God's New Bible

The First Book of Moses: Genesis

Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic

- Chapter 45 -

1
Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me!” So none of them were with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers.
2
But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household soon heard of it.
3
Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But they were unable to answer him, because they were terrified in his presence.
4
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near me.” And they did so.I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt!
5
And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves that you sold me into this place, because it was to save lives that God sent me before you.
6
For the famine has covered the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting.
7
God sent me before you to preserve you as a remnant on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.(a)
8
Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God, who has made me a father to Pharaoh—lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

Joseph Sends for His Father

9
Now return quickly to my father and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me without delay.
10
You shall settle in the land of Goshen and be near meyou and your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and everything you own.
11
And there I will provide for you, because there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise, you and your household and everything you own will come to destitution.’
12
Behold! You and my brother Benjamin can see that I, Joseph, am the one speaking with you.
13
Tell my father about all my splendor in Egypt and everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.”
14
Then Joseph threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept as they embraced.
15
Joseph kissed each of his brothers as he wept over them. And afterward his brothers talked with him.

Pharaoh Invites Jacob to Egypt

16
When the news reached Pharaoh’s house that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and his servants were pleased.
17
Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do as follows: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan.
18
Then bring your father and your families and return to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat from the fat of the land.’
19
You are also directed to tell them: ‘Take wagons from the land of Egypt for your young children and your wives, and bring your father and come back.
20
But pay no regard to your belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”
21
So the sons of Israel did as they were told. Joseph gave them wagons as Pharaoh had instructed, and he also gave them provisions for their journey.
22
He gave new garments to each of them, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver (b) and five sets of clothes.
23
And he sent to his father the following: ten donkeys loaded with the best of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and provisions for his father’s journey.
24
Then Joseph sent his brothers on their way, and as they were leaving, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way!”

The Revival of Jacob

25
So the brothers went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan.
26
Joseph is still alive,” they said, “and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt!” But Jacob was stunned, for he did not believe them.
27
However, when they relayed all that Joseph had told them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob was revived.
28
Enough!” declared Israel. “My son Joseph is still alive! I will go to see him before I die.”

Footnotes

(a)45:7 Or and to keep you alive as a great band of survivors
(b)45:22 300 shekels is approximately 7.5 pounds or 3.4 kilograms of silver.
1
Then Joseph couldn’t control himself before all those who stood before him, and he called out, “Cause everyone to go out from me!” No one else stood with him, while Joseph made himself known to his brothers.
2
He wept aloud. The Egyptians heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard.
3
Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Does my father still live?” His brothers couldn’t answer him; for they were terrified at his presence.
4
Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” They came near. He said, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.
5
Now don’t be grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.
6
For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are yet five years, in which there will be no plowing and no harvest.
7
God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to save you alive by a great deliverance.
8
So now it wasn’t you who sent me here, but God, and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

Joseph Sends for His Father

9
Hurry, and go up to my father, and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says, “God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me. Don’t wait.
10
You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you will be near to me, you, your children, your children’s children, your flocks, your herds, and all that you have.
11
There I will provide for you; for there are yet five years of famine; lest you come to poverty, you, and your household, and all that you have.”’
12
Behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaks to you.
13
You shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. You shall hurry and bring my father down here.”
14
He fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck.
15
He kissed all his brothers, and wept on them. After that his brothers talked with him.

Pharaoh Invites Jacob to Egypt

16
The report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come.” It pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.
17
Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals, and go, travel to the land of Canaan.
18
Take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land.’
19
Now you are commanded to do this: Take wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.
20
Also, don’t concern yourselves about your belongings, for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.”
21
The sons of Israel did so. Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.
22
He gave each one of them changes of clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of clothing.
23
He sent the following to his father: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and provision for his father by the way.
24
So he sent his brothers away, and they departed. He said to them, “See that you don’t quarrel on the way.”

The Revival of Jacob

25
They went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan, to Jacob their father.
26
They told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” His heart fainted, for he didn’t believe them.
27
They told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them. When he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob, their father, revived.
28
Israel said, “It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”