Jacob sendeth ten of his sons to buy corn in Egypt. 7. where Joseph knowing them, they not knowing him, with hard speeches putteth them in prison. 18. At last Simeon remaining in custody, till Benjamin be brought, the rest are dismissed, 25. with their money, unknown to them, in their sacks.Iacob sendeth tenne of his sonnes to bye corne in Ægypt. 7. where Ioseph knowing them, they not knowing him, with hard speaches putteth them in prison. 18. At last Simeon remayning in custodie, til Beniamin be brought, the rest are dismissed, 25. with their money, vnknowen to them, in their sackes.
And Jacob hearing, that victuals were sold in Egypt, he said to his sons: Why neglect ye?AND Iacob hearing, that victuals were sold in Ægypt, he said to his sonnes: Why neglect ye?Audiens autem Jacob quod alimenta venderentur in Ægypto, dixit filiis suis : Quare negligitis ?
2I have heard that wheat is sold in Egypt: Go ye down, and buy us necessaries, that we may live, and not be consumed with lack.I haue heard that wheat is sold in Ægypt: Goe ye downe, and bye vs necessaries, that we may liue, and not be consumed with lacke.audivi quod triticum venundetur in Ægypto : descendite, et emite nobis necessaria, ut possimus vivere, et non consumamur inopia.
3Therefore the ten brethren of Joseph going down, to buy corn in Egypt,Therfore the tenne brethren of Ioseph going downe, to bye corne in Ægypt,Descendentes igitur fratres Joseph decem, ut emerent frumenta in Ægypto,
4Benjamin being kept at home by Jacob, who said to his brethren: Lest perhaps he take any harm in the journey:Beniamin being kept at home by Iacob, who said to his brethren: Lest perhaps he take any harme in the iourney:Benjamin domi retento a Jacob, qui dixerat fratribus ejus : Ne forte in itinere quidquam patiatur mali :
5entered into the land of Egypt with others that went to buy. for the famine was in the land of Chanaan.entred into the land of Ægypt with others that went to bye. for the famine was in the land of Chanaan.ingressi sunt terram Ægypti cum aliis qui pergebant ad emendum. Erat autem fames in terra Chanaan.
6And Joseph was ruler, governor · Vulgate: princeps in the land of Egypt, and at his at his direction, at his nod · Vulgate: ad ejus nutum corn was sold to the people. And when his brethren had did homage to, bowed down before (civil reverence to a man, *dulia*, not divine worship) · Vulgate: adorassent him,And Ioseph was prince in the land of Ægypt, and at his pleasure corne was sold to the people. And when his brethren had adored him,Et Joseph erat princeps in terra Ægypti, atque ad ejus nutum frumenta populis vendebantur. Cumque adorassent eum fratres sui,
7and he knew them, he spake as it were to strangers somewhat Vulgate: durius, asking them: From whence came you? Who answered: From the Land of Chanaan, that we may buy necessaries to live.and he knewe them, he spake as it were to strangers somewhat roughly, asking them: From whence came you? Who answered: From the Land of chanaan, that we may bye necessaries to liue.et agnovisset eos, quasi ad alienos durius loquebatur, interrogans eos : Unde venistis ? Qui responderunt : De terra Chanaan, ut emamus victui necessaria.
8And yet himself knowing his brethren, was not known of them.And yet himselfe knowing his brethren, was not knowen of them.Et tamen fratres ipse cognoscens, non est cognitus ab eis.
9And remembering the dreams, which at one time, formerly, not "occasionally" · Vulgate: aliquando he had seen, he said to them: You are spies to view the weaker parts of the land you are come.And remembering the dreames, which sometimes he had seene, he said to them: You are spies to view the weaker partes of the land you are come.Recordatusque somniorum, quæ aliquando viderat, ait ad eos : Exploratores estis : ut videatis infirmiora terræ venistis.
10Who said: It is not so, my lord, but thy servants are come to buy victuals.Who said: It is not so, my lord, but thy seruantes are come to bye victuals.Qui dixerunt : Non est ita, domine, sed servi tui venerunt ut emerent cibos.
11We are all the sons of one man: we are come as men of peace, neither do thy servants go about any evil.We are al the sonnes of one man: we are come as men of peace, neither do thy seruantes goe about anie euil.Omnes filii unius viri sumus : pacifici venimus, nec quidquam famuli tui machinantur mali.
12To whom he answered: It is otherwise: you came to consider the undefended, unfortified · Vulgate: immunita parts of this land.To whom he answered: It is otherwise: you came to consider the vndefensed partes of this land.Quibus ille respondit : Aliter est : immunita terræ hujus considerare venistis.
13But they: We thy servants, say they, are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the Land of Chanaan: the youngest is with our father, the other is not living.But they: We thy seruantes, say they, are twelue brethren, the sonnes of one man in the Land of Chanaan: the youngest is with our father, the other is not liuing.At illi : Duodecim, inquiunt, servi tui, fratres sumus, filii viri unius in terra Chanaan : minimus cum patre nostro est, alius non est super.
14This is it, said · Vulgate: ait he, that I said: You are spies.This is it, quoth he, that I said: You are spies.Hoc est, ait, quod locutus sum : exploratores estis.
15Now at once, immediately, not "soon, in a while" · Vulgate: nunc I will take a trial of you: by the health of Pharao you shall not depart hence, until your youngest brother do come.Now presently I wil take a trial of you: by the health of Pharao you shal not depart hence, vntil your youngest brother do come.Jam nunc experimentum vestri capiam : per salutem Pharaonis non egrediemini hinc, donec veniat frater vester minimus.
16Send you one of you to bring him: and you shall be in prison, till the things be proved which you have said, whether they be true or false: otherwise by the health of Pharao you are spies.Send you one of you to bring him: and you shal be in prison, til the thinges be proued which you haue said, whether they be true or false: otherwise by the health of Pharao you are spies.Mittite ex vobis unum, et adducat eum : vos autem eritis in vinculis, donec probentur quæ dixistis utrum vera an falsa sint : alioquin per salutem Pharaonis exploratores estis.
17Therefore he put them in prison three days.Therfore he put them in prison three dayes.Tradidit ergo illos custodiæ tribus diebus.
18And the third day bringing them out of prison, he said: Do as I have said, and you shall live: for I fear God.And the third day bringing them out of prison, he said: Doe as I haue said, and you shal liue: for I feare God.Die autem tertio eductis de carcere, ait : Facite quæ dixi, et vivetis : Deum enim timeo.
19If you be men of peace, let one of your brethren be bound in prison: and go ye your ways, and carry the corn that you have bought, unto your houses,If you be men of peace, let one of your brethren be bounde in prison: and goe ye your wayes, and carie the corne that you haue bought, vnto your houses,Si pacifici estis, frater vester unus ligetur in carcere : vos autem abite, et ferte frumenta quæ emistis, in domos vestras,
20and bring your youngest brother to me, that I may prove your sayings to be true, and that you die not. They did as he had said,and bring your youngest brother to me, that I may proue your sayings to be true, and that you die not. They did as he had said,et fratrem vestrum minimum ad me adducite, ut possim vestros probare sermones, et non moriamini. Fecerunt ut dixerat,
21and they talked one to another: deservedly, justly, not "excellently" · Vulgate: merito do we suffer these things, because we have sinned against our brother, seeing the distress of his soul, whilst he besought us, and we heard not: therefore is this tribulation come upon us.and they talked one to an other: Worthely do we suffer these thinges, because we haue sinned against our brother, seing the distresse of his soule, whilest he besought vs, and we heard not: therfore is this tribulation come vpon vs.et locuti sunt ad invicem : Merito hæc patimur, quia peccavimus in fratrem nostrum, videntes angustiam animæ illius, dum deprecaretur nos, et non audivimus : idcirco venit super nos ista tribulatio.
22Among whom Ruben one of them, said: Why, did not I say to you: Sin not against the boy: and you heard me not? Lo his blood is required.Among whom Ruben one of them, said: Why, did not I say to you: Sinne not against the boy: and you heard me not? Loe his blood is required.E quibus unus Ruben, ait : Numquid non dixi vobis : Nolite peccare in puerum : et non audistis me ? en sanguis ejus exquiritur.
23And they knew not that Joseph understood: because he spake to them by an interpreter.And they knew not that Ioseph vnderstood: because he spake to them by an interpreter.Nesciebant autem quod intelligeret Joseph, eo quod per interpretem loqueretur ad eos.
24And he turned away himself a little while, and wept: and returning he spake to them.And he turned away himselfe a litle while, and wept: and returning he spake to them.Avertitque se parumper, et flevit : et reversus locutus est ad eos.
25And taking Simeon, and binding him in their presence, he commanded his servants that they should fill up their sacks with wheat, and put every man's money again in their bags, giving them besides for to eat on the way: who did so.And taking Simeon, and binding him in their presence, he commanded his seruantes that they should fil vp their sackes with wheat, and put euerie mans money againe in their bagges, geuing them besides for to eate on the way: who did so.Tollensque Simeon, et ligans illis præsentibus, jussit ministris ut implerent eorum saccos tritico, et reponerent pecunias singulorum in sacculis suis, datis supra cibariis in viam : qui fecerunt ita.
26But they carrying their corn upon their asses, took their journey.But they carying their corne vpon their asses, tooke their iourney.At illi portantes frumenta in asinis suis, profecti sunt.
27And one of them opening his sack, to give his beast fodder, feed · Vulgate: pabulum in the inn, beholding the money in the sack's mouth,And one of them opening his sacke, to geue his beast prouender in the inne, beholding the money in the sackes mouth,Apertoque unus sacco, ut daret jumento pabulum in diversorio, contemplatus pecuniam in ore sacculi,
28he said to his brethren: My money is given me again, behold it is in the sack. And being astonished, and troubled amongst themselves, they said: What is this, that God hath done unto us?he said to his brethren: My money is geuen me againe, behold it is in the sacke. And being astonied, and trubled amongst themselues, they said: What is this, that God hath done vnto vs?dixit fratribus suis : Reddita est mihi pecunia, en habetur in sacco. Et obstupefacti, turbatique, mutuo dixerunt : Quidnam est hoc quod fecit nobis Deus ?
29And they came to Jacob their father into the land of Chanaan, and they told him all things that had chanced unto them, saying:And they came to Iacob their father into the land of Chanaan, and they told him al thinges that had chanced vnto them, saying:Veneruntque ad Jacob patrem suum in terram Chanaan, et narraverunt ei omnia quæ accidissent sibi, dicentes :
30The lord of the land spake to us roughly, and thought us to be spies of the province,The lord of the land spake to vs roughly, and thought vs to be spies of the prouince,Locutus est nobis dominus terræ dure, et putavit nos exploratores esse provinciæ.
31to whom we answered: We are men of peace, neither do we attempt any treachery.to whom we answered: We are men of peace, neither do we attempt any treachery.Cui respondimus : Pacifici sumus, nec ullas molimur insidias.
32We are twelve brethren born of one father: one is not living, the youngest is with our father in the Land of Chanaan.We are twelue brethren borne of one father: one is not liuing, the youngest is with our father in the Land of Chanaan.Duodecim fratres uno patre geniti sumus : unus non est super, minimus cum patre nostro est in terra Chanaan.
33Who said to us: Thus shall I try that you be men of peace: Leave one of your brethren with me, and take ye provision necessary for your houses, and go your ways,Who said to vs: Thus shal I trie that you be men of peace: Leaue one of your brethren with me, and take ye prouision necessarie for your houses, and goe your wayes,Qui ait nobis : Sic probabo quod pacifici sitis : fratrem vestrum unum dimittite apud me, et cibaria domibus vestris necessaria sumite, et abite,
34and bring your youngest brother to me, that I may know you are not spies: and you may receive this fellow again, that is kept in prison: and afterwards may have licence to buy what things you will.and bring your youngest brother to me, that I may know you are not spies: and you may receiue this felowe againe, that is kept in prison: and afterwardes may haue licence to bye what thinges you wil.fratremque vestrum minimum adducite ad me, ut sciam quod non sitis exploratores : et istum, qui tenetur in vinculis, recipere possitis : ac deinceps quæ vultis, emendi habeatis licentiam.
35This being said, when they poured out their corn, every man found his money tied in the mouth of the sacks: and all being astonished together,This being said, when they powred out their corne, euerie man found his money tied in the mouth of the sackes: and al being astonyed together,His dictis, cum frumenta effunderent, singuli repererunt in ore saccorum ligatas pecunias, exterritisque simul omnibus,
36their father Jacob said: You have made me to be without children, Joseph is not living, Simeon is kept in bonds, and Benjamin you will take away: all these evils are fallen upon me.their father Iacob said: You haue made me to be without children, Ioseph is not liuing, Simeon is kept in bondes, and Beniamin you wil take away: al these euils are fallen vpon me.dixit pater Jacob : Absque liberis me esse fecistis : Joseph non est super, Simeon tenetur in vinculis, et Benjamin auferetis : in me hæc omnia mala reciderunt.
37To whom Ruben answered: Kill my two sons, if I bring him not again to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will restore him unto thee.To whom Ruben answered: Kil my two sonnes, if I bring him not againe to thee: deliuer him into my hand, and I wil restore him vnto thee.Cui respondit Ruben : Duos filios meos interfice, si non reduxero illum tibi : trade illum in manu mea, et ego eum tibi restituam.
38But he said: My son shall not go down with you: his brother is dead, and he alone is remaining: if any adversity shall chance to him in the land to the which you go, you shall bring down my hoar the white/grey hairs of old age · Vulgate: canos with sorrow unto Vulgate: ad inferos: the limbus patrum / abode of the just dead, not the hell of the damned.But he said: My sonne shal not go downe with you: his brother is dead, and he alone is remayning: if any aduersitie shal chance to him in the land to the which you goe, you shal bring downe my hoare heares with sorowe vnto hel.At ille : Non descendet, inquit, filius meus vobiscum : frater ejus mortuus est, et ipse solus remansit : si quid ei adversi acciderit in terra ad quam pergitis, deducetis canos meos cum dolore ad inferos.
Annotations
42:7Somewhat roughly. Joseph afflicted his brethren to bring them into consideration of their former faults, and to true contrition. Without which, though injuries be remitted by men, yet the offenders are not absolved before God. Therefore he, loosing them, and hating their sin, by affliction brought them to understanding. Who being at last truly penitent, he acknowledged and most lovingly embraced them, and provided for them in their necessity. St. Augustine ser. 82. de temp. And this example St. Gregory (ho. 14. in Ezech.) applieth to the instruction of pastors of souls: that they procure true repentance before absolution of sins. Ne si inordinate culpa dimittitur, is qui est culpabilis, in reatu gravius astringatur. Lest, if the fault be disorderly remitted, he that is faulty be more grievously entangled in guilt of conscience: therefore with much discretion security in these and clemency in mind are required.
42:9You are spies. To the same purpose he calleth them spies. After the manner of examiners calling suspected persons, as they may seem to be: thereby to try what they would answer. All for their wholesome penance, and withal to procure them afterwards more compassion among the Egyptians. St. Augustine q. 139. super Gen.
42:15By the health of Pharao. Joseph in swearing by Pharao's health, honoured God, the giver and conserver of health, life, power, dignity and all that was in Pharao. Whereby we see that this manner of swearing was lawful. As now likewise Christians lawfully swear not only by God, but also by his creatures, saying: As God shall help them, and his holy Gospels: so it be with due circumstances, and requisite conditions, namely with those which the Prophet Jeremias mentioneth, in truth, in judgement, and in justice: not false, rash, nor of an unjust thing: nor in frequent and common talk (a most bad custom) for so thou must neither swear by God himself, nor (as our Saviour teacheth) by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by Jerusalem, nor by thy head, nor any thing else: signifying that in some case, and due manner we may swear by any of these. And in this particular Joseph did rather name Pharao in his oath than God, as well to conceal himself as yet from his brethren, as to strike more terror in their hearts, by naming his master the King, in whom he had more interest than they.
42:38Unto hell. To that place where souls remain, as before, chap. 37. v. 35. For this phrase, of bringing unto hell, and descending into hell, usually spoken in the old Testament of all sorts of souls both just and wicked, signifieth that all went that time to hell, that is, to a low place, far distant from heaven. But some to rest, and some to pain. Whereupon St. Jerome saith: Hell is a place, wherein souls are included, either in rest, or in pains, according to the quality of their deserts.