Joseph Provides for His Brothers and Family

45 Then Joseph could not (A)control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, “Make everyone go out from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. And Joseph said to his brothers, (B)“I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.

So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, (C)whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, (D)for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are (E)yet five years in which there will be neither (F)plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and (G)ruler over all the land of Egypt. 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 (H)You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children's children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11 (I)There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.’ 12 And now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is (J)my mouth that speaks to you. 13 You must tell my father of all my honor in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. Hurry and (K)bring my father down here.” 14 Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him.

16 When the report was heard in Pharaoh's house, “Joseph's brothers have come,” it pleased Pharaoh and his servants. 17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your beasts and go back to the land of Canaan, 18 and take your father and your households, and come to me, and (L)I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land.’ 19 And you, Joseph, are commanded to say, ‘Do this: take (M)wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. 20 Have no concern for[a] your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”

21 The sons of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them (N)wagons, according to the command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey. 22 To each and all of them he gave (O)a change of clothes, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels[b] of silver and (P)five changes of clothes. 23 To his father he sent as follows: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provision for his father on the journey. 24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, (Q)“Do not quarrel on the way.”

25 So they went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob. 26 And they told him, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” And his heart became numb, for he did not believe them. 27 But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw (R)the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 And Israel said, “It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

Joseph Brings His Family to Egypt

46 So Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to (S)Beersheba, and offered sacrifices (T)to the God of his father Isaac. And God spoke to Israel (U)in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “I am God, (V)the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will (W)make you into a great nation. I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also (X)bring you up again, and (Y)Joseph's hand shall close your eyes.”

Then Jacob set out from Beersheba. The sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons (Z)that Pharaoh had sent to carry him. They also took their livestock and their goods, which they had gained in the land of Canaan, and (AA)came into Egypt, Jacob and all his offspring with him, his sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters. All his offspring he brought with him into Egypt.

(AB)Now (AC)these are the names of the descendants of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons. (AD)Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and the sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. 10 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman. 11 The sons of (AE)Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 12 The sons of (AF)Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but (AG)Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan); and the sons of (AH)Perez were Hezron and Hamul. 13 (AI)The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puvah, Yob, and Shimron. 14 The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. 15 These are the sons of Leah, (AJ)whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan-aram, together with his daughter Dinah; altogether his sons and his daughters numbered thirty-three.

16 The sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. 17 (AK)The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, with Serah their sister. And the sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel. 18 (AL)These are the sons of Zilpah, (AM)whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter; and these she bore to Jacob—sixteen persons.

19 The sons of Rachel, Jacob's wife: Joseph and Benjamin. 20 And (AN)to Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera the priest of (AO)On, bore to him. 21 And (AP)the sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. 22 These are the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob—fourteen persons in all.

23 The son[c] of Dan: Hushim. 24 (AQ)The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. 25 (AR)These are the sons of Bilhah, (AS)whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob—seven persons in all.

26 All the persons belonging to Jacob who came into Egypt, who were his own descendants, not including Jacob's sons' wives, were sixty-six persons in all. 27 And the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two. (AT)All the persons of the house of Jacob who came into Egypt were seventy.

Jacob and Joseph Reunited

28 He had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to show the way before him in Goshen, and they came (AU)into the land of Goshen. 29 Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He presented himself to him and (AV)fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. 30 Israel said to Joseph, (AW)“Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.” 31 Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's household, (AX)“I will go up and tell Pharaoh and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father's household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. 32 (AY)And the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’ 33 When Pharaoh calls you and says, (AZ)‘What is your occupation?’ 34 you shall say, (BA)‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock (BB)from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ in order that you may dwell (BC)in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is (BD)an abomination to the Egyptians.”

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 45:20 Hebrew Let your eye not pity
  2. Genesis 45:22 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams
  3. Genesis 46:23 Hebrew sons

Joseph Makes Himself Known

45 Then Joseph could no longer control himself(A) before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!”(B) So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. And he wept(C) so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.(D)

Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?”(E) But his brothers were not able to answer him,(F) because they were terrified at his presence.(G)

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.”(H) When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!(I) And now, do not be distressed(J) and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here,(K) because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.(L) For two years now there has been famine(M) in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant(N) on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.[a](O)

“So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.(P) He made me father(Q) to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.(R) Now hurry(S) 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.(T) 10 You shall live in the region of Goshen(U) and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have.(V) 11 I will provide for you there,(W) because five years of famine(X) are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’(Y)

12 “You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin,(Z) that it is really I who am speaking to you.(AA) 13 Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt(AB) and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.(AC)

14 Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin(AD) embraced him,(AE) weeping. 15 And he kissed(AF) all his brothers and wept over them.(AG) Afterward his brothers talked with him.(AH)

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

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

21 So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts,(AS) as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey.(AT) 22 To each of them he gave new clothing,(AU) but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels[b] of silver and five sets of clothes.(AV) 23 And this is what he sent to his father: ten donkeys(AW) loaded with the best things(AX) of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey.(AY) 24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way!”(AZ)

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

Jacob Goes to Egypt

46 So Israel(BH) set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba,(BI) he offered sacrifices(BJ) to the God of his father Isaac.(BK)

And God spoke to Israel(BL) in a vision at night(BM) and said, “Jacob! Jacob!”

“Here I am,”(BN) he replied.

“I am God, the God of your father,”(BO) he said. “Do not be afraid(BP) to go down to Egypt,(BQ) for I will make you into a great nation(BR) there.(BS) I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again.(BT) And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.(BU)

Then Jacob left Beersheba,(BV) and Israel’s(BW) sons took their father Jacob and their children and their wives in the carts(BX) that Pharaoh had sent to transport him. So Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt,(BY) taking with them their livestock and the possessions(BZ) they had acquired(CA) in Canaan. Jacob brought with him to Egypt(CB) his sons and grandsons and his daughters and granddaughters—all his offspring.(CC)

These are the names of the sons of Israel(CD) (Jacob and his descendants) who went to Egypt:

Reuben the firstborn(CE) of Jacob.

The sons of Reuben:(CF)

Hanok, Pallu,(CG) Hezron and Karmi.(CH)

10 The sons of Simeon:(CI)

Jemuel,(CJ) Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar(CK) and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman.

11 The sons of Levi:(CL)

Gershon,(CM) Kohath(CN) and Merari.(CO)

12 The sons of Judah:(CP)

Er,(CQ) Onan,(CR) Shelah, Perez(CS) and Zerah(CT) (but Er and Onan had died in the land of Canaan).(CU)

The sons of Perez:(CV)

Hezron and Hamul.(CW)

13 The sons of Issachar:(CX)

Tola, Puah,[c](CY) Jashub[d](CZ) and Shimron.

14 The sons of Zebulun:(DA)

Sered, Elon and Jahleel.

15 These were the sons Leah bore to Jacob in Paddan Aram,[e](DB) besides his daughter Dinah.(DC) These sons and daughters of his were thirty-three in all.

16 The sons of Gad:(DD)

Zephon,[f](DE) Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi and Areli.

17 The sons of Asher:(DF)

Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi and Beriah.

Their sister was Serah.

The sons of Beriah:

Heber and Malkiel.

18 These were the children born to Jacob by Zilpah,(DG) whom Laban had given to his daughter Leah(DH)—sixteen in all.

19 The sons of Jacob’s wife Rachel:(DI)

Joseph and Benjamin.(DJ) 20 In Egypt, Manasseh(DK) and Ephraim(DL) were born to Joseph(DM) by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.[g](DN)

21 The sons of Benjamin:(DO)

Bela, Beker, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim and Ard.(DP)

22 These were the sons of Rachel(DQ) who were born to Jacob—fourteen in all.

23 The son of Dan:(DR)

Hushim.(DS)

24 The sons of Naphtali:(DT)

Jahziel, Guni, Jezer and Shillem.

25 These were the sons born to Jacob by Bilhah,(DU) whom Laban had given to his daughter Rachel(DV)—seven in all.

26 All those who went to Egypt with Jacob—those who were his direct descendants, not counting his sons’ wives—numbered sixty-six persons.(DW) 27 With the two sons[h] who had been born to Joseph in Egypt,(DX) the members of Jacob’s family, which went to Egypt, were seventy[i] in all.(DY)

28 Now Jacob sent Judah(DZ) ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen.(EA) When they arrived in the region of Goshen, 29 Joseph had his chariot(EB) made ready and went to Goshen to meet his father Israel.(EC) As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his father[j] and wept(ED) for a long time.(EE)

30 Israel(EF) said to Joseph, “Now I am ready to die, since I have seen for myself that you are still alive.”(EG)

31 Then Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and speak to Pharaoh and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were living in the land of Canaan,(EH) have come to me.(EI) 32 The men are shepherds;(EJ) they tend livestock,(EK) and they have brought along their flocks and herds and everything they own.’(EL) 33 When Pharaoh calls you in and asks, ‘What is your occupation?’(EM) 34 you should answer, ‘Your servants(EN) have tended livestock from our boyhood on, just as our fathers did.’(EO) Then you will be allowed to settle(EP) in the region of Goshen,(EQ) for all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.(ER)

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 45:7 Or save you as a great band of survivors
  2. Genesis 45:22 That is, about 7 1/2 pounds or about 3.5 kilograms
  3. Genesis 46:13 Samaritan Pentateuch and Syriac (see also 1 Chron. 7:1); Masoretic Text Puvah
  4. Genesis 46:13 Samaritan Pentateuch and some Septuagint manuscripts (see also Num. 26:24 and 1 Chron. 7:1); Masoretic Text Iob
  5. Genesis 46:15 That is, Northwest Mesopotamia
  6. Genesis 46:16 Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint (see also Num. 26:15); Masoretic Text Ziphion
  7. Genesis 46:20 That is, Heliopolis
  8. Genesis 46:27 Hebrew; Septuagint the nine children
  9. Genesis 46:27 Hebrew (see also Exodus 1:5 and note); Septuagint (see also Acts 7:14) seventy-five
  10. Genesis 46:29 Hebrew around him