Till Shiloh Comes (41 page)

“No,” Gad said, brushing back his black hair, which hung down in his eyes. He was, perhaps, the most honest and forthright of the Sons of the Maids, and he had thought deeply about this. “One of us must tell him, but not I. I was never able to speak well.”

Issachar spoke up at once. “I think it should be you, Reuben. After all, you're the firstborn.”

“I don't speak well either,” Reuben mumbled. He did not say that the relationship between him and Jacob was any worse than that of the other brothers. They all knew that. He turned suddenly and said, “Judah, it must be you.”

“Yes, it must be you!” Dan yelped. He had a wild, headlong nature and fixed upon the idea at once. “The way you stood up to Joseph when we thought he was our enemy was wonderful. You're getting to be quite an orator.”

Judah blinked in surprise. “No, I don't think I could do it.”

“I really think you must,” Issachar said. “You can do it better than any of the rest of us.”

The argument went on for some time, and finally in desperation Judah said, “I will do it, if I have to, but we must all agree to say absolutely nothing to anyone about Joseph being alive until Father knows, not even to our families. You know how gossip travels among our people. We must think much more about this. Since I was the one who pledged my own life, I will greet him initially, but then we will just have to see.”

A murmur of agreement went around the circle, and then they went to bed. Judah lay back, staring at the stars from the bed he had made in his wagon. They glittered and sparkled, and he saw a sudden line of silver trace itself across the sky—a falling star. He watched it until it disappeared, then sighed and rolled over and tried to sleep.

****

“They're here! They've come back!” Jacob had been dozing, and he was startled awake. He got up, reached for his staff, and hobbled out of his tent. Many of the family were already there, talking excitedly, and he heard Leah say, “Look, Bilhah, wagons! They've come back in wagons!”

Bilhah was staring wildly at the caravan from which rose columns of dust high into the air. “So many of them. Look.”

Zilpah was standing beside the other concubine. “There's a wagon for each of them,” she said. “I wonder if they're full of food.”

The wives and the children could wait no longer. They ran forward to meet the returning husbands and fathers. Jacob stood still, with Tamar beside him. “You see,” she said, smiling at him. “I told you it would be all right.”

“Yes, you were right, but what are all these wagons for? I hope they're full of food.”

But as the wagons drew closer, Jacob saw that they were not heavily loaded. The animals, fine healthy ones that he had never seen before, were pulling them easily across the ground. Jacob stood there waiting until the brothers drew the wagons up at the edge of camp. His sons all dismounted and were surrounded by their wives and children. Jacob did not move until Judah finally separated himself from Tamar's boys, who were clinging to him. He came straight over to Jacob and said, “Father, we are back.”

“So I see, but not in a way that I expected.”

“Eleven wagons,” Tamar said. “What's in them, Judah?”

“There's some food in there,” Judah replied. “I'll tell you more about the wagons later. You look thin, Father. You've lost weight.”

“I'm fine now that you're back.” His eyes lit up when he saw Benjamin, who was hugging his children and laughing, his white teeth flashing against his dark complexion. “You've brought my son back.”

“Yes, we're all back.” Judah was holding Perez and Zerah, and the boys were pulling at him, asking question after question.

“Let your father alone,” Tamar said. “Here, Judah, let me have them.”

“No, I'll hold them,” Judah said. “They look fine.” He looked at her and smiled. “You look fine also. You've taken good care of everyone.”

It was the kindest remark he had ever made to Tamar, and she flushed slightly. “They are easy boys to care for. Now, I must go get started helping with the food. We'll have a feast tonight.”

“We brought many special things back from Egypt, so it will be a real feast.”

“And you'll tell us all about your journey?” she asked.

“Yes, I will.”

The rest of Jacob's sons began to gather, and Judah stood off to one side, holding his two boys, one in each arm. “Were you good boys when I was gone?”

“No,” said Perez, “I was very naughty.”

Judah laughed. “Than I will have to punish you. What about you, Zerah?”

“I was a very good boy. I always am.”

“Well, I'll punish you later, Perez. In the meantime, I've got gifts for both of you. Come along. We'll find them.”

****

Judah and Jacob found time to talk before the feast began. The old man had sent for him, and the two sat down a distance off, watching the women as they cooked. There was much laughing and singing, and Jacob said, “I haven't seen our people so happy in a long time.” He turned then and said, “Tell me about your journey. I want to hear it.”

Judah had planned his speech well. He knew he must not tell too much, and yet he had to somehow prepare his father for the news that Joseph was alive. He began to tell him about Joseph as ruler but always called him simply the Provider. He told about their welcome but left out the unpleasant part about the silver cup for the moment. Jacob listened intently, and finally he began to ask questions about the man who was second to Pharaoh. “He is not an Egyptian?”

“No, he is not,” Judah said.

“That is strange that the pharaoh would not choose one of his own people to be in such a responsible position.”

“The man has a marvelous story,” Judah said carefully.

“I would like to hear it.”

“Well, you will a little later, but it's almost time for the feast now.”

Jacob sat very still, then looked up and smiled at Judah. “You did well, my son. I'm proud of you.”

Judah was touched. His father was not given to compliments, and he knew that the door was open to at least begin the campaign of persuasion. “We have a surprise for you, my brothers and I, but it must wait till tomorrow.”

Jacob laughed. “You play games with me, but I tell you, it cannot be better news than that you have all come back safely.”

Judah shook his head and smiled. “When you sleep tonight, do me a favor. Think of the most wonderful thing in all the world.”

“I cannot think of anything better than having you all back, but I will try.”

Judah waited until after the feast was over, and then he called all his brothers together and told them what had happened.

“We will have to tell him right away. We can't let this thing go on,” Reuben said with a worried look.

“I know,” Judah replied. He took a deep breath and looked around at the brothers. “Are you certain that I should be the one to tell him?” He saw them all nod, and then shook his own head. “I do not feel capable.”

“I will tell our father.”

Everyone twisted around to stare at Benjamin. Being the youngest, he had never once, as far as any of them could remember, attempted to make a decision that involved all of them. But now there was a strength and a calmness in his features. His eyes were steady as he met their glances, and he said, “Joseph and I talked this over before we left Egypt. It was his feeling that I should be the one to tell Father.”

“That is an excellent idea!” Judah cried at once, relieved to be freed from the burden. “You are his favorite son.”

“Yes, and besides that,” Dan said, “you have a gentleness about you that the rest of us lack. I think you are exactly right.”

The rest of the brothers all agreed, and Benjamin left to go home to his family. As they watched him go, Judah said, “I pray that it will not be too much for Father. I do not see how even Benjamin can break this to him in a way that will not do him some harm by the shock of it.”

“We must have faith in our younger brother,” Reuben said. “Come now. Let's all go to bed.”

****

Jacob found Benjamin waiting for him immediately after his breakfast. He had slept well, and now he embraced his youngest son heartily. “It is so good to see you back, my son.”

“You see? All your fears were for nothing. The things that we worry the most about sometimes don't happen.”

“Sit down, my son. Judah has told me some of what occurred, but I want to hear more.”

“First I want us to pray together, Father.”

Jacob stared at Benjamin in surprise. “It is always a good idea, my son, but about what?”

“I want us to pray for you—that you will not be overcome.”

“Overcome by what?”

“By the good news we bring and the future that lies ahead of us.”

“Good new concerning you and your brothers?”

“It concerns all of us, but mostly you. Come, let us pray.”

Jacob bowed his head and listened as his youngest son prayed a beautiful prayer. It was short but filled with joy, such joy that Jacob could not understand it. When Benjamin was finished, Jacob lifted his head, and his eyes glistened with tears. “That was a fine prayer, my son.”

“Good. Then I know that El Shaddai will not allow you to be overcome.”

“I was not overcome by the angel when I wrestled with him.”

“But you are older now,” Benjamin said with a smile, “and good news can be very overwhelming.”

Jacob sobered and stared at him. “Does this have anything to do with what Judah mentioned last night?”

“What did he say?”

“He only said that you all had a surprise for me, but he wouldn't tell me what it was.”

“That's right. Now, take my hands and be very calm.”

Bewildered, Jacob reached out his hands, and Benjamin, who knelt before him, took them firmly in his. “What would be the one thing you would rather have in all the world if you could have a wish?” Benjamin asked.

Jacob stared at him. “Well, I would like for my family to be safe and well.”

“That is a good wish, and it is part of the very good news that we have brought back from Egypt.”

“I would not have thought anything good could come from Egypt.”

“You will have to rearrange your thinking about Egypt, Father. But for now, I want you to think of something that you would love to be true but that you think is impossible.”

Jacob was very puzzled. He thought hard and made several false starts; then he shrugged. “Well, of course, my first wish would be that we had your brother back again, but that can never be.”

“We're very close now,” Benjamin said. “Keep that in your mind. The thing you would like most if you could would be to have your son Joseph back. Now, suppose a stranger came in here, Father, and said, ‘I am going to give you your son Joseph back to you alive.'”

“Only God could do that. Why are you saying these things to me? It disturbs me greatly. I don't like to talk about them.”

“Father,” Benjamin said, holding the old man's hands tightly, “I have to tell you plainly now.” He hesitated and saw that Jacob's eyes were fixed upon him and said, “Your son Joseph did not die as we thought. He was not slain by an animal.”

Jacob started and began to tremble, then swayed back and forth.

Benjamin grabbed him and said, “You must be strong, Father. Just breathe deeply and listen. Sometimes good news is hard to take. You have met with God and endured, and now you must endure the good news. The best news that you could possibly imagine.”

Jacob's lips trembled, and his eyes were wide. He was breathing hard, and he whispered hoarsely, “Benjamin … is Joseph … is Joseph truly alive?”

“He is alive, Father. He did not die all those years ago.”

Jacob closed his eyes, and Benjamin changed positions. He moved to his father's side and put his arm around his shoulders, supporting him. “This is something that God has done, and you must accept it as such.”

“He is alive and you saw him in Egypt?”

“We could not help but see him, Father. Your son Joseph is the one whom they call the Great Provider. He is second in Egypt only to Pharaoh.”

“How can this be?” Jacob whispered.

“It could be because God has done it. El Shaddai used a terrible way to send Joseph to Egypt. You will hear all about it. But there he rose to power, and now he wants to see you.”

Jacob began to weep, and Benjamin held the old man for a long time. Finally, to his relief, Jacob took a deep breath. He wiped the tears from his eyes with his sleeve and said almost fiercely, “I will see my son. Now tell me everything, Benjamin!”

Benjamin was ecstatic as the brothers gathered, and he explained what had happened. “I told him everything! I told him that Joseph was alive, and he is well!” he exclaimed.

Judah gave an exultant cry. “Wonderful—wonderful! I'm proud of you, brother. You've done well.”

“However did you do it?” Reuben asked, shaking his head in wonder.

“I think God was with me. Father is so excited now, and he wants to see us all.”

“Did you tell him everything?” Dan asked, a worried tone in his voice.

“No. I didn't tell him about the cup in my sack. I left that out, but I told him everything else.”

“Did you tell him about the pharaoh's insistence we move to Egypt?” Simeon demanded.

“No, I didn't tell him that either. I was so worried about telling him the really big news, I didn't mention the other yet. But I suppose we need to tell him soon.”

“It ought to be easier to break that to him now,” Simeon said, nodding. “He'll be anxious to see Joseph.”

“Yes, he will,” Judah agreed. “I'm certainly ready to leave this land with its endless heat and drought. Those green fields along the Nile look mighty good, and the pharaoh promised we could put our flocks in the rich land of Goshen. Surely Father can see the wisdom in that.”