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Joseph Reveals Himself

45 At this point, Joseph could not control his emotions any longer, so he cried out to everyone who was standing nearby, “Everybody! Leave me!” As a result, none of his staff[a] was anywhere near[b] him when he revealed himself to his brothers. He cried so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, including Pharaoh’s household.

Joseph blurted out, “I’m Joseph! Is my father really alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, because they had become terrified[c] to be in his presence.

Joseph implored his brothers, “Please come close to me.” So they did.

“I’m your brother Joseph, whom you sold into slavery in[d] Egypt!” he told them. “But[e] don’t be distressed or angry at yourselves because you sold me here, because God sent me ahead of you all in order to deliver us.[f] That’s because this famine has been going on for two years now in this region, and there are still five years left, during which there won’t be any plowing or harvesting. God sent me ahead of you to keep you alive on the earth, and to save you all in a magnificent way. As a result, it wasn’t you who sent me here, but God himself! He established me as a father-figure to Pharaoh himself! I’m in charge of his entire palace and ruler over the entire land of Egypt. So hurry up, go back to my father, and tell him that his son Joseph tells him, ‘God has made me master of all of Egypt. Hurry up! Come live with me!’ 10 You are to live in the land of Goshen, near where I am—you, your children, your grandchildren, your flocks, your herds, and everything that you own. 11 I’ll provide for you there, since there are still five years of famine left to go, and you, your households, and everything you own would have otherwise become impoverished.

12 “Look, now! All of you can see me! And my own brother Benjamin can tell that it’s really me[g] speaking to you! 13 So go tell my father about all of my splendor in Egypt. Tell him about everything that you’ve seen. Be quick about it, and bring my father down here!”

14 Then he threw his arms around Benjamin[h] and wept as they embraced.[i] 15 He kissed all of his brothers and wept with them, too, and then his brothers were able to talk with him.

Pharaoh is Pleased

16 As soon as the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had arrived, Pharaoh and his servants were ecstatic. 17 Pharaoh told Joseph, “Be sure to tell your brothers, ‘Do this: load up your livestock, go back to the land of Canaan, 18 get your father and your households, and come back to me. I’ll give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can live off the abundance of the land.’ 19 In addition,” Pharaoh ordered, “Do this: take some transport wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones to ride in, along with your wives, and bring your father and come! 20 Don’t worry about your household goods, because the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.”

Joseph’s Brothers Go Back Home

21 So Israel’s sons did what they were asked to do, and Joseph provided wagons for them, as Pharaoh had commanded. He also gave them provisions for the journey. 22 He gave each of them some changes of clothes, but he also gave Benjamin 300 pieces of silver and five changes of clothes. 23 He sent his father ten male donkeys loaded with the best of Egyptian goods and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provisions for his father during the journey. 24 Then Joseph[j] sent his brothers away, and they left for home.[k] As they were leaving, Joseph admonished them, “Don’t quarrel on the way back!”

25 So Joseph’s brothers[l] left Egypt and returned to the land of Canaan and to their father Jacob, 26 where they informed their father, “Joseph is still alive! As a matter of fact, he’s ruling the entire land of Egypt.” But Jacob didn’t believe them, because he had become cynical.[m] 27 However, as soon as his sons[n] had told him everything Joseph had said, and after he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent along to carry him, their father Jacob’s spirit was encouraged.

28 “It’s enough,” Israel replied. “My son Joseph is still alive. I’m going to go see him before I die!”

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 45:1 Lit. result, no man
  2. Genesis 45:1 Lit. was standing nearby
  3. Genesis 45:3 Or dismayed
  4. Genesis 45:4 The Heb. lacks slavery in
  5. Genesis 45:5 Or So
  6. Genesis 45:5 The Heb. lacks us
  7. Genesis 45:12 Lit. it’s my mouth
  8. Genesis 45:14 Lit. he collapsed on Benjamin’s neck
  9. Genesis 45:14 Lit. as Benjamin wept on his neck
  10. Genesis 45:24 Lit. he
  11. Genesis 45:24 The Heb. lacks for home
  12. Genesis 45:25 Lit. So they
  13. Genesis 45:26 Lit. because his heart had become numb
  14. Genesis 45:27 Lit. as they

45 NO podía ya José contenerse delante de todos los que estaban al lado suyo, y clamó: Haced salir de conmigo á todos. Y no quedó nadie con él, al darse á conocer José á sus hermanos.

Entonces se dió á llorar á voz en grito; y oyeron los Egipcios, y oyó también la casa de Faraón.

Y dijo José á sus hermanos: Yo soy José: ¿vive aún mi padre? Y sus hermanos no pudieron responderle, porque estaban turbados delante de él.

Entonces dijo José á sus hermanos: Llegaos ahora á mí. Y ellos se llegaron. Y él dijo: Yo soy José vuestro hermano el que vendisteis para Egipto.

Ahora pues, no os entristezcáis, ni os pese de haberme vendido acá; que para preservación de vida me envió Dios delante de vosotros:

Que ya ha habido dos años de hambre en medio de la tierra, y aun quedan cinco años en que ni habrá arada ni siega.

Y Dios me envió delante de vosotros, para que vosotros quedaseis en la tierra, y para daros vida por medio de grande salvamento.

Así pues, no me enviasteis vosotros acá, sino Dios, que me ha puesto por padre de Faraón, y por señor de toda su casa, y por gobernador en toda la tierra de Egipto.

Daos priesa, id á mi padre y decidle: Así dice tu hijo José: Dios me ha puesto por señor de todo Egipto; ven á mí, no te detengas:

10 Y habitarás en la tierra de Gosén, y estarás cerca de mí, tú y tus hijos, y los hijos de tus hijos, tus ganados y tus vacas, y todo lo que tienes.

11 Y allí te alimentaré, pues aun quedan cinco años de hambre, porque no perezcas de pobreza tú y tu casa, y todo lo que tienes:

12 Y he aquí, vuestros ojos ven, y los ojos de mi hermano Benjamín, que mi boca os habla.

13 Haréis pues saber á mi padre toda mi gloria en Egipto, y todo lo que habéis visto: y daos priesa, y traed á mi padre acá.

14 Y echóse sobre el cuello de Benjamín su hermano, y lloró; y también Benjamín lloró sobre su cuello.

15 Y besó á todos sus hermanos, y lloró sobre ellos: y después sus hermanos hablaron con él.

16 Y oyóse la noticia en la casa de Faraón, diciendo: Los hermanos de José han venido. Y plugo en los ojos de Faraón y de sus siervos.

17 Y dijo Faraón á José: Di á tus hermanos: Haced esto: cargad vuestras bestias, é id, volved á la tierra de Canaán;

18 Y tomad á vuestro padre y vuestras familias, y venid á mí, que yo os daré lo bueno de la tierra de Egipto y comeréis la grosura de la tierra.

19 Y tú manda: Haced esto: tomaos de la tierra de Egipto carros para vuestros niños y vuestras mujeres; y tomad á vuestro padre, y venid.

20 Y no se os dé nada de vuestras alhajas, porque el bien de la tierra de Egipto será vuestro.

21 E hiciéronlo así los hijos de Israel: y dióles José carros conforme á la orden de Faraón, y suministróles víveres para el camino.

22 A cada uno de todos ellos dió mudas de vestidos, y á Benjamín dió trescientas piezas de plata, y cinco mudas de vestidos.

23 Y á su padre envió esto: diez asnos cargados de lo mejor de Egipto, y diez asnas cargadas de trigo, y pan y comida, para su padre en el camino.

24 Y despidió á sus hermanos, y fuéronse. Y él les dijo: No riñáis por el camino.

25 Y subieron de Egipto, y llegaron á la tierra de Canaán á Jacob su padre.

26 Y diéronle las nuevas, diciendo: José vive aún; y él es señor en toda la tierra de Egipto. Y su corazón se desmayó; pues no los creía.

27 Y ellos le contaron todas las palabras de José, que él les había hablado; y viendo él los carros que José enviaba para llevarlo, el espíritu de Jacob su padre revivió.

28 Entonces dijo Israel: Basta; José mi hijo vive todavía: iré, y le veré antes que yo muera.

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)

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