אִם־כֵּנִ֣ים אַתֶּ֔ם אֲחִיכֶ֣ם אֶחָ֔ד יֵאָסֵ֖ר בְּבֵ֣ית מִשְׁמַרְכֶ֑ם וְאַתֶּם֙ לְכ֣וּ הָבִ֔יאוּ שֶׁ֖בֶר רַעֲב֥וֹן בָּתֵּיכֶֽם׃

If you are sincere and your story is true, one of your brothers shall be incarcerated as a guarantee in the place of your custody, and the rest of you, go bring grain for the hunger of your houses. If you indeed came to purchase food, your absence will not only be a source of sorrow for your families but will bring disaster upon them, as they will have no food.

וְאֶת־אֲחִיכֶ֤ם הַקָּטֹן֙ תָּבִ֣יאוּ אֵלַ֔י וְיֵאָמְנ֥וּ דִבְרֵיכֶ֖ם וְלֹ֣א תָמ֑וּתוּ וַיַּעֲשׂוּ־כֵֽן׃

Joseph expresses toward his brothers a measure of compassion tempered by caution: In his compassion he will permit them to return home, but in case they are spies he demands: Bring your youngest brother to me upon your next visit, and your statements will thereby be verified, and you shall not die from hunger or at the hand of my messengers. They did so. Joseph’s orders were followed: The brothers were given food like all other customers and were granted permission to leave.

וַיֹּאמְר֞וּ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־אָחִ֗יו אֲבָל֮ אֲשֵׁמִ֣ים ׀ אֲנַחְנוּ֮ עַל־אָחִינוּ֒ אֲשֶׁ֨ר רָאִ֜ינוּ צָרַ֥ת נַפְשׁ֛וֹ בְּהִתְחַֽנְנ֥וֹ אֵלֵ֖ינוּ וְלֹ֣א שָׁמָ֑עְנוּ עַל־כֵּן֙ בָּ֣אָה אֵלֵ֔ינוּ הַצָּרָ֖ה הַזֹּֽאת׃

Up to this point, the Torah has cited Joseph’s statements and his brothers’ replies; it has not related any conversations between the brothers themselves. Perhaps Joseph had them incarcerated in separate cells, and only now did they have the opportunity to talk to one another. Faced with such a baseless accusation, they felt pangs of conscience due to the trauma they remembered so well from years ago, when they sold their brother. They said one to another: But we are indeed guilty with regard to our brother, that we saw the anguish of his soul as he pleaded with us and we did not heed. We were all partners in Joseph’s sale. Benjamin, who was too young at the time, is not with us now either. Having been thrown into the prison dungeon by a force beyond their control, as a result of an unjust accusation, the brothers had a similar experience to that which they had inflicted upon Joseph. They now sensed that they were being punished for their sin, and they declared: For that, this anguish has befallen us as a punishment from Heaven.

וַיַּעַן֩ רְאוּבֵ֨ן אֹתָ֜ם לֵאמֹ֗ר הֲלוֹא֩ אָמַ֨רְתִּי אֲלֵיכֶ֧ם ׀ לֵאמֹ֛ר אַל־תֶּחֶטְא֥וּ בַיֶּ֖לֶד וְלֹ֣א שְׁמַעְתֶּ֑ם וְגַם־דָּמ֖וֹ הִנֵּ֥ה נִדְרָֽשׁ׃

Reuben responded to them, saying: Didn’t I say this to you at the time, saying: Do not sin against the child; and you did not heed my words? Now, behold, there is a divine reckoning for his blood. We caused his death, and now we are receiving our punishment.

וְהֵם֙ לֹ֣א יָֽדְע֔וּ כִּ֥י שֹׁמֵ֖עַ יוֹסֵ֑ף כִּ֥י הַמֵּלִ֖יץ בֵּינֹתָֽם׃

They did not know that Joseph understood. Although Joseph was standing there while they were talking, it did not occur to them they he might understand what they were saying. To them he was an Egyptian unfamiliar with their language, as the interpreter was between them and had been interpreting all their conversations with Joseph.

וַיִּסֹּ֥ב מֵֽעֲלֵיהֶ֖ם וַיֵּ֑בְךְּ וַיָּ֤שָׁב אֲלֵהֶם֙ וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם וַיִּקַּ֤ח מֵֽאִתָּם֙ אֶת־שִׁמְע֔וֹן וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ר אֹת֖וֹ לְעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃

He, Joseph, turned from them and wept profusely. And he then returned to them, back in his customary role as the Egyptian leader; he spoke to them, took Simeon from them, and incarcerated him before their eyes. They saw that Joseph’s commands were fulfilled. Simeon’s imprisonment would not be of short duration, since even if the brothers were to return without delay, the journey to Canaan and back would take a considerable time.

וַיְצַ֣ו יוֹסֵ֗ף וַיְמַלְא֣וּ אֶת־כְּלֵיהֶם֮ בָּר֒ וּלְהָשִׁ֤יב כַּסְפֵּיהֶם֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־שַׂקּ֔וֹ וְלָתֵ֥ת לָהֶ֛ם צֵדָ֖ה לַדָּ֑רֶךְ וַיַּ֥עַשׂ לָהֶ֖ם כֵּֽן׃

Joseph commanded his men that they fill their, his brothers’, vessels with grain, and restore each man’s silver to his sack. Due to his position of authority, Joseph could issue instructions that their payment for the produce should be placed in their sacks. And he gave orders to give them provisions for the way; and he, one of his attendants, did so for them. It is possible that they were not given food when they were incarcerated and had consumed some of their provisions. Joseph therefore provided them with new provisions.

וַיִּשְׂא֥וּ אֶת־שִׁבְרָ֖ם עַל־חֲמֹרֵיהֶ֑ם וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ מִשָּֽׁם׃

They loaded their grain that they had purchased onto their donkeys and went from there.

וַיִּפְתַּ֨ח הָאֶחָ֜ד אֶת־שַׂקּ֗וֹ לָתֵ֥ת מִסְפּ֛וֹא לַחֲמֹר֖וֹ בַּמָּל֑וֹן וַיַּרְא֙ אֶת־כַּסְפּ֔וֹ וְהִנֵּה־ה֖וּא בְּפִ֥י אַמְתַּחְתּֽוֹ׃

On their way back to Canaan, one of them opened his sack to give feed to his donkey at the lodging place. He saw his silver, and behold, it was in the opening of his sack.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֶל־אֶחָיו֙ הוּשַׁ֣ב כַּסְפִּ֔י וְגַ֖ם הִנֵּ֣ה בְאַמְתַּחְתִּ֑י וַיֵּצֵ֣א לִבָּ֗ם וַיֶּֽחֶרְד֞וּ אִ֤ישׁ אֶל־אָחִיו֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר מַה־זֹּ֛את עָשָׂ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים לָֽנוּ׃

He said to his brothers: My silver that I paid for the produce was returned, and behold, it is in my sack. Their hearts sank in shock, and they trembled one with another, saying: What is this that God has done to us? They could not understand how this had happened, and they sensed that the strange and unusual events had befallen them as a punishment for their sins.

וַיָּבֹ֛אוּ אֶל־יַעֲקֹ֥ב אֲבִיהֶ֖ם אַ֣רְצָה כְּנָ֑עַן וַיַּגִּ֣ידוּ ל֔וֹ אֵ֛ת כָּל־הַקֹּרֹ֥ת אֹתָ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר׃

They came to their father, Jacob, to the land of Canaan, and they told him all that had befallen them, saying:

דִּ֠בֶּר הָאִ֨ישׁ אֲדֹנֵ֥י הָאָ֛רֶץ אִתָּ֖נוּ קָשׁ֑וֹת וַיִּתֵּ֣ן אֹתָ֔נוּ כִּֽמְרַגְּלִ֖ים אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

The man, lord of the land, spoke harshly with us and accused us as spies of the land.

וַנֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו כֵּנִ֣ים אֲנָ֑חְנוּ לֹ֥א הָיִ֖ינוּ מְרַגְּלִֽים׃

For our part, we were honest, and we said to him: We are sincere; we have not been spies at any point in our lives.

שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֥ר אֲנַ֛חְנוּ אַחִ֖ים בְּנֵ֣י אָבִ֑ינוּ הָאֶחָ֣ד אֵינֶ֔נּוּ וְהַקָּטֹ֥ן הַיּ֛וֹם אֶת־אָבִ֖ינוּ בְּאֶ֥רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן׃

We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is absent, and the youngest is today with our father in the land of Canaan. This is what we said to the man.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלֵ֗ינוּ הָאִישׁ֙ אֲדֹנֵ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ בְּזֹ֣את אֵדַ֔ע כִּ֥י כֵנִ֖ים אַתֶּ֑ם אֲחִיכֶ֤ם הָֽאֶחָד֙ הַנִּ֣יחוּ אִתִּ֔י וְאֶת־רַעֲב֥וֹן בָּתֵּיכֶ֖ם קְח֥וּ וָלֵֽכוּ׃

The man, lord of the land, said to us: With this I shall know that you are sincere: One of your brothers leave with me, and take grain for the hunger of your households, and go.

וְ֠הָבִיאוּ אֶת־אֲחִיכֶ֣ם הַקָּטֹן֮ אֵלַי֒ וְאֵֽדְעָ֗ה כִּ֣י לֹ֤א מְרַגְּלִים֙ אַתֶּ֔ם כִּ֥י כֵנִ֖ים אַתֶּ֑ם אֶת־אֲחִיכֶם֙ אֶתֵּ֣ן לָכֶ֔ם וְאֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ תִּסְחָֽרוּ׃

Yet you must bring your youngest brother to me, and I shall thereby know that you are not spies, that you are sincere. I will then give you your brother, who is currently incarcerated, and you shall trade in the land. You will be permitted to buy grain and engage in business dealings in Egypt, like all other foreigners who bring commodities from their lands to sell them or exchange them for food. The brothers stressed to their father that Joseph had agreed to grant them full rights once they would be cleared of any suspicion.

וַיְהִ֗י הֵ֚ם מְרִיקִ֣ים שַׂקֵּיהֶ֔ם וְהִנֵּה־אִ֥ישׁ צְרוֹר־כַּסְפּ֖וֹ בְּשַׂקּ֑וֹ וַיִּרְא֞וּ אֶת־צְרֹר֧וֹת כַּסְפֵּיהֶ֛ם הֵ֥מָּה וַאֲבִיהֶ֖ם וַיִּירָֽאוּ׃

It was as they were emptying the grain from their sacks, and behold, they discovered that the money which one of them had found earlier was not an exceptional occurrence, as each man’s packet of silver was in his sack. They and their father saw their packets of silver that had been returned to them, and they were afraid.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ יַעֲקֹ֣ב אֲבִיהֶ֔ם אֹתִ֖י שִׁכַּלְתֶּ֑ם יוֹסֵ֤ף אֵינֶ֙נּוּ֙ וְשִׁמְע֣וֹן אֵינֶ֔נּוּ וְאֶת־בִּנְיָמִ֣ן תִּקָּ֔חוּ עָלַ֖י הָי֥וּ כֻלָּֽנָה׃

Jacob their father said to them: You have bereaved me. Although their father is unaware of the truth about their sale of Joseph, he hurls a general accusation at them: Joseph is not, and now Simeon is also not, as he is incarcerated, and Benjamin you will take. You want me to send Benjamin with you as well? I am still pained by Joseph’s disappearance. All of these are upon me. It is true that you too are affected by these misfortunes, but you are unable to share my grief fully, as these troubles fall chiefly upon me, their father.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר רְאוּבֵן֙ אֶל־אָבִ֣יו לֵאמֹ֔ר אֶת־שְׁנֵ֤י בָנַי֙ תָּמִ֔ית אִם־לֹ֥א אֲבִיאֶ֖נּוּ אֵלֶ֑יךָ תְּנָ֤ה אֹתוֹ֙ עַל־יָדִ֔י וַאֲנִ֖י אֲשִׁיבֶ֥נּוּ אֵלֶֽיךָ׃

Reuben, the firstborn, said to his father as the spokesman for all the sons, saying: Take my two sons as a guarantee until I bring Benjamin back to you, and kill my two sons if I do not bring him to you; place him, Benjamin, in my charge, and I will return him to you. I accept the responsibility of bringing him home safely.

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לֹֽא־יֵרֵ֥ד בְּנִ֖י עִמָּכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־אָחִ֨יו מֵ֜ת וְה֧וּא לְבַדּ֣וֹ נִשְׁאָ֗ר וּקְרָאָ֤הוּ אָסוֹן֙ בַּדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֵּֽלְכוּ־בָ֔הּ וְהוֹרַדְתֶּ֧ם אֶת־שֵׂיבָתִ֛י בְּיָג֖וֹן שְׁאֽוֹלָה׃

Presumably all of the brothers likewise made offers to guarantee Benjamin’s return, as they all wished to return to Egypt to free Simeon and to make matters right with the Egyptians, but Jacob resisted. He said: My youngest son shall not go down with you, for as you know, his brother is dead, and only he is left from his mother; and if disaster befalls him on the path on which you will go, then you will cause my old age to descend in sorrow to the grave. I will die from the terrible knowledge that Rachel’s two sons have been lost. Therefore, I will not let Benjamin leave my side.

וְהָרָעָ֖ב כָּבֵ֥ד בָּאָֽרֶץ׃

Jacob does not suggest how Simeon might be freed, nor how the family might find food. He simply expresses his fears and prefers to let matters stand as they are rather than accept the risks proposed by his sons. However, the famine was severe in the land.

וַיְהִ֗י כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר כִּלּוּ֙ לֶאֱכֹ֣ל אֶת־הַשֶּׁ֔בֶר אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֵבִ֖יאוּ מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם֙ אֲבִיהֶ֔ם שֻׁ֖בוּ שִׁבְרוּ־לָ֥נוּ מְעַט־אֹֽכֶל׃

It was when they finished the grain that they had brought from Egypt; their father said to them: Return to Egypt and acquire a little more food for us.

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר אֵלָ֛יו יְהוּדָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר הָעֵ֣ד הֵעִד֩ בָּ֨נוּ הָאִ֤ישׁ לֵאמֹר֙ לֹֽא־תִרְא֣וּ פָנַ֔י בִּלְתִּ֖י אֲחִיכֶ֥ם אִתְּכֶֽם׃

Although Judah was only the fourth son, his leadership qualities had already come to the fore at the time of the sale of Joseph. Since his status is comparable to that of a firstborn, Judah now addresses his father. Judah said to him, saying: The man in charge of the land explicitly forewarned us, saying: You shall not see my face, and you will not be permitted to buy anything here, unless your brother is with you.

אִם־יֶשְׁךָ֛ מְשַׁלֵּ֥חַ אֶת־אָחִ֖ינוּ אִתָּ֑נוּ נֵרְדָ֕ה וְנִשְׁבְּרָ֥ה לְךָ֖ אֹֽכֶל׃

Consequently, if you send our brother with us, we will go down to Egypt and acquire food for you.

וְאִם־אֵינְךָ֥ מְשַׁלֵּ֖חַ לֹ֣א נֵרֵ֑ד כִּֽי־הָאִ֞ישׁ אָמַ֤ר אֵלֵ֙ינוּ֙ לֹֽא־תִרְא֣וּ פָנַ֔י בִּלְתִּ֖י אֲחִיכֶ֥ם אִתְּכֶֽם׃

But if you do not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us: You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לָמָ֥ה הֲרֵעֹתֶ֖ם לִ֑י לְהַגִּ֣יד לָאִ֔ישׁ הַע֥וֹד לָכֶ֖ם אָֽח׃

Israel, Jacob, once again said: Why have you harmed me, to tell the man that you have another brother? What possible reason could there have been for you to have even mentioned your younger brother? Your unnecessary comment brought about all this trouble.

וַיֹּאמְר֡וּ שָׁא֣וֹל שָֽׁאַל־הָ֠אִישׁ לָ֣נוּ וּלְמֽוֹלַדְתֵּ֜נוּ לֵאמֹ֗ר הַע֨וֹד אֲבִיכֶ֥ם חַי֙ הֲיֵ֣שׁ לָכֶ֣ם אָ֔ח וַנַ֨גֶּד־ל֔וֹ עַל־פִּ֖י הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה הֲיָד֣וֹעַ נֵדַ֔ע כִּ֣י יֹאמַ֔ר הוֹרִ֖ידוּ אֶת־אֲחִיכֶֽם׃

They said: The man asked with regard to us and with regard to our provenance. He did not start by asking about our brother. First he engaged us in a general conversation about our background. However, during the ensuing investigation he approached the topic, saying: Is your father still alive? Although Joseph had his own reasons for this line of inquiry, from the brothers’ perspective it was a natural question, after they had told him that they were all brothers of a single father. He subsequently asked: Do you have another brother? We told him with regard to those matters, answering his questions honestly. Could we know that he would say: Bring your brother down? Had we suspected that he would issue such a demand, we would certainly have acted with greater caution.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוּדָ֜ה אֶל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל אָבִ֗יו שִׁלְחָ֥ה הַנַּ֛עַר אִתִּ֖י וְנָק֣וּמָה וְנֵלֵ֑כָה וְנִֽחְיֶה֙ וְלֹ֣א נָמ֔וּת גַּם־אֲנַ֥חְנוּ גַם־אַתָּ֖ה גַּם־טַפֵּֽנוּ׃

Judah said once again to Israel, his father, more firmly this time: Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, and we will live and not die, both we, and you, and our children. Our plight is serious.

אָֽנֹכִי֙ אֶֽעֶרְבֶ֔נּוּ מִיָּדִ֖י תְּבַקְשֶׁ֑נּוּ אִם־לֹ֨א הֲבִיאֹתִ֤יו אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ וְהִצַּגְתִּ֣יו לְפָנֶ֔יךָ וְחָטָ֥אתִֽי לְךָ֖ כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים׃

Finally, Judah promises his father: I will guarantee him and his safe return. From me you may solicit him; if I do not bring him to you and present him before you, I will have sinned to you forever, a blot that will never be wiped clean, neither in my lifetime nor after my death.

כִּ֖י לוּלֵ֣א הִתְמַהְמָ֑הְנוּ כִּֽי־עַתָּ֥ה שַׁ֖בְנוּ זֶ֥ה פַעֲמָֽיִם׃

Since, had we not tarried until now because you were unwilling to send Benjamin and we did not pressure you to do so, we would by now have traveled to Egypt and returned twice.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֜ם יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל אֲבִיהֶ֗ם אִם־כֵּ֣ן ׀ אֵפוֹא֮ זֹ֣את עֲשׂוּ֒ קְח֞וּ מִזִּמְרַ֤ת הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ בִּכְלֵיכֶ֔ם וְהוֹרִ֥ידוּ לָאִ֖ישׁ מִנְחָ֑ה מְעַ֤ט צֳרִי֙ וּמְעַ֣ט דְּבַ֔שׁ נְכֹ֣את וָלֹ֔ט בָּטְנִ֖ים וּשְׁקֵדִֽים׃

Their father Israel said to them: If so, then since there is no alternative, do this: Take of the choice produce of the land in your vessels and take a gift down to the man. A gift can soften even the hearts of nobles. Jacob suggests that they take superior produce that grows in Canaan but not in Egypt: a little balm, used for perfume or medicine that at the time was produced almost exclusively in the Jordan valley; a little honey; spices [ nekhot ], alternatively, some other luxury product; labdanum, a type of cosmetic; as well as pistachio nuts and almonds;

וְכֶ֥סֶף מִשְׁנֶ֖ה קְח֣וּ בְיֶדְכֶ֑ם וְאֶת־הַכֶּ֜סֶף הַמּוּשָׁ֨ב בְּפִ֤י אַמְתְּחֹֽתֵיכֶם֙ תָּשִׁ֣יבוּ בְיֶדְכֶ֔ם אוּלַ֥י מִשְׁגֶּ֖ה הֽוּא׃

take double the amount of silver in your hand, and the silver that was returned in the opening of your sacks return in your hand. Do not forget it, as they might remember it when you arrive and demand payment. Perhaps it was an oversight, and instead of putting your money away they accidentally placed it in your sacks together with the grain you purchased.

וְאֶת־אֲחִיכֶ֖ם קָ֑חוּ וְק֖וּמוּ שׁ֥וּבוּ אֶל־הָאִֽישׁ׃

And take your brother, Benjamin, and arise and return to the man.

וְאֵ֣ל שַׁדַּ֗י יִתֵּ֨ן לָכֶ֤ם רַחֲמִים֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הָאִ֔ישׁ וְשִׁלַּ֥ח לָכֶ֛ם אֶת־אֲחִיכֶ֥ם אַחֵ֖ר וְאֶת־בִּנְיָמִ֑ין וַאֲנִ֕י כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁכֹ֖לְתִּי שָׁכָֽלְתִּי׃

May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and he will send with you your other brother, Simeon, and Benjamin; and me, as I am bereaved, I am bereaved. If I experience another tragedy, so be it, as I am accustomed to tragedy.

וַיִּקְח֤וּ הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ אֶת־הַמִּנְחָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את וּמִשְׁנֶה־כֶּ֛סֶף לָקְח֥וּ בְיָדָ֖ם וְאֶת־בִּנְיָמִ֑ן וַיָּקֻ֙מוּ֙ וַיֵּרְד֣וּ מִצְרַ֔יִם וַיַּֽעַמְד֖וּ לִפְנֵ֥י יוֹסֵֽף׃

The men took that gift, and they took in their hand double the silver and Benjamin; they arose and went down to Egypt, and they stood before Joseph.