Genesis 42:1-14

When Jacob learned there was food in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why are you standing around here staring at each other? I hear there is grain in Egypt; go there and buy some for us so we don’t all starve to death.” So Joseph’s ten half brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt, but Jacob did not send Joseph’s full brother Benjamin with them, because he feared something might happen to him. So Israel’s sons were among those who went to Egypt to buy grain, for the famine in the land of Canaan was severe. Now Joseph was the governor of the land of Egypt, which meant he supervised the sale of grain to all the people. One day, Joseph’s ten brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces on the ground. As soon as Joseph saw them, he realized that they were his brothers! But he pretended he didn’t know them and spoke to them harshly: “Where do you come from?” “From the land of Canaan,” they answered, “and we’re here to buy food.” Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they had no clue that it was Joseph speaking to them. Then at once, Joseph remembered the dreams he had about them bowing down before him! Pausing, he said to them, “You are spies! You’ve come to see where our land is weak!” His brothers replied, “No, master; we’ve come to buy food. We, your servants, are honest men; we’d never think of spying! We’re blood brothers, sons of one father.” Joseph interrupted, “No! You are spies who have come here to find our weakness!” “We are your servants,” they insisted. “We were twelve brothers, our youngest brother remained behind with our father, and one brother—well, he is no more.” Joseph said to them, “It’s just as I said; you are spies!

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