Genesis 45

Joseph makes himself known

1Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, ‘Make everyone leave my presence!’ So there was no-one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.

3Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am Joseph! Is my father still living?’ But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.

4Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Come close to me.’ When they had done so, he said, ‘I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no ploughing and reaping. 7But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.#45:7 Or save you as a great band of survivors

8‘So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. 9Now hurry back to my father and say to him, “This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. 10You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me – you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. 11I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.”

12‘You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. 13Tell my father about all the honour accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.’

14Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. 15And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterwards his brothers talked with him.

16When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased. 17Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Tell your brothers, “Do this: load your animals and return to the land of Canaan, 18and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.”

19‘You are also instructed to tell them, “Do this: take some carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. 20Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.” ’

21So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey. 22To each of them he gave new clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels#45:22 That is, about 3.5 kilograms of silver and five sets of clothes. 23And this is what he sent to his father: ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey. 24Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, ‘Don’t quarrel on the way!’

25So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26They told him, ‘Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.’ Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them. 27But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28And Israel said, ‘I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.’

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Genesis 45

Joseph Deals Kindly with His Brothers

1Then Joseph could not control himself in front of everyone standing before him, and he shouted, “Have everyone leave me!” So there #45:1 Lit stoodwas no one with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2Then he #45:2 Lit gave forth his voice in weepingwept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard about it. 3And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were terrified in his presence.

4Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come #45:4 Lit nearcloser to me.” And they came #45:4 Lit nearcloser. And he said, “I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold to Egypt. 5Now do not be grieved or angry #45:5 Lit in your eyeswith yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me ahead of you #45:5 Lit for preservation of lifeto save lives. 6For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7So God sent me ahead of you to ensure for you a remnant on the earth, and to #45:7 As in MT; another reading (cf. LXX) keep alive for you a great remnantkeep you alive by a great deliverance. 8Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. 10For you shall live in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your #45:10 Lit children’s childrengrandchildren, and your flocks and your herds and all that you have. 11There I will also provide for you, for there are still five years of famine to come, and you and your household and all that you have would be impoverished.” ’ 12Behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth which is speaking to you. 13Now you must tell my father of all my splendor in Egypt, and all that you have seen; and you must hurry and bring my father down here.” 14Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. 15And he kissed all his brothers and wept on them, and afterward his brothers talked with him.

16Now when the #45:16 Lit voicenews was heard in Pharaoh’s house #45:16 Lit saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come”that Joseph’s brothers had come, it #45:16 Lit was good in the eyes ofpleased Pharaoh and his servants. 17Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your livestock and #45:17 Lit come, gogo to the land of Canaan, 18and take your father and your households and come to me; and I will give you the #45:18 Lit goodbest of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land.’ 19Now you are ordered, ‘Do this: #45:19 Lit take for yourselvestake wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father and come. 20And do not #45:20 Lit let your eye look with regret upon your vesselsconcern yourselves with your property, for the #45:20 Lit goodbest of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ ”

21Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them wagons according to the #45:21 Lit mouthcommand of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey. 22To #45:22 Lit all of them he gave each maneach of them he gave changes of garments, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of garments. 23And to his father he sent #45:23 Lit like thisthe following: ten male donkeys loaded with the #45:23 Lit goodbest things of Egypt, ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and sustenance for his father #45:23 Lit foron the journey.

24So he sent his brothers away, and #45:24 Lit they departed; and he saidas they departed, he said to them, “Do not #45:24 Lit be agitatedquarrel on the journey.” 25Then they went up from Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan, to their father Jacob. 26And they told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and indeed he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” But #45:26 Lit his heart grew numbhe was stunned, for he did not believe them. 27When they told him all the words of Joseph that he had spoken to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, then the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28Then Israel said, “It is enough; my son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

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