saw and knew his brethren, but would not let it appear he knew them. He spoke to them roughly; asked them where they came from,-and they told him from the land of Canaan, to buy food.

Then Joseph accused them of being spies come to see the nakedness of the land. They answered, "Thy servants are no spies; we are one man's children, twelve brethren; the youngest is this day with our father, and one is dead."

And Joseph repeated his accusation of their being spies, saying, "Thus shall it be proved: ye must not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither: send one of you to fetch him, and you shall be bound the meanwhile, in order that your words may be proved that you are no spies."

And he confined them for three days; and on the third day Joseph came to them again, saying, “If ye be true men, let one of your brethren, be bound in the house of your prison, while ye go carry corn for the famine of your houses; but bring your youngest brother unto me, so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die." And they did so.

Then it was that their consciences smote them, and they remembered their cruel conduct to their brother Joseph, how that when he begged for pity, they would not hear him; and they thought God was thus punishing them.

Now they did not know that Joseph understood their language, as he always spoke to them through an interpreter.

And he took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes. Then Joseph commanded his servants to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money to

his sack, and to give provision for the way. And when they had laden their asses with the corn, they departed.

And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender at the inn, he espied his money, for it was in the mouth of the sack; and he told his brethren, and their hearts failed them; and they were afraid, saying one to another, "What is this that God hath done unto us?"

So when they came to Jacob their father, in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had taken place, how the lord of the country had kept one of them as an hostage, 'till they brought their youngest brother, to prove they were not spies.

And as they emptied their sacks, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack. When they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid.

Their father Jacob said unto them, "Me have ye bereaved of my two children, and now ye want to take away Benjamin."

Reuben, who was the eldest, said unto his father, "Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee again;" but Jacob replied, "My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone; if any mischief befal him by the way, ye will bring down my grey hairs with sorrow to the grave.

The famine, however, continuing in Canaan, and they having eaten up all their corn, Jacob again told his sons to go down into Egypt and get more; but Judah told him how useless it would be, unless they took with them their brother Benjamin,-repeating what the lord of the country

had said "That he would not see their faces, unless they brought their youngest brother with them."

At last, after much entreaty, their father consented, telling them to take presents to the man of the commodities of the place, a little balm, honey, spices, myrrh, nuts, and almonds; and to take double money in their hands, and also the money that they brought in the mouth of their sacks; as it might have been a mistake.

So they went down with Benjamin to Egypt, and stood before Joseph. When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he told one of his servants to take them home to his house, and make ready; as he intended these men should dine

with him at noon.

Now his brethren did not understand what Joseph had told the servant, and were much afraid when they were taken down to his house, that he intended to punish them for the money being in their sacks' mouths, and that he would make slaves of them. They therefore spoke with the steward at the door of the house, saying, "We came down, indeed, at first to buy food," and then told him how they had found the money in their sacks; but they had brought it back, and other money to buy more corn.

The steward told them not to fear, that God had given them treasure in their sacks, for that he had had their money.

And he brought Simeon out unto them, and gave them water to wash their feet; which was an eastern custom before meals.

And also food for their asses; and every thing was made ready against Joseph came home at noon.

When Joseph came, they presented unto him the gifts

they had brought with them, and bowed themselves down to the ground.

And he asked them of their father, if he was well; they answered, “Thy servant our father is in good health," and bowed again.

Now when Joseph looked up and saw Benjamin, his brother, he was much affected, and was obliged to retire to his chamber; and there, we are told, he wept.

He then washed his face, and went out unto them, but he did not let them see how he was affected; and told his servants "to set on bread;" they then set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians who did eat with him, by themselves. For the Egyptians

were not allowed to eat bread with the Hebrews.

And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth," which caused the brethren to marvel much at one another.

And he sent messes to them from his own table, but Benjamin's mess was five times as much as any of the others; and they ate, drank, and were merry.'

Joseph called his steward, and told him to fill the men's sacks with as much food as they could carry, and to put every man's money in his sack's mouth. And to put his silver cup in the sack's mouth of the youngest, and also his money with it; and the steward did as Joseph had commanded him.

As soon as the morning was light, they started on their journey homeward. They had hardly got out of the city, when a messenger came running after them in great haste; when he came up, he accused them of having taken away

his lord's silver cup; but they, being confident in their own minds it must be a mistake, told the messenger to search, and that on whomsoever it should be found, "let him die," and the others would be bondsmen to his lord..

Then began they to search their sacks, beginning at the eldest, and when they came to Benjamin's sack, there the cup was found; their surprise and grief were indescribable, * they reloaded their asses, and

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returned to the city. They were then brought before Joseph, who said What is this that ye have done? did ye not think a man like me could divine?" (or find you out.) Judah could hardly make any answer for grief,―at last he told him God had found out their wickedness, and they offered all to be Joseph's servants; but Joseph said, God forbid that I should do so, no, he on whom the cup was found, he shall be my servant; get ye home in peace unto your father."

Then Judah came near unto him, and requested to be allowed to speak again, saying, “My lord asked his servants, when we first came, have ye a father or a brother? and we said, 'We have a father, an old man; and also a child of his old age, a little one: his brother is dead, and he is left alone with his father,—his father loveth him dearly.” And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may see him.' We said, 'The lad cannot leave his father, Then thou saidst unto thy servants, Except ye bring your brother, ye shall see my face no more.' We told thy words unto our father, when he wanted us to buy more food, who said to us, 'Ye know that my wife bare me two sons, one went out from me and was torn in

or he will die.'

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