This demand brought both sorrow and fear to the hearts of Jo'seph's brothers. To do what he asked might cause their father's death, for Ja'cob had found comfort for the supposed loss of Jo'seph only in his fondness for Ben'ja-min. They also were unwilling to run the risk of being held in E'gypt while one of their brothers returned to their father's house for the youngest son whom Ja'cob loved so dearly. When they refused to do what Jo'seph had asked, they were put in prison. For three days they remained prisoners, while Jo'seph searched his mind for some way of carrying out the will of God without harm to his brothers.
On the third day, Jo'seph visited his brothers in prison and offered them an easier way to prove that they were not spies. He said to them: "This do, and live; for I fear God: if ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of my prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses: But bring your youngest brother to me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die." The fact that an E'gyp-tian officer, as they supposed him to be, believed in the True God filled the brothers with shame for all their evil deeds.
It was natural for them to use their own language while discussing the offer which Jo'seph had now made them; since he had questioned them with the aid of an interpreter, they took it for granted that he would not know what they were saying. He, therefore, heard them confess to one another that they were now being justly punished for the cruel wrong they had done their brother twenty-three years before. They had paid no attention to Jo'seph's cries of distress when they cast him into the pit, so now they had no right to complain if they were shown no mercy.
Then Jo'seph bound Sim'e-on as a prisoner before their very eyes. This was to remind them that he would be put to death as a spy if they failed to return from the land of Ca'naan with Ben'ja-min, their youngest brother. The servants of Jo'seph then filled the grain sacks which his brothers had brought to E'gypt, and in the top of each sack placed the money which had been paid for the grain. The brothers went away with mingled feelings. They were happy to have the grain which was so greatly needed in Ca'naan, and thankful that they were now freed from prison, but it was sad to think of Sim'e-on having to remain a prisoner until they returned to E'gypt.
