Jacob, Joseph & Egypt

And all the abundance of grain was laid up in every city.

And there was so great abundance of wheat, that it was equal to the sand of the sea, and the plenty exceeded measure.

And before the famine came, Joseph had two sons born: whom Aseneth, the daughter of Putiphare, priest of Heliopolis, bore unto him.

And he called the name of the firstborn Manasses, saying: God hath made me to forget all my labours, and my father's house.

And he named the second Ephraim, saying: God hath made me to grow in the land of my poverty.

Now when the seven years of plenty that had been in Egypt were passed:

The seven years of scarcity, which Joseph had foretold, began to come: and the famine prevailed in the whole world, but there was bread in all the land of Egypt.

And when there also they began to be famished, the people cried to Pharao, for food. And he said to them: Go to Joseph: and do all that he shall say to you.

And the famine increased daily in all the land: and Joseph opened all the barns, and sold to the Egyptians: for the famine had oppressed them also.

And all provinces came into Egypt, to buy food, and to seek some relief of their want.

And Jacob hearing that food was sold in Egypt, said to his sons: Why are ye careless?

I have heard that wheat is sold in Egypt: Go ye down, and buy us necessaries, that we may live, and not be consumed with want.

So the ten brethren of Joseph went down, to buy corn in Egypt:

Whilst Benjamin was kept at home by Jacob, who said to his brethren: Lest perhaps he take any harm in the journey.

And they entered into the land of Egypt with others that went to buy. For the famine was in the land of Chanaan.

And Joseph was governor in the land of Egypt, and corn was sold by his direction to the people. And when his brethren had bowed down to him,

And he knew them, he spoke as it were to strangers, somewhat roughly, asking them: Whence came you? They answered: From the land of Chanaan, to buy necessaries of life.

And though he knew his brethren, he was not known by them.

And remembering the dreams, which formerly he had dreamed, he said to them: You are spies. You are come to view the weaker parts of the land.

But they said: It is not so, my lord; but thy servants are come to buy food.

We are all the sons of one man: we are come as peaceable men, neither do thy servants go about any evil.

And he answered them: It is otherwise: you are come to consider the unfenced parts of this land.

But they said: We thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Chanaan: the youngest is with our father, the other is not living.

He saith, This is it that I said: You are spies.

I shall now presently try what you are: by the health of Pharao, you shall not depart hence, until your youngest brother come.