וַתִּכְלֶ֕ינָה שֶׁ֖בַע שְׁנֵ֣י הַשָּׂבָ֑ע אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָיָ֖ה בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃

The seven years of plenty that was in the land of Egypt concluded.

וַתְּחִלֶּ֜ינָה שֶׁ֣בַע שְׁנֵ֤י הָרָעָב֙ לָב֔וֹא כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר אָמַ֣ר יוֹסֵ֑ף וַיְהִ֤י רָעָב֙ בְּכָל־הָ֣אֲרָצ֔וֹת וּבְכָל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם הָ֥יָה לָֽחֶם׃

The seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. In Egypt, which is mainly dependent not on rainfall but on an irrigation system whose source is the Nile, this transition was sharp. If for whatever reason the water level in the Nile falls lower than required, the land does not produce, resulting in famine. Furthermore, this was not merely a local problem in the mountains of Africa, which failed to provide enough water. Rather, there was famine in all lands, due to climate changes. But in all of the land of Egypt there was bread.

וַתִּרְעַב֙ כָּל־אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם וַיִּצְעַ֥ק הָעָ֛ם אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֖ה לַלָּ֑חֶם וַיֹּ֨אמֶר פַּרְעֹ֤ה לְכָל־מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ לְכ֣וּ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֔ף אֲשֶׁר־יֹאמַ֥ר לָכֶ֖ם תַּעֲשֽׂוּ׃

After private stores of food ran out and it became clear that the summer harvest produced a meager yield, all of the land of Egypt was hungry, and the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. The citizens’ direct and indirect complaints were directed at Pharaoh not only because he was their ruler, but also because they attributed divine qualities to him. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians: Go to Joseph, as he is in charge of dealing with your sustenance; what he says to you, you shall do. Pharaoh sought to spare himself, his ministers, and his close confidants the pressure of handling this problem. As soon as it became necessary to start distributing food in an organized manner, he directed all complaints to Joseph.

וְהָרָעָ֣ב הָיָ֔ה עַ֖ל כָּל־פְּנֵ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיִּפְתַּ֨ח יוֹסֵ֜ף אֶֽת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֤ר בָּהֶם֙ וַיִּשְׁבֹּ֣ר לְמִצְרַ֔יִם וַיֶּחֱזַ֥ק הָֽרָעָ֖ב בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃

The famine was on the entire face of the earth, outside Egypt as well, and therefore it was impossible to import food. And Joseph opened all that was in them, the storehouses, and sold grain to the Egyptians. It is unclear whether in the first stage Joseph bought the produce or whether he collected it as a tax. In any case, at this point he sells it. The famine was intensified in the land of Egypt, as the people had nothing to eat apart from the produce in Joseph’s granaries.

וְכָל־הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ בָּ֣אוּ מִצְרַ֔יְמָה לִשְׁבֹּ֖ר אֶל־יוֹסֵ֑ף כִּֽי־חָזַ֥ק הָרָעָ֖ב בְּכָל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

All the land, neighboring countries, came to Egypt to purchase grain from Joseph, for the famine was severe in all the land. Up to this point Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream had come to pass in full.

וַיַּ֣רְא יַעֲקֹ֔ב כִּ֥י יֶשׁ־שֶׁ֖בֶר בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יַעֲקֹב֙ לְבָנָ֔יו לָ֖מָּה תִּתְרָאֽוּ׃

Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, as Joseph sold produce not only to citizens of Egypt but to foreigners as well. Since Jacob and his sons were mainly shepherds, their distress was less immediate and apparent than that of their neighboring farmers. And therefore Jacob said to his sons: Why are you presenting yourselves? Do not display yourselves as exceptions to the general plight, lest hungry individuals surrounding us become envious of us or even attack us.

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הִנֵּ֣ה שָׁמַ֔עְתִּי כִּ֥י יֶשׁ־שֶׁ֖בֶר בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם רְדוּ־שָׁ֙מָּה֙ וְשִׁבְרוּ־לָ֣נוּ מִשָּׁ֔ם וְנִחְיֶ֖ה וְלֹ֥א נָמֽוּת׃

He said: Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and acquire grain for us from there that we will live and not die.

וַיֵּרְד֥וּ אֲחֵֽי־יוֹסֵ֖ף עֲשָׂרָ֑ה לִשְׁבֹּ֥ר בָּ֖ר מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃

Ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to acquire grain from Egypt. The more men who went down, the more produce they could carry back with them.

וְאֶת־בִּנְיָמִין֙ אֲחִ֣י יוֹסֵ֔ף לֹא־שָׁלַ֥ח יַעֲקֹ֖ב אֶת־אֶחָ֑יו כִּ֣י אָמַ֔ר פֶּן־יִקְרָאֶ֖נּוּ אָסֽוֹן׃

But Benjamin, Joseph’s brother on his mother’s side as well, Jacob did not send with his other brothers, as he said: Lest disaster befall him.

וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לִשְׁבֹּ֖ר בְּת֣וֹךְ הַבָּאִ֑ים כִּֽי־הָיָ֥ה הָרָעָ֖ב בְּאֶ֥רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן׃

The sons of Israel, Jacob, came to acquire grain among those others who came from Canaan to acquire grain in Egypt, as the famine was in the land of Canaan.

וְיוֹסֵ֗ף ה֚וּא הַשַּׁלִּ֣יט עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ ה֥וּא הַמַּשְׁבִּ֖יר לְכָל־עַ֣ם הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ אֲחֵ֣י יוֹסֵ֔ף וַיִּשְׁתַּֽחֲווּ־ל֥וֹ אַפַּ֖יִם אָֽרְצָה׃

Joseph was the ruler over the land; he was the provider of grain to all the people of the land. Joseph did not deal merely with the actual sale of food; he was also responsible for providing oversight of the entire process. This meant that he had to take political considerations into account when supplying produce in order to ensure that foreigners would not endanger the security of the country. Joseph’s brothers came, and when they saw the powerful minister they prostrated themselves to him, faces to the earth, like all the other purchasers.

וַיַּ֥רְא יוֹסֵ֛ף אֶת־אֶחָ֖יו וַיַּכִּרֵ֑ם וַיִּתְנַכֵּ֨ר אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם וַיְדַבֵּ֧ר אִתָּ֣ם קָשׁ֗וֹת וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ מֵאַ֣יִן בָּאתֶ֔ם וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ כְּנַ֖עַן לִשְׁבָּר־אֹֽכֶל׃

Joseph saw his brothers, and he recognized them. Although he had not seen them for over twenty years and their appearances had certainly changed, Joseph had no difficulty recognizing them, as they had all arrived together and wore their customary garments. But he acted as though he were a stranger to them and spoke harshly to them. Joseph used his authority in order to cause them difficulties. He said to them: From where did you come? They said, in complete innocence: From the land of Canaan to acquire food.

וַיַּכֵּ֥ר יוֹסֵ֖ף אֶת־אֶחָ֑יו וְהֵ֖ם לֹ֥א הִכִּרֻֽהוּ׃

Joseph recognized each of his brothers , but they did not recognize him, as he was older, his clothing had changed, his beard had grown, his hair was presumably cut in the Egyptian style, and everyone called him Tzafenat Paneah. Above all, the brothers presumably thought he had died, and they certainly did not expect him to have risen to a position of such prominence.

וַיִּזְכֹּ֣ר יוֹסֵ֔ף אֵ֚ת הַחֲלֹמ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר חָלַ֖ם לָהֶ֑ם וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ מְרַגְּלִ֣ים אַתֶּ֔ם לִרְא֛וֹת אֶת־עֶרְוַ֥ת הָאָ֖רֶץ בָּאתֶֽם׃

Joseph remembered the dreams that he had dreamed about them, as well as all the events that had followed those dreams, and he said to them: You are not mere purchasers of grain, but you are spies; to see the nakedness of the land you have come. You are foreign agents who have been sent to discover Egypt’s weaknesses.

וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ אֵלָ֖יו לֹ֣א אֲדֹנִ֑י וַעֲבָדֶ֥יךָ בָּ֖אוּ לִשְׁבָּר־אֹֽכֶל׃

They said to him, in all honesty: No, my lord, but your servants have come to acquire food.

כֻּלָּ֕נוּ בְּנֵ֥י אִישׁ־אֶחָ֖ד נָ֑חְנוּ כֵּנִ֣ים אֲנַ֔חְנוּ לֹא־הָי֥וּ עֲבָדֶ֖יךָ מְרַגְּלִֽים׃

We are all the sons of one man. Yes, we came as a group, but that is due to the fact that we are brothers, not because we are spies. We are sincere; your servants have not been spies. We are simple, honest folk who have never been involved in espionage.

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֑ם לֹ֕א כִּֽי־עֶרְוַ֥ת הָאָ֖רֶץ בָּאתֶ֥ם לִרְאֽוֹת׃

He said to them: No, I do not believe you, but the nakedness of the land you came to see. Your story sounds suspicious to me.

וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂר֩ עֲבָדֶ֨יךָ אַחִ֧ים ׀ אֲנַ֛חְנוּ בְּנֵ֥י אִישׁ־אֶחָ֖ד בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וְהִנֵּ֨ה הַקָּטֹ֤ן אֶת־אָבִ֙ינוּ֙ הַיּ֔וֹם וְהָאֶחָ֖ד אֵינֶֽנּוּ׃

The brothers, simple shepherds, were unsure how to defend themselves from the accusation of the Egyptian viceroy, who was responsible for the security of the entire realm. In their distress, they could do nothing other than tell the truth about themselves, even if the facts they offered had nothing to do with the matter at hand. They said: We, your servants, are twelve brothers, sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and behold, the youngest is with our father today, and one is absent.

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֖ם יוֹסֵ֑ף ה֗וּא אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבַּ֧רְתִּי אֲלֵכֶ֛ם לֵאמֹ֖ר מְרַגְּלִ֥ים אַתֶּֽם׃

Joseph said to them: That is what I spoke to you, saying: You are spies. Your detailed presentation is very convincing, but those very details may be used to expose you as skilled liars and cunning spies.

בְּזֹ֖את תִּבָּחֵ֑נוּ חֵ֤י פַרְעֹה֙ אִם־תֵּצְא֣וּ מִזֶּ֔ה כִּ֧י אִם־בְּב֛וֹא אֲחִיכֶ֥ם הַקָּטֹ֖ן הֵֽנָּה׃

With this you shall be put to the test: By Pharaoh’s life, you shall not depart from here unless your youngest brother comes here. Swearing on the life of Pharaoh is the most severe oath an Egyptian can utter. Joseph declared that they would not leave until their brother came; only in that way could he confirm their account.

שִׁלְח֨וּ מִכֶּ֣ם אֶחָד֮ וְיִקַּ֣ח אֶת־אֲחִיכֶם֒ וְאַתֶּם֙ הֵאָ֣סְר֔וּ וְיִבָּֽחֲנוּ֙ דִּבְרֵיכֶ֔ם הַֽאֱמֶ֖ת אִתְּכֶ֑ם וְאִם־לֹ֕א חֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔ה כִּ֥י מְרַגְּלִ֖ים אַתֶּֽם׃

Dispatch one of you, and he will take your brother from his land, and you shall be incarcerated, that your statements will be verified, whether there is truth with you; and if not, by Pharaoh’s life, you are spies. Joseph’s suggestion is based on the reasonable assumption that when spies are captured, those who sent them might try to rescue them, but not by sending an additional agent to directly confront their captors. Therefore, the arrival of their youngest brother would attest to their family ties and refute the charge of military espionage.

וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ף אֹתָ֛ם אֶל־מִשְׁמָ֖ר שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת יָמִֽים׃

He gathered them into custody, where they remained for three days.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֤ם יוֹסֵף֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י זֹ֥את עֲשׂ֖וּ וִֽחְי֑וּ אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים אֲנִ֥י יָרֵֽא׃

Joseph said to them on the third day: Do this and live, as I fear God. I am a fair man, and so far I cannot prove my suspicions.