During the first year of the third week of the forty-fifth jubilee [2171], the famine began to come to the land. The rain refused to be given to the earth because there was nothing which was coming down.

The earth became unproductive, but in the land of Egypt there was food because Joseph had gathered the seed in the land during the seven years of copious harvest and kept it.

When the Egyptians came to Joseph so that he would give them food, he opened the storehouses where the grain of the first year was and sold (it) to the people of the land in exchange for money.

Jacob heard that there was food in Egypt, so he sent his ten sons to get food for him in Egypt. But he did not send Benjamin. They arrived with those who were going (there).

Joseph recognized them, but they did not recognize him. He spoke with them, asked them questions, and said to them: ‘Are you not spies? You have come to investigate the paths of the land’. He then imprisoned them.

Afterwards he released them. He detained only Simeon and sent his nine brothers away.

He filled their sacks with grain and put their money in their sacks. But they did not know (this).

He ordered them to bring their youngest brother because they had told him that their father was alive and their youngest brother (also).

They went up from the land of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan. They told their father everything that had happened to them and how the ruler of the area had spoken harshly with them and was holding Simeon until they should bring Benjamin.

Jacob said: ‘Me you have deprived of children. Joseph does not exist nor does Simeon exist, and you are going to take Benjamin. Your wickedness has come upon me’.

He said: ‘My son will not go with you. Perhaps he would become ill. For their mother gave birth to two; one has died and this one, too, you will take from me. Perhaps he would catch a fever on the way. Then you would bring down my old age in sorrow to death’.

For he saw that their money was returned — each one in his purse, and he was afraid to send him for this reason.

Now the famine grew increasingly severe in the land of Canaan and in every land except the land of Egypt because many Egyptians had stored their seed for food after they saw Joseph collecting seed, placing (it) in storehouses, and keeping (it) for the years of the famine.

The Egyptians fed themselves with it during the first year of the famine.

When Israel saw that the famine was very severe in the land and (that) there was no relief, he said to his sons: ‘Go, return, and get us (some) food so that we may not die’.

But they said: ‘We will not go. If our youngest brother does not come with us, we will not go’.

Israel saw that if he did not send him with them they would all die because of the famine.

Then Reuben said: ‘Put him under my control. If I do not bring him back to you, kill my two sons for his life’. But he said to him: ‘He will not go with you’.

Then Judah approached and said: ‘Send him with us. If I do not bring him back to you, then let me be guilty before you throughout my entire lifetime’.

So he sent him with them during the second year of this week [2172], on the first of the month. They arrived in the territory of Egypt with all who were going (there) and (had) their gifts in their hands: stacte, almonds, terebinth nuts, and pure honey.

They arrived and stood in front of Joseph. When he saw his brother Benjamin, he recognized him and said to them: ‘Is this your youngest brother’? They said to him: ‘He is’. He said: ‘May the Lord be gracious to you, my son’.

He sent him into his house and brought Simeon out to them. He prepared a dinner for them. They presented him with his gifts which they had brought in their hands.

They ate in front of him. He gave portions to all of them, but Benjamin’s share was seven times larger than the share of any of them.

They ate and drank. Then they got up and stayed with their donkeys.

Joseph conceived of a plan by which he would know their thoughts — whether there were peaceful thoughts between them. He said to the man who was in charge of his house: ‘Fill all their sacks with food for them and return their money to them in their containers; put the cup with which I drink in the sack of the youngest — the silver cup — and send them away’.