Story 30: Jo'seph Forgives His Brothers ll

   Before going in to the banquet hall, they paused to talk with the steward, and told him the true story of how they had found the money hidden in their sacks of grain after they had made a day's journey on their way home. They also told him that their father had sent the money back, and that they were ready to pay for the grain to be purchased on this visit. The steward declared that they could not possibly be blamed for having the money in their sacks, and said to them, "The LORD God of Heaven, the God of your fathers, brought to you this treasure."
   The sons of Ja'cob were both alarmed and encouraged to hear an E'gyp-tian steward speak so kindly of the God of the He'brews. It was good to hear that the True God was known in the household of an E'gyp-tian ruler, yet they feared that one who knew their God might also know their sins against Him.
   The steward and all the servants who assisted him were very kind to the brothers, washing their feet according to the Oriental custom, and making them feel welcome in every way. Jo'seph had a table prepared for them as the guests of honor, while he sat at his own table, and the E'gyp-tian officials who dined with them were given a place to themselves. because of the different customs and religious beliefs of each race, it was not permissible for E'gyp-tians and He'brews to eat at the same table.
   In arranging his guests about the table, Joseph began with the eldest of the brothers, and placed them all in regular order according to their ages. This act greatly puzzled the sons of Ja'cob, for they could not understand how he knew the order in which they were born. In serving them, he took pains to favor Ben'ja-min, giving him five times as much as any other in each course of the banquet. All these amazed the brothers, who could see no possible reason for such kindness to them.
   The occasion was also a great trial for Jo'seph, and he found it very hard to pretend to be a stranger when his own brothers sat at his table as guests. Wishing to put them at ease, he began to ask questions about the health of their father, and continued to show special kindness to Ben'ja-min. The evening passed cheerfully enough for all, and Jo'seph was still unknown to his brothers.
   When the meal was over, Jo'seph ordered his steward to fill the sacks of his brothers with grain, and to place the money which had been paid in the top of each sack. Jo'seph had failed in his wish to reveal himself to his brothers in the banquet hall. Everything which he had done should have given his brothers a clue to his identity, but it never occurred to them that he was their long lost brother. Jo'seph now resolved to take some other means of letting them know who he was.