Listening A1: Genesis Chapter 1 - Genesis 43

The big hunger was very bad in the country.

When they had eaten all the food they brought from Egypt, their father said to them, Go again, buy us a little food.

Judah said to him, The man told us that we cannot see him again unless our brother is with us.

If you let our brother go with us, we will go down and buy food for you.

But if you do not take him, we will not go down; the man said to us, You cannot see his face unless your brother is with you.

Israel said, Why did you do this bad thing to me and tell the man you have another brother?

They said, The man asked us many things about us and our family, asking, Is your father still living? Do you have another brother? We told him the truth. How could we know he would say, Bring your brother down?

Judah said to his father Israel, Send the boy with me, and we will go; we will live and not die, you, us, and our children.

Let me keep him for you; you may ask me for him from my hand. If I do not bring him back and let you see him, I will keep the blame forever.

If we had not stayed, we would already be back again.

Israel said, If this is so, take good fruit in your jars and carry a gift for the man.

Take a little balm, a little honey, spices, myrrh, nuts, and almonds.

Take double money in your hand, and the money that came back in your sacks carry again in your hand; maybe it was a mistake.

Also take your brother, and go again to the man.

May God give you mercy in front of the man, so he may let your other brother and Benjamin go.

If I lose my children, I lose them.

The men took the gift, the double money, and Benjamin, and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.

When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to his house manager, Bring the men into the house, and kill an animal, and make food; the men will eat with me at noon.

The man did as Joseph told him, and he brought the men to Joseph's house.

The men were afraid because they were brought to his house; they said, Because of the money that came back in our sacks the first time, we are brought in; maybe he will find a reason against us, take us, and make us his workmen, and take our donkeys.

They went near the house manager, and they spoke to him at the door.

They said, My lord, we came down the first time to buy food.

When we came to the place to sleep, we opened our sacks, and see, all the money was in the mouth of our sacks, the full weight. We brought it back in our hand.

We also brought other money to buy food; we do not know who put our money in our sacks.

He said, Peace be with you, do not fear. Your God and your father's God gave you treasure in your sacks; I had your money.

Then he brought Simeon out to them.

The man brought the men into Joseph's house, gave them water, and they washed their feet; he gave food to their donkeys.

They put the gift ready before Joseph came at noon; they heard they would eat bread there.

When Joseph came home, they gave him the gift they had, and they bowed to the ground before him.

He asked them how they were and said, Is your father well, the old man you spoke about? Is he still alive?

They said, Your servant, our father, is well; he is still alive. They bowed their heads and showed respect.

He lifted his eyes and saw Benjamin, his brother, his mother's son, and said, Is this your youngest brother, about whom you told me?

He said, God be good to you, my son.

Joseph hurried because his heart was full of love for his brother; he looked for a place to cry, and he went into his room and cried there.

He washed his face, came out, and held himself back, and said, Set the bread.

They set food for him alone, for them alone, and for the Egyptians who ate with him, alone; the Egyptians could not eat bread with the Hebrews because this was bad for the Egyptians.

They sat in front of him, the oldest by his birthright and the youngest by his age. The men were surprised with each other.

He took and sent food to them from before him, but Benjamin's plate had five times more than any of theirs.

They drank and were happy with him.