Best Stories from the Best Book: An Illustrated Bible Companion for the HomeWhite, James Edson
Religion
Best Stories from the Best Book: An Illustrated Bible Companion for the Home
White, James Edson
Bible -- History of Biblical events; Bible stories, English; Readers -- Bible
Joseph chose Simeon to remain because he had been the chief actor in
their cruelty to him in the past. They returned to their home with
heavy hearts.
When the food brought from Egypt was nearly gone, Jacob said to his
sons, "Go again, buy us a little food." But they dared not go unless
Benjamin should go with them. To this the father at last consented,
and they again went to Egypt, taking with them presents for the great
governor.
As they started, the sorrowful father raised his hands to heaven and
prayed, "God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send
away your elder brother, and Benjamin. If I am bereaved of my children,
I am bereaved."
When they reached Egypt, their brother Simeon was released, and all
were brought to dine at the house of the governor. According to the
customs of Egypt, Joseph must eat at a table by himself, and the eleven
brothers at a table by themselves. They had been jealous of Joseph in
his home, and he wanted to know if they had become better men. So he
sent five times as much food to Benjamin. They showed no jealousy now.
But Joseph desired to test them once more. So when the sacks were
filled with corn he had his silver drinking cup put secretly into
Benjamin's sack.
The eleven brothers departed joyfully, and felt that they had escaped
all the perils which they feared. But they had hardly left the city
when they were overtaken by the governor's steward.
He said to them, "Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?" He then
accused them of stealing the cup. They all denied taking it, and felt
so sure that they said if it was found with one of them he should die,
and all the rest would become servants of the governor.
But the steward would not agree to this. He said, "He with whom it is
found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless." So all the sacks
were opened, and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack.
What will the brothers do now? If still selfish, they will leave their
brother to his fate, and go back home. But no, they were changed men.
They would now face any peril to save their brother. They rent their
clothes to show their grief, and all went back with him to the city,
and met the governor.
Then Judah offered to become a slave in the place of Benjamin. This
test was enough. Joseph now _knew_ that his brothers were changed.
[Illustration: "I am Joseph, your brother."]
Did he make slaves of them because they had sold him into bondage when
he was a boy?
Find the forty-fifth chapter of Genesis and read what he did, and
how the king felt about it when he heard the news, and what became of
Joseph's brothers and their father's family.
[Illustration: Building the Pyramids]
[Illustration]
Moses.
AFTER the death of Joseph "there arose up a new king over Egypt, which
knew not Joseph." This king did not wish to remember the good that
Joseph had done.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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