Chapter 45

Chapter 45

1 Joseph could no longer control himself in the presence of all those standing around him, so he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers.

2 He wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the news reached Pharaoh’s household.

3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, because they were utterly terrified in his presence.

4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come closer to me.” When they came closer, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.

5 But now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for The All-Powerful One sent me ahead of you to preserve life.

6 For these two years the food shortage has been in the region, and there are still five years in which there will be no plowing or harvesting.

7 The All-Powerful One sent me ahead of you to ensure you have survivors on the land, and to keep you alive by a magnificent rescue.

8 So now, it was not you who sent me here, but The All-Powerful One; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, master of his entire house, and ruler over the entire land of Egypt.

9 Hurry, go back up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph: “The All-Powerful One has made me master of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay.

10 You shall reside in the land of Goshen, and you will be close to me—you, your children, your grandchildren, your flocks, your herds, and everything you own.”’

11 I will provide food for you there, because there are still five years of food shortage to come; otherwise you, your household, and everything you own will become impoverished.’

12 Look! Your own eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my own mouth speaking directly to you.

13 You must report to my father all my honor in Egypt and everything that you have seen; hurry, bring my father down here.”

14 Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck.

15 He kissed all his brothers and wept over them; and afterward, his brothers spoke with him.

16 When the report was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers have arrived,” it was functional and good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of his servants.

17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load up your animals and travel directly to the land of Canaan.

18 Fetch your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the richest produce of the region.’

19 Now you are commanded to tell them: ‘Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your dependents and your women, and bring your father and come.

20 Do not concern yourselves with your possessions, for the best of all the land of Egypt belongs to you.”

21 The sons of Israel did exactly as they were told. Joseph gave them wagons according to Pharaoh’s command, and he provided them with provisions for the journey.

22 To each of them he gave changes of clothing, but to Benjamin he gave 300 pieces of silver and five changes of clothing.

23 To his father he sent the following: 10 male donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt, and 10 female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and food for his father on the journey.

24 Then he sent his brothers on their way, and as they departed, he said to them, “Do not quarrel along the way”.

25 So they went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan, directly to their father Jacob.

26 They reported to him, saying, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler over the entire land of Egypt!” But his heart went numb, because he could not trust their words.

27 Yet when they repeated to him all the words that Joseph had spoken directly to them, and when he saw the wagons Joseph had sent to carry him, the inner breath of their father Jacob revived.

28 “Incredible!” declared Israel. “My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die”.