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Joseph's brothers return to Egypt

Joseph's brothers return to Egypt with Benjamin.
Contributed by FreeBibleimages
Story also available on our translated websites: Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Romanian, German, Hindi
1
The famine continued to ravage the land of Canaan. When the grain they had brought from Egypt was almost gone, Jacob said to his sons, ‘Go back and buy us a little more food.’ – Slide 1
2
Judah replied, ‘The man warned us that we had to bring Benjamin if we wanted to buy more food. Without him it will be a wasted journey.’ – Slide 2
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‘Why were you so cruel to me by telling him about Benjamin?’ Jacob moaned. ‘Send Benjamin with us,’ Judah replied. ‘I will personally be responsible for his safety.’ – Slide 3
4
Jacob finally agreed and told the brothers to pack their bags with the best products of their land as gifts. He also told them to take double the money that had been put back in their sacks. Jacob cried, ‘May God Almighty give you mercy so that this man will release Simeon and let Benjamin return.’ – Slide 4
5
The brothers packed gifts of balm, honey, gum, aromatic resin, pistachio nuts, and almonds. – Slide 5
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Then they headed off to Egypt taking Benjamin with them. – Slide 6
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When they finally arrived in Egypt Joseph saw that his younger brother Benjamin was with them. – Slide 7
8
Joseph spoke to his household manager, ‘These men will eat with me at noon. Take them to the palace. Then slaughter an animal, and prepare a big feast.’ The manager escorted the terrified brothers into Joseph’s palace. They feared they were going to be arrested and made into slaves. – Slide 8
9
As they entered the palace they pleaded with the manager, ‘When we returned after buying food on our last we discovered the amount of money each of us had paid was in the top of each of our sacks! We have brought the money back to repay you and we have additional money to buy more food. We have no idea who put our money in our sacks.’ – Slide 9
10
‘Relax. Don’t be afraid,” the household manager told them. ‘Your God, the God of your father, must have put this treasure into your sacks. I know I received your payment.’ – Slide 10
11
Then he released Simeon from prison and to join them. The brothers were told they would be eating with joseph at noon and they prepared their gifts for him. – Slide 11
12
 When Joseph arrived, they bowed and gave him their gifts. ‘How is your father, the old man you spoke about? Is he still alive?’ Joseph asked. They bowed low again and replied, ‘Our father, your servant, is alive and well.’ – Slide 12
13
Joseph looked at his brother Benjamin, the son of his own mother. ‘Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?” Joseph asked. ‘May God be gracious to you, my son.’ – Slide 13
14
Joseph was suddenly overcome with emotion and had to rush away to his private room where he broke down and wept. – Slide 14
15
After washing his face, he came back out, keeping himself under control. Then he ordered, ‘Bring out the food!’ – Slide 15
16
The brothers, to their amazement, were seated together in age order from youngest to oldest. Joseph ate in the same room but away from them. – Slide 16
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Their plates were filled with food but Benjamin was given five times as much as any of the others. – Slide 17
18
When his brothers were ready to leave, Joseph instructed his palace manager, ‘Fill each of their sacks with grain and put each man’s money back into his sack. Then put my personal silver cup at the top of the youngest brother’s sack, along with the money for his grain.’ – Slide 18
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The manager did as Joseph instructed him. – Slide 19
20
At dawn the next day, the brothers and were set off on the journey home. Their donkeys were loaded with grain. – Slide 20
21
When they had barely left the city, Joseph ordered his palace manager, ‘Chase after them and stop them. Ask them, ‘Why have you repaid my kindness with such evil?  Why have you stolen my master’s silver cup? What a wicked thing you have done!’ – Slide 21
22
When the palace manager caught up with the brothers they protested their innocence, but to their despair the silver cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. The brothers tore their clothing in grief and were escorted back to the palace. – Slide 22
23
‘What have you done?’ Joseph demanded. ‘My lord, How can we explain this?‘How can we prove our innocence? Judah pleaded. ‘God is punishing us for our sins. We have all returned to be your slaves.’ – Slide 23
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‘Only the man who stole the cup will be my slave, Joseph replied. The rest of you may go back to your father in peace.’ – Slide 24
25
Judah begged Joseph to listen to him. ‘We have a father who is an old man. He told us, “As you know, my wife had two sons and one of them went away and never returned. Doubtless he was torn to pieces by some wild animal. I have never seen him since. Now if you take his brother away from me, and any harm comes to him, you will send this grieving, white-haired man to his grave.”’ Judah continued pleading, ‘So please let me stay here as a slave instead of Benjamin. I couldn’t bear to see the anguish this would cause my father!’ – Slide 25
26
Joseph could stand it no longer. He sent to his attendants out of the room so he was alone with his brothers. Then he told them, ‘I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?’ His brothers were stunned and speechless. – Slide 26
27
‘Please, come closer,’ Joseph said to them. So they came closer. ‘I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt.  But don’t be upset, or angry with yourselves. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to save your lives from this famine. God has made me an adviser to Pharaoh. Weeping with joy, Joseph embraced Benjamin. – Slide 27
28
Then Joseph kissed each of his brothers and wept over them. ‘Now hurry back to my father and come down to me immediately!’ he told them. ‘You can live in the region of Goshen, where I will take care of you, for there are still five years of famine ahead. Otherwise you will starve.’ – Slide 28
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