God's Truth

Table of Contents

The First Book of Moses

also called Genesis from the Latin

(Part Seven)


The 43rd Chapter
     And the dearth waxed sore in the land. And when they had eaten up that corn which they brought out of the land of Egypt, their father said unto them: go again and buy us a little food. Then said Juda unto him: the man did testify unto us saying: look that you see not my face except your brother be with you. Therefore if you will send our brother with us, we will go and buy the food. But if you will not send him, we will not go: for the man said unto us: look that you see not my face, except your brother be with you. And Israel said: wherefore dealt you so cruelly with me, as to tell the man that you had yet another brother? And they said: The man asked us of our kindred saying: is your father yet alive? have you not another brother? And we told him according to these words. How could we know that he would bid us bring our brother down with us? Then said Juda unto Israel his father: Send the lad with me, and we will rise and go, that we may live and not die: both we, you and also our children. I will be surety for him, and of my hands require him. If I bring him not to you and set him before your eyes, then let me bear the blame for ever. For except we had made this tarrying: by this we had been there twice and come again.
     Then their father Israel said unto them: if it must needs be so now: then do thus, take of the best fruits of the land in your vessels, and bring the man a present, a courtesy balm, and a courtesy of honey, spices and myrrh, dates and almonds. And take as much money more with you. And the money that was brought again in your sacks, take it again with you, peradventure it was some oversight.
     Take also your brother with you, and arise and go again to the man. And God almighty give you mercy in the sight of the man and send you your other brother and also Ben Jamin, and I will be as a man robbed of his children.
     Thus took they the present and twice so much more money with them, and Ben Jamin. And rose up, went down to Egypt, and presented themselves to Joseph. When Joseph saw Ben Jamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house: bring these men home, and slay and make ready: for they shall dine with me at noon. And the man did as Joseph bade, and brought them in to Josephs house.
     When they were brought to Josephs house, they were afraid and said: because of the money that came in our sacks mouths at the first time, are we brought, to pick a quarrel with us and to lay some thing to our charge to bring us in bondage and our asses also. Therefore came they to the man that was the ruler over Josephs house, and communed with him at the door and said:
     Sir, we came hither at the first time to buy food, and as we came to an inn and opened our sacks: behold, every mans money was in his sack with full weight: But we have brought it again with us, and other money have we brought also in our hands, to buy food, but we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks. And he said: be of good cheer, fear not: Your God and the God of your fathers has put you that treasure in your sacks, for I had your money. And he brought Simeon out to them and led them into Josephs house, and gave them water to wash their feet, and gave their asses provender: And they made ready their present against Joseph came at noon, for they heard say that they should dine there. When Joseph came home, they brought the present into the house to him, which they had in their hands, and fell hat on the ground before him. And he welcomed them courteously saying: is your father that old man which you told me of, in good health? and is he yet alive? they answered: your servant our father is in good health, and is yet alive. And they bowed themselves and fell to the ground.
     And he lifted up his eyes and beheld his brother Ben Jamin his mothers son, and said: is this your youngest brother of whom you said unto me? And said: God be merciful unto you my son. And Joseph made haste (for his heart did melt upon his brother) and sought where to weep, and entered into his chamber, for to weep there. And he washed his face and came out and refrained himself, and bade set bread on the table.
     And they prepared for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians which ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians may not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians. And they sat before him: the eldest according unto his age, and the youngest according unto his youth. And the men marveled among themselves. And they brought rewards unto them from before him: but Ben Jamins part was five times so much as any of theirs. And they ate and they drank, and were drunk with him.

The 44th Chapter
     And he commanded the ruler of his house saying: fill the mens sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every mans money in his bag mouth, and put my silver cup in the sacks mouth of the youngest and his corn money also. And he did as Joseph had said. And in the morning as soon as it was light, the men were let go with their asses. And when they were out of the city and not yet far away, Joseph said unto the ruler of his house: up and follow after the men and overtake them, and say unto them: wherefore have you rewarded evil for good? is that not the cup of which my lord drinks, and does he not prophesy therein? you have evil done that you have done.
     And he overtook them and said the same words unto them. And they answered him: wherefore says my lord such words? God forbid that your servants should do so. Behold, the money which we found in our sacks mouths, we brought again unto you, out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of my lords house, either silver or gold? with whosoever of your servants it be found let him die, and let us also be my lords bondmen. And he said: Now therefore according unto your words, he with whom it is found, shall be my servant: but ye, shall be harmless.
     And at once every man took down his sack to the ground, and every man opened his sack. And he searched, and began at the eldest and left at the youngest. And the cup was found in Ben Jamins sack. Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass and went again unto the city. And Juda and his brethren came to Josephs house, for he was yet there, and they fell before him on the ground. And Joseph said unto them: what deed is this which you have done? knew you not that such a man as I can prophesy?
     Then said Juda: what shall we say unto my lord, what shall we speak or what excuse can we make? God has found out the wickedness of your servants. Behold, both we and he with whom the cup is found, are your servants. And he answered: God forbid that I should do so, the man with whom the cup is found, he shall be my servant: but go you in peace unto your father. Then Juda went unto him and said: oh my lord, let your servant speak a word in my lords ear, and be not wroth with your servant: for you are even as Pharao. My lord asked his servant saying: have you a father or a brother? And we answered my lord, we have a father that is old, and a young lad which he begat in his age: and the brother of the said lad is dead, and he is all that is left of that mother. And his father loves him. Then said my lord unto his servants bring him unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him. And we answered my lord, that the lad could not go from his father, for if he should leave his father, he were but a dead man. Then said you unto your servants: except your youngest brother come with you, look that you see my face no more.
     And when we came unto your servant our father, we showed him what my lord had said. And when our father said unto us, go again and buy us a little food: we said, that we could not go. Nevertheless if our youngest brother go with us then will we go, for we may not see the mans face, except our youngest brother be with us. Then said your servant our father unto us. you know that my wife bare me two sons. And the one went out from me and it is said of a surety that he is torn in pieces of wild beasts, and I saw him not since. If you shall take this also away from me and some misfortune happen upon him, then shall you bring my gray head with sorrow unto the grave.
     Now therefore when I come to your servant my father, if the lad be not with me: seeing that his life hangeth by the lads life, then as soon as he sees that the lad is not come, he will die. So shall we your servants bring the gray head of your servant our father with sorrow unto the grave. For I your servant became surety for the lad unto my father and said: if I bring him not unto you again. I will bear the blame all my life long. Now therefore let me your servant bide here for the lad, and be my lords bondman: and let the lad go home with his brethren. For how can I go unto my father, and the lad not with me: least I should see the wretchedness that shall come on my father.

The 45th Chapter
     And Joseph could no longer refrain before all them that stood about him, but commanded that they should go all out from him, and that there should be no man with him, while he uttered himself unto his brethren. And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians and the house of Pharao heard it. And he said unto his brethren: I am Joseph, does my father yet live? But his brethren could not answer him, for they were abashed at his presence. And Joseph said unto his brethren: come near to me, and they came near. And he said: I am Joseph your brother whom you sold into Egypt. And now be not grieved therewith, neither let it seem a cruel thing in your eyes, that you sold me here. For God did send me before you to save life. For this is the second year of dearth in the land, and five more are behind in which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.
     Wherefore God sent me before you to make provision, that you might continue in the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me here, but God: and he has made me father unto Pharao and lord over all his house, and ruler in all the land of Egypt. Haste you and go to my father and tell him, this says your son Joseph: God has made me lord over all Egypt. Come down unto me and tarry not. And you shall dwell in the land of Gosan and be by me: both you and your children, and your children's children: and your sheep, and beasts and all that you hast. There will I make provision for you: for there remain yet five years of dearth, least you and your household and all that you have perish.
     Behold, your eyes do see, and the eyes also of my brother Ben Jamin, that I speak to you by mouth. Therefore tell my father of all my honor which I have in Egypt and of all that you have seen, and make haste and bring my father here. And he fell on his brother Ben Jamins neck and wept, and Ben Jamin wept on his neck. Moreover he kissed all his brethren and wept upon them. And after that, his brethren talked with him. And when the tidings was come unto Pharaos house that Josephs brethren were come, it pleased Pharao well and all his servants.
     And Pharao spoke unto Joseph: say unto your brethren, this do ye: load your beasts and get you from this place , And when you be come unto the land of Canaan, take your father and your households and come unto me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land. And commanded also. This do ye: take chariots with you out of the land of Egypt, for your children and for your wives: and bring your father and come. Also, regard not your stuff, for the goods of all the land of Egypt shall be yours.
     And the children of Israel did even so, And Joseph gave them chariots at the commandment of Pharao, and gave them victual also to spend by the way. And he gave unto each of them change of raiment: but unto Ben Jamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of raiment. And unto his father he sent after the same manner: ten he asses laden with goods out of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn, bread and meat: to serve his father by the way. So sent he his brethren away, and they departed. And he said unto them: see that you fall not out by the way.
     And they departed from Egypt and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father, and told him saying. Joseph is yet alive and is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacobs heart wavered, for he believed them not. And they told him all the words of Joseph which he had said unto them. But when he saw the chariots which Joseph had sent to carry him, then his spirits revived. And Israel said: I have enough, if Joseph my son be yet alive: I will go and see him, before that I die.

The 46th Chapter
     Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came unto Berseba and offered offerings unto the God of his father Isaac. And God said unto Israel in a vision by night, and called unto him: Jacob, Jacob. And he answered: here am I. And he said: I am that mighty God of your father, fear not to go down into Egypt. For I will make of you there a great people. I will go down with you into Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph shall put his hand upon your eyes. And Jacob rose up from Berseba. And the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their children and their wives in the chariots which Pharao had sent to carry him. And they took their cattle and the goods which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt: both Jacob and all his seed with him, his sons and his sons sons with him: his daughters and his sons daughters and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.
     These are the names of the children of Israel which came into Egypt, both Jacob and his sons: Ruben Jacobs first son. The children of Ruben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron and Charmi. The children of Simeon: Jemuel, Jami, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar and Saul the son of a Cananitish woman. The children of Levi: Gerson, Kahas and Merari. The children of Juda: Er, Onan, Sela, Pharez and Zerah, but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The children of Pharez, Hezron, and Hamul. The children of Isachar: Tola, Phua, Job and Semson. The children of Zabulon: Sered, Elon and Jaheleel. These be the children of Lea which she bare unto Jacob in Mesopotamia with his daughter Dina. All these souls of his sons and daughters make thirty and three.
     The children of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Suni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi and Areli. The children of Asser: Jemna, Jesua, Jesui, Bria and Serah their sister. And the children of Bria were Heber and Malchiel. These are the children of Silpha whom Laban gave to Lea his daughter. And these she bare unto Jacob in number sixteen souls.
     The children of Rahel Jacobs wife: Joseph and Ben Jamin. And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born: Manasses and Ephraim which Asnath the daughter of Putiphar priest of On bare unto him. The children of Ben Jamin: Bela, Becher, Asbel, Gera, Naeman, Ehi, Ros, Mupim, Hupim and Ard. These are the children of Rahel which were born unto Jacob: fourteen souls altogether. The children of Dan: Husim. The children Nepthali: Jahezeel, Guni, Jezer and Sillem. These are the sons of Bilha which Laban gave unto Rahel his daughter, and she bare these unto Jacob, altogether seven souls. All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt which came out of his loins (besides his sons wives) were all together sixty and six souls. And the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt were: two souls. So that all the souls of the house of Jacob which came into Egypt are seventy.
     And he sent Juda before him unto Joseph that the way might be showed him unto Gosan, and they came into the land of Gosan. And Joseph made ready his chariot and went to meet Israel his father unto Gosan, and presented himself unto him, and fell on his neck and wept upon his neck a good while. And Israel said unto Joseph: Now I am content to die, insomuch I have seen you, that you are yet alive.
     And Joseph said unto his brethren and unto his fathers house: I will go and show Pharao and tell him: that my brethren and my fathers house which were in the land of Canaan are come unto me, and how they are shepherds (for they were men of cattle) and they have brought their sheep and their oxen and all that they have with them. If Pharao call you and ask you what your occupation is, say: your servants have been occupied about cattle, from our childhood unto this time: both we and our fathers, that you may dwell in the land of Gosan. For the Egyptians abhor all shepherds.

The 47th Chapter
     And Joseph went and told Pharao and said: my father and my brethren their sheep and their beasts and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan and are in the land of Gosan. And Joseph took a part of his brethren: even five of them, and presented them unto Pharao. And Pharao said unto his brethren: what is your occupation? And they said unto Pharao: shepherds are your servants, both we and also our fathers. They said moreover unto Pharao: for to sojourn in the land are we come, for your servants have no pasture for their sheep so sore is the famishment in the land of Canaan. Now therefore let your servants dwell in the land of Gosan.
     And Pharao said unto Joseph: your father and your brethren are come unto you. The land of Egypt is open before you: In the best place of the land make both your father and your brethren dwell: And even in the land of Gosan let them dwell. Moreover if you know any men of activity among them, make them rulers over my cattle. And Joseph brought in Jacob his father and set him before Pharao. And Jacob blessed Pharao. And Pharao asked Jacob, how old are you? And Jacob said unto Pharao: the days of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years. Few and evil have the days of my life been, and have not attained unto the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimages. And Jacob blessed Pharao and went out from him. And Joseph prepared dwellings for his father and his brethren, and gave them possessions in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land: even in the land of Rameses, as Pharao commanded. And Joseph made provision for his father, his brethren and all his fathers household, as young children are fed with bread.
     There was no bread in all the land, for the dearth was exceeding sore: so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan, were famished by the reason of the dearth. And Joseph brought together all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and he laid up the money in Pharaos house. When money failed in the land of Egypt and of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph and said: give us sustenance: wherefore allow you us to die before you: for our money is spent. Then said Joseph: bring your cattle, and I will give you for your cattle, if you be without money. And they brought their cattle unto Joseph. And he gave them bread for horses and sheep, and oxen and asses: so he fed them with bread for all their cattle that year.
     When that year was ended, they came unto him the next year and said unto him: we will not hide it from my lord, how that we have neither money nor cattle for my lord: there is no more left for my lord, but even our bodies and our lands. Wherefore let you us die before your eyes, and the land to go to nought? buy us and our lands for bread: and let both us and our lands be bond to Pharao. Give us seed, that we may live and not die, and that the land go not to waste.
     And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharao. For the Egyptians sold every man his land because the dearth was sore upon them: and so the land became Pharaos. And he appointed the people unto the cities, from one side of Egypt unto the other: only the land of the Priests bought he not. For there was an ordinance made by Pharao for the priests, that they should eat that which was appointed unto them: which Pharao had given them wherefore they sold not their lands.
     Then Joseph said unto the folk: behold I have bought you this day and your lands for Pharao. Take there seed and go sow the land. And of the increase, you shall give the fifth part unto Pharao, and four parts shall be your own, for seed to sow the field: and for you, and them of your households, and for your children, to eat. And they answered: You have saved our lives. Let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and let us be Pharaos servants. And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day: that men must give Pharao the fifth part, except the land of the priests only, which was not bond unto pharao.
     And Israel dwelt in Egypt: even in the country of Gosan. And they had their possessions therein, and they grew and multiplied exceedingly. Moreover Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years, so that the whole age of Jacob was an hundred and forty seven years.
     When the time drew nigh, that Israel must die: he sent for his son Joseph and said unto him: If I have found grace in your sight, put your hand under my thigh and deal mercifully and truly with me, that you bury me not in Egypt: but let me lie by my fathers, and carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their burial. And he answered: I will do as you have said. And he said: swear unto me. And he sware unto him. And then Israel bowed him unto the beds head.

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