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.

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.