Narrated Drama: ''Judah Brings Benjamin Back" (Genesis 43-45)

Characters

Narrator

Jacob

Joseph

Reuben

Judah

Benjamin

Joseph’s servant

Simeon (tied up)

Props

Rope

Cup

Food in a big box.

Dress ups.

Rope to tie up Simeon and Benjamin.

Narration [Action]

[NARRATOR]

Previously, in Genesis…

[Jacob with precious Benjamin sitting in king chairs.]

Jacob’s son came back to him from Egypt.

[Brothers tired, moping their brow.]

It was a long journey back.

And they brought food.

[Jacob and Benjamin cheer.]

And they brought the silver.

[Jacob and Benjamin cheer.]

But that was bad.

Because it was part of the test.

But they didn’t bring something back.

Simeon.

Simeon stayed in Egypt.

He was Joseph’s hostage.

And the brothers said:

“Simeon is hostage in Egypt."

[Brothers repeat.]

“We will only get him back if we take Benjamin.”

[Brothers repeat.]

And Jacob said.

“You’ve taken all my children from me."

[Jacob repeats.]

“First Joseph, then Simeon, now Benjamin."

[Jacob repeats.]

“No body loves me, everybody hates me, I think I’ll go and eat worms."

[Jacob repeats.]

“You can’t have Benjamin!”

[Jacob repeats.]

Now this wasn’t a particularly helpful approach to the problem of starving to death.

It was showing favouritism to Benjamin.

And it wasn’t going to get them food.

So Reuben said.

“Give me Benjamin.

[Reuben repeats.]

“If I don’t bring him back, you can kill your grandkids."

[Reuben repeats.]

Now why Reuben thought that would convince his dad, I don’t know.

[Jacob holds on to Benjamin even tighter.]

It was probably a brain explosion.

But Jacob said to him,

“No way is Benjamin going with you.”

[Jacob repeats.]

Now, the food they brought from Egypt ran out.

And Jacob’s family got hungrier and hungrier.

So Jacob said,

“Go to Egypt to get a little food.”

[Jacob repeats.]

But Judah said.

“Remember, we have to take Benjamin."

[Judah repeats.]

“Give him to me."

[Judah repeats.]

“I will protect him."

[Judah repeats.]

“And we will go and get food."

[Judah repeats.]

“That way your family will not die."

[Judah repeats.]

“If I do not bring him back, it will be my fault forever."

[Judah repeats.]

And so Jacob said, "OK."

[Jacob repeats.]

So they took double the money, because they needed to pay for the first lot.

And they took Benjamin.

And they went to Egypt to see Joseph.

[Brothers walk down the aisle. Joseph and servant come out.]

Now, the brothers came before Joseph and bowed before him.

[Brothers bow.]

And Joseph recognized Benjamin.

And it brought a tear to his eye.

So Joseph released Simeon.

And Joseph fed his brothers.

But Joseph gave 5 times as much to Benjamin.

And Joseph gave them as much food as they could carry home.

But Joseph had one last test for the brothers.

He put his special cup in Benjamin’s sack.

[Servant puts cup in sack.]

And as the brothers went home, Joseph sent his servant after them.

And the servant, of course, found the sack in Joseph’s sack.

Because it was a set up.

So the brothers freaked out.

And they returned to Joseph.

And Joseph took Benjamin and tied him up.

Joseph said,

"The one who had my cup will be my slave."

[Joseph repeats.]

"The rest of you can return to your father."

[Joseph repeats.]

And threw themselves before Joseph.

And Judah said:

“Please, sir, allow me to speak to you."

[Judah repeats.]

“My father is very old."

[Judah repeats.]

“His brother is dead."

[Judah repeats.]

“Only Benjamin is left from his mother."

[Judah repeats.]

“Benjamin is my father’s favourite."

[Judah repeats.]

“I only brought him here because you said I had to."

[Judah repeats.]

“My father’s life is tied up with the boy's.”

[Judah repeats.]

“If he dies, my father dies.”

[Judah repeats.]

“When my father sees that Benjamin is not with us, he will die."

[Judah repeats.]

“I promised my father I would bring Benjamin back."

[Judah repeats.]

“I said my father could blame me forever."

[Judah repeats.]

“So please let me stay here instead of Benjamin."

[Judah repeats.]

"I will be your slave instead."

[Judah repeats.]

"Let Benjamin go back to his father."

[Judah repeats.]

Then Joseph couldn’t control himself anymore.

He yelled out.

“Have everyone go away from me."

[Joseph repeats.]

And then Joseph said:

“I am Joseph.”

[Joseph repeats.]

And Joseph cried, boo hoo.

And the brothers cried, boo hoo.

And they all ended up in tears.

And they all had a big group hug.

And Joseph said.

“Go back and get my father."

[Joseph repeats.]

“You can all live with me in Egypt."

[Joseph repeats.]

“And I will provide for you."

[Joseph repeats.]

[ACTORS FREEZE.]

Joseph tested his brothers.

He wanted to see whether they changed.

They used to hate the favorite Son.

They sold Joseph as a slave.

But now Judah protected the favorite Son, Benjamin.

He protected him.

And was prepared to swap with him.

This was true leadership.

Taking his brother's place, so he could go back to his father."