of the land. Report hath told us that two of you
did massacre the people of Shechem on account of the wrong
done to your sister, and now have ye come down into Egypt
to kill the Egyptians for the sake of your brother. I shall be
convinced of your innocence only if you consent to send one
of your number home and fetch your youngest brother
hither."

His brethren refused compliance, and Joseph caused them
to be put into prison by seventy of his valiant men, and there
they remained for three days.[211] God never allows the
pious to languish in distress longer than three days, and so
it was a Divine dispensation that the brethren of Joseph
were released on the third day,[212] and were permitted by
Joseph to return home, on condition, however, that one of