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Hebrew Study Bible

1When Jacob heard there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, "Why are you looking at each other?"

1וַיַּ֣רְא יַעֲקֹ֔ב כִּ֥י יֶשׁ־ שֶׁ֖בֶר בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יַעֲקֹב֙ לְבָנָ֔יו לָ֖מָּה תִּתְרָאֽוּ׃

2He then said, "Look, I hear that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy grain for us so that we may live and not die."

2וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הִנֵּ֣ה שָׁמַ֔עְתִּי כִּ֥י יֶשׁ־ שֶׁ֖בֶר בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם רְדוּ־ שָׁ֙מָּה֙ וְשִׁבְרוּ־ לָ֣נוּ מִשָּׁ֔ם וְנִחְיֶ֖ה וְלֹ֥א נָמֽוּת׃

3So ten of Joseph's brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt.

3וַיֵּרְד֥וּ אֲחֵֽי־ יוֹסֵ֖ף עֲשָׂרָ֑ה לִשְׁבֹּ֥ר בָּ֖ר מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃

4But Jacob did not send Joseph's brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, "What if some accident happens to him?"

4וְאֶת־ בִּנְיָמִין֙ אֲחִ֣י יוֹסֵ֔ף לֹא־ שָׁלַ֥ח יַעֲקֹ֖ב אֶת־ אֶחָ֑יו כִּ֣י אָמַ֔ר פֶּן־ יִקְרָאֶ֖נּוּ אָסֽוֹן׃

5So Israel's sons came to buy grain among the other travelers, for the famine was severe in the land of Canaan.

5וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לִשְׁבֹּ֖ר בְּת֣וֹךְ הַבָּאִ֑ים כִּֽי־ הָיָ֥ה הָרָעָ֖ב בְּאֶ֥רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן׃

6Now Joseph was the ruler of the country, the one who sold grain to all the people of the country. Joseph's brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the ground.

6וְיוֹסֵ֗ף ה֚וּא הַשַּׁלִּ֣יט עַל־ הָאָ֔רֶץ ה֥וּא הַמַּשְׁבִּ֖יר לְכָל־ עַ֣ם הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ אֲחֵ֣י יוֹסֵ֔ף וַיִּשְׁתַּֽחֲווּ־ ל֥וֹ אַפַּ֖יִם אָֽרְצָה׃

7When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger to them and spoke to them harshly. He asked, "Where do you come from?" They answered, "From the land of Canaan, to buy grain for food."

7וַיַּ֥רְא יוֹסֵ֛ף אֶת־ אֶחָ֖יו וַיַּכִּרֵ֑ם וַיִּתְנַכֵּ֨ר אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם וַיְדַבֵּ֧ר אִתָּ֣ם קָשׁ֗וֹת וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ מֵאַ֣יִן בָּאתֶ֔ם וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ כְּנַ֖עַן לִשְׁבָּר־ אֹֽכֶל׃

8Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.

8וַיַּכֵּ֥ר יוֹסֵ֖ף אֶת־ אֶחָ֑יו וְהֵ֖ם לֹ֥א הִכִּרֻֽהוּ׃

9Then Joseph remembered the dreams he had dreamed about them, and he said to them, "You are spies; you have come to see if our land is vulnerable!"

9וַיִּזְכֹּ֣ר יוֹסֵ֔ף אֵ֚ת הַחֲלֹמ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר חָלַ֖ם לָהֶ֑ם וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ מְרַגְּלִ֣ים אַתֶּ֔ם לִרְא֛וֹת אֶת־ עֶרְוַ֥ת הָאָ֖רֶץ בָּאתֶֽם׃

10But they exclaimed, "No, my lord! Your servants have come to buy grain for food!

10וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ אֵלָ֖יו לֹ֣א אֲדֹנִ֑י וַעֲבָדֶ֥יךָ בָּ֖אוּ לִשְׁבָּר־ אֹֽכֶל׃

11We are all the sons of one man; we are honest men! Your servants are not spies."

11כֻּלָּ֕נוּ בְּנֵ֥י אִישׁ־ אֶחָ֖ד נָ֑חְנוּ כֵּנִ֣ים אֲנַ֔חְנוּ לֹא־ הָי֥וּ עֲבָדֶ֖יךָ מְרַגְּלִֽים׃

12"No," he insisted, "but you have come to see if our land is vulnerable."

12וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֑ם לֹ֕א כִּֽי־ עֶרְוַ֥ת הָאָ֖רֶץ בָּאתֶ֥ם לִרְאֽוֹת׃

13They replied, "Your servants are from a family of twelve brothers. We are the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. The youngest is with our father at this time, and one is no longer alive."

13וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂר֩ עֲבָדֶ֨יךָ אַחִ֧ים ׀ אֲנַ֛חְנוּ בְּנֵ֥י אִישׁ־ אֶחָ֖ד בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וְהִנֵּ֨ה הַקָּטֹ֤ן אֶת־ אָבִ֙ינוּ֙ הַיּ֔וֹם וְהָאֶחָ֖ד אֵינֶֽנּוּ׃

14But Joseph told them, "It is just as I said to you: You are spies!

14וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֖ם יוֹסֵ֑ף ה֗וּא אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבַּ֧רְתִּי אֲלֵכֶ֛ם לֵאמֹ֖ר מְרַגְּלִ֥ים אַתֶּֽם׃

15You will be tested in this way: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not depart from this place unless your youngest brother comes here.

15בְּזֹ֖את תִּבָּחֵ֑נוּ חֵ֤י פַרְעֹה֙ אִם־ תֵּצְא֣וּ מִזֶּ֔ה כִּ֧י אִם־ בְּב֛וֹא אֲחִיכֶ֥ם הַקָּטֹ֖ן הֵֽנָּה׃

16One of you must go and get your brother, while the rest of you remain in prison. In this way your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth. If not, then, as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!"

16שִׁלְח֨וּ מִכֶּ֣ם אֶחָד֮ וְיִקַּ֣ח אֶת־ אֲחִיכֶם֒ וְאַתֶּם֙ הֵאָ֣סְר֔וּ וְיִבָּֽחֲנוּ֙ דִּבְרֵיכֶ֔ם הַֽאֱמֶ֖ת אִתְּכֶ֑ם וְאִם־ לֹ֕א חֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔ה כִּ֥י מְרַגְּלִ֖ים אַתֶּֽם׃

17He imprisoned them all for three days.

17וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ף אֹתָ֛ם אֶל־ מִשְׁמָ֖ר שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת יָמִֽים׃

18On the third day Joseph said to them, "Do as I say and you will live, for I fear God.

18וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֤ם יוֹסֵף֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י זֹ֥את עֲשׂ֖וּ וִֽחְי֑וּ אֶת־ הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים אֲנִ֥י יָרֵֽא׃

19If you are honest men, leave one of your brothers confined here in prison while the rest of you go and take grain back for your hungry families.

19אִם־ כֵּנִ֣ים אַתֶּ֔ם אֲחִיכֶ֣ם אֶחָ֔ד יֵאָסֵ֖ר בְּבֵ֣ית מִשְׁמַרְכֶ֑ם וְאַתֶּם֙ לְכ֣וּ הָבִ֔יאוּ שֶׁ֖בֶר רַעֲב֥וֹן בָּתֵּיכֶֽם׃

20But you must bring your youngest brother to me. Then your words will be verified and you will not die." They did as he said.

20וְאֶת־ אֲחִיכֶ֤ם הַקָּטֹן֙ תָּבִ֣יאוּ אֵלַ֔י וְיֵאָמְנ֥וּ דִבְרֵיכֶ֖ם וְלֹ֣א תָמ֑וּתוּ וַיַּעֲשׂוּ־ כֵֽן׃

21They said to one other, "Surely we're being punished because of our brother, because we saw how distressed he was when he cried to us for mercy, but we refused to listen. That is why this distress has come on us!"

21וַיֹּאמְר֞וּ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־ אָחִ֗יו אֲבָל֮ אֲשֵׁמִ֣ים ׀ אֲנַחְנוּ֮ עַל־ אָחִינוּ֒ אֲשֶׁ֨ר רָאִ֜ינוּ צָרַ֥ת נַפְשׁ֛וֹ בְּהִתְחַֽנְנ֥וֹ אֵלֵ֖ינוּ וְלֹ֣א שָׁמָ֑עְנוּ עַל־ כֵּן֙ בָּ֣אָה אֵלֵ֔ינוּ הַצָּרָ֖ה הַזֹּֽאת׃

22Reuben said to them, "Didn't I say to you, 'Don't sin against the boy,' but you wouldn't listen? So now we must pay for shedding his blood!"

22וַיַּעַן֩ רְאוּבֵ֨ן אֹתָ֜ם לֵאמֹ֗ר הֲלוֹא֩ אָמַ֨רְתִּי אֲלֵיכֶ֧ם ׀ לֵאמֹ֛ר אַל־ תֶּחֶטְא֥וּ בַיֶּ֖לֶד וְלֹ֣א שְׁמַעְתֶּ֑ם וְגַם־ דָּמ֖וֹ הִנֵּ֥ה נִדְרָֽשׁ׃

23(Now they did not know that Joseph could understand them, for he was speaking through an interpreter.)

23וְהֵם֙ לֹ֣א יָֽדְע֔וּ כִּ֥י שֹׁמֵ֖עַ יוֹסֵ֑ף כִּ֥י הַמֵּלִ֖יץ בֵּינֹתָֽם׃

24He turned away from them and wept. When he turned around and spoke to them again, he had Simeon taken from them and tied up before their eyes.

24וַיִּסֹּ֥ב מֵֽעֲלֵיהֶ֖ם וַיֵּ֑בְךְּ וַיָּ֤שָׁב אֲלֵהֶם֙ וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם וַיִּקַּ֤ח מֵֽאִתָּם֙ אֶת־ שִׁמְע֔וֹן וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ר אֹת֖וֹ לְעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃

25Then Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to return each man's money to his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. His orders were carried out.

25וַיְצַ֣ו יוֹסֵ֗ף וַיְמַלְא֣וּ אֶת־ כְּלֵיהֶם֮ בָּר֒ וּלְהָשִׁ֤יב כַּסְפֵּיהֶם֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־ שַׂקּ֔וֹ וְלָתֵ֥ת לָהֶ֛ם צֵדָ֖ה לַדָּ֑רֶךְ וַיַּ֥עַשׂ לָהֶ֖ם כֵּֽן׃

26So they loaded their grain on their donkeys and left.

26וַיִּשְׂא֥וּ אֶת־ שִׁבְרָ֖ם עַל־ חֲמֹרֵיהֶ֑ם וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ מִשָּֽׁם׃

27When one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey at their resting place, he saw his money in the mouth of his sack.

27וַיִּפְתַּ֨ח הָאֶחָ֜ד אֶת־ שַׂקּ֗וֹ לָתֵ֥ת מִסְפּ֛וֹא לַחֲמֹר֖וֹ בַּמָּל֑וֹן וַיַּרְא֙ אֶת־ כַּסְפּ֔וֹ וְהִנֵּה־ ה֖וּא בְּפִ֥י אַמְתַּחְתּֽוֹ׃

28He said to his brothers, "My money was returned! Here it is in my sack!" They were dismayed; they turned trembling one to another and said, "What in the world has God done to us?"

28וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֶל־ אֶחָיו֙ הוּשַׁ֣ב כַּסְפִּ֔י וְגַ֖ם הִנֵּ֣ה בְאַמְתַּחְתִּ֑י וַיֵּצֵ֣א לִבָּ֗ם וַיֶּֽחֶרְד֞וּ אִ֤ישׁ אֶל־ אָחִיו֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר מַה־ זֹּ֛את עָשָׂ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים לָֽנוּ׃

29They returned to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan and told him all the things that had happened to them, saying,

29וַיָּבֹ֛אוּ אֶל־ יַעֲקֹ֥ב אֲבִיהֶ֖ם אַ֣רְצָה כְּנָ֑עַן וַיַּגִּ֣ידוּ ל֔וֹ אֵ֛ת כָּל־ הַקֹּרֹ֥ת אֹתָ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר׃

30"The man, the lord of the land, spoke harshly to us and treated us as if we were spying on the land.

30דִּ֠בֶּר הָאִ֨ישׁ אֲדֹנֵ֥י הָאָ֛רֶץ אִתָּ֖נוּ קָשׁ֑וֹת וַיִּתֵּ֣ן אֹתָ֔נוּ כִּֽמְרַגְּלִ֖ים אֶת־ הָאָֽרֶץ׃

31But we said to him, 'We are honest men; we are not spies!

31וַנֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו כֵּנִ֣ים אֲנָ֑חְנוּ לֹ֥א הָיִ֖ינוּ מְרַגְּלִֽים׃

32We are from a family of twelve brothers; we are the sons of one father. One is no longer alive, and the youngest is with our father at this time in the land of Canaan.'

32שְׁנֵים־ עָשָׂ֥ר אֲנַ֛חְנוּ אַחִ֖ים בְּנֵ֣י אָבִ֑ינוּ הָאֶחָ֣ד אֵינֶ֔נּוּ וְהַקָּטֹ֥ן הַיּ֛וֹם אֶת־ אָבִ֖ינוּ בְּאֶ֥רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן׃

33"Then the man, the lord of the land, said to us, 'This is how I will find out if you are honest men. Leave one of your brothers with me, and take grain for your hungry households and go.

33וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלֵ֗ינוּ הָאִישׁ֙ אֲדֹנֵ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ בְּזֹ֣את אֵדַ֔ע כִּ֥י כֵנִ֖ים אַתֶּ֑ם אֲחִיכֶ֤ם הָֽאֶחָד֙ הַנִּ֣יחוּ אִתִּ֔י וְאֶת־ רַעֲב֥וֹן בָּתֵּיכֶ֖ם קְח֥וּ וָלֵֽכוּ׃

34But bring your youngest brother back to me so I will know that you are honest men and not spies. Then I will give your brother back to you and you may move about freely in the land.'"

34וְ֠הָבִיאוּ אֶת־ אֲחִיכֶ֣ם הַקָּטֹן֮ אֵלַי֒ וְאֵֽדְעָ֗ה כִּ֣י לֹ֤א מְרַגְּלִים֙ אַתֶּ֔ם כִּ֥י כֵנִ֖ים אַתֶּ֑ם אֶת־ אֲחִיכֶם֙ אֶתֵּ֣ן לָכֶ֔ם וְאֶת־ הָאָ֖רֶץ תִּסְחָֽרוּ׃

35When they were emptying their sacks, there was each man's bag of money in his sack! When they and their father saw the bags of money, they were afraid.

35וַיְהִ֗י הֵ֚ם מְרִיקִ֣ים שַׂקֵּיהֶ֔ם וְהִנֵּה־ אִ֥ישׁ צְרוֹר־ כַּסְפּ֖וֹ בְּשַׂקּ֑וֹ וַיִּרְא֞וּ אֶת־ צְרֹר֧וֹת כַּסְפֵּיהֶ֛ם הֵ֥מָּה וַאֲבִיהֶ֖ם וַיִּירָֽאוּ׃

36Their father Jacob said to them, "You are making me childless! Joseph is gone. Simeon is gone. And now you want to take Benjamin! Everything is against me."

36וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ יַעֲקֹ֣ב אֲבִיהֶ֔ם אֹתִ֖י שִׁכַּלְתֶּ֑ם יוֹסֵ֤ף אֵינֶ֙נּוּ֙ וְשִׁמְע֣וֹן אֵינֶ֔נּוּ וְאֶת־ בִּנְיָמִ֣ן תִּקָּ֔חוּ עָלַ֖י הָי֥וּ כֻלָּֽנָה׃

37Then Reuben said to his father, "You may put my two sons to death if I do not bring him back to you. Put him in my care and I will bring him back to you."

37וַיֹּ֤אמֶר רְאוּבֵן֙ אֶל־ אָבִ֣יו לֵאמֹ֔ר אֶת־ שְׁנֵ֤י בָנַי֙ תָּמִ֔ית אִם־ לֹ֥א אֲבִיאֶ֖נּוּ אֵלֶ֑יךָ תְּנָ֤ה אֹתוֹ֙ עַל־ יָדִ֔י וַאֲנִ֖י אֲשִׁיבֶ֥נּוּ אֵלֶֽיךָ׃

38But Jacob replied, "My son will not go down there with you, for his brother is dead and he alone is left. If an accident happens to him on the journey you have to make, then you will bring down my gray hair in sorrow to the grave."

38וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לֹֽא־ יֵרֵ֥ד בְּנִ֖י עִמָּכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־ אָחִ֨יו מֵ֜ת וְה֧וּא לְבַדּ֣וֹ נִשְׁאָ֗ר וּקְרָאָ֤הוּ אָסוֹן֙ בַּדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֵּֽלְכוּ־ בָ֔הּ וְהוֹרַדְתֶּ֧ם אֶת־ שֵׂיבָתִ֛י בְּיָג֖וֹן שְׁאֽוֹלָה׃

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