Genesis 43:1
וְהָרָעָ֖ב כָּבֵ֥ד בָּאָֽרֶץ׃
Now the famine was severe in the land.
Genesis 43:2
וַיְהִ֗י
And it came to pass,
כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר כִּלּוּ֙ לֶאֱכֹ֣ל אֶת־הַשֶּׁ֔בֶר
When they had finished eating the grain,
אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֵבִ֖יאוּ מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם
which they had brought in from Egypt,
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם֙ אֲבִיהֶ֔ם
Then their father said to them:
שֻׁ֖בוּ שִׁבְרוּ־לָ֥נוּ מְעַט־אֹֽכֶל׃
“Go back, buy grain for us — a little food!”
Genesis 43:3
וַיֹּ֧אמֶר אֵלָ֛יו יְהוּדָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר
But Judah said to him, saying:
הָעֵ֣ד הֵעִד֩ בָּ֨נוּ הָאִ֤ישׁ לֵאמֹר֙
“The man solemnly warned us saying:
לֹֽא־תִרְא֣וּ פָנַ֔י
‘Ye shall not see my face,
בִּלְתִּ֖י אֲחִיכֶ֥ם אִתְּכֶֽם׃
Unless your brother is with you!’ ”
Genesis 43:4
אִם־יֶשְׁךָ֛ מְשַׁלֵּ֥חַ אֶת־אָחִ֖ינוּ אִתָּ֑נוּ
“If you are going to let us go with our brother,
נֵרְדָ֕ה וְנִשְׁבְּרָ֥ה לְךָ֖ אֹֽכֶל׃
We can go down,
and buy food-quality grain for you;”
Genesis 43:5
וְאִם־אֵינְךָ֥ מְשַׁלֵּ֖חַ לֹ֣א נֵרֵ֑ד
“But if you are not about to let him go,
we will not go down;
כִּֽי־הָאִ֞ישׁ אָמַ֤ר אֵלֵ֙ינוּ֙
Because that man said to us,
לֹֽא־תִרְא֣וּ פָנַ֔י
‘Ye shall not see my face,
בִּלְתִּ֖י אֲחִיכֶ֥ם אִתְּכֶֽם׃
Unless your brother is with you!’ ”
Genesis 43:6
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
Then Israel said:
לָמָ֥ה הֲרֵעֹתֶ֖ם לִ֑י
“Why have ye caused evil for me: —
לְהַגִּ֣יד לָאִ֔ישׁ
By telling the man,
הַע֥וֹד לָכֶ֖ם אָֽח׃
The fact that yet ye have a brother?!”
Genesis 43:7
וַיֹּאמְר֡וּ שָׁא֣וֹל שָֽׁאַל־הָ֠אִישׁ
But they said:
“That man inquired extensively
לָ֣נוּ וּלְמֽוֹלַדְתֵּ֜נוּ לֵאמֹ֗ר
about us and our family, saying:
הַע֨וֹד אֲבִיכֶ֥ם חַי֙ הֲיֵ֣שׁ לָכֶ֣ם אָ֔ח
‘Is your father still living?’
‘Is there yet a brother to you?’ ”
וַנַ֨גֶּד־ל֔וֹ עַל־פִּ֖י הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה
“And we informed him,
going by the communication of those matters;
הֲיָד֣וֹעַ נֵדַ֔ע כִּ֣י יֹאמַ֔ר
How then should we know,
that he would say,
הוֹרִ֖ידוּ אֶת־אֲחִיכֶֽם׃
‘Bring down your brother!’ ”
Genesis 43:8
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוּדָ֜ה אֶל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל אָבִ֗יו
Then Judah said to Israel his father:
שִׁלְחָ֥ה הַנַּ֛עַר אִתִּ֖י וְנָק֣וּמָה וְנֵלֵ֑כָה
“Send the boy with me,
and let us arise and go! —
וְנִֽחְיֶה֙ וְלֹ֣א נָמ֔וּת
Then we may live and not die,
גַּם־אֲנַ֥חְנוּ גַם־אַתָּ֖ה גַּם־טַפֵּֽנוּ׃
Both us, you, as well as our little ones.”
Genesis 43:9
אָֽנֹכִי֙ אֽ͏ֶעֶרְבֶ֔נּוּ
“I personally will pledge myself for him,
מִיָּדִ֖י תְּבַקְשֶׁ֑נּוּ
From my hand you can demand it! —
אִם־לֹ֨א הֲבִיאֹתִ֤יו אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙
If I have not brought him back to you,
וְהִצַּגְתִּ֣יו לְפָנֶ֔יךָ
and presented him before you,
וְחָטָ֥אתִֽי לְךָ֖ כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים׃
Then I shall remain culpable to you,
for all time!”
Genesis 43:10
כִּ֖י לוּלֵ֣א הִתְמַהְמָ֑הְנוּ
“Surely if we had not delayed,
כִּֽי־עַתָּ֥ה שַׁ֖בְנוּ זֶ֥ה פַעֲמָֽיִם׃
Indeed now we would have returned
here a second time!”
Genesis 43:11
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֜ם יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל אֲבִיהֶ֗ם
Then Israel their father said to them:
אִם־כֵּ֣ן ׀ אֵפוֹא֮ זֹ֣את עֲשׂוּ֒
“If so, then do this:
קְח֞וּ מִזִּמְרַ֤ת הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ בִּכְלֵיכֶ֔ם
Take some of the choice product of the land
in your vessels,
וְהוֹרִ֥ידוּ לָאִ֖ישׁ מִנְחָ֑ה
And bring a gift to the man:
מְעַ֤ט צֳרִי֙ וּמְעַ֣ט דְּבַ֔שׁ
A little balm and a little honey,
נְכֹ֣את וָלֹ֔ט בָּטְנִ֖ים וּשְׁקֵדִֽים׃
Fragrant spice and resin, pistachios and almonds;”
Genesis 43:12
וְכֶ֥סֶף מִשְׁנֶ֖ה קְח֣וּ בְיֶדְכֶ֑ם
“And take in your hand twice as much silver;
וְאֶת־הַכֶּ֜סֶף הַמּוּשָׁ֨ב בְּפִ֤י אַמְתְּחֹֽתֵיכֶם֙
And so the silver that was returned
in the mouth of your bags,
תָּשִׁ֣יבוּ בְיֶדְכֶ֔ם
You shall take back in your hand:
אוּלַ֥י מִשְׁגֶּ֖ה הֽוּא׃
May be it was an error;”
Genesis 43:13
וְאֶת־אֲחִיכֶ֖ם קָ֑חוּ
“And take your brother,
וְק֖וּמוּ שׁ֥וּבוּ אֶל־הָאִֽישׁ׃
Then arise, go back to the man.”
Genesis 43:14
וְאֵ֣ל שַׁדַּ֗י
“Now El Shaddai (God Omnipotent-Sufficient),
יִתֵּ֨ן לָכֶ֤ם רַחֲמִים֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הָאִ֔ישׁ
May he grant you mercy before the man,
וְשִׁלַּ֥ח לָכֶ֛ם אֶת־אֲחִיכֶ֥ם אַחֵ֖ר
And then for you he will let your other brother go,
וְאֶת־בִּנְיָמִ֑ין
And Benjamin;
וַאֲנִ֕י
Now I myself,
כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁכֹ֖לְתִּי שָׁכָֽלְתִּי׃ס
if it is that I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”
Genesis 43:15
וַיִּקְח֤וּ הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ אֶת־הַמִּנְחָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את
And the men took that gift,
וּמִשְׁנֶה־כֶּ֛סֶף לָקְח֥וּ בְיָדָ֖ם וְאֶת־בִּנְיָמִ֑ן
And they took in their hand twice as much silver,
together with Benjamin;
וַיָּקֻ֙מוּ֙ וַיֵּרְד֣וּ מִצְרַ֔יִם
Then they arose and went down to Egypt,
וַיַּֽעַמְד֖וּ לִפְנֵ֥י יוֹסֵֽף׃
And they stood before Joseph;
Genesis 43:16
וַיַּ֨רְא יוֹסֵ֣ף אִתָּם֮ אֶת־בִּנְיָמִין֒
And Joseph saw Benjamin with them:
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לַֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־בֵּית֔וֹ
And he said to the one who was over his house,
הָבֵ֥א אֶת־הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים הַבָּ֑יְתָה
“Bring the men into the house,
וּטְבֹ֤חַ טֶ֙בַח֙ וְהָכֵ֔ן
and also slaughter meat and make ready,
כִּ֥י אִתִּ֛י יֹאכְל֥וּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים בַּֽצָּהֳרָֽיִם׃
For with me these men shall dine at midday.”
Genesis 43:17
וַיַּ֣עַשׂ הָאִ֔ישׁ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר אָמַ֣ר יוֹסֵ֑ף
And the man did just as Joseph had said:
וַיָּבֵ֥א הָאִ֛ישׁ אֶת־הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים
And the man brought the men
בֵּ֥יתָה יוֹסֵֽף׃
into the house of Joseph.
Genesis 43:18
וַיִּֽירְא֣וּ הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֗ים
But the men feared,
כִּ֣י הֽוּבְאוּ֮ בֵּ֣ית יוֹסֵף֒
When they had been brought in.
וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ
And they said:
עַל־דְּבַ֤ר הַכֶּ֙סֶף֙
“Concerning the matter of the silver,
הַשָּׁ֤ב בְּאַמְתְּחֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙ בַּתְּחִלָּ֔ה
coming back in our bags at the start,
אֲנַ֖חְנוּ מֽוּבָאִ֑ים
we are being brought in,
לְהִתְגֹּלֵ֤ל עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ וּלְהִתְנַפֵּ֣ל עָלֵ֔ינוּ
In order to roll himself over us and attack us,
וְלָקַ֧חַת אֹתָ֛נוּ לַעֲבָדִ֖ים וְאֶת־חֲמֹרֵֽינוּ׃
Then take us for slaves, together with our donkeys!”
Genesis 43:19
וַֽיִּגְּשׁוּ֙ אֶל־הָאִ֔ישׁ
And they approached the man,
אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־בֵּ֣ית יוֹסֵ֑ף
Who was over the house of Joseph,
וַיְדַבְּר֥וּ אֵלָ֖יו פֶּ֥תַח הַבָּֽיִת׃
And they spoke to him at the entrance of the house;
Genesis 43:20
וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנִ֑י
And they said “Please, my lord!
יָרֹ֥ד יָרַ֛דְנוּ בַּתְּחִלָּ֖ה לִשְׁבָּר־אֹֽכֶל׃
We had gone down purposely at the start
to buy food grain!”
Genesis 43:21
וַֽיְהִ֞י כִּי־בָ֣אנוּ אֶל־הַמָּל֗וֹן
“Now it happened,
that we had come to the inn;
וַֽנִּפְתְּחָה֙ אֶת־אַמְתְּחֹתֵ֔ינוּ
and we opened our bags,
וְהִנֵּ֤ה כֶֽסֶף־אִישׁ֙ בְּפִ֣י אַמְתַּחְתּ֔וֹ
and behold, each man’s silver
was in the mouth of his bag!
כַּסְפֵּ֖נוּ בְּמִשְׁקָל֑וֹ וַנָּ֥שֶׁב אֹת֖וֹ בְּיָדֵֽנוּ׃
Our silver, by it’s full weight: —
We have brought it back in our hand;”
Genesis 43:22
וְכֶ֧סֶף אַחֵ֛ר הוֹרַ֥דְנוּ בְיָדֵ֖נוּ לִשְׁבָּר־אֹ֑כֶל
“And other silver have we brought in our hand,
to purchase food-grain;
לֹ֣א יָדַ֔עְנוּ
We do not know
מִי־שָׂ֥ם כַּסְפֵּ֖נוּ בְּאַמְתְּחֹתֵֽינוּ׃
who placed our silver in our bags;
Genesis 43:23
וַיֹּאמֶר֩ שָׁל֨וֹם לָכֶ֜ם אַל־תִּירָ֗אוּ
Then he said “Peace to you, fear not!
אֱלֹ֨הֵיכֶ֜ם וֽ͏ֵאלֹהֵ֤י אֲבִיכֶם֙
Your God, and God of your father,
נָתַ֨ן לָכֶ֤ם מַטְמוֹן֙ בְּאַמְתְּחֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם
He has given you concealed treasure in your bags, —
כַּסְפְּכֶ֖ם בָּ֣א אֵלָ֑י
Your silver came to me!”
וַיּוֹצֵ֥א אֲלֵהֶ֖ם אֶת־שִׁמְעֽוֹן׃
And he caused Simeon to go out to them.
Genesis 43:24
וַיָּבֵ֥א הָאִ֛ישׁ אֶת־הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים בֵּ֣יתָה יוֹסֵ֑ף
And the man brought the men
into the house of Joseph;
וַיִּתֶּן־מַ֙יִם֙ וַיִּרְחֲצ֣וּ רַגְלֵיהֶ֔ם
Then he provided water
and they washed their feet,
וַיִּתֵּ֥ן מִסְפּ֖וֹא לַחֲמֹֽרֵיהֶֽם׃
and gave fodder for their donkeys;
Genesis 43:25
וַיָּכִ֙ינוּ֙ אֶת־הַמִּנְחָ֔ה
And they made ready the gift,
עַד־בּ֥וֹא יוֹסֵ֖ף בַּֽצָּהֳרָ֑יִם
Up to the arrival of Joseph at noon;
כִּ֣י שָֽׁמְע֔וּ כִּי־שָׁ֖ם יֹ֥אכְלוּ לָֽחֶם׃
For they had heard that there
they would have a meal;
Genesis 43:26
וַיָּבֹ֤א יוֹסֵף֙ הַבַּ֔יְתָה
And Joseph came to the house,
וַיָּבִ֥יאּוּ ל֛וֹ אֶת־הַמִּנְחָ֥ה אֲשֶׁר־בְּיָדָ֖ם הַבָּ֑יְתָה
And they brought the gift for him
that was in their hand, into the house;
וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ־ל֖וֹ אָֽרְצָה׃
And they prostrated themselves to him,
to the earth;
Genesis 43:27
וַיִּשְׁאַ֤ל לָהֶם֙ לְשָׁל֔וֹם
And he inquired of them concerning welfare,
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר
And he said:
הֲשָׁל֛וֹם אֲבִיכֶ֥ם הַזָּקֵ֖ן אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֲמַרְתֶּ֑ם
“Is your elderly father, whom you mentioned, well?”
הַעוֹדֶ֖נּוּ חָֽי׃
Is he yet living?”
Genesis 43:28
וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ
And they said:
שָׁל֛וֹם לְעַבְדְּךָ֥ לְאָבִ֖ינוּ עוֹדֶ֣נּוּ חָ֑י
“Wellness pertains to your servant, our father,
he is yet living;”
וַֽיִּקְּד֖וּ וישתחו וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוּֽוּ׃
And they knelt down,
and then prostrated themselves.
Genesis 43:29
וַיִּשָּׂ֣א עֵינָ֗יו
Now Joseph lifted his eyes,
וַיַּ֞רְא אֶת־בִּנְיָמִ֣ין אָחִיו֮ בֶּן־אִמּוֹ֒
And he saw Benjamin his brother,
the son of his mother;
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר
And he said:
הֲזֶה֙ אֲחִיכֶ֣ם הַקָּטֹ֔ן
“Is this your youngest brother,
אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲמַרְתֶּ֖ם אֵלָ֑י
whom you mentioned to me?”
וַיֹּאמַ֕ר אֱלֹהִ֥ים יָחְנְךָ֖ בְּנִֽי׃
Then he said,
“May God be gracious to you, my son.”
Genesis 43:30
וַיְמַהֵ֣ר יוֹסֵ֗ף
And Joseph hastened, —
כִּֽי־נִכְמְר֤וּ רַחֲמָיו֙ אֶל־אָחִ֔יו
Because his compassions were burning for his brother,
וַיְבַקֵּ֖שׁ לִבְכּ֑וֹת
And he sought to weep;
וַיָּבֹ֥א הַחַ֖דְרָה וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ שָֽׁמָּה׃
And he went to the bedroom,
and there he wept;
Genesis 43:31
וַיִּרְחַ֥ץ פָּנָ֖יו וַיֵּצֵ֑א
Then he washed his face and went out;
וַיִּ֨תְאַפַּ֔ק וַיֹּ֖אמֶר
But he restrained himself, and commanded:
שִׂ֥ימוּ לָֽחֶם׃
“Serve ye the food!”
Genesis 43:32
וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ ל֛וֹ לְבַדּ֖וֹ וְלָהֶ֣ם לְבַדָּ֑ם
And they served him by himself,
and them by themselves;
וְלַמִּצְרִ֞ים הָאֹכְלִ֤ים אִתּוֹ֙ לְבַדָּ֔ם
And the Egyptians,
who were going to eat with him,
by themselves:
כִּי֩ לֹ֨א יוּכְל֜וּן הַמִּצְרִ֗ים
Because the Egyptians were not able
לֶאֱכֹ֤ל אֶת־הָֽעִבְרִים֙ לֶ֔חֶם
to eat a meal with the Hebrews,
כִּי־תוֹעֵבָ֥ה הִ֖וא לְמִצְרָֽיִם׃
For it was detestable to Egypt.
Genesis 43:33
וַיֵּשְׁב֣וּ לְפָנָ֔יו הַבְּכֹר֙ כִּבְכֹ֣רָת֔וֹ
Now they sat before him,
the firstborn according to his firstborn privilege,
וְהַצָּעִ֖יר כִּצְעִרָת֑וֹ
then the younger according to their age;
וַיִּתְמְה֥וּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים אִ֥ישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵֽהוּ׃
And the men looked with astonishment
each at his associate;
Genesis 43:34
וַיִּשָּׂ֨א מַשְׂאֹ֜ת מֵאֵ֣ת פָּנָיו֮ אֲלֵהֶם֒
And so he presented portions
from before him unto them.
וַתֵּ֜רֶב
But greater was
מַשְׂאַ֧ת בִּנְיָמִ֛ן מִמַּשְׂאֹ֥ת כֻּלָּ֖ם
Benjamin’s portion than any of their portions,
חָמֵ֣שׁ יָד֑וֹת
Five times greater!
וַיִּשְׁתּ֥וּ וַֽיִּשְׁכְּר֖וּ עִמּֽוֹ׃ס
And they drank and became drunk together with him.
Website translation into English by E.G. Van Gent
The Hebrew Masoretic Text is Unicode/XML version 1.3 Leningrad Codex,
Build 26.4 from tanach.us
Dramatized Modern Hebrew Audio Version, Genesis 43
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