The famine leaves Jacob no choice. Genesis 43 is the chapter where Judah pledges his life for Benjamin, Jacob releases his youngest son with the words “if I am bereaved, I am bereaved,” and the brothers return to Egypt where Joseph - barely composed - seats them at his table in birth order, stunning them into silence.
Full sung version coming soon.
Lyrics
The famine was severe in the land When they had eaten up the grain which they had brought out of Egypt Their father said to them go again buy us a little more food Judah spoke to him saying the man solemnly warned us saying
You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you If you will send our brother with us we will go down and buy you food But if you do not send him we will not go down For the man said to us you shall not see my face Unless your brother is with you
Israel said why did you treat me so badly telling the man That you had another brother? They said the man asked directly concerning ourselves And concerning our relatives saying Is your father still alive? Have you another brother? We just answered his questions
Is there any way we could know that he would say Bring your brother down? Judah said to Israel his father send the boy with me And we will get up and go so that we may live and not die Both we and you and also our little ones I will be collateral for him
From my hand will you require him If I do not bring him to you and set him before you Then let me bear the blame forever For if we had not delayed surely we would have returned A second time by now
Their father Israel said to them if it must be so then do this Take from the choice fruits of the land in your bags And carry down a present for the man A little balm a little honey spices and myrrh nuts and almonds And take double money in your hand
And take back the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks Perhaps it was an oversight Take your brother also get up and return to the man May God Almighty give you mercy before the man That he may release to you your other brother and Benjamin
If I am bereaved of my children I am bereaved The men took that present and they took double money in their hand And Benjamin and got up Went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph When Joseph saw Benjamin with them He said to the steward of his house
Bring the men into the house and butcher an animal and prepare For the men will dine with me at noon The man did as Joseph commanded and the man brought the men to Joseph’s house The men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph’s house And they said because of the money that was returned in our sacks The first time we are brought in
That he may seek occasion against us Attack us and seize us as slaves along with our donkeys They came near to the steward of Joseph’s house And they spoke to him at the door of the house Saying oh my lord we indeed came down the first time to buy food
And when we came to the lodging place we opened our sacks And behold each man’s money was in the mouth of his sack Our money in full weight
Listen
Genesis 43 sung by Psalm Selah. The whole Bible, one chapter at a time.