Famine Strikes the Land

For more detail, search Genesis 42.

Jacob heard there was corn in Egypt and sent his sons there to buy some to keep them from dying because of the famine (Genesis 42:1,2).

Ten of the brothers were sent to Egypt, but Jacob kept Benjamin with him for fear that mischief might come upon him (Genesis 42:4).

The brothers made it to Egypt. Joseph recognized them when they "...bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth" (Genesis 49:6) [;] however, he made himself unrecognizable to them "...and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food" (Genesis 42:7).

Joseph remembered the dreams he had from when he lived with his brothers (Genesis 42:9). For your remembrance, search Genesis 37 for the account of the dreams.

Joseph said to them that they are spies "[a]nd they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come. We are all one man's sons; we are true men, thy servants are no spies" (Genesis 42:10,11).

"And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not" (Genesis 42:13).

In order for the brothers to prove they were not spies, Joseph required all of them, except one, to travel back to Canaan with food for their families and to bring Benjamin back to him (Genesis 42:15, 19, 20).

Joseph bound Simeon in prison while the other brothers traveled to Canaan (Genesis 42:19, 24). "Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way: and thus did he unto them" (Genesis 49:25).

The brothers made it back to Canaan to tell Jacob all that had happened (Genesis 42:29-34).

"And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack: and when both they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid" (Genesis 42:35).

"And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me" (Genesis 42:36).

"And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again"(Genesis 42:37).

"And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave" (Genesis 42:38).