be kind and attentive to their guests
Social life » Guests advices to » Washing the feet of
Washing » Of feet
Genesis 43:25 (show verse)
They got their gifts ready for Joseph's arrival at noon, for they had heard that they were to have a meal there.
Genesis 43:26 (show verse)
When Joseph came home, they presented him with the gifts they had brought inside, and they bowed down to the ground before him.
Genesis 43:27 (show verse)
He asked them how they were doing. Then he said, "Is your aging father well, the one you spoke about? Is he still alive?"
Genesis 43:28 (show verse)
"Your servant our father is well," they replied. "He is still alive." They bowed down in humility.
Genesis 43:29 (show verse)
When Joseph looked up and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, he said, "Is this your youngest brother, whom you told me about?" Then he said, "May God be gracious to you, my son."
Genesis 43:30 (show verse)
Joseph hurried out, for he was overcome by affection for his brother and was at the point of tears. So he went to his room and wept there.
Genesis 43:31 (show verse)
Then he washed his face and came out. With composure he said, "Set out the food."
Genesis 43:32 (show verse)
They set a place for him, a separate place for his brothers, and another for the Egyptians who were eating with him. (The Egyptians are not able to eat with Hebrews, for the Egyptians think it is disgusting to do so.)
Brother » Joseph's, for his brethren
Defilement » Egyptian usage, concerning
Dissembling » Instances of » Joseph
Egypt » Mode of entertaining in
Egyptians » Refused to eat with hebrews
Feasts » Ancient customs at » Men alone present at
Hebrew » Applied to » And his descendants
Israel » Also called israelites, and hebrews
Defilement » Egyptian usage, concerning
Dissembling » Instances of » Joseph
Egypt » Mode of entertaining in
Egyptians » Refused to eat with hebrews
Feasts » Ancient customs at » Men alone present at
Hebrew » Applied to » And his descendants
Israel » Also called israelites, and hebrews
Genesis 43:33 (show verse)
They sat before him, arranged by order of birth, beginning with the firstborn and ending with the youngest. The men looked at each other in astonishment.
Brother » Joseph's, for his brethren
Children » Good Children » Good Parents » Birthright of
the Diet of the jews » Was taken » Often sitting
Dissembling » Instances of » Joseph
Egypt » Mode of entertaining in
Entertainments » Guests at » Arranged according to rank
Feasts » Guests arranged according to age
Children » Good Children » Good Parents » Birthright of
the Diet of the jews » Was taken » Often sitting
Dissembling » Instances of » Joseph
Egypt » Mode of entertaining in
Entertainments » Guests at » Arranged according to rank
Feasts » Guests arranged according to age
Genesis 43:34 (show verse)
He gave them portions of the food set before him, but the portion for Benjamin was five times greater than the portions for any of the others. They drank with Joseph until they all became drunk.
Brother » Joseph's, for his brethren
Dissembling » Instances of » Joseph
Eating » Favored guests served a double portion
Egypt » Mode of entertaining in
Entertainments » A choice portion reserved in, for principal guests
Entertainments » Guests at » Often had separate dishes
Favoritism » Instances of » Joseph, for benjamin
Feasts » Ancient customs at » Men alone present at
Wine » Instances of intoxication from » Joseph and his brothers
Dissembling » Instances of » Joseph
Eating » Favored guests served a double portion
Egypt » Mode of entertaining in
Entertainments » A choice portion reserved in, for principal guests
Entertainments » Guests at » Often had separate dishes
Favoritism » Instances of » Joseph, for benjamin
Feasts » Ancient customs at » Men alone present at
Wine » Instances of intoxication from » Joseph and his brothers