When famine reached Canaan, Jacob sent ten sons to buy grain in Egypt but kept Benjamin home for fear of losing him. The brothers bowed before Joseph, Egypt’s governor. Joseph recognized them, though they did not recognize him, and spoke harshly as if they were strangers.
Joseph accused them of spying. They said they were twelve sons of one father: the youngest remained at home and one was gone. Joseph confined them for three days, then said one brother must remain while the others took food home and returned with Benjamin.
The brothers remembered Joseph’s pleas from the pit and said their guilt had returned upon them. Speaking through an interpreter, Joseph heard without revealing that he understood. He turned away and wept, then detained Simeon. Their payment was secretly returned in their grain sacks.
Jacob initially refused to release Benjamin, but the grain ran out. Judah personally guaranteed the boy’s return. Jacob finally sent Benjamin with gifts and twice the money. In Egypt Joseph invited them to his house. Simeon was released, and the steward reassured them about the returned payment.
Joseph asked about their father. Seeing Benjamin, he was overcome and withdrew to weep. At the meal Benjamin received five times as much as the others. Joseph later ordered his steward to fill their sacks, return their money, and hide Joseph’s silver cup in Benjamin’s sack.
After the brothers departed, the steward overtook them and found the cup with Benjamin. They tore their clothes and all returned to the city. Joseph declared that Benjamin would remain as his servant while the rest could go home.
Judah described their father’s attachment to the youngest son and said that returning without him would bring the old man down to the grave in sorrow. Because Judah had guaranteed Benjamin’s safety, he begged to remain as a servant in the boy’s place. He asked that Benjamin return with his brothers, for he could not bear to witness his father’s grief.