1. Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt. So he said to his sons, “Why are you just sitting here looking at one another?
2. I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy grain for us to eat. Then we will live and not die.”
3. So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt.
4. But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with them. Jacob was afraid that something terrible might happen to Benjamin.
5. Along with many other people, the sons of Jacob, also called Israel, went to Egypt to buy grain. This was because the people in the land of Canaan were hungry also.
6. Now Joseph was governor over Egypt. He was the one who sold the grain to people who came to buy it. So Joseph’s brothers came to him. They bowed facedown on the ground before him.
7. When Joseph saw his brothers, he knew who they were. But he acted as if he didn’t know them. He asked unkindly, “Where do you come from?”They answered, “We have come from the land of Canaan to buy food.”
8. Joseph knew they were his brothers. But they did not know who he was.
9. And Joseph remembered his dreams about his brothers bowing to him. He said to them, “You are spies! You came to learn where the nation is weak!”
10. But his brothers said to him, “No, my master. We come as your servants just to buy food.
11. We are all sons of the same father. We are honest men, not spies.”
12. Then Joseph said to them, “No! You have come to learn where this nation is weak!”
13. And they said, “We are 10 of 12 brothers. We are sons of the same father. We live in the land of Canaan. Our youngest brother is there with our father right now. And our other brother is gone.”
14. But Joseph said to them, “I can see I was right! You are spies!
15. But I will give you a way to prove you are telling the truth. As surely as the king lives, you will not leave this place until your youngest brother comes here.
16. One of you must go and get your brother. The rest of you will stay here in prison. We will see if you are telling the truth. If not, as surely as the king lives, you are spies.”