2 Chronicles Chapter 3 (Index)

001  And the famine was sore in the land.

002  And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food.

003  And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.

004  If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food:

005  But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.

006  And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?

007  And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?

008  And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.

009  I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever:

010  For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.

011  And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:

012  And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight:

013  Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man:

014  And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.

015  And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.

016  And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon.

017  And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph's house.

018  And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.

019  And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house,

020  And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:

021  And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand.

022  And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks.

023  And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.

024  And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender.

025  And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there.

026  And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.

027  And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?

028  And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance.

029  And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son.

030  And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.

031  And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.

032  And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.

033  And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another.

034  And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.