When he returned to them again, he gave orders that Simeon should be the one kept back as hostage for the rest. This he did because Simeon was next among them in age to Reuben, the eldest, and Joseph had not known until now that Reuben had interceded with them and saved his life when they had intended to kill him. Then Simeon was bound before their eyes, and a guard of soldiers haled him away to the prison. The rest of them Joseph dismissed from his presence without further speech with them. But meanwhile he had secretly instructed his steward to ensure that after they had been provided with what corn they required, each one of these Hebrews’ money should be hidden in the mouth of his sack. He bade his steward, too, supply them with every thing they might need on their journey back to Canaan. And this was done.

So the nine brothers, their asses laden with corn and all that they needed, set out, and at night came to an inn or camping-place and rested there. When one of them that evening opened his sack to get provender for his ass, he espied to his amazement a bag of money there, tied up in the mouth of the sack. He ran at once to tell the others what he had found.

‘This bag of money,’ he said, ‘must have been hidden in my sack, for it was certainly not there when we saddled our asses this morning. Shekel for shekel it is the price I paid for my corn.’

At this their hearts sank within them. They knew not what evil might come of it, and were afraid.

When they were come into Canaan and reached their journey’s end, they told their father all that had happened to them while they had been away. ‘Without reason being given,’ they said, ‘we were seized, and taken before the man who is lord under Pharaoh over the whole land of Egypt. In power and honour he is next to Pharaoh himself. He treated us harshly and accused us of being spies. We answered him suingly and assured him that this was not so, that we were honest and peaceable men—ten out of twelve brethren, the sons of one father, and that of the other two, one is no more, and the youngest with you in Canaan. Yet he still refused to believe us. And we were taken away, and for three days lay in a dungeon, knowing not what evil would come on us next.’

‘How then,’ said Jacob, ‘did you escape out of his hands?’

‘Why,’ said they, ‘when we were brought before him again, he spoke to us less harshly and said that he had decided to put our word to the proof. “By this,” he said, “I shall know whether you be honest men or no. One of you shall remain here in strict charge, and the rest of you shall take the corn you need. And now be gone!” he said. “But take heed to me—for if you do not speedily return, bringing with you this younger brother of whom you have spoken, then shall I know—as I believe—that you have lied to me. And the one of you I hold in charge shall surely die.” Then Simeon was taken, and we made all haste away.’

When Jacob heard this, he bitterly reproached them.

‘What evil have I done that you bereave me of my children? Joseph is not; Simeon is not; and now you would take Benjamin away. All these things are against me and I can do nothing.’

Reuben grieved for his father and came near to comfort him. He promised that if Jacob would consent to entrust Benjamin into his charge, he should bring him back unharmed and in safety. ‘And if I keep not my word with thee,’ he said, ‘thou mayest kill the two sons I leave behind me. There is none dearer to me on earth.’ But Jacob turned away and made no answer.

And when presently, after unlading their asses, they found, one and all, that the money they had paid for their corn had been hidden in their sacks, they stared in consternation one at another, and were sick with foreboding.

They told their father of this, imploring him to let them return at once into Egypt. But he refused to listen.