The Brothers Bow

1When Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, “Why do you keep looking at one another?”

2He said, “Look, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us from there, so that we may live and not die.”

3So Joseph’s ten brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt.

4But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with his brothers, for he said, “Lest harm happen to him.”

5So the sons of Israel came to buy grain among those who were coming, because the famine was in the land of Canaan.

6Joseph was the ruler over the land; he was the one who sold grain to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.

7When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he acted like a stranger toward them and spoke harshly with them. He said to them, “Where have you come from?” And they said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.”

8Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.

9Then Joseph remembered the dreams that he had dreamed about them, and he said to them, “You are spies; you have come to see the nakedness of the land.”

10But they said to him, “No, my lord; your servants have come to buy food.”

11We are all sons of one man. We are honest; your servants have not been spies.

12But he said to them, “No, but you have come to see the nakedness of the land.”

13And 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 no more.”

14Joseph said to them, “It is as I said to you, saying, ‘You are spies.’”

15By this you will be tested: as Pharaoh lives, you shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here.

16Send one of you, and let him bring your brother, while you remain confined, so that your words may be tested, whether the truth is with you. But if not, as Pharaoh lives, surely you are spies.

17And he put them in custody for three days.