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Joseph's brothers visit Egypt

Jacob sends 10 sons to Egypt to buy grain.
Contributed by Sweet Publishing
Story also available on our translated websites: Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Romanian, German, French, Hindi, Simplified Chinese
1
When Jacob heard that grain was available in Egypt, he said to his sons, ‘Go and buy enough grain to keep us alive. Otherwise we’ll die.’ But Jacob wouldn’t let Joseph’s younger brother, Benjamin, go with them, fearing some harm might come to him. – Slide 1
2
Since Joseph was governor of Egypt and in charge of selling grain, the brothers reported to him. When they arrived, they bowed before him with their faces to the ground. Joseph recognised his brothers instantly, but he pretended not to know them. ‘Where are you from?’ he demanded. ‘From the land of Canaan,’ they replied. – Slide 2
3
Joseph accused them of being spies.‘No, my lord!’ they protested. ‘Your servants have simply come to buy food. We are all brothers of the same family. Our youngest brother is back in Canaan.’ ‘You are spies!’ Joseph insisted. – Slide 3
4
‘I swear by the life of Pharaoh that you will never leave Egypt unless your youngest brother comes here! One of you must go and get your brother. I’ll keep the rest of you here in prison. Then we’ll find out whether or not your story is true.’ – Slide 4
5
 So Joseph put them all in prison for three days.  – Slide 5
6
On the third day Joseph said to them, ‘I am a God-fearing man. Do as I say and you will live. One of you must remain in prison. The rest may go home with grain. But you must bring your youngest brother back to me to prove that you are telling the truth’. The brothers agreed. – Slide 6
7
The brothers spoke among themselves. ‘We are being punished because of what we did to Joseph long ago. We saw his anguish when he pleaded for his life, but we wouldn’t listen. That’s why we’re in this trouble.’‘Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy?’ Reuben asked. ‘But you wouldn’t listen. Now we have to answer for his blood!’ – Slide 7
8
They did not know that Joseph could understand all they were saying as they had been speaking through an interpreter. Joseph turned away from them and began to weep. – Slide 8
9
When Joseph regained his composure, he chose Simeon and had him tied up right before their eyes and taken to prison. – Slide 9
10
Joseph then ordered his servants to fill the men’s sacks with grain. He also gave them supplies for the journey home. – Slide 10
11
Joseph also gave secret instructions to return each brother’s payment at the top of his sack. The brothers set off back to Canaan. – Slide 11
12
When they stopped for the night they discovered the money in the top of the sacks. Then their hearts sank. Trembling, they said to each other, ‘What has God done to us?’ – Slide 12
13
When they got home they told Jacob all that had happened. Jacob was also terrified when he saw the returned money. ‘You are robbing me of my children!’ he cried. ‘Joseph is gone! Simeon is gone! And now you want to take Benjamin, too. Everything is going against me! Benjamin will not go to Egypt with you. His brother Joseph is dead, and he is all I have left.’ – Slide 13
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Slide 14