Holy and Great Monday
Thy bridal chamber, O my Saviour, do I behold all adorned; and a garment I have not that I may enter therein. Illumine the garment of my soul, O Light-bestower, and save me.
First Tone
When the Lord was coming to His voluntary Passion, He said to His apostles in the way: Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man shall be delivered up, as it is written concerning Him. Come, therefore, let us also accompany Him, with minds purified, and let us be crucified with Him and die for Him to the pleasures of this life, that we may also live with Him, and that we may hear Him crying: No longer do I go to the earthly Jerusalem to suffer, but I ascend unto My Father and your Father, and unto My God and your God; and I will raise you up together unto the Jerusalem on high, in the Kingdom of the Heavens.
The Synaxarion
On Holy and Great Monday we make remembrance of blessed Joseph, the all-comely, and of the fig tree which was cursed and withered by the Lord.
Verses concerning the all-comely Joseph
Prudent Joseph was seen to be a just ruler,
And a provider of wheat. O bounty of good things!
Others concerning the Withered Fig Tree
Typifying by the fig tree, the synagogue of the Hebrews,
Which was destitute of spiritual fruit, Christ withered it with a curse.
Let us flee a like fate.
By the intercessions of the all-comely Joseph,
O Christ God, have mercy on us. Amen.
An Excerpt from a homily by Saint Ephraim the Syrian
On the Patriarch Joseph as a Type of Christ.
For just as the Lord was sent to us from the Father’s bosom, to save us all,
So the youth Joseph from Jacob’s bosom was sent to enquire about his own brothers.
And just as Joseph’s harsh brothers, as soon as they saw him approaching, began to devise evil against him, though he was bringing them peace from their father, so the Jews also, ever hard of heart, as soon as they saw the Savior, said, ‘This is the heir, let us kill him, and all will be ours’.
And just as Joseph’s brothers said, ‘Let us do away with him, and let us be set free of his dreams’, in the same way too the Jews said, ‘Come, let us kill him and lay hold on his inheritance’.
Joseph’s brothers, while eating, sold him, slaying him in intent. In the same way too the abominable Jews, while eating the Passover, slew the Savior.
The descent of Joseph into Egypt signifies the descent to earth of our Savior.
And as Joseph within the marriage chamber trampled down all the strength of sin, putting on the bright prizes of victory, against the Egyptian woman, his mistress, so too the Lord, the Savior of our souls, by his own right hand, descending into Hades, destroyed there all the power of the dread and near invincible tyrant.
When Joseph had conquered sin he was put in prison until the hour of his crowning; so too the Lord, that he might take away every sin of the world, was placed in a grave.
Joseph in prison spent two whole years, passing his time in great freedom; while the Lord, as powerful, remained in the tomb for three days, not undergoing corruption.
Joseph, on Pharaoh’s order, was brought out graciously from prison, as a true type, when he easily interpreted the meaning of the dreams, indicating the abundance of grain that was going to be; while our Lord [Jesus Christ] was raised from the dead by his own power, despoiling Hades, offering to the Father our liberation, proclaiming resurrection and everlasting life.
Joseph took his seat in Pharaoh’s chariot, having received authority over the whole of Egypt; while our Savior, king before the ages, ascending into heaven on a cloud of light, took his seat with glory at the Father’s right hand, above the Cherubim, as Only-begotten Son.
When ruling over Egypt, Joseph having received authority against his enemies,
his brothers were brought willingly before the tribunal of the one who had died through them; they were brought to prostrate with fear and trembling before the one who had been sold by them to death; and with fear they prostrated before Joseph, whom they had not wanted to be king over them.
But Joseph, recognizing his brothers, revealed them as murderers by a single word; but they, when they realized, stood dumbfounded in great shame, not daring to utter, not having anything at all to say in their defense, knowing exactly their own sin at the moment when they sold him; while he, who seemed to have been destroyed by them in Hades, was suddenly found to be ruling over them.
So too on that fearful day, when the Lord comes on the clouds of the air,
he takes his seat on the throne of his kingdom, and all his enemies are brought bound by fearsome Angels before the judgement seat, all those who did not want him to rule over them. For the lawless Jews thought then, that if he were crucified, he would die as a human; the wretches not being persuaded that God had come, for salvation, to save our souls.
Just as Joseph said quite openly to his brothers, making them fear and tremble,
‘I am Joseph, whom you sold [into slavery], but now I rule over you, though you did not want it’. So too the Lord shows the Cross in an image formed of light to those who crucified him, and they recognize the Cross itself and the Son of God who was crucified by them.
Know how accurately Joseph became a true type of his own Master.
GENESIS
37:2 And these are the generations of Jacob. And Joseph was seventeen years old, feeding the sheep of his father with his brethren, being young; with the sons of Balla, and with the sons of Zelpha, the wives of his father; and Joseph brought to Israel their father their evil reproach.
37:3 And Jacob loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was to him the son of old age; and he made for him a coat of many colours.
37:4 And his brethren having seen that his father loved him more than all his sons, hated him, and could not speak anything peaceable to him.
37:5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and reported it to his brethren.
37:6 And he said to them, Hear this dream which I have dreamed.
37:7 I thought ye were binding sheaves in the middle of the field, and my sheaf stood up and was erected, and your sheaves turned round, and did obeisance to my sheaf.
37:8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us, or shalt thou indeed be lord over us? And they hated him still more for his dreams and for his words.
37:9 And he dreamed another dream, and related it to his father, and to his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed another dream: as it were the sun, and the moon, and the eleven stars did me reverence.
37:10 And his father rebuked him, and said to him, What is this dream which thou hast dreamed? shall indeed both I and thy mother and thy brethren come and bow before thee to the earth?
37:11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.
37:12 And his brethren went to feed the sheep of their father to Sychem.
37:13 And Israel said to Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed their flock in Sychem? Come, I will send thee to them; and he said to him, Behold, I [am here].
37:14 And Israel said to him, Go and see if thy brethren and the sheep are well, and bring me word; and he sent him out of the valley of Chebron, and he came to Sychem.
37:15 And a man found him wandering in the field; and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?
37:16 And he said, I am seeking my brethren; tell me where they feed [their flocks].
37:17 And the man said to him, They have departed hence, for I heard them saying, Let us go to Dothaim; and Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothaim.
37:18 And they spied him from a distance before he drew nigh to them, and they wickedly took counsel to slay him.
37:19 And each said to his brother, Behold, that dreamer comes.
37:20 Now then come, let us kill him, and cast him into one of the pits; and we will say, An evil wild beast has devoured him; and we shall see what his dreams will be.
37:21 And Ruben having heard it, rescued him out of their hands, and said, Let us not kill him.
37:22 And Ruben said to them, Shed not blood; cast him into one of these pits in the wilderness, but do not lay [your] hands upon him; that he might rescue him out of their hands, and restore him to his father.
37:23 And it came to pass, when Joseph came to his brethren, that they stripped Joseph of his many-coloured coat that was upon him.
37:24 And they took him and cast him into the pit; and the pit was empty, it had not water.
37:25 And they sat down to eat bread; and having lifted up their eyes they beheld, and lo, Ismaelitish travellers came from Galaad, and their camels were heavily loaded with spices, and resin, and myrrh; and they went to bring them to Egypt.
37:26 And Judas said to his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?
37:27 Come, let us sell him to these Ismaelites, but let not our hands be upon him, because he is our brother and our flesh; and his brethren hearkened.
37:28 And the men, the merchants of Madian, went by, and they drew and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ismaelites for twenty pieces of gold; and they brought Joseph down into Egypt.
37:29 And Ruben returned to the pit, and sees not Joseph in the pit; and he rent his garments.
37:30 And he returned to his brethren and said, The boy is not; and I, whither am I yet to go?
37:31 And having taken the coat of Joseph, they slew a kid of the goats, and stained the coat with the blood.
37:32 And they sent the coat of many colours; and they brought it to their father, and said, This have we found; know if it be thy son's coat or no.
37:33 And he recognised it, and said, It is my son's coat, an evil wild beast has devoured him; a wild beast has carried off Joseph.
37:34 And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth on his loins, and mourned for his son many days.
37:35 And all his sons and his daughters gathered themselves together, and came to comfort him; but he would not be comforted, saying, I will go down to my son mourning to Hades; and his father wept for him.
37:36 And the Madianites sold Joseph into Egypt; to Petephres, the eunuch of Pharao, captain of the guard.
…...
[Genesis] 39:1 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Petephres the eunuch of Pharao, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ismaelites, who brought him down thither.
39:2 And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house with his lord the Egyptian.
39:3 And his master knew that the Lord was with him, and the Lord prospers in his hands whatsoever he happens to do.
39:4 And Joseph found grace in the presence of his lord, and was well-pleasing to him; and he set him over his house, and all that he had he gave into the hand of Joseph.
39:5 And it came to pass after that he was set over his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the house of the Egyptian for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all his possessions in the house, and in his field.
39:6 And he committed all that he had into the hands of Joseph; and he knew not of anything that belonged to him, save the bread which he himself ate. And Joseph was handsome in form, and exceedingly beautiful in countenance.
39:7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph, and said, Lie with me.
39:8 But he would not; but said to his master's wife, If because of me my master knows nothing in his house, and has given into my hands all things that belong to him:
39:9 and in this house there is nothing above me, nor has anything been kept back from me, but thou, because thou art his wife-- how then shall I do this wicked thing, and sin against God?
39:10 And when she talked with Joseph day by day, and he hearkened not to her to sleep with her, so as to be with her,
39:11 it came to pass on a certain day, that Joseph went into the house to do his business, and there was no one of the household within.
39:12 And she caught hold of him by his clothes, and said, Lie with me; and having left his clothes in her hands, he fled, and went forth.
39:13 And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his clothes in her hands, and fled, and gone forth,
39:14 that she called those that were in the house, and spoke to them, saying, See, he has brought in to us a Hebrew servant to mock us-- he came in to me, saying, Lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice.
39:15 And when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, having left his clothes with m, he fled, and went forth out.
39:16 So she leaves the clothes by her, until the master came to his house.
39:17 And she spoke to him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, whom thou broughtest in to us, came in to me to mock me, and said to me, I will lie with thee.
39:18 And when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, having left his clothes with me, he fled and departed forth.
39:19 And it came to pass, when his master heard all the words of his wife, that she spoke to him, saying, Thus did thy servant to me, that he was very angry.
39:20 And his master took Joseph, and cast him into the prison, into the place where the king's prisoners are kept, there in the prison.
39:21 And the Lord was with Joseph, and poured down mercy upon him; and he gave him favour in the sight of the chief keeper of the prison.
39:22 And the chief keeper of the prison gave the prison into the hand of Joseph, and all the prisoners as many as were in the prison; and all things whatsoever they do there, he did them.
39:23 Because of him the chief keeper of the prison knew nothing, for all things were in the hand of Joseph, because the Lord was with him; and whatever things he did, the Lord made them to prosper in his hands.
[Genesis] 40:1 And it came to pass after these things, that the chief cupbearer of the king of Egypt and the chief baker trespassed against their lord the king of Egypt.
40:2 And Pharao was wroth with his two eunuchs, with his chief cupbearer, and with his chief baker.
40:3 And he put them in ward, into the prison, into the place whereinto Joseph had been led.
40:4 And the chief keeper of the prison committed them to Joseph, and he stood by them; and they were [some] days in the prison.
40:5 And they both had a dream in one night; and the vision of the dream of the chief cupbearer and chief baker, who belonged to the king of Egypt, who were in the prison, was this.
40:6 Joseph went in to them in the morning, and saw them, and they had been troubled.
40:7 And he asked the eunuchs of Pharao who were with im in the prison with his master, saying, Why is it that your countenances are sad to-day?
40:8 And they said to him, We have seen a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said to them, Is not the interpretation of them through god? tell [them] than to me.
40:9 And the chief cupbearer related his dream to Joseph, and said, I my dream a vine was before me.
40:10 And in the vine [were] three stems; and it budding shot forth blossoms; the clusters of grapes were ripe.
40:11 And the cup of Pharao was in my hand; and I took the bunch of grapes, and squeezed it into the cup, and gave the cup into Pharao's hand.
40:12 And Joseph said to him, This is the interpretation of it. The three stems are three days.
40:13 Yet three days and Pharao shall remember thy office, and he shall restore thee to thy place of chief cupbearer, and thou shalt give the cup of Pharao into his hand, according to thy former high place, as thou wast wont to be cupbearer.
40:14 But remember me of thyself, when it shall be well with thee, and thou shalt deal mercifully with me, and thou shalt make mention of me to Pharao, and thou shalt bring me forth out of this dungeon.
40:15 For surely I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and here I have done nothing, but they have cast me into this pit.
40:16 And the chief baker saw that he interpreted aright; and he said to Joseph, I also saw a dream, and methought I took up on my head three baskets of mealy food.
40:17 And in the upper basket there was the work of the baker of every kind which Pharao eats; and the fowls of the air ate them out of the basket that was on my head.
40:18 And Joseph answered and said to him, This is the interpretation of it; The three baskets are three days.
40:19 Yet three days, and Pharao shall take away thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree, and the birds of the sky shall eat thy flesh from off thee.
40:20 And it came to pass on the third day that it was Pharao's birth-day, and he made a banquet for all his servants, and he remembered the office of the cupbearer and the office of the baker in the midst of his servants.
40:21 And he restored the chief cupbearer to his office, and he gave the cup into Pharao's hand.
40:22 And he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph, interpreted to them.
40:23 Yet did not the chief cupbearer remember Joseph, but forgot him.
[Genesis] 41:1 And it came to pass after two full years that Pharao had a dream. He thought he stood upon [the bank of] the river.
41:2 And lo, there came up as it were out of the river seven cows, fair in appearance, and choice of flesh, and they fed on the sedge.
41:3 And other seven cows came up after these out of the river, ill-favoured and lean-fleshed, and fed by the [other] cows on the bank of the river.
41:4 And the seven ill-favoured and lean cows devoured the seven well-favoured and choice-fleshed cows; and Pharao awoke.
41:5 And he dreamed again. And, behold, seven ears came up on one stalk, choice and good.
41:6 And, behold, seven ears thin and blasted with the wind, grew up after them.
41:7 And the seven thin ears and blasted with the wind devoured the seven choice and full ears; and Pharao awoke, and it was a dream.
41:8 And it was morning, and his soul was troubled; and he sent and called all the interpreters of Egypt, and all her wise men; and Pharao related to them his dream, and there was no one to interpret it to Pharao.
41:9 And the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharao, saying, I this day remember my fault:
41:10 Pharao was angry with his servants, and put us in prison in the house of the captain of the guard, both me and the chief baker.
41:11 And we had a dream both in one night, I and he; we saw, each according to his dream.
41:12 And there was there with us a young man, a Hebrew servant of the captain of the guard; and we related to him [our dreams], and he interpreted [them] to us.
41:13 And it came to pass, as he interpreted them to us, so also it happened, both that I was restored to my office, and that he was hanged.
41:14 And Pharao having sent, called Joseph; and they brought him out from the prison, and shaved him, and changed his dress, and he came to Pharao.
41:15 And Pharao said to Joseph, I have seen a vision, and there is no one to interpret it; but I have heard say concerning thee that thou didst hear dreams and interpret them.
41:16 And Joseph answered Pharao and said, Without God an answer of safety shall not be given to Pharao.
41:17 And Pharao spoke to Joseph, saying, In my dream methought I stood by the bank of the river;
41:18 and there came up as it were out of the river, seven cows well-favoured and choice-fleshed, and they fed on the sedge.
41:19 And behold seven other cows came up after them out of the river, evil and ill-favoured and lean-fleshed, such that I never saw worse in all the land of Egypt.
41:20 And the seven ill-favoured and thin cows ate up the seven first good and choice cows.
41:21 And they went into their bellies; and it was not perceptible that they had gone into their bellies, and their appearance was ill-favoured, as also at the beginning; and after I awoke I slept,
41:22 and saw again in my sleep, and as it were seven ears came up on one stem, full and good.
41:23 And other seven ears, thin and blasted with the wind, sprang up close to them.
41:24 And the seven thin and blasted ears devoured the seven fine and full ears: so I spoke to the interpreters, and there was no one to explain it to me.
41:25 And Joseph said to Pharao, The dream of Pharao is one; whatever God does, he has shewn to Pharao.
41:26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dream of Pharao is one.
41:27 And the seven thin kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven thin and blasted ears are seven years; there shall be seven years of famine.
41:28 And as for the word which I have told Pharao, whatsoever God intends to do, he has shewn to Pharao:
41:29 behold, for seven years there is coming great plenty in all the land of Egypt.
41:30 But there shall come seven years of famine after these, and they shall forget the plenty that shall be in all Egypt, and the famine shall consume the land.
41:31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of the famine that shall be after this, for it shall be very grievous.
41:32 And concerning the repetition of the dream to Pharao twice, [it is] because the saying which is from God shall be true, and God will hasten to accomplish it.
41:33 Now then, look out a wise and prudent man, and set him over the land of Egypt.
41:34 And let Pharao make and appoint local governors over the land; and let them take up a fifth part of all the produce of the land of Egypt for the seven years of the plenty.
41:35 And let them gather all the food of these seven good years that are coming, and let the corn be gathered under the hand of Pharao; let food be kept in the cities.
41:36 And the stored food shall be for the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; and the land shall not be utterly destroyed by the famine.
41:37 And the word was pleasing in the sight of Pharao, and in the sight of all his servants.
41:38 And Pharao said to all his servants, Shall we find such a man as this, who has the Spirit of God in him?
41:39 And Pharao said to Joseph, Since God has shewed thee all these things, there is not a wiser or more prudent man than thou.
41:40 Thou shalt be over my house, and all my people shall be obedient to thy word; only in the throne will I excel thee.
41:41 And Pharao said to Joseph, Behold, I set thee this day over all the land of Egypt.
41:42 And Pharao took his ring off his hand, and put it on the hand of Joseph, and put on him a robe of fine linen, and put a necklace of gold about his neck.
41:43 And he mounted him on the second of his chariots, and a herald made proclamation before him; and he set him over all the land of Egypt.
41:44 And Pharao said to Joseph, I am Pharao; without thee no one shall lift up his hand on all the land of Egypt.
41:45 And Pharao called the name of Joseph, Psonthomphanech; and he gave him Aseneth, the daughter of Petephre, priest of Heliopolis, to wife.
41:46 And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharao, king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharao, and went through all the land of Egypt.
41:47 And the land produced, in the seven years of plenty, [whole] handfuls [of corn].
41:48 And he gathered all the food of the seven years, in which was the plenty in the land of Egypt; and he laid up the food in the cities; the food of the fields of a city round about it he laid up in it.
41:49 And Joseph gathered very much corn as the sand of the sea, until it could not be numbered, for there was no number [of it].
41:50 And to Joseph were born two sons, before the seven years of famine came, which Aseneth, the daughter of Petephres, priest of Heliopolis, bore to him.
41:51 And Joseph called the name of the first-born, Manasse; for God, [said he], has made me forget all my toils, and all my father's house.
41:52 And he called the name of the second, Ephraim; for God, [said he], has increased me in the land of my humiliation.
41:53 And the seven years of plenty passed away, which were in the land of Egypt.
41:54 And the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph said; and there was a famine in all the land; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
41:55 And all the land of Egypt was hungry; and the people cried to Pharao for bread. And Pharao said to all the Egyptians, Go to Joseph, and do whatsoever he shall tell you.
41:56 And the famine was on the face of all the earth; and Joseph opened all the granaries, and sold to all the Egyptians.
41:57 And all countries came to Egypt to buy of Joseph, for the famine prevailed in all the earth.
[Genesis] 42:1 And Jacob having seen that there was a sale [of corn] in Egypt, said to his sons, Why are ye indolent?
42:2 Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt; go down thither, and buy for us a little food, that we may live, and not die.
42:3 And the ten brethren of Joseph went down to buy corn out of Egypt.
42:4 But [Jacob] sent not Benjamin, the brother of Joseph, with his brethren; for he said, Lest, haply, disease befall him.
42:5 And the sons of Israel came to buy with those that came, for the famine was in the land of Chanaan.
42:6 And Joseph was ruler of the land; he sold to all the people of the land. And the brethren of Joseph, having come, did reverence to him, [bowing] with the face to the ground.
42:7 And when Joseph saw his brethren, he knew them, and estranged himself from them, and spoke hard words to them; and said to them, Whence are ye come? And they said, Out of the land of Chanaan, to buy food.
42:8 And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.
42:9 And Joseph remembered his dream, which he saw; and he said to them, Ye are spies; to observe the marks of the land are ye come.
42:10 But they said, Nay, Sir, we thy servants are come to buy food;
42:11 we are all sons of one man; we are peaceable, thy servants are not spies.
42:12 And he said to them, Nay, but ye are come to observe the marks of the land.
42:13 And they said, We thy servants are twelve brethren, in the land of Chanaan; and, behold, the youngest is with our father to-day, but the other one is not.
42:14 And Joseph said to them, This is it that I spoke to you, saying, ye are spies;
42:15 herein shall ye be manifested; by the health of Pharao, ye shall not depart hence, unless your younger brother come hither.
42:16 Send one of you, and take your brother; and go ye to prison, till your words be clear, whether ye speak the truth or not; but, if not, by the health of Pharao, verily ye are spies.
42:17 And he put them in prison three days.
42:18 And he said to them on the third day, This do, and ye shall live, for I fear God.
42:19 If ye be peaceable, let one of your brethren be detained in prison; but go ye, and carry back the corn ye have purchased.
42:20 And bring your younger brother to me, and your words shall be believed; but, if not, ye shall die. And they did so.
42:21 And each said to his brother, Yes, indeed, for we are in fault concerning our brother, when we disregarded the aguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we hearkened not to him; and therefore has this affliction come upon us.
42:22 And Ruben answered them, saying, Did I not speak to you, saying, Hurt not the boy, and ye heard me not? and, behold, his blood is required.
42:23 But they knew not that Joseph understood them; for there was an interpreter between them.
42:24 And Joseph turned away from them, and wept; and again he came to them, and spoke to them; and he took Symeon from them, and bound him before their eyes.
42:25 And Joseph gave orders to fill their vessels with corn, and to return their money to each into his sack, and to give them provision for the way; and it was so done to them.
42:26 And having put the corn on the asses, they departed thence.
42:27 And one having opened his sack to give his asses fodder, at the place where they rested, saw also his bundle of money, for it was on the mouth of his sack.
42:28 And he said to his brethren, My money has been restored to me, and behold this is in my sack. And their heart was wonder-struck, and they were troubled, saying one to another, What is this that God has done to us?
42:29 And they came to their father, Jacob, into the land of Chanaan, and reported to him all that had happened to them, saying,
42:30 The man, the lord of the land, spoke harsh words to us, and put us in prison as spies of the land.
42:31 And we said to him, We are men of peace, we are not spies.
42:32 We are twelve brethren, sons of our father; one is not, and the youngest is with his father to-day in the land of Chanaan.
42:33 And the man, the lord of the land, said to us, Herein shall I know that ye are peaceable; leave one brother here with me, and having taken the corn ye have purchased for your family, depart.
42:34 And bring to me your younger brother; then I shall know that ye are not spies, but that ye are men of peace: and I will restore you your brother, and ye shall trade in the land.
42:35 And it came to pass as they were emptying their sacks, there was each man's bundle of money in his sack; and they and their father saw their bundles of money, and they were afraid.
42:36 And their father Jacob said to them, Ye have bereaved me. Joseph is not, Symeon is not, and will ye take Benjamin? all these things have come upon me.
42:37 And Ruben spoke to his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee; give him into my hand, and I will bring him back to thee.
42:38 But he said, My son shall not go down with you, because his brother is dead, and he only has been left; and [suppose] it shall come to pass that he is afflicted by the way by which ye go, then ye shall bring down my old age with sorrow to Hades.
[Genesis] 43:1 But the famine prevailed in the land.
43:2 And it came to pass, when they had finished eating the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, that their father said to them, Go again; buy us a little food.
43:3 And Judas spoke to him, saying, The man, the lord of the country, positively testified to us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, unless your younger brother be with you.
43:4 If, then, thou send our brother with us, we will go down, and buy thee food;
43:5 but if thou send not our brother with us, we will not go: for the man spoke to us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, unless your younger brother be with you.
43:6 And Israel said, Why did ye harm me, inasmuch as ye told the man that ye had a brother?
43:7 And they said, The man closely questioned us about our family also, saying, Does your father yet live, and have ye a brother? and we answered him according to this question: did we know that he would say to us, Bring your brother?
43:8 And Judas said to his father Israel, Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and thou, and our store.
43:9 And I engage for him; at my hand do thou require him; if I bring him not to thee, and place him before thee, I shall be guilty toward thee for ever.
43:10 For if we had not tarried, we should now have returned twice.
43:11 And Israel, their father, said to them, If it be so, do this; take of the fruits of the earth in your vessels, and carry down to the man presents of gum and honey, and frankincense, and stacte, and turpentine, and walnuts.
43:12 And take double money in your hands, and the money that was returned in your sacks, carry back with you, lest peradventure it is a mistake.
43:13 And take your brother; and arise, go down to the man.
43:14 And my God give you favour in the sight of the man, and send away your other brother, and Benjamin, for I accordingly as I have been bereaved, am bereaved.
43:15 And the men having taken these presents, and the double money, took in their hands also Benjamin; and they rose up and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.
43:16 And Joseph saw them and his brother Benjamin, born of the same mother; and he said to the steward of his household, Bring the men into the house, and slay beasts and make ready, for the men are to eat bread with me at noon.
43:17 And the man did as Joseph said; and he brought the men into the house of Joseph.
43:18 And the men, when they perceived that they were brought into the house of Joseph, said, We are brought in because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first; even in order to inform against us, and lay it to our charge; to take us for servants, and our asses.
43:19 And having approached the man who was over the house of Joseph, they spoke to him in the porch of the house,
43:20 saying, We pray [thee], Sir; we came down at first to buy food.
43:21 And it came to pass, when we came to unlade, and opened our sacks, [there was] also this money of each in his sack; we have now brought back our money by weight in our hands.
43:22 And we have brought other money with us to buy food; we know not who put the money into our sacks.
43:23 And he said to them, [God deal] mercifully with you; be not afraid; your God, and the God of your fathers, has given you treasures in your sacks, and I have enough of your good money. And he brought Symeon out to them.
43:24 And he brought water to wash their feet; an gave provender to their asses.
43:25 And they prepared their gifts, until Joseph came at noon, for they heard that he was going to dine there.
43:26 And Joseph entered into the house, and they brought him the gifts which they had in their hands, into the house; and they did him reverence with their face to the ground.
43:27 And he asked them, How are ye? and he said to them, Is your father, the old man of whom ye spoke, well? Does he yet live?
43:28 And they said, Thy servant our father is well; he is yet alive. And he said, Blessed be that man by God;-- and they bowed, and did him reverence.
43:29 And Joseph lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, born of the same mother; and he said, Is this your younger brother, whom ye spoke of bringing to me? and he said, God have mercy on thee, my son.
43:30 And Joseph was troubled, for his bowels yearned over his brother, and he sought to weep; and he went into his chamber, and wept there.
43:31 And he washed his face and came out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.
43:32 And they set on [bread] for him alone, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians feasting with him by themselves, for the Egyptians could not eat bread with the Hebrews, for it is an abomination to the Egyptians.
43:33 And they sat before him, the first-born according to his seniority, and the younger according to his youth; and the men looked with amazement every one at his brother.
43:34 And they took their portions from him to themselves; but Benjamin's portion was five times as much as the portions of [the others]. And they drank and were filled with drink with him.
[Genesis] 44:1 And Joseph charged the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put the money of each in the mouth of his sack.
44:2 And put my silver cup into the sack of the youngest, and the price of his corn. And it was done according to the word of Joseph, as he said.
44:3 The morning dawned, and the men were sent away, they and their asses.
44:4 And when they had gone out of the city, [and] were not far off, then Joseph said to his steward, Arise, and pursue after the men; and thou shalt overtake them, and say to them, Why have ye returned evil for good?
44:5 Why have ye stolen my silver cup? is it not this out of which my lord drinks? and he divines augury with it; ye have accomplished evil in that which ye have done.
44:6 And he found them, and spoke to them according to these words.
44:7 And they said to him, Why does our lord speak according to these words? far be it from thy servants to do according to this word.
44:8 If we brought back to thee out of the land of Chanaan the money which we found in our sacks, how should we steal silver or gold out of the house of thy lord?
44:9 With whomsoever of thy servants thou shalt find the cup, let him die; and, moreover, we will be servants to our lord.
44:10 And he said, Now then it shall be as ye say; with whomsoever the cup shall be found, he shall be my servant, and ye shall be clear.
44:11 And they hasted, and took down every man his sack on the ground, and they opened every man his sack.
44:12 And he searched, beginning from the eldest, until he came to the youngest; and he found the cup in Benjamin's sack.
44:13 And they rent their garments, and laid each man his sack on his ass, and returned to the city.
44:14 And Judas and his brethren came in to Joseph, while he was yet there, and fell on the ground before him.
44:15 And Joseph said to them, What is this thing that ye have done? know ye not that a man such as I can surely divine?
44:16 And Judas said, What shall we answer to our lord, or what shall we say, or wherein should we be justified? whereas God has discovered the unrighteousness of thy servants; behold, we are slaves to our lord, both we and he with whom the cup has been found.
44:17 And Joseph said, Far be it from me to do this thing; the man with whom the cup has been found, he shall be my servant; but do ye go up with safety to your father.
44:18 And Judas drew near him, and said, I pray, Sir, let thy servant speak a word before thee, and be not angry with thy servant, for thou art next to Pharao.
44:19 Sir, thou askedst thy servants, saying, Have ye a father or a brother?
44:20 And we said to [my] lord, We have a father, an old man, and he has a son of his old age, a young one, and his brother is dead, and he alone has been left behind to his mother, and his father loves him.
44:21 And thou saidst to they servants, Bring him down to me, and I will take care of him.
44:22 And we said to [my] lord, The child will not be able to leave his father; but if he should leave his father, he will die.
44:23 But thou saidst to they servants, Except your younger brother come down with you, ye shall not see my face again.
44:24 And it came to pass, when we went up to thy servant our father, we reported to him the words of our lord.
44:25 And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food.
44:26 And we said, We shall not be able to go down; but if our younger brother go down with us, we will go down; for we shall not be able to see the man's face, our younger brother not being with us.
44:27 And thy servant our father said to us, Ye know that my wife bore me two [sons];
44:28 and one is departed from me; and ye said that he was devoured of wild beasts, and I have not seen him until now.
44:29 If then ye take this one also from my presence, and an affliction happen to him by the way, then shall ye bring down my old age with sorrow to the grave.
44:30 Now then, if I should go in to they servant, and our father, and the boy should not be with us, (and his life depends on this [lad's] life)
44:31 -- it shall even come to pass, when he sees the boy is not with us, [that] he will die, and thy servants will bring down the old age of thy servant, and our father, with sorrow to the grave.
44:32 For thy servant has received the boy [in charge] from his father, saying, If I bring him not to thee, and place him before thee, I shall be guilty towards my father for ever.
44:33 Now then I will remain a servant with thee instead o the lad, a domestic of my lord; but let the lad go up with his brethren.
44:34 For how shall I go up to my father, the lad not being with us? lest I behold the evils which will befall my father.
[Genesis] 45:1 And Joseph could not refrain himself when all were standing by him, but said, Dismiss all from me; and no one stood near Joseph, when he made himself known to his brethren.
45:2 And he uttered his voice with weeping; and all the Egyptians heard, and it was reported to the house of Pharao.
45:3 And Joseph said to his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him, for they were troubled.
45:4 And Joseph said to his brethren, Draw nigh to me; and they drew nigh; and he said, I am your brother Joseph, whom ye sold into Egypt.
45:5 Now then be not grieved, and let it not seem hard to you that ye sold me hither, for God sent me before you for life.
45:6 For this second year there is famine on the earth, and there are yet five years remaining, in which there is to be neither ploughing, nor mowing.
45:7 For God sent me before you, that there might be left to you a remnant upon the earth, even to nourish a great remnant of you.
45:8 Now then ye did not send me hither, but God; and he hath made me as a father of Pharao, and lord of all his house, and ruler of all the land of Egypt.
45:9 Hasten, therefore, and go up to my father, and say to him, These things saith thy son Joseph; God has made me lord of all the land of Egypt; come down therefore to me, and tarry not.
45:10 And thou shalt dwell in the land of Gesem of Arabia; and thou shalt be near me, thou and thy sons, and thy sons' sons, thy sheep and thine oxen, and whatsoever things are thine.
45:11 And I will nourish thee there: for the famine is yet for five years; lest thou be consumed, and thy sons, and all thy possessions.
45:12 Behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaks to you.
45:13 Report, therefore, to my father all my glory in Egypt, and all things that ye have seen, and make haste and bring down my father hither.
45:14 And he fell on his brother Benjamin's neck, and wept on him; and Benjamin wept on his neck.
45:15 And he kissed all his brethren, and wept on them; and after these things his brethren spoke to him.
45:16 And the report was carried into the house of Pharao, saying, Joseph's brethren are come; and Pharao was glad, and his household.
45:17 And Pharao said to Joseph, Say to thy brethren, Do this; fill your wagons, and depart into the land of Chanaan.
45:18 And take up your father, and your possessions, and come to me; and I will give you of all the goods of Egypt, and ye shall eat the marrow of the land.
45:19 And do thou charge them thus; that they should take for them wagons out of the land of Egypt, for your little ones, and for your wives; and take up your father, and come.
45:20 And be not sparing in regard to your property, for all the good of Egypt shall be yours.
45:21 And the children of Israel did so; and Joseph gave to them wagons, according to the words spoken by king Pharao; and he gave them provision for the journey.
45:22 And he gave to them all two sets of raiment apiece; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of gold, and five changes of raiment.
45:23 And to his father he sent [presents] at the same rate, and ten asses, bearing some of all the good things of Egypt, and ten mules, bearing bread for his father for thy journey.
45:24 And he sent away his brethren, and they went; and he said to them, Be not angry by the way.
45:25 And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Chanaan, to Jacob their father.
45:26 And they reported to him, saying, Thy son Joseph is living, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt; and Jacob was amazed, for he did not believe them.
45:27 But they spoke to him all the words uttered by Joseph, whatsoever he said to them; and having seen the chariots which Joseph sent to take him up, the spirit of Jacob their father revived.
45:28 And Israel said, It is a great thing for me if Joseph my son is yet alive. I will go and see him before I die.
Provided through the courtesy of Father Panagiotes and Metropolitan Moses