1. Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, "Why are you staring at one another?"
2. He said, "Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down there and buy some for us from that place, so that we may live and not die."
3. Then ten brothers of Joseph went down to buy grain from Egypt.
4. But Jacob did not send Joseph's brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, "I am afraid that harm may befall him."
5. So the sons of Israel came to buy grain among those who were coming, for the famine was in the land of Canaan also.
6. Now Joseph was the ruler over the land; he was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brothers came and bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.
7. When Joseph saw his brothers he recognized them, but he disguised himself to them and spoke to them harshly. And he said to them, "Where have you come from?" And they said, "From the land of Canaan, to buy food."
8. But Joseph had recognized his brothers, although they did not recognize him.
9. Joseph remembered the dreams which he had about them, and said to them, "You are spies; you have come to look at the undefended parts of our land."
10. Then they said to him, "No, my lord, but your servants have come to buy food.
11. We are all sons of one man; we are honest men, your servants are not spies."