5. 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 7 [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. 8 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
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