‘Let every man,’ he said, ‘withdraw out of my presence, except only these Hebrews.’

When Joseph’s officers and attendants all were gone and there stood no man with him except his brothers, he came down to them and made himself known to them. And he wept, so that even the Egyptians who lingered on the threshold heard him weeping.

And he said to his brothers: ‘Come near, I pray you. There is nothing now to fear. For see, I am Joseph—Joseph himself, whom long ago you thought was dead. Tell me, I beseech you, is indeed all well with my father? Is he truly yet alive?’

But his brothers were troubled at his presence, gazing at him in dismay, and could make no answer.

Joseph smiled at them: ‘It is no wonder,’ he said, ‘after the many years we have been separated one from another that you should still be in doubt of who I am. But come now, look closely at me, for I am indeed and in truth none other than Joseph, the very Joseph whom you sold to the Ishmaelites and into Egypt. Be no more distressed or angry with yourselves because of that. God sent me on before you so that in this time of need I might preserve your lives, for else you might have perished for want. For two years now there has been famine in Egypt. But five years are yet to come when there will be neither ploughing nor harvest, and want and suffering must increase. Take comfort, then; remember only that it was God in his mercy who made me the means of this deliverance and of saving not only yourselves, but your children and your children’s children, who will follow us when we are gone. I say, then, it was not you who sent me hither, but God. It is he alone who hath given me power under Pharaoh to act as seems best to me—lord of his house and viceroy of all Egypt. Hasten then and return with all the speed you can to my father. Give him this message in these same words: “I myself, thy long-lost son, Joseph, am awaiting thee here in Egypt, pining to see thee again, anxious only for thy health and safety.”

‘Say that, and tell my father also that you have seen me face to face, even as I am; and that the God of whom he taught me as a child has made me lord and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Entreat him not to delay, but to return with you into Egypt. A place shall be found for him and for you all where you shall live near me and under my protection, you and your wives and your children, your flocks and herds, and all that you have. Through all the evils that are yet to come I myself will provide for him and for you all, and will cherish his last years lest he should come to poverty.’

As he stood in their midst, his words followed one upon another out of his inmost heart like water welling from a long-sealed fountain. And his face was lighted with his love.

But still they dared make no sign, or, after so many vicissitudes, trust even their own senses. They gazed and were silent.

‘But no,’ he said, smiling, ‘I see you are still in doubt. Well, then, Benjamin your youngest and my own dear mother’s son shall tell you that what I say is true, that it is my own mouth that speaks to you, and that I am indeed his brother Joseph.’

And he took Benjamin into his arms and fell upon his neck and kissed him, and in love and joy wept upon his shoulder.

Seeing this, the rest of them were at last reassured and believed him. They drew near and he kissed them all in turn.

After that they talked together for a long time in private there, for there was much to hear and much to tell. There were no bounds to their happiness.


  By PanEris using Melati.

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