按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Joseph and his reluctance to let Benjamin come with them to Egypt； as he was
the only son left of his mother； Rachel； whom Jacob so dearly loved。 〃Now
therefore；〃 he said； 〃when I come to thy servant my father； and the lad be
not with us； seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life； it shall
come to pass； when he seeth that the lad is not with us； that he will die：
and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father
with sorrow to the grave。 For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my
father； saying； If I bring him not unto thee； then I shall bear the blame to
my father forever。 Now therefore； I pray thee； let thy servant abide instead
of the lad a bondman to my lord； and let the lad go up with his brethren。
For how shall I go up to my father； and the lad be not with me？ lest
peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father。〃
Joseph was satisfied。 He had seen in his brothers the fruits of true
repentance。 Upon hearing Judah's noble offer he gave orders that all but
these men should withdraw； then； weeping aloud； he cried； 〃I am Joseph； doth
my father yet live？〃
His brothers stood motionless； dumb with fear and amazement。 The ruler of
Egypt their brother Joseph； whom they had envied and would have murdered；
and finally sold as a slave！ All their ill treatment of him passed before
them。 They remembered how they had despised his dreams and had labored to
prevent their fulfillment。 Yet they had acted their part in fulfilling these
dreams； and now that they were completely in his power he would； no doubt；
avenge the wrong that he had suffered。
Seeing their confusion； he said kindly； 〃Come near to me； I pray you；〃 and
as they came near； he continued； 〃I am Joseph your brother； whom ye sold
into Egypt。 Now therefore be not
231
grieved； nor angry with yourselves； that ye sold me hither： for God did send
me before you to preserve life。〃 Feeling that they had already suffered
enough for their cruelty toward him； he nobly sought to banish their fears
and lessen the bitterness of their self…reproach。
〃For these two years；〃 he continued； 〃hath the famine been in the land： and
yet there are five years； in the which there shall neither be earing not
harvest。 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the
earth； and to save your lives by a great deliverance。 So now it was not you
that sent me hither； but God： and He hath made me a father to Pharaoh； and
lord of all his house； and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt。 Haste
ye； and go up to my father； and say unto him； Thus saith thy son Joseph； God
hath made me lord of all Egypt： come down unto me tarry not： and thou shalt
dwell in the land of Goshen； and thou shalt be near unto me； thou； and thy
children； and thy children's children； and thy flocks； and thy herds； and
all that thou hast： and there will I nourish thee； for yet there are five
years of famine； lest thou； and thy household； and all that thou hast； come
to poverty。 And； behold； your eyes see； and the eyes of my brother Benjamin；
that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you。〃 〃And he fell upon his brother
Benjamin's neck； and wept； and Benjamin wept upon his neck。 Moreover he
kissed all his brethren； and wept upon them： and after that his brethren
talked with him。〃 They humbly confessed their sin and entreated his
forgiveness。 They had long suffered anxiety and remorse； and now they
rejoiced that he was still alive。
The news of what had taken place was quickly carried to the king； who； eager
to manifest his gratitude to Joseph； confirmed the governor's invitation to
his family； saying； 〃The good of all the land of Egypt is yours。〃 The
brothers were sent away abundantly supplied with provision and carriages and
everything necessary for the removal of all their families and attendants to
Egypt。 On Benjamin； Joseph bestowed more valuable gifts than upon the
others。 Then； fearing that disputes would arise among them on the homeward
journey； he gave them； as they were about to leave him； the charge； 〃See
that ye fall not out by the way。〃
The sons of Jacob returned to their father with the joyful tidings； 〃Joseph
is yet alive； and he is governor over all the land of Egypt。〃 At first the
aged man was overwhelmed； he could
232
not believe what he heard； but when he saw the long train of wagons and
loaded animals； and when Benjamin was with him once more； he was convinced；
and in the fullness of his joy exclaimed； 〃It is enough； Joseph my son is
yet alive： I will go and see him before I die。〃
Another act of humiliation remained for the ten brothers。 They now confessed
to their father the deceit and cruelty that for so many years had embittered
his life and theirs。 Jacob had not suspected them of so base a sin； but he
saw that all had been overruled for good； and he forgave and blessed his
erring children。
The father and his sons； with their families； their flocks and herds； and
numerous attendants； were soon on the way to Egypt。 With gladness of heart
they pursued their journey； and when they came to Beersheba the patriarch
offered grateful sacrifices and entreated the Lord to grant them an
assurance that He would go with them。 In a vision of the night the divine
word came to him： 〃Fear not to go down into Egypt； for I will there make of
thee a great nation。 I will go down with thee into Egypt； and I will also
surely bring thee up again。〃
The assurance； 〃Fear not to go down into Egypt； for I will there make of
thee a great nation；〃 was significant。 The promise had been given to Abraham
of a posterity numberless as the stars； but as yet the chosen people had
increased but slowly。 And the land of Canaan now offered no field for the
development of such a nation as had been foretold。 It was in the possession
of powerful heathen tribes； that were not to be dispossessed until 〃the
fourth generation。〃 If the descendants of Israel were here to become a
numerous people； they must either drive out the inhabitants of the land or
disperse themselves among them。 The former； according to the divine
arrangement； they could not do； and should they mingle with the Canaanites；
they would be in danger of being seduced into idolatry。 Egypt； however；
offered the conditions necessary to the fulfillment of the divine purpose。 A
section of country well…watered and fertile was open to them there；
affording every advantage for their speedy increase。 And the antipathy they
must encounter in Egypt on account of their occupationfor every shepherd
was 〃an abomination unto the Egyptians〃would enable them to remain a
distinct and separate people and would thus serve to shut them out from
participation in the idolatry of Egypt。
233
Upon reaching Egypt the company proceeded directly to the land of Goshen。
Thither came Joseph in his chariot of state； attended by a princely retinue。
The splendor of his surroundings and the dignity of his position were alike
forgotten； one thought alone filled his mind； one longing thrilled his
heart。 As he beheld th