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and they begged of their father to fear nothing； but to send the
lad along with them。 But Jacob was not pleased with any thing his
sons had done； and he took the detention of Symeon heinously； and
thence thought it a foolish thing to give up Benjamin also。
Neither did he yield to Reubel's persuasion； though he begged it
of him； and gave leave that the grandfather might； in way of
requital； kill his own sons； in case any harm came to Benjamin in
the journey。 So they were distressed； and knew not what to do；
nay； there was another accident that still disturbed them more； …
the money that was found hidden in their sacks of corn。 Yet when
the corn they had brought failed them； and when the famine still
afflicted them； and necessity forced them； Jacob did （7） ＇not＇
still resolve to send Benjamin with his brethren； although there
was no returning into Egypt unless they came with what they had
promised。 Now the misery growing every day worse； and his sons
begging it of him； he had no other course to take in his present
circumstances。 And Judas； who was of a bold temper on other
occasions； spake his mind very freely to him： 〃That it did not
become him to be afraid on account of his son； nor to suspect the
worst； as he did； for nothing could be done to his son but by the
appointment of God； which must also for certain come to pass；
though he were at home with him； that he ought not to condemn
them to such manifest destruction； nor deprive them of that
plenty of food they might have from Pharaoh； by his unreasonable
fear about his son Benjamin； but ought to take care of the
preservation of Symeon； lest； by attempting to hinder Benjamin's
journey； Symeon should perish。 He exhorted him to trust God for
him； and said he would either bring his son back to him safe； or；
together with his； lose his own life。〃 So that Jacob was at
length persuaded； and delivered Benjamin to them； with the price
of the corn doubled； he also sent presents to Joseph of the
fruits of the land of Canaan； balsam and rosin； as also
turpentine and honey。 （8） Now their father shed many tears at the
departure of his sons； as well as themselves。 His concern was；
that he might receive them back again safe after their journey；
and their concern was； that they might find their father well；
and no way afflicted with grief for them。 And this lamentation
lasted a whole day； so that the old man was at last tired with
grief； and staid behind； but they went on their way for Egypt；
endeavoring to mitigate their grief for their present
misfortunes； with the hopes of better success hereafter。
6。 As soon as they came into Egypt； they were brought down to
Joseph： but here no small fear disturbed them； lest they should
be accused about the price of the corn； as if they had cheated
Joseph。 They then made a long apology to Joseph's steward； and
told him； that when they came home they found the money in their
sacks； and that they had now brought it along with them。 He said
he did not know what they meant： so they were delivered from that
fear。 And when he had loosed Symeon； and put him into a handsome
habit； he suffered him to be with his brethren； at which time
Joseph came from his attendance on the king。 So they offered him
their presents； and upon his putting the question to them about
their father； they answered that they found him well。 He also；
upon his discovery that Benjamin was alive； asked whether this
was their younger brother； for he had seen him。 Whereupon they
said he was： he replied； that the God over all was his protector。
But when his affection to him made him shed tears； he retired；
desiring he might not be seen in that plight by his brethren。
Then Joseph took them to supper； and they were set down in the
same order as they used to sit at their father's table。 And
although Joseph treated them all kindly； yet did he send a mess
to Benjamin that was double to what the rest of the guests had
for their shares。
7。 Now when after supper they had composed themselves to sleep；
Joseph commanded his steward both to give them their measures of
corn； and to hide its price again in their sacks； and that withal
they should put into Benjamin's sack the golden cup； out of which
he loved himself to drink。 … which things he did； in order to
make trial of his brethren； whether they would stand by Benjamin
when he should be accused of having stolen the cup； and should
appear to be in danger； or whether they would leave him； and；
depending on their own innocency； go to their father without him。
When the servant had done as he was bidden； the sons of Jacob；
knowing nothing of all this； went their way； and took Symeon
along with them； and had a double cause of joy； both because they
had received him again； and because they took back Benjamin to
their father； as they had promised。 But presently a troop of
horsemen encompassed them； and brought with them Joseph's
servant； who had put the cup into Benjamin's sack。 Upon which
unexpected attack of the horsemen they were much disturbed； and
asked what the reason was that they came thus upon men； who a
little before had been by their lord thought worthy of an
honorable and hospitable reception？ They replied； by calling them
wicked wretches； who had forgot that very hospitable and kind
treatment which Joseph had given them； and did not scruple to be
injurious to him； and to carry off that cup out of which he had；
in so friendly a manner； drank to them； and not regarding their
friendship with Joseph； no more than the danger they should be in
if they were taken； in comparison of the unjust gain。 Hereupon he
threatened that they should be punished； for though they had
escaped the knowledge of him who was but a servant； yet had they
not escaped the knowledge of God； nor had gone off with what they
had stolen； and； after all； asked why we come upon them； as if
they knew nothing of the matter： and he told them that they
should immediately know it by their punishment。 This； and more of
the same nature； did the servant say； in way of reproach to them：
but they being wholly ignorant of any thing here that concerned
them； laughed at what he said； and wondered at the abusive
language which the servant gave them； when he was so hardy as to
accuse those who did not before so much as retain the price of
their corn； which was found in their sacks； but brought it again；
though nobody else knew of any such thing； … so far were they
from offering any injury to Joseph voluntarily。 But still；
supposing that a search would be a more sure justification of
themselves than their own denial of the fact； they bid him search
them； and that if any of them had been guilty of the theft； to
punish them all； for being no way conscious to themselves of any
crime； they spake with assurance； and； as they thought； without
any danger to themselves also。 The servants desired there might
be a search made； but they said the punishment should extend to
him alone who should be found guilty of the theft。 So they made
the search； and； having searched all the rest； they came last of
all to Benjamin； as knowing it was Benjamin's sack in which they
had hidden the cup； they having indeed searched the rest only for
a show of accuracy： so the rest were out of fear for themselves；
and were now only concerned about Benjamin； but still were well
assured that he would also be found innocent； and they reproached
those that came after them for their hindering them； while they
might； in the mean while； have gotten a good way on their
journey。 But as soon as they had searched Benjamin's sack； they
found the cup； and took it from him； and all was changed into
mourning and lamentation。 They rent their garments； and wept for
the punishment which their brother was to undergo for his theft；
and for the delusion they had put on their father； when they
promised they would bring Benjamin safe to him。 What added to
their misery was； that this melancholy accident came
unfortunately at a time when they thought they had been gotten
off clear； but they confessed that this misfortune of their
brother； as well as the grief of their father for him； was owing
to themselves； since it was they that forced their father to send
him with them； when he was averse to it。
8。 The horsemen therefore took Benjamin and brought him to
Joseph； his brethren also following him； who； when he saw him in
custody； and them in the habit of mourners； said； 〃How came you；
vile wretches as you are； to have such a strange notion of my
kindness to you； and of God's providence； as impudently to do
thus to your benefactor； who in such an hospitable manner had
entertained you ？〃 Whereupon they gave up themselves to be
punished； in order to save Benjamin； and called to mind what a
wicked enterprise they had been guilty of against Joseph。 They
also pronounced him more happy than themselves； if he were dead；
in being freed from the miseries of this life； and if he were
alive； that he enjoyed the pleasure of seeing God's vengeance
upon them。 They said further； that they were the plague of their
father； since they should now add to his former affliction for
Joseph； this other affliction for Benjamin。 Reubel also was large