When the governor again met them, they presented their gifts and humbly “bowed down before him to the earth.” Again his dreams came to his mind, and he quickly asked, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” “Your servant our father is in good health; he is still alive,” was the answer, as they again bowed down. Then his eye rested on Benjamin, and he said, “Is this your younger brother of whom you spoke to me?” “God be gracious to you, my son,” but overpowered by feelings of tenderness, he could say no more. “He went into his chamber and wept there.”
When Joseph recovered his composure, he returned. Because of the laws of social class, the Egyptians were forbidden to eat with people of any other nation. This is the reason that the sons of Jacob had a table by themselves, while the governor, because of his high rank, ate by himself. The Egyptians also had separate tables. When all were seated, the brothers were surprised to see that they were arranged in exact order according to their ages. Joseph sent “servings to them from before him,” but Benjamin’s was five times as much as any of theirs. He hoped to find out if the youngest brother was regarded with the envy and hatred that the brothers had shown toward himself. Still supposing that Joseph did not understand their language, the brothers freely conversed with one another, giving him a good opportunity to learn their real feelings. Still he wanted to test them further. Before they left Egypt he ordered that his own drinking cup of silver be placed in the sack of the youngest.
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