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what is foretold the more tolerable。 If thou； therefore；
carefully dispose of the plentiful crops which will come in the
former years； thou wilt procure that the future calamity will not
be felt by the Egyptians。〃
7。 Hereupon the king wondered at the discretion and wisdom of
Joseph； and asked him by what means he might so dispense the
foregoing plentiful crops in the happy years； as to make the
miserable crops more tolerable。 Joseph then added this his
advice： To spare the good crops； and not permit the Egyptians to
spend them luxuriously； but to reserve what they would have spent
in luxury beyond their necessity against the time of want。 He
also exhorted him to take the corn of the husbandmen； and give
them only so much as will be sufficient for their food。
Accordingly Pharaoh being surprised at Joseph； not only for his
interpretation of the dream； but for the counsel he had given
him； intrusted him with dispensing the corn； with power to do
what he thought would be for the benefit of the people of Egypt；
and for the benefit of the king； as believing that he who first
discovered this method of acting； would prove the best overseer
of it。 But Joseph having this power given him by the king； with
leave to make use of his seal； and to wear purple； drove in his
chariot through all the land of Egypt； and took the corn of the
husbandmen； （3） allotting as much to every one as would be
sufficient for seed； and for food； but without discovering to any
one the reason why he did so。
CHAPTER 6。
How Joseph When He Was Become Famous In Egypt； Had His Brethren
In Subjection。
1。 Joseph was now grown up to thirty years of age； and enjoyed
great honors from the king； who called him Psothom Phanech； out
of regard to his prodigious degree of wisdom； for that name
denotes the revealer of secrets。 He also married a wife of very
high quality； for he married the daughter of Petephres； （4） one
of the priests of Heliopolis； she was a virgin； and her name was
Asenath。 By her he had children before the scarcity came on；
Manasseh； the elder； which signifies forgetful； because his
present happiness made him forget his former misfortunes； and
Ephraim； the younger； which signifies restored； because he was
restored to the freedom of his forefathers。 Now after Egypt had
happily passed over seven years； according to Joseph's
interpretation of the dreams； the famine came upon them in the
eighth year； and because this misfortune fell upon them when they
had no sense of it beforehand； （5） they were all sorely afflicted
by it； and came running to the king's gates； and he called upon
Joseph； who sold the corn to them； being become confessedly a
savior to the whole multitude of the Egyptians。 Nor did he open
this market of corn for the people of that country only； but
strangers had liberty to buy also； Joseph being willing that all
men； who are naturally akin to one another； should have
assistance from those that lived in happiness。
2。 Now Jacob also； when he understood that foreigners might come；
sent all his sons into Egypt to buy corn； for the land of Canaan
was grievously afflicted with the famine； and this great misery
touched the whole continent。 He only retained Benjamin； who was
born to him by Rachel； and was of the same mother with Joseph。
These sons of Jacob then came into Egypt； and applied themselves
to Joseph； wanting to buy corn； for nothing of this kind was done
without his approbation； since even then only was the honor that
was paid the king himself advantageous to the persons that paid
it； when they took care to honor Joseph also。 Now when he well
knew his brethren； they thought nothing of him； for he was but a
youth when he left them； and was now come to an age so much
greater； that the lineaments of his face were changed； and he was
not known by them： besides this； the greatness of the dignity
wherein he appeared； suffered them not so much as to suspect it
was he。 He now made trial what sentiments they had about affairs
of the greatest consequence； for he refused to sell them corn；
and said they were come as spies of the king's affairs； and that
they came from several countries； and joined themselves together；
and pretended that they were of kin； it not being possible that a
private man should breed up so many sons； and those of so great
beauty of countenance as they were； such an education of so many
children being not easily obtained by kings themselves。 Now this
he did in order to discover what concerned his father； and what
happened to him after his own departure from him； and as desiring
to know what was become of Benjamin his brother； for he was
afraid that they had ventured on the like wicked enterprise
against him that they had done to himself； and had taken him off
also。
3。 Now these brethren of his were under distraction and terror；
and thought that very great danger hung over them； yet not at all
reflecting upon their brother Joseph； and standing firm under the
accusations laid against them； they made their defense by Reubel；
the eldest of them； who now became their spokesman： 〃We come not
hither；〃 said he； 〃with any unjust design； nor in order to bring
any harm to the king's affairs； we only want to be preserved； as
supposing your humanity might be a refuge for us from the
miseries which our country labors under； we having heard that you
proposed to sell corn； not only to your own countrymen； but to
strangers also； and that you determined to allow that corn； in
order to preserve all that want it； but that we are brethren； and
of the same common blood； the peculiar lineaments of our faces；
and those not so much different from one another； plainly show。
Our father's name is Jacob； an Hebrew man； who had twelve of us
for his sons by four wives； which twelve of us； while we were all
alive； were a happy family； but when one of our brethren； whose
name was Joseph； died； our affairs changed for the worse； for our
father could not forbear to make a long lamentation for him； and
we are in affliction； both by the calamity of the death of our
brother； and the miserable state of our aged father。 We are now；
therefore； come to buy corn； having intrusted the care of our
father； and the provision for our family； to Benjamin； our
youngest brother； and if thou sendest to our house； thou mayst
learn whether we are guilty of the least falsehood in what we
say。〃
4。 And thus did Reubel endeavor to persuade Joseph to have a
better opinion of them。 But when he had learned from them that
Jacob was alive； and that his brother was not destroyed by them；
he for the present put them in prison； as intending to examine
more into their affairs when he should be at leisure。 But on the
third day he brought them out； and said to them； 〃Since you
constantly affirm that you are not come to do any harm to the
king's affairs； that you are brethren； and the sons of the father
whom you named； you will satisfy me of the truth of what you say；
if you leave one of your company with me； who shall suffer no
injury here； and if； when ye have carried corn to your father；
you will come to me again； and bring your brother； whom you say
you left there； along with you； for this shall be by me esteemed
an assurance of the truth of what you have told me。〃 Hereupon
they were in greater grief than before； they wept； and
perpetually deplored one among another the calamity of Joseph；
and said； 〃They were fallen into this misery as a punishment
inflicted by God for what evil contrivances they had against
him。〃 And Reubel was large in his reproaches of them for their
too late repentance； whence no profit arose to Joseph； and
earnestly exhorted them to bear with patience whatever they
suffered； since it was done by God in way of punishment； on his
account。 Thus they spake to one another； not imagining that
Joseph understood their language。 A general sadness also seized
on them at Reubel's words； and a repentance for what they had
done； and they condemned the wickedness they had perpetrated； for
which they judged they were justly punished by God。 Now when
Joseph saw that they were in this distress； he was so affected at
it that he fell into tears； and not being willing that they
should take notice of him； he retired； and after a while came to
them again； and taking Symeon （6） in order to his being a pledge
for his brethren's return； he bid them take the corn they had
bought； and go their way。 He also commanded his steward privily
to put the money which they had brought with them for the
purchase of corn into their sacks； and to dismiss them therewith；
who did what he was commanded to do。
5。 Now when Jacob's sons were come into the land of Canaan； they
told their father what had happened to them in Egypt； and that
they were taken to have come thither as spies upon the king； and
how they said they were brethren； and had left their eleventh
brother with their father； but were not believed； and how they
had left Symeon with the governor； until Benjamin should go
thither； and be a testimonial of the truth of what they had said：
and they begged of their father to fear nothing； but to send the
lad along with them。 But Jacob was not pleased with any thi