Read Online Till Shiloh Comes by Gilbert Morris - Free Book Online

was oppressive, Benjamin did not care, for he was with his beloved brother, Joseph.
    â€œTell me about the dream again, brother.”
    Joseph looked down at Benjamin and smiled. His heart was always filled with love for his little brother. “Why, Benji, you’re the only one who wants to hear them.”
    â€œOh, I can’t believe that.”
    â€œIt’s true.” Joseph shrugged. “Our father has forbidden me to speak any more of my dreams.”
    â€œBut why, Joseph?”
    â€œI can’t imagine. I know Father himself has dreams, and he has great faith in them. But he says it is bad for me to tell them to others, especially to my brothers.”
    â€œEven to me?”
    Joseph laughed and ruffled Benjamin’s hair. “Not you, Benji. I’ll tell you all of my dreams.”
    â€œTell me of the ones again about the sheaves and the moon and the stars.”
    â€œI’ve told you a hundred times. You know them yourself.”
    â€œBut it’s different when you tell them!”
    Not unwillingly, Joseph told the dreams again. He had nourished them, knowing somehow deep in his heart these dreams were central to his life. He could not press the interpretation too much, but he could see very well that it would take only one act on his father’s part to make them come true. He had said many times to himself, though never publicly, If my father would declare that the blessing of the firstborn would be given to me instead of to Reuben, then all my brothers would have to be obedient to me. They would bow down just as the sheaves did to my sheaf, and just as their stars did to me . He never voiced this, however, for he was beginning to understand how much danger there was in saying such things.
    Benjamin listened again, his face beaming, as Joseph related the dream; then he said, “I will bow down to you, my brother.”
    Joseph laughed, picked up the boy, and swung him around, holding him tightly in his arms. He kissed him and said, “I know you would. You are my true brother. Indeed you are.”
    Benjamin clung tightly to Joseph’s neck. Joseph had indeed become the center of his world. Young as he was, he was aware that there was a barrier between him and his father because his mother had lost her life bringing him into the world, and he felt great guilt for that.
    â€œCome along. Let’s hurry,” Joseph said. “We don’t want to get into trouble with Father again.”
    â€œNo indeed! We must obey Father,” Benjamin said eagerly.
    The two spent a delightful afternoon wandering in the fields, and now the sun was approaching the horizon. Joseph suddenly stopped and pointed. “Look. There’s a caravan—traders, I see.”
    â€œLet’s go look at their goods,” Benjamin said, excited.
    â€œAll right,” Joseph said. “We have no money, but we can look.”
    When the two brothers were about a hundred paces from the caravan, Benjamin said, “Look, there’s Levi.”
    Joseph stopped. “Yes, and there’s Simeon.”
    â€œMaybe we’d better not go there. They’ll tell Father.”
    â€œI’m not afraid of what Simeon and Levi would say. Father knows we’re spending the day together.” Nevertheless, despite these brave words, Joseph nodded. “Maybe you’re right, Benjamin. We’d better not continue.”
    â€œBut let’s stay here and watch them awhile.”
    â€œAll right,” Joseph said, and the two lingered at a distance. The caravan had obviously stopped for the day, and cooking fires sent smoke into the air in tall spirals. The smell of cooked meat made the boys hungry. They could hear singing and see some women dancing.
    â€œLook at those women. I’ve never seen dancing like that,” Benjamin said. “What is it, Joseph?”
    â€œIt’s not a good thing for you to see.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œBecause those women