On Joseph (Memra 9)

Homily Nine on Joseph Homily Nine on Joseph And on his brothers when he went down to buy grain for himself. The holy teacher Mar Jacob of Serugh. That handsome Joseph who triumphed in the land of the Egyptians. He gave me a great discourse in his homily that he spoke concerning him. He opened his reading and set for me a promise of discoveries. And behold, he fills me, the unworthy one, with the mysteries that were hidden in it. He laid out his story and opened it before me richly. And behold, he urges me to draw from it worthily. How much is my strength sufficient, and when will my feeble strength suffice? For the discourse of the man is not exhausted by lengthy [treatment]. Upon him alone I took up speech. I was either sufficient or I confessed and was exhausted. And that which pressed upon his story, the mystery of the Son of God. I will stand openly, for my strength is not sufficient, for he is hidden from me. For if it were not for the fact that he was not like [others] in his deeds, there is indeed an end to his discourse and his story in sections. But if the death of the Son of God were not depicted in him, it would be completed in brief [words] and his hidden part would be silence. But concerning Christ, it goes forth in him; in the discourse it is not completed, for it is a great sea that never dries up; it stands at its limit. I will now descend into the story of Joseph briefly, while my strength holds out for the end of the discourse for the great mystery. He stood worthily in the land of Egypt to proclaim it. And through his famine, the land that would come to him grew great. Nations and regions and cities trembled and were shaken.

He measured out grain to Joseph’s brothers, satiety for their famished limbs, as though he were a painter adorning the creation that had been laid waste. And by the sale of grain he would restore her with patience. Ophir, the storehouse of all the wealthy from the lands, and the beauty of Joseph was adorned in every region. Then famine entered Judah, oppressing the truth, that it might bring the brothers, who were trusting, to the true one. Over the markets they pondered bitterly, that by their prostrations they might fall before him, though they did not wish to. For there was a day for him of dreams and revelations, which had been interpreted clearly, as they were fulfilled. And the elder Jacob called his sons and sent them to the land of Egypt because of the famine that pressed them. To the door of Joseph they went, the market, and they came that they might see that greatness which was hidden from them. They saw the honors of the youth, the sealed one who had been sold, who holds the world and governs it as a lord. They looked upon that free-born one who had become a slave, who, as lord, was master of all Egypt and also commanded in it. They saw him clothed in glory, name, and authority, and holding in his hand all the abundance and wealth of the land. And he alone gives satiety to the regions, and to him a great cause is found, but to others not. And the doors of all the wealthy are closed, while his own thunders, and the lords of the lands that sent them entreat him.

They were prostrating themselves before him with the bounties of the land that had revived Egypt, and the runner was at his feet, and Egypt had contended with her companions. And through him, Judah, Cush, and the inhabitants of their cities were resplendent. And that greatness which had been given to him was fair to him, and he was humbling pride and authority. And the lords of the land were made servants and were obedient to him. And in the kingdom of Egypt he ruled and governed her. And he was assuming the administration and the command. The brothers saw the brother who had been wronged in great glory, and they fell before him on their faces, trembling. The hands that were withered and empty were prostrating themselves, so that the hand of Joseph, full of satiety, might be extended to Egypt. The stars saw him like a great luminary that shines, and they prostrated themselves before him with his rays, the palms of Egypt. For the interpretation of dreams is clear: that the stars and the palms prostrated themselves before the youth because of the shame of his brothers. Heaven and earth, in their conduct, were honoring him. And in all the valleys, they placed his ladders so that he might ascend to greatness. The Lord of creation gave him authority and powers. And in the depths of height and depth, they praised and magnified him. They cast shadows on their faces before Joseph. And he who had been wronged rose and ascended upon the chariot. That greatness, lowly and cast down, was filled with authority. Before the humble one, shame pursued him until he grew great. So then, the brothers of Joseph prostrated themselves on their faces.

And they sought from him the produce for the hands of their fathers. He saw them and knew them clearly, and he began with cunning and asked them, "Whence have you come? Are you spies who have come to see the bounty of the land?" It is also known that your sustenance is that you are eaters. They said, "We are not spies nor deceivers, but the hungry, sons of the hungry, and lovers of truth." Twelve sons did his father, the elder Jacob, beget, and behold, one was lost to him and one was gone from him, and here are ten. And Joseph was weighing them wisely, for he was the interpreter of dreams, through whom they were to be made known, that the interpretation of the dream was to be established by the prostration of his brothers, as they were bowing and appeasing him that he might reveal himself to them. They were prostrating themselves before him and seeking from him that he might show himself to them, just as the ears of grain had prostrated themselves to his ear in the dream while he slept. They were casting down and throwing lions' words of deceit before that lamb, who had been sold and cast away from their company. Joseph was concealing himself from them like a wise man, for when they prostrated to him, the dreams they had dreamed were being interpreted. That tribute which the dreams had given him from his brothers, he was demanding from them, taking it from them though they were unwilling. The dream had written prostration and given it to him that he might demand it from them, and with severity he showed his face until he took it. He was full of compassion and did not dry up for them; he was seeking.

But he desired to interpret his dreams, and he was confirmed. The faces of wrath and fury he showed them, that which had occurred in the prison. "Are you spies? Or merchants who have come to see the land?" He said to them, "You are not spies, but merchants." In his heart, Joseph was gently mocking them, that like merchants who are free men, they had made him a slave. Behold, their merchandise is sold to free men from every place, and their iniquity is hung on the lords of free men on a tree. When they were merchants to their brother, they sold and drove him away; and when they were iniquitous to the Lord, they offended and deceived and hanged. "Merchants," he said to them, "what have you done?" He said to the one who had been sold, and he knew his own affair, that they were not merchants. In the prison of slaves, they recognized their brother, and like merchants, they said to their father, "A merchant, a cheat, an iniquity, and a lie." Now the speech of the Most High is from the customary, but that which is sharp, its voice does not listen to it. That the Lord sent Joseph to the land of Egypt is revealed, and that his own was the entire journey is also known. David said, "Before them, he sent a man." And behold, they sent the man's brothers to you, the guilty. Joseph also said, "Because of you, the Lord sent me." For he knew that his entire journey was of God. And behold, Joseph confessed with his mouth that the Lord sent him. And David said, "Before them, he sent a man.

the way of the Lord, which was from God, was accomplished. For behold, the Lord sent him to Egypt when he was sold. And what does Judah say to Joseph's brothers, who envied and conspired and lied to their father and sold their brother and did all these things? By their deceit, behold, that which God had ordained was accomplished. Even through their wickedness, the work of the Lord was fulfilled. Their envy set the path of the Lord according to his will, that Joseph might go to the land of Egypt as he desired. All the envy, deceit, and iniquity of Joseph's brothers—this did that which God had decreed for the youth accomplish. And thus, the way of the Lord was done when they sold him. And what does Judah say? Those who were the cause of all the benefits. Now he ceases from the praise of the beautiful ones, and he becomes a doer for the servants of iniquity wantonly. Praise is due to the brothers of Joseph. Nor is it fitting that one who sold his Lord should boast. The death of the son was the good cause for the living. And what does Judah say to the crucifiers by their actions? Judah is the betrayer, and Caiaphas the filthy priest, and the sin of the body that crucified the son—what does Judah say? For they were the cause of the full hope for the whole world, that if the Son of God had not died, the world would not have risen. And these things, what does Judah say about all the evils? And what is done is not fitting for their doers. Brothers, companions, and seekers of mystery, seek my word.

they stand and receive it with great love. The workers of iniquity were not mocked in their deeds, nor did all good things depart from their side. The Lord is wise and has the power to bring forth all good things from evils. He gave to the seekers of salvation. He was mocked for what Esau did, the evil to his brother. That evil, its doer, the Lord who is able, made good. Joseph's brothers made him a slave from their side, and the Lord took him and made him a lord over lords. In that intention with which Joseph's brothers stood, behold, he is angry and also a judge when he asks. He demands from them according to their intention, when they went up before him. And to the good things that were in their hands, they do not approach. To the evil intention, the righteous judge goes, for as it is, that intention is also received. Like free men's buyers and sellers, the Lord goes to Joseph's brothers concerning his deed. For that good which was in his path when he was sold, it was from God, who is able to make water into wine. Not that they sold him, and that good was being accomplished, but the Lord who sent him was sending him according to his knowledge. And when he was a slave, he found the Lord and made him a king. When he was a free man, he was not able to, for he would have increased him. From the prison he brought him out and gave him rulership. From his father's house he did not call him and honor him.

From within the pit he remembered him and placed him upon the chariot. If he had not fallen, he would not have been cast down, he would have gone astray. The Lord seeks the payment of his price from their hands, as if his entire journey were from without them, for the Lord sent him when he was sold, and they were unaware. And as if the Lord had not sent him, he came to them; it was the stewardship that accomplished its own work without them, and they are not blamed for the good of which they were unaware. Their own is this: from the bitterness of those who envied and consumed, and who lied and deceived, and who sold and drove out, who oppressed the father, enslaved the brother, and violated the truth. They angered the Lord and made a slave of the free man. And as if he who was a slave forever were the one who was sold, and as if he were free and bound and constrained and full of sufferings, so they swallow from the judge concerning his deed. And that which was sent from God, not near, another chosen one, if you examine distinctly, you will see that his entire journey was from God. And as if his brothers were unaware when he was sold, and the Lord rode upon all the occasions that were there. And how beautiful this was, that he became a slave, and as if for honor his journey occurred and he was sold. And the entire stewardship that was with him was fitting, as if, if he had not been sold, it would not have been accomplished. And so beautiful and orderly came the arrangement of his journey.

As much as they cast into the pit something of a transaction it was, not a transaction of those who are fair, but the Lord set his path, and behold it is fair and full of mysteries, like that which was from the crucifiers toward the Savior, that they mocked and bound and scourged and crucified and killed and buried, and all those things which they did turned out, though they were evil, to be hope and life for the world which through them lived. And thus from the pit, because they crucified, as if there were no life in him and no salvation for them who crucified, then he who saved his own came, and because of that, the good that was not near. Thus from the pit the brothers of Joseph revived him when they sold him, then he entered and was sent, not their own, he was high from the mouth of the narrative of all the economy. He ceased from him, while he feared a father who is not to be interpreted, constrained was the hand in those voices, all that is customary, and what is not constrained, if it increases, a father does not heal it. The brothers of Joseph were cast, therefore, upon their faces, and they appease him, the grieving ones: "Sin, my Lord, and not the spies. Come, for they have a brother and a father," and he took the cause, that to Benjamin the brother he might see that he loved him. "If truly you are grieving, you have come and seek grief, show in truth that your deceit is not, what you have said. By this I shall know if all your words are true, when you bring to me that brother of yours, the son of old age.

Remain in the prison and send him, that one of whom you spoke. And what then? Behold, it is seen that it is not falsehood for you. Joseph sent and imprisoned you wisely, so that you would fall into the pit of words which you spoke, if they are true. He would have raged against you there, without ceasing, for in all his dealings his brother would come, whom he was seeking. The brothers of Joseph feared and were terrified by the steward, for that young commander who came had terrified them. Three days they were in prison, while being sought, for the young Benjamin, as they had confessed. Come, see now the wheel of merchants turning, and it makes the lower things upper. The young one, sealed, driven, sold, whom the Lord made, and the merchants imprisoned, wailing in the house of affliction. The Lord turns all evils against their doers, for he who digs a pit for his companion falls into it. For that one who was wronged and cast into the pit increased in honor, and he bent his wrongdoers before him, and they became a footstool for him. They were in prison, being distressed because of the young one, for they did not know how the evil that had happened would end. Joseph says, "Because of the Lord who knows, I am afraid. I do not wish to do evil and distress you. I am afraid, for I fear God and worship Him, and evil never comes through my hands; I do not consent. Go out, depart from me, because of the hunger that is before you.

And they left one of your brothers here until you come. By the life of Pharaoh, these are true words, lest it be as you said—that you were spies. They were in bitter affliction, the brothers of Joseph, and they began to say this to that one, while they were ashamed that it was Joseph who now cries out and oppresses them, and because of that they are distressed with grief—the great sin of that free man who was sold. Now he stands and is clothed to you for death. The youth’s innocence is demanded from God, and He brought you to be judged here for the transgressions. His great cry, which he had refused and not accepted, fell entirely through the hands of the Lord and came to demand. You saw the humiliation of the brother who was wronged, and it did not grieve you, and because of that, in known grief you are distressed. That hidden seer looked at you while he was tearing you. It is now that he laughs and oppresses and tears you—the great sin of that free man who was a slave. It is he who hinders you from being slaves in the land of Egypt, so that the entrails of his father who wept might increase and not accept. Behold, he has made for you stumbling blocks into which you fall. The judgment of Joseph is demanded in the land of Egypt, and to grief he has brought you, to appease her so that she might desist from you. To the grieving father he has brought you, that he might be consoled for your folly. Great is the injustice you did to him, as to that one of your brother. With the blood of a goat you stained his heart against his beloved.

and in the manner of a type, behold, it was being turned about because of them. And if that iniquity which was in the youth was being concealed, by the weeping of the old man whose hair would not go away, they were being tormented by their own thoughts because of Joseph, who was in every man, the truth of his being sold because of his folly. That remembrance would declare to them like a judge, that this judgment for all sinners in their deeds, in the knowledge of the end, the thought shows and the flesh desires, and it convicts him distinctly for the man who erred. Even that judge ceased from accusation. That remembrance, to every man, clearly showed that there was in every man that affliction which belongs to the judge, and he accuses himself in the knowledge that he has sinned. For that truth was in the man without intermediaries, that he himself would confess like God in the knowledge of affliction, when no man accused the brothers of Joseph concerning what had happened. They were being tormented by their own deeds without an intermediary, they were guilty before their own consciences, in the righteousness of that judge who cannot be deceived. Joseph ceased, and they were not aware of Joseph, and they themselves were judging themselves because of their own deeds, righteous and afflicted and judges of the truth they were concerning this, and they condemned one another without a judge and were found guilty. For now their brother cries out and accuses you, and Joseph heard, and his compassion compelled him, he wept greatly.

He saw the form of their faces, how much they were humiliated by the deed, and their victory was in the weeping, by whose mercies he had compassion on his beloved ones. He heard that they were accusers to one another because of her, and he wept over them, that they were condemned. That distinguished one was boiling in his love from their words, and nature took weeping from the separation. He bent himself and gave to nature his own weeping, and turned back the follower from them, those first ones. "One of your brothers left here and went as you said, and the boy Benjamin is there as you said." He was to hear from them, and he bound and brought in and confined until the little boy would come, as had happened. As for them, he sent them on their way with their provisions and their loads, and in the mouth of the man's load he entrusted his silver and it was hidden. They were on the road, the hungry ones who had eaten their fill and brought it, and at the first inn they opened their sacks, and behold, in the mouth of the man's load was that silver which he had brought. And the men saw and were astonished; a great trembling seized them. They went out from Egypt and came to Judah, the brothers of Joseph, and they went up to Jacob and related to him the matter of the road. Thus, not one mighty man, the lord of the land, a powerful man on whom all Egypt hung by his word, stood and hardened himself and considered them as spies, and for three days he brought in and confined because of this, and he said to him, "The afflicted have sinned, my lord, not the spies.

The twelve sons of Jacob fell upon the ground of Egypt, and there was not one of them who had not gone out and been lost from the threshing-floor. The youngest boy, behold, by the side of his father, the old man, your servant, and the word that the Egyptian had spoken to you, that one is true of what you said, O boy, come! And because of this, he bound Simeon and took the boy, and he examined his words, whether they were true, as he had said. He gave to their father these who were among the Egyptians, and they filled the baskets and found each man his own silver there. Purses of silver within their baskets they saw and were amazed. And Jacob was moved from his silence with his beloved ones, and the old man began with words of lamentation to weep over his former and later afflictions. He said to his sons, "Behold, in your hands are all the events, that in every time you renew for me all afflictions: you have shorn me, and you have astounded me, and you have ground me down, until that cause of this my bereavement passes. Joseph is not here, the gentle light and the support of my stature, and Simeon is not here, the Levite of his brothers, for he too is bound. And Benjamin, again, he goes, complete with afflictions, and over all of them, behold, the fates of death are pressing and are finished. For Joseph, they killed him; for Simeon, they bound him among the Egyptians; and for Benjamin, again, if they bind him, woe to me!" Jacob was weeping and made his sons weep over his loss, and Reuben began with the firstborn and spoke to his parent.

Do not forget for me about Benjamin if he is sent to me, his curls, and I would see him brought truly to my sons. Tamit? No, he is brought as I confessed. Two beloved ones, because of her, the murderer remains. Jacob says, "My son did not go down as you said, that his brother died and he remained for his mother, victorious and triumphant." What happened to him? A trial on the road if he is sent, and in great lamentation, old age goes down to Sheol. The governance of the very swift one in her deeds concealed the mystery from the old man, so that he did not perceive that it would be great when that which is of God was revealed. And the whole road was filled with beauties in every form. The father of Jacob, whose heart was set on him, a great burden, made a face for that revelation at the time of the sacrifice. Joseph commands, high and elevated from the chariot, and his old father keeps mourning and is not consoled. In that Benjamin, son of old age, who remained with him, he saw Rachel and her sons in him and was consoled in him. Because of her, he did not wish to send him to the house of the Egyptians, lest he be shorn like Joseph, also from his brother. Jacob restrained, and his heart, the youth, did not go, and famine pressed, and the road to the house of the Egyptians fell. Distress arose like a flood over the Hebrews, so that to the land of Egypt they would go, even though they did not wish. Bread was lacking for the kings of the land and for the rich, and except for Joseph, he was not named in great abundance.

All the hands ran to his gates, and they went and came so that there was no one who had bread except he who had even that firstborn of Joseph’s brothers, and there was no other who had anything except he who had. And when the famine pressed, Jacob called them and sent them, saying to them, “The whole journey is in your hands. Go, go with the boy, go with the youth on the journey; otherwise, go, my brothers, and go—there is no other way. For the man, the lord of the land, has decided and said to me, ‘Without the boy, do not come again; you will not see my face.’” Jacob said, “This evil that has befallen me is from you, because you lied about your brother. Why were you compelled to say, ‘There, we have a brother’? And what cause did you seek, that you also saw in your hands?” They said to him, “Who knew what would happen, that the lord of the land would pursue you and take the boy? He asked you, indeed, whether you had a father and a brother, and you spoke true things to him as you wished.” Jacob said, “Arise, go now, as you have said, and bring the boy, and the way of the famine will be relieved. Take honors and gifts to the blessed man of the land, so that at his approach you may see the face of him who receives you.” The story of Joseph, that sea full and unending, and how it entered and how it will come out, no one knows. That of the running, no one can diminish with his great discourse.

When the father of the famine said that there would never be a portion, he let go much and said little from the story. Toward the conclusion, my bold word is to be completed. The brothers of Joseph had armed themselves from their father, and they took with them Benjamin and clothed him for the journey. They took the offerings and the good things of the land with their brother, and they went and set out on the path of the grain that had been sent to her. They also took that first silver that had been collected, as their father, who was wise, had commanded and taught them. They came toward Joseph and bowed down to him with Benjamin, so that the eleven stars who had bowed would be completed by that first path; ten bowed to him alone, and now eleven, and the dream was fulfilled and the interpretation stood. He saw Benjamin, that son of his mother whom he loved, and Joseph rejoiced and his heart was glad toward his beloved. And Joseph commanded his steward to bring his brothers in so that they might eat bread with him there in a beloved manner. And the men feared and trembled and were distressed as they entered, and with a sad heart and broken spirit they stood at his door, saying, "Woe to you! Because of the silver that was turned, behold, they are bringing you in to be slaves among the Egyptians—great humiliation and pride of heart are crushed by the Egyptians—and that you have been enslaved, for they have already brought you in unjustly." And the men began to speak toward the steward, while they were afraid and also trembling from the tumult.

I tell you, my Lord, they said to him with great trembling: "Behold, before the harvest of grain, your provisions have run out, and the money you gave has been spent on you without your knowledge, and he who placed it for you has gone with you, and you did not perceive it. That money is here, not lacking, and another has come with you, so that now you may trade with it." The servant said, "Do not be troubled in your minds, for the money is here, and I came and took it, and it is with me. And in your searches, it is that which you found, not your own, but the Lord of your fathers placed it there. The master of the land, with love, called you to eat with him. Not in scarcity or corruption did he see your provisions. Peace, love, and mercy with you—do not be hasty. He is a great provider; do not be cut off from your affairs." The brothers of Joseph went up and began in the land of Egypt, and the steward stood to receive them as he was commanded. They stood, then, and arranged themselves, and their battles were set in order, so that they might fight against Joseph when he came from his affairs. Blessed is the one who changes harsh and bitter times and makes them good, pleasant, and sweet. They fell upon Joseph with a harsh time and made him a servant, and the Lord brought another, set him up, and made him king. In a time of oppression, his brothers sold him, stoned him, envied him, drove him out, and now with gifts and battles he is being honored. When he was sold, he bowed like a servant and was not accepted.

Come, see now, as they were bowing to him with their honors, they set up the grain measures, and Joseph entered to see his brothers. And they came, their eyes, and were bowing to him with their honors. He asked after their peace, the lover of the interpreter, and received their eyes, and asked their eyes about their father, the elder Jacob. They revealed the mercies of Joseph, the distinguished one, clearly, that he wept with love over their being cast down by the sons of his father. Is it truly over the merciless ones that these mercies are? And now, the beloved one was full of mercies, and over them he grew angry. They had sold him, and they did not have mercy on his freedom, and they were accursed, not merciful, toward their brother. And without his guilt, their eyes were bent before him in truth, and he, the merciful one, grew angry and cried out, and he was great. He saw his enemies clearly, and his love burned, that the new law of the Lord was fulfilled in him. This is the perfection of the teaching that the Lord taught: to truly love enemies and persecutors. And that which was in Joseph is the image of the Messiah: among enemies he showed his love and his distinction. If he had received mercies and become a brother, nothing would have been. This is great: to hold the sacrificers with love. If his own self were not pure and perfect, his love would not have burned over them; he would have wept then. Where there was place for anger and for bloodshed, love entered and conquered evil with good—Joseph.

They were not weeping when they bowed to him, for he was a servant, and he was weeping, he whose own heart was full of compassion. Joseph went up to the grain measures, and wept, and poured out a pure [stream of tears]. And he restrained himself, and went out, for he had concealed his great deed. They called him to the pit, and gave him into servitude with prices. And he called them to that full banquet of blessings. The wise one commanded, and set their eyes upon his own scales, for it was fitting that good should repay evil. Joseph showed his wisdom in the shame of his brothers, for in his flesh he revealed how wise he was. To Reuben, the firstborn, he called first, and set [the cup] for him. And after him, Simeon, and beside him, Levi, they were set. He arranged Judah, and hand by hand, all of them in order. By the firstborn at the head, and even the youngest at the end, he placed. And Joseph's own place was missing from among his brothers. And he greatly increased the desire to show his wisdom. And as these things were being said about the banquet, from the wise Joseph, he revealed to his brothers: "Your crown is beautiful and fitting, all of it, to one who sees it. But one thing is missing from it, because of his fate. Your father, the old man, resembles the sun, and you are beside him like twelve rays from it, one is not here. If that one brother were standing among his brothers, the beauty that resembles yours—men have not seen on earth. Your father, the wall, after the twelve, stood with high towers.

And when one of them fell, all of them were shaken by his fall. A sigh came to them, that they might be stretched out upon him, twelve months. And he, who had taken up the whole measure, became a servant; he was stripped. But if he had been with you now, a brother who was lost, I would look and see your whole crown, how fair it is. Joseph was placed with his brothers in the house of bondage, and he was with them, and they were fair, but they did not perceive it in him. The eye of that fallen measure, which was set, rose up, and the wall struck the chosen stone that was its foundation. The beauty of the brothers was completed, and they did not perceive it, and the stone struck against its companions, and they did not know it. And he took their hands, and set their hands, and raised their hands, and at his table, which was full of blessings, he nourished their hands. Joseph sent out takers and treaders from his table to his brothers who had sent him, and he became a servant among the Egyptians. He multiplied the taking of that measure, which was the pain of his ribs, and the mercies of the son of his mother followed him, falling upon the ground. He called his steward, and Joseph commanded him to release their hands, and the servant did as he was commanded, wisely. And in their loads, he placed the silver of their lords, and he hid it in his sack, that measure, as he was commanded. And when they were equipped and went out and departed, they began to rejoice that the journey had begun, and there was no obstacle to move their hands. Reuben rejoiced, Simeon rejoiced, Levi praised, Judah gave thanks, and all of them rejoiced that the journey had begun.

He was joyful and glad, and all his brothers were with him, so that without distress he might be revealed to the old man Jacob. And when they were freed from the distresses of the entire journey, and they had passed through the desert and completed all the terrors that were, and in their satiety there was a great feast of delights, and in their mouths a fitting praise, for they were joyful, and a cloud passed and a thunderbolt thundered throughout the whole journey, and a dance and a song were in the satiety and the blessings of the delight. And while they were rejoicing and being joyful and hastening, behold, the steward of Joseph, the Egyptian, overtook them, disturbed and agitated, and he turned and was filled with rage, and he was drunk with wrath, and he cut off, he was angry and enraged, and he raised his voice against the camp with great trembling. He gathered together mighty men who could shake the earth, repayers of evil in return for many good deeds, not free men who had plundered and consumed lawlessly, but executioners and destroyers and also robbers, to bring you praise in a lawless manner in place of your honor, to bring you the king's cup from the beginning. And behold, the place was disturbed and everyone was agitated over the crimes. They heard and were dismayed, the brothers of Joseph, while they were rejoicing, and they cried out like women, and the strength of their limbs gave way, they trembled and were confounded, and a great trembling seized them, at the disturbed voices of that Egyptian which they heard. And their joy was turned into great mourning.

And they put on a garment of joy instead of their shepherds' tunics, and the earlier distresses that had gone forth were added to them, and trembling and a bad overturning came upon them. The men and the cattle turned back, and they said, "It is not possible that the evil cup should reach them without their perceiving it." The Egyptian ran, overturned their loads as he raged, and clapped his hands over the evil deed that had occurred. The men said, "My lord, do not speak these words. Spare yourself, whether they be thieves or liars. That first silver that he turned—behold, it is brought back. And now, as you say, they are stealing like that. How could he have dared to steal from your master's house, O Jacob? A man who thus entered and loved, and also honored you—there was no possibility for this to happen from anywhere. Do not speak, for it is not, and it is not found. Behold, before you is the whole deception: examine and see. And when his cup is found with your master, immediately he will die. Here, all the servants of the house of the Egyptians will be, and that one who stole the cup will die truly." The servant said, "Thus it will be, as my father says. For the one who dared and stole the cup—he will be enslaved. One who is thus will become a servant, just as the one who stole. And you, men, go in peace without delay." They said, "You have spoken well and fittingly, and with full compassion. For the one who stole the cup will become a servant.

The Hebrews ran, they opened their sacks, and they were trusting. And everyone who was searching, his load was examined, and he was passing by. And that Egyptian man approached to search them. And from that great load he began, and hand by hand he searched ten, and when he did not find the cup, he began to change their faces, which were covered. But when he reached and opened the sack of that Benjamin, he found the cup, and the men wailed with great agitation. All of them were shaken, and they seized and tore their garments, and they raised their voices in bitter lamentation. They wailed and wept from their agitation over the affair, and sounds of pain were heard from their mouths. They became angry and were enraged against Benjamin, the innocent lamb, and with insults and abuse they all stoned him together. For a short time the calm of their shepherds' minds had settled, and there was a cause, and it was stirred up violently. And then these words they spoke against Benjamin: "Woe to you, boy, that you have disgraced us among the Egyptians! Or how wanton and full of guile is the son of Rachel! And at all times he is the one who disturbs and embitters us. At the time of your brother's favor with your father, and his love was great, and he cared for all of you because of her, and he loved him, every day until he went as he went, behold, evil has sought from you to destroy you. You have shown a face of humility before the Egyptian, and your love is much better than all of you in the house of the beginning.

The beloved one of the Egyptian governor was searching. The like of that deception was wrought also for you, and it troubled you. The youth says, "What shall I say, and how shall I be saved? The God of my father, come to my aid, that I may be delivered from the hands of those who would tear me apart. What then has this Joseph given me, that he should be my hunter? For now they say to me, 'Ten are with me, and how shall I be saved?' If I say, 'The hands have left me on account of the sack,' that one brother who loved me is not here. The cause is that he seeks to make me stumble among the sons of the handmaids, who do not love the son of Rachel. And how shall I be saved? If my brother were here, I would be confident; but now that all of them are against me, what shall I say?" The great revelation that Jacob the father saw—the ladder and the angels who were arranged on it, the prayer of his father that kept vigil the whole night—does not know who placed the cup for his hunting. His brothers say to the youth, "Be silent for yourself; how do you dare, when the sack itself stands and accuses you? Now you are accusing all of them, as one who is guilty. The cup is heard, and you do not perceive, as you say. In one evil of deception the youth remains. Do not add this other of falsehood for yourself." He cried out in his tears and became silent from the sack. And all of them turned against Joseph, trembling. They fell down in fear before the mighty one, while they were silent.

The wise one received the face of wrath. "What is this evil deed that you have done to me? And you have deceived me and stolen from me and led me astray. Do you not know that a diviner divines by it? That wondrous cup which you stole from the beginning—if you had taken gold, men would not have run after it. But this cup, which reveals all mysteries to me—because you stole it, whether out of love or out of hatred for you, Judah approached, being afraid and full of trembling, and he began to speak alone by himself: 'What shall I say, and what shall I speak, and how shall I overcome the guilty ones?' He sinned, and also the sick and the false. Before the Lord, the evil deed is determined, and what shall he do? And he came, and he sinned, and he bowed down, and he cast himself down like a dead man. And behold, I have reached you; the face is ashamed, and guilt, and there is no mouth to speak with about your folly. 'Let there be for you, my lord, servants all of them, because they have transgressed and sinned.' And also the one who stole the cup, let him remain here, so that because he erred against you, the whole company may become your servants. For you have no boldness of face to pardon you." Joseph said, "Spare me from sinning and doing wrong, and let my freeborn sons become servants, though they have not erred. Let the one alone who stole the cup become a servant, and you, men, go in peace to your father. This cup, which is the cup that was stolen, shall become a servant, and without your being aware, you will not be confounded about the matter.

Judah approached, bowed, and said, pleading: "I beg you, my lord, do not be angry. For I said, 'I beg you, you asked that I become yours, for you have a father and a brother, and I taught you, my lord, that you have a brother of old age.' And my lord commanded that the boy be brought, and he said to him that he could not be separated from his father's side, otherwise he would die. And he said to you, my lord, 'Do not come again to see my face, but when the boy is with you, whom you wished to see, then you may see him.' And these are the words that my lord commanded to show to the old man, his father, who had sent the boy with me. And the old man was afraid, and his heart was shaken by the message, and he was not willing to give the boy as you had requested. And he said to you, 'My wife bore only two, and one of them is lost, and you said he was killed, and he is no more. And behold, I am mourning for him, the boy, until this day. And how now have you let his brother go, who was consoling me, lest some mishap befall him on the road, and he too be taken away, and in my old age I be left for the grave over my beloved ones? And how now have you let the boy go, who remained with me, and he went and saw the great lamentation of the old man, his father? But this I beg of you, my lord: accept my request, that instead of the boy I remain and become a servant. The old man's own self, his stature and his beauty, are in your hands. And let me become here, with you, immediately, or I die. No, my lord, let me go and see the evil of that venerable one.

I beg you, let me be a servant and a boy. Go, the boy went to his father, I brought him, and now I am liable for servitude. I beg you, let me pay. I accept, my lord, let me be a servant, while I rejoice, I beg you. And the boy went and met his father, who is able to support him. I beg you, my lord, do not be angry at that old age. The boy went and became a staff to support it. No, my lord, let me go and see the shame of the sorrowful old man, who is broken and mourning and full of grief over his beloved ones. Let me be for you, my lord, a servant here in place of Benjamin. And go, support that old age which is held by him. Joseph heard the words of grief, and yet he did not spare, so that the revelation of the truths might be hidden. The door of love to the sea of compassion, which was receiving him, and he interceded from it for his beloved ones abundantly. His nature was sorrowful and compassionate toward his race, even his limbs. His bones wished to reveal himself to his brothers, that they might know Joseph. His nature burned and burst forth in weeping in its warmth, for the spirit of compassion blew in him mightily. He could not bear that they should again be hidden and be shamed and go away, lest misfortune run upon them and overtake them. He saw that they were shamed and gloomy and mourning, and he hastened to reveal himself to them and to make them know. And Joseph commanded, and everyone who was there went out, and he raised his voice in great weeping and in sighs.

I beg you, I beg you, Joseph, your brother is truly sold. Stand, my lord, as you said, or perhaps not. The wise one called and approached my lord, and reminded my lord, and spoke gently with my lord, and made known to my lord. I beg you, I beg you, Joseph, that you sold me to the Egyptians. Do not deny that the Lord sent me to ransom you. The brothers of Joseph cried out and were confounded at his revelation, and they feared lest evil befall my lord. They set the treasure of wrath against him when he was sold, and they feared lest that sharp one should think of my lord. A great tumult of blood and murder they were guilty of, and they were confident that it would be avenged with sufficient cause. Evil afflictions full of death they cast against him, and they cried out and were troubled lest he rise up and avenge my lord. Your deed of itself stirred, frightened, and terrified my lord, for his action moved him, the man who is without judgment. What is not done by a simple soul anywhere in her deeds? She is entirely high, even from a small thing and from a trifle. She has a wicked deed, she is afraid of him, and when there is no man who disturbs her with a small thing, she is there. The simple deed that was done to the brothers of Joseph stirred my lord, for they were confident of the outcome. From their demeanor they were known strongly, that they were equal to a great judgment of blood upon the one who had transgressed. Because of this they were afraid and trembling.

When Joseph the noble was full of compassion, he spoke with them gently and showed them his nobility. They were amazed to see that they had been spared from the bitterness of the sale through the love that he brought forth for them in a fitting manner. He passed over the limit of their intentions and made them glad, and he fell upon the neck of his brother, and the beloved Joseph wept. The youth also wept for his brother, for his compassion was stirred. He embraced them fittingly and with kisses fittingly, so that they would not be distressed by the evil deed they had done. It seemed good to him that he should be reconciled as he had been reconciled, that he would not repay evil for the many evils. The righteousness of the pure one himself was fitting for him, and far from him were anger, wrath, and malice of heart. The authority over many was gentle for him, so that he did not know how to keep a grudge against those who wronged him. For just as that one would be in truth, so also the one who was full of compassion and pure of soul was from evils. He took from him that greatness which had been given to him, so that the mysteries of the Lord were kindled in him that he might become great. He was like him and succeeded in his deeds, and his fair name took hold in the whole world. The story of Joseph has been greatly extolled in the homilies, and it was not fitting that it be spoken of without a mystery, since he did nothing of himself. For he is spoken of alone, uniquely, by himself.

The shadow of the great thing that was before him was not great, but rather as he had grown, his shadow grew, that of the subduer of the worlds who had traced his types, and upon her he resembled the great one, even he in his entire course. The father knew him and traced his sign beforehand and set his form, so that he would entirely resemble the son in all his actions. The spirit looked upon him and, as in a sketch, took his likeness, so that nothing would be changed from the Redeemer. He carved him and made him an image and a type for the great likeness. And when it was completed, he sealed him for the end, the Messiah his Lord. Now that he has come into the world, the Lord is not great Joseph, and it became known that that greatness was of the Messiah. The Son of God placed his own precious things in those of Joseph. All those precious things that Joseph had, the Lord descended and became a servant to servants, and that which was Joseph's being a servant was diminished, even when he was made small. When God himself was sold for prices, the Lord marveled that Joseph was sold for pieces of silver, until those precious things of the Son of God that were in the creation of Joseph became very precious. Over the fact that the youth fell into the pit, his lineage was amazed, and after he fell into the grave, the Lord marveled at him. From the time he went down to Egypt, he was praised for this, and the Lord covered him for having descended to the earth from his father's house, because he who overcame the woman within the temptations was praised.

And the sign grew, that of the Messiah, who formed the type for the sinner, who interpreted dreams for the eunuch, and his companion was amazed at him, all the people. And the revealer of the mystery, the hidden one, took his wonder upon the one who had ascended upon the chariot of the mystery. And when the Messiah ascended to his own great heaven, the passing one was sad and gave Joseph, the beloved, for prices. And the son gave his body as a pledge, and love took him, for the sun of righteousness had shone upon the creatures. And the great lamp, Joseph, took that light. The work of the father was fulfilled for him in the death of his son. And the type, then, is not lacking anything, for the body shone, and the world saw how beautiful it was. And the shadow did not swallow it, nor was it anything, except the mighty one showed himself to the seekers. And in his shadow, no one was amazed, except in him, just as the shadow of the mystery was hidden. And when it was revealed, all the wonder ceased for him. How beautiful is the face whose beauty is from him, or when he put on borrowed garments and went out, the beauty of the mysteries of the Son of God, which Joseph wore. And these beauties that shone in him were his own, while the world was not aware of his beauties, for they were borrowed. He was radiant in him, so that he thought he was beautiful. And when the great and glorious beauty was revealed, the beauty of Joseph, which was borrowed, was dispersed.

The world loved him who distributed his body for a price, and the eunuch called him, the one who gave the hidden things for a price. Every man ran after God, who was a man, and to the free-born son, who was a slave, he did not again delay. It became known that because of the greatness of Joseph, and behold, the one who was the cause of the great one was praised. The earth saw him who rode on the chariots and was exalted, and it laughed at Joseph and at the chariot that Pharaoh gave him. Every man knows that these are mysteries and wonders, all of them, which were in Joseph, the beautiful ones. The men perceived them in the Lord and in his revelations, and all the beauties toward him remain from all the chosen ones, until the Son of God came and revealed himself. These beauties that were in Joseph were as if they were his own, and when he came, the world distinguished that they knew the signs, that there were hidden wonders in his image from those of the Messiah. No man was disturbed that he interpreted the mysteries of the Lord, these that were in the path of Joseph, clearly. What man has something that was not mocked? The hands say, before it becomes worthy of praise. If there were a man in creation who preceded and saw the path of Joseph and revealed his mystery, he would have been wise, before the Lord came to earth. If he spoke, a man would have known these words about Joseph. And now, these are the first and the last.

The world praises the night, which has its purposes, the night of darkness, full of all things. And when the day strikes it, it puts on light from it. And in that light which the night takes from the day, it is that it distinguishes beautiful things and forms. There is no means to distinguish the night in the depths, until it puts on power and light from the day. The night knows that by light it will never be disparaged, but by the light of him who makes it distinct, that the day dawned in the world, it stirred and awakened all things to distinguish the mysteries that were there, as in the depths. Jacob says, when Joseph was going down into the pit, "This youth is a mystery of the death of his Lord." Until the Son of God went down to the grave and ascended, he did not know the mystery and see him who spoke in it, until Judah sold him to Potiphar and took his price. It was not known that Jacob had been sold. Now that the whole creation has been illuminated by all the mysteries, it is not praise that he says, "Look how they used him." When you hear the story of Joseph, which is sealed and hidden, the story applies to that of the Messiah when it is told. To the day, however, when the night does not wish to see him, the blind man has a likeness that is shown to it. The mystery of the Son also ceases, the soul rests from him. He stirs it, it speaks about him richly. He says, "How are those who were awake?

It was not that the Lord resembled Joseph, the son of the Hebrews, but that Joseph resembled the Lord in his deeds. In ancient days, before the sun, his name existed; his mystery was a type of the young Joseph of yesterday. He was sealed like him, he was wronged like him, by the inner ones. And thus his entire course ran in the likeness of the Son. Come near and see that free man who became a slave, when he was sold by his household into the hands of maidservants, and they take from him the provisions he had brought and mock him. And the slave goes and comes in Egypt, though he was a free man. And he did the work of the land with the Egyptian woman in the midst of the market. And he would enter, bound and confined, with the dancers. And he loosed the bound by the interpretation of dreams and brought them out. And he ascended and sat upon the chariot, for he was a free man. And he gave satiety and even the pattern of the cross to the whole world. And they bring buyers and sellers and fall before him. And they boast in that greatness which was not deserved. And turn and see the Lord, who was wronged by the crucifiers. And he heals the sick and brings out demons and they mock him. And they sold him as well, and they took his price and brought him into confinement. And they brought out his blood and they clothed his body and they stretched him on the cross. And they fed him, they killed him, and they brought him down and buried him, and he was buried.

He overcame the prison and uprooted its foundations, and ascended from it. He released the captives who were there and brought out the fettered. And the cloud of the chariot became a chariot of light instead of the chariot. And the buried people saw the glory in the height of the air. And from that measure of lowliness, that greatness, so that the path of Joseph would not be changed from that of the Messiah. He says now to you: Did not the brothers of Joseph know him? In that first path, when they came and saw his face, in that final revelation of the two, they knew him. But in the first, they did not know him, as if in a mystery. He did not give them the pattern of the son, nor reveal himself. But the second time, when they saw his glory, his brothers were ashamed of him. That first time is the one of the son who shone in the clouds, and they did not perceive him, nor did they know him when he was exalted. For in that second path they knew him and were ashamed of him. That second coming is the type that is to be shown in her. Joseph did not wish to reveal himself to his brothers until all of them had grown weary and came to his place. One was missing and was not revealed until he came. That is the one of the son: the worlds grew weary, and then he is revealed. But when all the worlds had grown weary of waiting for his revelation, they were ashamed, the crucified ones, just as the brothers of Joseph were ashamed. Come, come, Joseph, who was sold by the Egyptians! It is often said: Come, come, Jesus, who was crucified by the Jews! To those who passed by, he says: Come, as he served.

And to the ships that were coming, he released from their fetters like captives. His splendor, which is like the sea, is unceasing. Blessed is he who gave to Joseph that he might be a type for his son.