1Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Make everyone go out from me!” So no one stood with him #Acts 7:13while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2And he #Gen. 43:30; 46:29wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it.

3Then Joseph said to his brothers, #Gen. 43:27; Acts 7:13“I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. 4And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, #Gen. 37:28; 39:1; Ps. 105:17whom you sold into Egypt. 5But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; #Gen. 45:7, 8; 50:20; Ps. 105:16, 17for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6For these two years the #Gen. 43:1; 47:4, 13famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7And God #Gen. 45:5; 50:20sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8So now it was not you who sent me here, but #(Rom. 8:28)God; and He has made me #Judg. 17:10; Is. 22:21a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a #Gen. 41:43; 42:6ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

9“Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph: “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry. 10#Gen. 46:28, 34; 47:1, 6; Ex. 9:26You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have. 11There I will #Gen. 47:12provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine.” ’

12“And behold, your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is #Gen. 42:23my mouth that speaks to you. 13So you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen; and you shall hurry and #Gen. 46:6–28; Acts 7:14bring my father down here.”

14Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. 15Moreover he #Gen. 48:10kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and after that his brothers talked with him.

16Now the report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come.” So it pleased Pharaoh and his servants well. 17And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and depart; go to the land of Canaan. 18Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat #Gen. 27:28; 47:6; Deut. 32:9–14the fat of the land. 19Now you are commanded—do this: Take carts out of the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives; bring your father and come. 20Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ ”

21Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them #Gen. 45:19; 46:5carts, according to the command of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey. 22He gave to all of them, to each man, #2 Kin. 5:5changes of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and #Gen. 43:34five changes of garments. 23And he sent to his father these things: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and food for his father for the journey. 24So he sent his brothers away, and they departed; and he said to them, “See that you do not become troubled along the way.”

25Then they went up out of Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan to Jacob their father. 26And they told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt.” #Job 29:24; Ps. 126:1; Luke 24:11, 41And Jacob’s heart stood still, because he did not believe them. 27But when they told him all the words which Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit #Judg. 15:19; Is. 40:29of Jacob their father revived. 28Then Israel said, “It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

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Genesis 45

Joseph Reveals His Identity

1Joseph could no longer keep his composure in front of all his attendants, # Lit all those standing about him so he called out, “Send everyone away from me! ” No one was with him when he revealed his identity to his brothers. # Ac 7:13 2But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and also Pharaoh’s household heard it. 3Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living? ” But they could not answer him because they were terrified in his presence.

4Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please, come near me,” and they came near. “I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt. # Gn 37:18-36 5And now don’t be worried or angry with yourselves for selling me here, because God sent me ahead of you to preserve life. # Gn 45:7-8; 50:20; Ps 105:17 6For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. 7God sent me ahead of you to establish you as a remnant within the land and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. # Or keep alive for you many survivors 8Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

9“Return quickly 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 without delay. 10You can settle in the land of Goshen # Gn 46:34; 47:1,4,6,11,27; 50:8; Ex 8:22; Jos 10:41 and be near me — you, your children, and grandchildren, your sheep, cattle, and all you have. 11There I will sustain you, for there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise, you, your household, and everything you have will become destitute.” ’ # Gn 47:12; 50:21 12Look! Your eyes and my brother Benjamin’s eyes can see that it is I , Joseph, who am # Lit that my mouth is speaking to you. 13Tell my father about all my glory in Egypt and about all you have seen. And bring my father here quickly.” # Ac 7:14

14Then Joseph threw his arms around Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept on his shoulder. 15Joseph kissed each of his brothers as he wept, # Lit brothers, and he wept over them and afterward his brothers talked with him.

The Return for Jacob

16When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace, “Joseph’s brothers have come,” Pharaoh and his servants were pleased. 17Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and go on back to the land of Canaan. 18Get your father and your families, and come back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you can eat from the richness of the land.’ 19You are also commanded, ‘Do this: Take wagons from the land of Egypt for your young children and your wives and bring your father here. # Gn 46:5 20Do not be concerned about your belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ ” # Dt 32:9-14

21The sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them wagons as Pharaoh had commanded, and he gave them provisions for the journey. 22He gave each of the brothers changes of clothes, # 2Kg 5:5 but he gave Benjamin 300 pieces of silver and five changes of clothes. # Gn 43:34 23He sent his father the following: 10 donkeys carrying the best products of Egypt and 10 female donkeys carrying grain, food, and provisions for his father on the journey. 24So Joseph sent his brothers on their way, and as they were leaving, he said to them, “Don’t argue on the way.”

25So they went up from Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26They said, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt! ” Jacob was stunned, # Lit Jacob’s heart was numb for he did not believe them. 27But when they told Jacob all that Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to transport him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived.

28Then Israel said, “Enough! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go to see him before I die.”

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Genesis 45

Genesis 45