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full weight; also other money to buy food, and added, “We cannot tell
who put the money in our sacks.”
“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.
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And he brought Simeon out unto them.” The words of the steward
relieved their anxiety, and they thought God was indeed gracious unto
them, as their father had entreated he would be.
When Joseph came home, his brethren gave him the present in the
name of their father, “and they bowed themselves to him to the earth.”
“And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the
old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive? And they answered, Thy
servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed
down their heads and made obeisance. 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. 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. And he washed his face, and went
out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.”
Joseph did not eat at the same table with his brethren, for the
Egyptians considered it an abomination for them to eat bread with the
Hebrews. Joseph placed his brethren at the table, as was customary
when their ages were known, commencing with the eldest, according
to his birthright, arranging them in order down to the youngest, as
though he perfectly knew their ages. His brethren were astonished at
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this act of Joseph, whom they thought could have no knowledge of
their ages.
As he sent a portion of food to each of his brethren, he sent Ben-
jamin five times as much as the others. He did this not only to show his
particular regard for his brother Benjamin, but to prove them, and see if
they regarded Benjamin with the same envious feelings they had him.
They thought that Joseph did not understand their language, and were
free to converse with one another in his presence; therefore Joseph had
a good opportunity to learn the true state of their feelings without their
knowledge. Joseph again commanded to provide his brethren with
food, as much as they could carry, and to put every man’s money in his
sack’s mouth, and to place his silver cup in the sack of the youngest.
When his brethren were gone out of the city, Joseph sent his steward