מקץ

Two years passed. Pharaoh dreamed he stood by the Nile: seven sturdy, healthy cows came up and grazed, then seven ugly, gaunt cows rose and ate them. He woke, slept again, and dreamed of seven full ears of grain on one stalk, then seven thin ears scorched by the east wind that swallowed the good ones. In the morning Pharaoh called his magicians and sages, but no one could explain.

The chief cupbearer remembered Joseph, a Hebrew youth in prison who had interpreted dreams. Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and Joseph said, “Not I, God will see to Pharaoh’s welfare.” Joseph explained: the two dreams were one message. Seven years of great abundance were coming, then seven years of severe famine. Joseph advised Pharaoh to appoint a wise leader and store grain in the cities during the good years.

Pharaoh placed Joseph over Egypt, giving him authority second only to the throne. Joseph was thirty, and he traveled the land organizing storage until the grain was beyond measuring.

When the famine began, Egypt still had bread because Joseph rationed grain. People cried to Pharaoh, and Pharaoh said, “Go to Joseph; whatever he tells you, you shall do.” Soon the hunger reached Canaan. Jacob sent ten sons to Egypt for rations, but kept Benjamin home.

Joseph was the mishneh, meaning Pharaoh’s second-in-command who dispensed the rations. When his brothers arrived, they bowed low, but they did not recognize him. Joseph spoke harshly and accused them of spying. They insisted they were honest brothers, twelve in all, with the youngest at home and one “no more.” Joseph tested them: one brother would be held while the others returned with grain, and they must bring Benjamin back.

Joseph had Simeon bound and sent the rest away with provisions, secretly returning each man’s money in his sack. On the road they found the money and trembled, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?”

The famine stayed severe, and Jacob finally let Benjamin go. He sent gifts, balm, honey, gum, ladanum, pistachios, and almonds, and double the money. In Egypt, Joseph ordered a meal at his house. The brothers feared trouble because of the returned money, but the steward told them their God had put treasure in their bags, and he brought Simeon out.

Joseph saw Benjamin and said, “May God be gracious to you, my boy.” After the meal, Joseph commanded his steward to fill their sacks with food, return the money again, and hide Joseph’s silver goblet in Benjamin’s sack.

At dawn they left, but the steward chased them and accused them. They protested and offered that whoever had it would be a slave. The search began with the oldest and ended with the youngest, and the goblet was found with Benjamin. The brothers tore their clothes and returned. Judah and the others fell before Joseph, but Joseph said only the one with the goblet would be his slave; the rest could go in peace.