2.105
And thus did Reubel endeavor to persuade Joseph to have a better
opinion of them. But when he had learned from them that Jacob was alive,
and that his brother was not destroyed by them, he for the present put
them in prison, as intending to examine more into their affairs when he
should be at leisure. But on the third day he brought them out, and said
to them, "Since you constantly affirm that you are not come to do
any harm to the king's affairs; that you are brethren, and the sons of
the father whom you named; you will satisfy me of the truth of what you
say, if you leave one of your company with me, who shall suffer no injury
here; and if, when ye have carried corn to your father, you will come to
me again, and bring your brother, whom you say you left there, along with
you, for this shall be by me esteemed an assurance of the truth of what
you have told me." Hereupon they were in greater grief than before;
they wept, and perpetually deplored one among another the calamity of Joseph;
and said, "They were fallen into this misery as a punishment inflicted
by God for what evil contrivances they had against him." And Reubel
was large in his reproaches of them for their too late repentance, whence
no profit arose to Joseph; and earnestly exhorted them to bear with patience
whatever they suffered, since it was done by God in way of punishment,
on his account. Thus they spake to one another, not imagining that Joseph
understood their language. A general sadness also seized on them at Reubel's
words, and a repentance for what they had done; and they condemned the
wickedness they had perpetrated, for which they judged they were justly
punished by God. Now when Joseph saw that they were in this distress, he
was so affected at it that he fell into tears, and not being willing that
they should take notice of him, he retired; and after a while came to them
again, and taking Symeon note
in order to his being a pledge for his brethren's return, he bid them take
the corn they had bought, and go their way. He also commanded his steward
privily to put the money which they had brought with them for the purchase
of corn into their sacks, and to dismiss them therewith; who did what he
was commanded to do.
2.111
Now when Jacob's sons were come into the land of Canaan, they told
their father what had happened to them in Egypt, and that they were taken
to have come thither as spies upon the king; and how they said they were
brethren, and had left their eleventh brother with their father, but were
not believed; and how they had left Symeon with the governor, until Benjamin
should go thither, and be a testimonial of the truth of what they had said:
and they begged of their father to fear nothing, but to send the lad along
with them. But Jacob was not pleased with any thing his sons had done;
and he took the detention of Symeon heinously, and thence thought it a
foolish thing to give up Benjamin also. Neither did he yield to Reubel's
persuasion, though he begged it of him, and gave leave that the grandfather
might, in way of requital, kill his own sons, in case any harm came to
Benjamin in the journey. So they were distressed, and knew not what to
do; nay, there was another accident that still disturbed them more, - the
money that was found hidden in their sacks of corn. Yet when the corn they
had brought failed them, and when the famine still afflicted them, and
necessity forced them, Jacob did note
[not] still resolve to send Benjamin with his brethren, although there
was no returning into Egypt unless they came with what they had promised.
Now the misery growing every day worse, and his sons begging it of him,
he had no other course to take in his present circumstances. And Judas,
who was of a bold temper on other occasions, spake his mind very freely
to him: "That it did not become him to be afraid on account of his
son, nor to suspect the worst, as he did; for nothing could be done to
his son but by the appointment of God, which must also for certain come
to pass, though he were at home with him; that he ought not to condemn
them to such manifest destruction; nor deprive them of that plenty of food
they might have from Pharaoh, by his unreasonable fear about his son Benjamin,
but ought to take care of the preservation of Symeon, lest, by attempting
to hinder Benjamin's journey, Symeon should perish. He exhorted him to
trust God for him; and said he would either bring his son back to him safe,
or, together with his, lose his own life." So that Jacob was at length
persuaded, and delivered Benjamin to them, with the price of the corn doubled;
he also sent presents to Joseph of the fruits of the land of Canaan, balsam
and rosin, as also turpentine and honey. note
Now their father shed many tears at the departure of his sons, as well
as themselves. His concern was, that he might receive them back again safe
after their journey; and their concern was, that they might find their
father well, and no way afflicted with grief for them. And this lamentation
lasted a whole day; so that the old man was at last tired with grief, and
staid behind; but they went on their way for Egypt, endeavoring to mitigate
their grief for their present misfortunes, with the hopes of better success
hereafter.
2.120
As soon as they came into Egypt, they were brought down to Joseph:
but here no small fear disturbed them, lest they should be accused about
the price of the corn, as if they had cheated Joseph. They then made a
long apology to Joseph's steward; and told him, that when they came home
they found the money in their sacks, and that they had now brought it along
with them. He said he did not know what they meant: so they were delivered
from that fear. And when he had loosed Symeon, and put him into a handsome
habit, he suffered him to be with his brethren; at which time Joseph came
from his attendance on the king. So they offered him their presents; and
upon his putting the question to them about their father, they answered
that they found him well. He also, upon his discovery that Benjamin was
alive, asked whether this was their younger brother; for he had seen him.
Whereupon they said he was: he replied, that the God over all was his protector.
But when his affection to him made him shed tears, he retired, desiring
he might not be seen in that plight by his brethren. Then Joseph took them
to supper, and they were set down in the same order as they used to sit
at their father's table. And although Joseph treated them all kindly, yet
did he send a mess to Benjamin that was double to what the rest of the
guests had for their shares.
