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‘thinking of what may become of Benjamin. He

BENJAMIN 21

then shall ye bring down my grey hairs with sorrow to the grave.” And so saying
he draws Benjamin closer to his side. He will never part with him as long as he lives.
But the days go by. The corn they brought from Egypt is all eaten. The last sack is

empty. There is not a grain of it left. What isto be done? Must they all starve, the

strong men with their wives and little ones?
There is only one way of escaping so dreadful
a death. They must go back to Egypt and buy
more corn. And Jacob calls his sons and says |
to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.” But
Judah reminds him that they cannot go without
Benjamin. It is no use taking this long journey
unless they take him with them. The governor
of Pharaoh who sat on the throne and sold the
corn had told them so plainly and sternly. He
had solemnly protested, saying, “Ye shall not
see my face except your brother be with you.”
And they knew he meant what he said. They
dared not disobey him.

And when they saw the distress of their
old father at the thought of parting with
Benjamin, Judah promised to look after him:
“T will be surety for him: if I bring him not
unto thee and set him before thee then let me
bear the blame for ever.” Reuben had said
much the same some time before, but Jacob
would not trust him. He knew how that eldest
son of his was unreliable, unstable as water that
is so easily moved by the wind that passes
over it.

But he is persuaded by Judah, and at last
he gives in. He must part with Benjamin or
they will all die of hunger. Oh, how anxious he
is for his safety! But he does not spend the time

will do all he can for him to gain favour with the
governor. So he chooses a present for them to
take to the great man. What a long list of
things. Listen to what he tells his sons: “If
it must be so now, do this: take of the best
fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down
the man a present, a little balm and a little
honey, spices and myrrh, nuts and almonds.”

At last everything is ready and they set
out. How fondly he kisses Benjamin, fearful
lest he may never see him again. How sorrow-
fully ‘he speaks his last words to them:
“God Almighty give you mercy before the
man, that ‘he may send away your other
brother and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children I am bereaved.” How sadly he
stands at his tent door, shielding his eyes from the hot sun, watching them through his
tears till they are out of sight. How slowly he goes back into his lonely tent where there
is no Benjamin now, wondering what will become of him. There is only one thing he can