The Book of Jasher
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Egypt to buy corn, for upon them also did the famine prevail, and he called unto his sons, saying,
LI:2 Behold I hear that there is corn in Egypt, and all the people of the earth go there to purchase,
now therefore why will you show yourselves satisfied before the whole earth go you also down
to Egypt and buy us a little corn amongst those that come there, that we may not die.
LI:3 And the sons of Jacob hearkened to the voice of their father, and they rose up to go down to
Egypt in order to buy corn amongst the rest that came there.
LI:4 And Jacob their father commanded them, saying, When you come into the city do not enter
together in one gate, on account of the inhabitants of the land.
LI:5 And the sons of Jacob went forth and they went to Egypt, and the sons of Jacob did all as their
father had commanded them, and Jacob did not send Benjamin, for he said, Lest an accident
might befall him on the road like his brother; and ten of Jacob’s sons went forth.
LI:6 And whilst the sons of Jacob were going on the road, they repented of what they had done to
Joseph, and they spoke to each other, saying, We know that our brother Joseph went down to
Egypt, and now we will seek him where we go, and if we find him we will take him from his
master for a ransom, and if not, buy force, and we will die for him.
LI:7 And the sons of Jacob agreed to this thing and strengthened themselves on account of Joseph,
to deliver him from the hand of his master, and the sons of Jacob went to Egypt; and when
they came near to Egypt they separated from each other, and they came through ten gates of
Egypt, and the gate keepers wrote their names on that day, and brought them to Joseph in the
evening.
LI:8 And Joseph read the names from the hand of the gate-keepers of the city, and he found that
his brethren had entered at the ten gates of the city, and Joseph at that time commanded that
it should be proclaimed throughout the land of Egypt, saying,
LI:9 Go forth all ye store guards, close all the corn stores and let only one remain open, that those
who come may purchase from it.
LI:10 And all the officers of Joseph did so at that time, and they closed all the stores and left only
one open.
Commentary
Commentary on Jasher LI:1 (27 May 2009):
Gael Bataman
Originally Written: 27 May 2009
Latest Update: 27 May 2009
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