Remember, this is an ancient Hebrew text, not considered canon, but full of fascinating stories filling in gaps in the biblical narrative.
Our story picks up with Jacob and his sons back in Canaan, facing a brutal famine. "Behold I hear that there is corn in Egypt," Jacob says, urging his sons to journey there to buy grain. Why be the only ones starving, he reasons? So, off they go, except for young Benjamin, whom Jacob keeps close, fearing another loss like they suffered with Joseph.
But here’s where it gets interesting. As they travel, the brothers’ consciences start to prick. "We know that our brother Joseph went down to Egypt," they say to each other, according to the Book of Jasher. They decide to find him, ransom him, or even use force to free him. It's a brave, if belated, act of repentance.
Jacob, ever the cautious patriarch, gives them a strange instruction: "When you come into the city do not enter together in one gate." It seems like odd advice. Well, it's about to complicate things in a major way.
Arriving in Egypt, they split up, entering through ten different gates. Each gatekeeper dutifully records their names and sends the list to…you guessed it, Joseph!
Now, Joseph, who is a powerful man in Egypt, recognizes his brothers' names. He orders all the grain stores closed, except for one, and stations a man there with the list of his brothers' names. Anyone with those names? Arrest them!
Meanwhile, the brothers, true to their word, are searching for Joseph. And where do they look? The red-light district. "They went to the walls of the harlots," the text tells us, "for they thought that Joseph would come in the walls of the harlots, for Joseph was very comely and well favored.” It's a shocking detail, isn't it? It shows just how little they understood their brother.
For three days, they search, but no luck. The storehouse manager, puzzled, tells Joseph that these guys haven’t shown up. So, Joseph sends out sixteen servants to find them. Eventually, four of them find the brothers in… you guessed it, the "house of harlots."
Brought before Joseph, they bow low. He is sitting on his throne, “clothed with princely garments, and upon his head was a large crown of gold." They don't recognize him, so great is his power and changed appearance.
The encounter is fraught with tension. Joseph accuses them of being spies. They deny it, explaining they are brothers searching for their lost sibling. Joseph pounces on their story. Why would sons of Abraham be looking in such places?
The brothers explain they heard Joseph was sold to the Ishmaelites and taken to Egypt. Because he was "comely and well favored," they assumed the worst. Joseph, still testing them, says, "Surely you speak falsely…as Pharaoh liveth you are spies."
He demands they prove their honesty by sending one of them back to fetch their youngest brother, Benjamin. Until then, one of them will remain as a hostage.
Joseph then leaves the room and breaks down, overcome with emotion. But he steels himself, returns, and chooses Simeon as the hostage. But Simeon, strong and defiant, refuses to be bound.
Chaos erupts! Joseph calls for seventy of his strongest men, but Simeon's roar terrifies them, sending them fleeing. Only Joseph and his son Manasseh remain. Manasseh, enraged, strikes Simeon, finally subduing him. The brothers are astonished by the youth’s strength. Simeon tells his brothers, "None of you must say that this is the smiting of an Egyptian, but it is the smiting of the house of my father." A cryptic line, isn't it? Almost as if he recognizes something of Jacob's lineage in Manasseh's strength.
Joseph orders their sacks filled with grain, their money secretly returned, and provisions given for the journey. He warns them to bring Benjamin back.
On the road, Levi discovers the money in his sack. Fear grips them. "What is this that God hath done unto us?" they cry. Judah reminds them of their guilt in selling Joseph. Reuben, ever the voice of conscience, says, "Said I not unto you, do not sin against the lad…now God requireth him from us."
They return to Jacob, who is distraught at Simeon's absence.
What does it all mean? This chapter is a masterclass in dramatic irony. We, the readers, know who Joseph is, while his brothers are completely in the dark. The weight of their past actions, their guilt, and the mysterious workings of fate hang heavy in the air. It’s a reminder that even years later, our choices can come back to confront us, often in unexpected and challenging ways. And sometimes, just sometimes, those challenges can lead to unexpected reconciliation. What do you think? Is this a story of divine justice, or one of human fallibility? Or perhaps, a bit of both?
Sacred-texts Apocrypha Index Previous Next Book of Jasher, Chapter 51 1 And Jacob afterward heard that there was corn in Egypt, and he called unto his sons to go to Egypt to buy corn, for upon them also did the famine prevail, and he called unto his sons, saying, 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. 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. 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. 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. 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, by force, and we will die for him. 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. 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, 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. 10 And all the officers of Joseph did so at that time, and they closed all the stores and left only one open. 11 And Joseph gave the written names of his brethren to him that was set over the open store, and he said unto him, Whosoever shall come to thee to buy corn, ask his name, and when men of these names shall come before thee, seize them and send them, and they did so. 12 And when the sons of Jacob came into the city, they joined together in the city to seek Joseph before they bought themselves corn. 13 And they went to the walls of the harlots, and they sought Joseph in the walls of the harlots for three days, for they thought that Joseph would come in the walls of the harlots, for Joseph was very comely and well favored, and the sons of Jacob sought Joseph for three days, and they could not find him. 14 And the man who was set over the open store sought for those names which Joseph had given him, and he did not find them. 15 And he sent to Joseph, saying, These three days have passed, and those men whose names thou didst give unto me have not come; and Joseph sent servants to seek the men in all Egypt, and to bring them before Joseph. 16 And Joseph's servants went and came into Egypt and could not find them, and went to Goshen and they were not there, and then went to the city of Rameses and could not find them. 17 And Joseph continued to send sixteen servants to seek his brothers, and they went and spread themselves in the four corners of the city, and four of the servants went into the house of the harlots, and they found the ten men there seeking their brother. 18 And those four men took them and brought them before him, and they bowed down to him to the ground, and Joseph was sitting upon his throne in his temple, clothed with princely garments, and upon his head was a large crown of gold, and all the mighty men were sitting around him. 19 And the sons of Jacob saw Joseph, and his figure and comeliness and dignity of countenance seemed wonderful in their eyes, and they again bowed down to him to the ground. 20 And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but they knew him not, for Joseph was very great in their eyes, therefore they knew him not. 21 And Joseph spoke to them, saying, From whence come ye? and they all answered and said, Thy servants have come from the land of Canaan to buy corn, for the famine prevails throughout the earth, and thy servants heard that there was corn in Egypt, so they have come amongst the other comers to buy corn for their support. 22 And Joseph answered them, saying, If you have come to purchase as you say, why do you come through ten gates of the city? it can only be that you have come to spy through the land. 23 And they all together answered Joseph, and said, Not so my lord, we are right, thy servants are not spies, but we have come to buy corn, for thy servants are all brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan, and our father commanded us, saying, When you come to the city do not enter together at one gate on account of the inhabitants of the land. 24 And Joseph again answered them and said, That is the thing which I spoke unto you, you have come to spy through the land, therefore you all came through ten gates of the city; you have come to see the nakedness of the land. 25 Surely every one that cometh to buy corn goeth his way, and you are already three days in the land, and what do you do in the walls of harlots in which you have been for these three days? surely spies do like unto these things. 26 And they said unto Joseph, Far be it from our lord to speak thus, for we are twelve brothers, the sons of our father Jacob, in the land of Canaan, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the Hebrew, and behold the youngest is with our father this day in the land of Canaan, and one is not, for he was lost from us, and we thought perhaps he might be in this land, so we are seeking him throughout the land, and have come even to the houses of harlots to seek him there. 27 And Joseph said unto them, And have you then sought him throughout the earth, that there only remained Egypt for you to seek him in? And what also should your brother do in the houses of harlots, although he were in Egypt? have you not said, That you are from the sons of Isaac, the son of Abraham, and what shall the sons of Jacob do then in the houses of harlots? 28 And they said unto him, Because we heard that Ishmaelites stole him from us, and it was told unto us that they sold him in Egypt, and thy servant, our brother, is very comely and well favored, so we thought he would surely be in the houses of harlots, therefore thy servants went there to seek him and give ransom for him. 29 And Joseph still answered them, saying, Surely you speak falsely and utter lies, to say of yourselves that you are the sons of Abraham; as Pharaoh liveth you are spies, therefore have you come to the houses of harlots that you should not be known. 30 And Joseph said unto them, And now if you find him, and his master requireth of you a great price, will you give it for him? and they said, It shall be given. 31 And he said unto them, And if his master will not consent to part with him for a great price, what will you do unto him on his account? and they answered him, saying, If he will not give him unto us we will slay him, and take our brother and go away. 32 And Joseph said unto them, That is the thing which I have spoken to you; you are spies, for you are come to slay the inhabitants of the land, for we heard that two of your brethren smote all the inhabitants of Shechem, in the land of Canaan, on account of your sister, and you now come to do the like in Egypt on account of your brother. 33 Only hereby shall I know that you are true men; if you will send home one from amongst you to fetch your youngest brother from your father, and to bring him here unto me, and by doing this thing I will know that you are right. 34 And Joseph called to seventy of his mighty men, and he said unto them, Take these men and bring them into the ward. 35 And the mighty men took the ten men, they laid hold of them and put them into the ward, and they were in the ward three days. 36 And on the third day Joseph had them brought out of the ward, and he said unto them, Do this for yourselves if you be true men, so that you may live, one of your brethren shall be confined in the ward whilst you go and take home the corn for your household to the land of Canaan, and fetch your youngest brother, and bring him here unto me, that I may know that you are true men when you do this thing. 37 And Joseph went out from them and came into the chamber, and wept a great weeping, for his pity was excited for them, and he washed his face, and returned to them again, and he took Simeon from them and ordered him to be bound, but Simeon was not willing to be done so, for he was a very powerful man and they could not bind him. 38 And Joseph called unto his mighty men and seventy valiant men came before him with drawn swords in their hands, and the sons of Jacob were terrified at them. 39 And Joseph said unto them, Seize this man and confine him in prison until his brethren come to him, and Joseph's valiant men hastened and they all laid hold of Simeon to bind him, and Simeon gave a loud and terrible shriek and the cry was heard at a distance. 40 And all the valiant men of Joseph were terrified at the sound of the shriek, that they fell upon their faces, and they were greatly afraid and fled. 41 And all the men that were with Joseph fled, for they were greatly afraid of their lives, and only Joseph and Manasseh his son remained there, and Manassah the son of Joseph saw the strength of Simeon, and he was exceedingly wroth. 42 And Manassah the son of Joseph rose up to Simeon, and Manassah smote Simeon a heavy blow with his fist against the back of his neck, and Simeon was stilled of his rage. 43 And Manassah laid hold of Simeon and he seized him violently and he bound him and brought him into the house of confinement, and all the sons of Jacob were astonished at the act of the youth. 44 And Simeon said unto his brethren, None of you must say that this is the smiting of an Egyptian, but it is the smiting of the house of my father. 45 And after this Joseph ordered him to be called who was set over the storehouse, to fill their sacks with corn as much as they could carry, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the road, and thus did he unto them. 46 And Joseph commanded them, saying, Take heed lest you transgress my orders to bring your brother as I have told you, and it shall be when you bring your brother hither unto me, then will I know that you are true men, and you shall traffic in the land, and I will restore unto you your brother, and you shall return in peace to your father. 47 And they all answered and said, According as our lord speaketh so will we do, and they bowed down to him to the ground. 48 And every man lifted his corn upon his ass, and they went out to go to the land of Canaan to their father; and they came to the inn and Levi spread his sack to give provender to his ass, when he saw and behold his money in full weight was still in his sack. 49 And the man was greatly afraid, and he said unto his brethren, My money is restored, and lo, it is even in my sack, and the men were greatly afraid, and they said, What is this that God hath done unto us? 50 And they all said, And where is the Lord's kindness with our fathers, with Abraham, Isaac, end Jacob, that the Lord has this day delivered us into the hands of the king of Egypt to contrive against us? 51 And Judah said unto them, Surely we are guilty sinners before the Lord our God in having sold our brother, our own flesh, and wherefore do you say, Where is the Lord's kindness with our fathers? 52 And Reuben said unto them, Said I not unto you, do not sin against the lad, and you would not listen to me? now God requireth him from us, and how dare you say, Where is the Lord's kindness with our fathers, whilst you have sinned unto the Lord? 53 And they tarried over night in that place, and they rose up early in the morning and laded their asses with their corn, and they led them and went on and came to their father's house in the land of Canaan. 54 And Jacob and his household went out to meet his sons, and Jacob saw and behold their brother Simeon was not with them, and Jacob said unto his sons, Where is your brother Simeon, whom I do not see? and his sons told him all that had befallen them in Egypt. Next: Chapter 52 Sacred Texts | Christianity « Previous: Book of Jasher, Chapter 50 Index Next: Book of Jasher, Chapter 52 »
