Yubalym (Jubilee) — 42

1 And in the first year of the third week of the forty fifth Yubalym the famine began to come into the land, and the rain refused to be given to the Arath, for none whatsoever fell.

2 And the Arath grew barren, but in the land of Mitzraym there was food, for Ya'asaf had gathered the seed of the land in the seven years of plenty and had preserved it.

3 And the Mitzraym came to Ya'asaf that he might give them food, and he opened the store houses where was the grain of the first year, and he sold it to the people of the land for gold.

4 And Ya'aqub heard that there was food in Mitzraym, and he sent his ten sons that they should procure food for him in Mitsrayim; but Banyamin he did not send among those that went there.

5 And Ya'asaf recognized them, but they did not recognize him, then Ya'asaf spoke unto them and questioned them and he said unto them: Are you not spies and have you not come to explore the approaches of the land?

6 And Ya'asaf put them in ward, and after that he set them free again, and detained Shim'un alone and sent off his nine brothers.

7 And Ya'asaf filled their sacks with grain, and he put their gold in their sacks, and they did not know.

8 And Ya'asaf commanded them to bring their younger brother, for they had told him their father was living and their younger brother.

9 And they went up from the land of Mitzraym and they came to the land of Kana'an; and they told their father all that had befallen them, and how the master of the country had spoken roughly to them and had seized Shim'un till they should bring Banyamin.

10 And Ya'aqub said: Me have ye bereaved of my children! Ya'asaf is not and Shim'un also is not, and you will take Banyamin away. On me has your wickedness come.

11 And he said: My son will not go down with you lest perchance he falls sick; for their mother gave birth to two sons, and one has perished, and this one also you will take from me. If perchance he took a fever on the road, you would bring down my old age with sorrow unto death.

12 For he saw that their money had been returned to every man in his sack, and for this reason he feared to send him.

13 And the famine increased and became sore in the land of Kana'an, and in all lands save in the land of Mitsrayim, for many of the children of the Mitzraym had stored up their seed for food from the time when they saw Ya'asaf gathering seed together and putting it in storehouses and preserving it for the years of famine.

14 And the people of Mitzraym fed themselves thereon during the first year of their famine.

15 But when Yashar'AL saw that the famine was very sore in the land and that there was no deliverance, he said unto his sons: Go again, and procure food for us that we die not.

16 And they said: We shall not go; unless our youngest brother goes with us, we shall not go.

17 And Yashar'AL saw that if he did not send him with them, they should all perish by reason of the famine.

18 And Ra'uban said: Give him into my hand, and if I do not bring him back to you, slay my two sons instead of his soul. And he said unto him: He shall not go with you.

19 And Yahudah came near and said: Send him with me, and if I do not bring him back to you, let me bear the blame before you all the days of my life.

20 And he sent him with them in the second year of this week on the first day of the month, and they came to the land of Mitzraym with all those who went, and they had presents in their hands, stacte and almonds and terebinth nuts and pure honey.

21 And they went and stood before Ya'asaf, and he saw Banyamin his brother, and he knew him and said unto them: Is this your youngest brother? And they said unto him: It is he. And Ya'asaf said 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH be merciful to you, my son!

22 And Ya'asaf sent Banyamin into his house, and Ya'asaf brought forth Shim'un unto them and he made a feast for them, and they presented to him the gift which they had brought in their hands.

23 And they ate before Ya'asaf and he gave them all a portion, but the portion of Banyamin was seven times larger than that of any of theirs.

24 And they ate and drank and arose and remained with their asses.

25 And Ya'asaf devised a plan whereby he might learn their thoughts as to whether thoughts of Shalum prevailed amongst them, and he said to the steward who was over his house: Fill all their sacks with food, and return their money unto them into their vessels, and my cup, the silver cup out of which I drink, put it in the sack of the youngest, and send them away.