Verse 12

But Jacob, hearing that there was grain in Egypt, sent out our fathers the first time.

Referenced Verses

• Gen 42:1-9 : 1 Now Jacob, hearing that there was grain in Egypt, said to his sons, Why are you looking at one another? 2 And he said, I have had news that there is grain in Egypt: go down there and get grain for us, so that life and not death may be ours. 3 So Joseph's ten brothers went down to get grain from Egypt. 4 But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph's brother, with them, for fear, as he said, that some evil might come to him. 5 And the sons of Israel came with all the others to get grain: for they were very short of food in the land of Canaan. 6 Now Joseph was ruler over all the land, and it was he who gave out the grain to all the people of the land; and Joseph's brothers came before him and went down on their faces to the earth. 7 And when Joseph saw his brothers, it was clear to him who they were, but he made himself strange to them, and talking roughly to them, said, Where do you come from? And they said, From the land of Canaan, to get food. 8 Now though Joseph saw that these were his brothers, they had no idea who he was. 9 Then the memory of his dreams about them came back to Joseph, and he said to them, You have come secretly to see how poor the land is. 10 And they said to him, Not so, my lord: your servants have come with money to get food. 11 We are all one man's sons, we are true men; we have not come with any secret purpose. 12 And he said to them, No, but you have come to see how poor the land is. 13 Then they said, We your servants are twelve brothers, sons of one man in the land of Canaan; the youngest of us is now with our father, and one is dead. 14 And Joseph said, It is as I said; you have come with some secret purpose; 15 But in this way will you be put to the test: by the life of Pharaoh, you will not go away from this place till your youngest brother comes here. 16 Send one of your number to get your brother, and the rest of you will be kept in prison, so that your words may be tested to see if you are true; if not, by the life of Pharaoh, your purpose is certainly secret. 17 So he put them in prison for three days. 18 And on the third day Joseph said to them, Do this, if you would keep your lives: for I am a god-fearing man: 19 If you are true men, let one of you be kept in prison, while you go and take grain for the needs of your families; 20 And come back to me with your youngest brother, so that your words may be seen to be true, and you will not be put to death. This is what you are to do. 21 And they said to one another, Truly, we did wrong to our brother, for we saw his grief of mind, and we did not give ear to his prayers; that is why this trouble has come on us. 22 And Reuben said to them, Did I not say to you, Do the child no wrong? but you gave no attention; so now, punishment has come on us for his blood. 23 They were not conscious that the sense of their words was clear to Joseph, for he had been talking to them through one who had knowledge of their language. 24 And turning away from them, he was overcome with weeping; then he went on talking to them again and took Simeon and put chains on him before their eyes.
• Gen 43:2 : 2 And Judah said to him, The man said to us with an oath, You are not to come before me again without your brother.