Esau Moves

36 Now these are the records of the generations of (A)Esau (that is, Edom).

Esau (B)took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and (C)Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, the [a](D)granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite; also Basemath, Ishmael’s daughter, the sister of Nebaioth. Adah bore (E)Eliphaz to Esau, and Basemath gave birth to Reuel, and Oholibamah gave birth to Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These are the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan.

(F)Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all [b]his household, and his livestock and all his cattle, and all his property which he had acquired in the land of Canaan, and went to another land away from his brother Jacob. (G)For their possessions had become too great for them to live together, and the (H)land where they (I)resided could not support them because of their livestock. So Esau lived in the hill country of (J)Seir; Esau is (K)Edom.

Descendants of Esau

These then are the records of the generations of Esau the father of [c]the Edomites in the hill country of Seir. 10 These are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz the son of Esau’s wife Adah, and Reuel the son of Esau’s wife Basemath. 11 The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, [d]Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz. 12 Timna was a concubine of Esau’s son Eliphaz, and she bore (L)Amalek to Eliphaz. These are the sons of Esau’s wife Adah. 13 And these are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the sons of Esau’s wife Basemath. 14 And these were the sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah, the [e]granddaughter of Zibeon: [f]she bore to Esau Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.

15 These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz, the firstborn of Esau, are chief Teman, chief Omar, chief Zepho, chief Kenaz, 16 chief Korah, chief Gatam, and chief Amalek. These are the chiefs [g]descended from Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Adah. 17 And these are the sons of Reuel, Esau’s son: chief Nahath, chief Zerah, chief Shammah, and chief Mizzah. These are the chiefs [h]descended from Reuel in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Esau’s wife Basemath. 18 And these are the sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah: chief Jeush, chief Jalam, and chief Korah. These are the chiefs [i]descended from Esau’s wife Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah. 19 These are the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and these are their chiefs.

20 These are the sons of Seir (M)the Horite, the inhabitants of the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 21 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These are the chiefs [j]descended from the Horites, the sons of Seir in the land of Edom. 22 And the sons of Lotan were Hori and [k]Hemam; and Lotan’s sister was Timna. 23 And these are the sons of Shobal: [l]Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, [m]Shepho, and Onam. 24 And these are the sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah—he is the Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness when he was pasturing the donkeys of his father Zibeon. 25 And these are the children of Anah: Dishon, and Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah. 26 And these are the sons of [n](N)Dishon: [o]Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran. 27 These are the sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and [p]Akan. 28 These are the sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran. 29 These are the chiefs [q]descended from the Horites: chief Lotan, chief Shobal, chief Zibeon, chief Anah, 30 chief Dishon, chief Ezer, and chief Dishan. These are the chiefs [r]descended from the Horites, according to their various chiefs in the land of Seir.

31 Now these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any (O)king reigned over the sons of Israel. 32 [s](P)Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom, and the name of his city was Dinhabah. 33 Then Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah became king in his place. 34 Then Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites became king in his place. 35 Then Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who [t]defeated Midian in the field of Moab, became king in his place; and the name of his city was Avith. 36 Then Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah became king in his place. 37 Then Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth on the Euphrates River became king in his place. 38 Then Shaul died, and Baal-hanan the son of Achbor became king in his place. 39 Then Baal-hanan the son of Achbor died, and [u]Hadar became king in his place; and the name of his city was [v]Pau; and his wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, daughter of Mezahab.

40 Now these are the names of the chiefs [w]descended from Esau, according to their families and their localities, by their names: chief Timna, chief [x]Alvah, chief Jetheth, 41 chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon, 42 chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar, 43 chief Magdiel, and chief Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom (that is, Esau, the father of [y]the Edomites), according to their settlements in the land of their possession.

Joseph’s Dreams

37 Now Jacob lived in (Q)the land where his father had lived as a stranger, in the land of Canaan. These are the records of the generations of Jacob.

Joseph, when he was (R)seventeen years of age, was pasturing the flock with his brothers, while he was still a youth, along with (S)the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought back a (T)bad report about them to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his other sons, because he was (U)the son of his old age; and he made him a [z](V)multicolored tunic. And his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers; and so they (W)hated him and could not speak to him [aa]on friendly terms.

Then Joseph [ab](X)had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. He said to them, “Please listen to this dream which I have [ac]had; for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf stood up and also remained standing; and behold, your sheaves gathered around and (Y)bowed down to my sheaf.” Then his brothers said to him, “(Z)Are you actually going to reign over us? Or are you really going to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

Then he [ad]had yet another dream, and informed his brothers of it, and said, “Behold, I have [ae]had yet another dream; and behold, the sun and the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” 10 He also told it to his father as well as to his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have [af]had? Am I and your mother and (AA)your brothers actually going to come to bow down to the ground before you?” 11 And (AB)his brothers were jealous of him, but his father (AC)kept the matter in mind.

12 Then his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock in Shechem. 13 And Israel said to Joseph, “Are your brothers not pasturing the flock in (AD)Shechem? Come, and I will send you to them.” And he said to him, “[ag]I will go.” 14 Then he said to him, “Go now and see about the welfare of your brothers and the welfare of the flock, and bring word back to me.” So he sent him from the Valley of (AE)Hebron, and he came to Shechem.

15 A man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field; and the man asked him, “[ah]What are you looking for?” 16 He said, “I am looking for my brothers; please tell me where they are pasturing the flock.” 17 Then the man said, “They have moved from here; for I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to (AF)Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.

The Plot against Joseph

18 [ai]When they saw him from a distance, and before he came closer to them, they (AG)plotted against him to put him to death. 19 They said to one another, “[aj]Here comes this dreamer! 20 Now then, come and let’s kill him, and throw him into one of the pits; and (AH)we will say, ‘A vicious animal devoured him.’ Then we will see what will become of his dreams!” 21 But (AI)Reuben heard this and rescued him out of their hands [ak]by saying, “Let’s not [al]take his life.” 22 Then Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him”—so that later he might rescue him out of their hands, to return him to his father. 23 So it came about, when Joseph [am]reached his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the [an]multicolored tunic that was on him; 24 and they took him and threw him into the pit. Now the pit was empty, without any water in it.

25 Then they sat down to eat [ao]a meal. But as they raised their eyes and looked, behold, a caravan of (AJ)Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, with their camels carrying (AK)labdanum resin, (AL)balsam, and [ap]myrrh, [aq]on their way to bring them down to Egypt. 26 And Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it for us to kill our brother and (AM)cover up his blood? 27 (AN)Come, and let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. 28 Then some (AO)Midianite traders passed by, so they pulled him out and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and (AP)sold [ar]him to the Ishmaelites for [as]twenty shekels of silver. So (AQ)they brought Joseph into Egypt.

29 Now Reuben returned to the pit, and behold, Joseph was not in the pit; so he (AR)tore his garments. 30 He returned to his brothers and said, “(AS)The boy is not there; as for me, where am I to go?” 31 So (AT)they took Joseph’s tunic, and slaughtered a male goat, and dipped the tunic in the blood; 32 and they sent the [at]multicolored tunic and brought it to their father and said, “We found this; please [au]examine it to see whether it is your son’s tunic or not.” 33 Then he [av]examined it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. (AU)A vicious animal has devoured him; (AV)Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!” 34 So Jacob (AW)tore his clothes, and put on a sackcloth undergarment over his waist, and mourned for his son many days. 35 Then all his sons and all his daughters got up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. And he said, “Surely I will (AX)go down to Sheol in mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him. 36 Meanwhile, the [aw]Midianites (AY)sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, Pharaoh’s officer, the captain of the bodyguard.

Judah and Tamar

38 And it came about at that time, that Judah [ax]departed from his brothers and [ay]visited a certain (AZ)Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was (BA)Shua; and he took her as a wife and had relations with her. And she conceived and gave birth to a son, and he named him (BB)Er. Then she conceived again and gave birth to a son, and she named him (BC)Onan. She gave birth to yet another son and named him (BD)Shelah; and it was at Chezib [az]that she gave birth to him.

Now Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. But (BE)Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord took his life. Then Judah said to Onan, “(BF)Have relations with your brother’s wife and perform your duty as a brother-in-law to her, and raise up a [ba]child for your brother.” Now Onan knew that the [bb](BG)child would not be his; so when he had relations with his brother’s wife, he [bc]wasted his seed on the ground so that he would not give [bd]a child to his brother. 10 But what he did was displeasing in the sight of the Lord; so He (BH)took his life also. 11 Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “(BI)Remain a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up”; for he [be]thought, “I am afraid that he too may die like his brothers.” So Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.

12 Now [bf]after a considerable time Shua’s daughter, the wife of Judah, died; and when [bg]the time of mourning was ended, Judah went up to his sheepshearers at (BJ)Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 13 And Tamar was told, “Behold, your father-in-law is going up to (BK)Timnah to shear his sheep.” 14 So she [bh]removed her widow’s garments and (BL)covered herself with a [bi]veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gateway of [bj]Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah had grown up, and (BM)she had not been given to him as a wife. 15 When Judah saw her, he assumed she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face. 16 So he turned aside to her by the road, and said, “[bk]Here now, let me have relations with you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, “What will you give me, that you may have relations with me?” 17 He said, therefore, “I will send you a [bl]young goat from the flock.” She then said, “Will you give a pledge until you send it?” 18 He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” And she said, “(BN)Your seal and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and had relations with her, and she conceived by him. 19 Then she got up and departed, and [bm]removed her [bn]veil and put on her widow’s garments.

20 When Judah sent the [bo]young goat by his friend the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman’s hand, he did not find her. 21 He asked the people of her place, saying, “Where is the temple prostitute who was by the road at Enaim?” But they said, “There has been no temple prostitute here.” 22 So he returned to Judah, and said, “I did not find her; and furthermore, the people of the place said, ‘There has been no temple prostitute here.’” 23 Then Judah said, “Let her [bp]keep them, otherwise we will become a laughingstock. [bq]After all, I sent this young goat, but you did not find her.”

24 Now it was about three months later that Judah was [br]informed, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar has prostituted herself, and behold, she is also pregnant by prostitution.” Then Judah said, “Bring her out and (BO)have her burned!” 25 It was while she was being brought out that she sent word to her father-in-law, saying, “I am pregnant by the man to whom these things belong.” She also said, “(BP)Please examine and see, whose signet ring and cords and staff are these?” 26 And Judah recognized them, and said, “(BQ)She is more righteous than I, since (BR)I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not [bs]have relations with her again.

27 It came about at the time she was giving birth, that behold, there were (BS)twins in her womb. 28 Moreover, it took place while she was giving birth, that one baby put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” 29 But it came about as he drew back his hand that behold, his brother came out. Then she said, “What a breach you have made for yourself!” So he was named [bt](BT)Perez. 30 Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand; and he was named [bu](BU)Zerah.

Joseph’s Success in Egypt

39 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the bodyguard, bought him [bv]from the (BV)Ishmaelites, who had taken him down there. And (BW)the Lord was with Joseph, so he became a [bw]successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. Now his master (BX)saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord (BY)made all that he did prosper in his hand. So Joseph (BZ)found favor in his sight and [bx]became his personal servant; and he made him overseer over his house, and [by]put him in charge of (CA)all that he owned. It came about that from the time he made him overseer in his house and over all that he owned, the Lord (CB)blessed the Egyptian’s house on account of Joseph; so (CC)the Lords blessing was upon all that he owned, in the house and in the field. So he left [bz]Joseph in charge of everything that he owned; and with him there he did not [ca]concern himself with anything except the [cb]food which he [cc]ate.

Now Joseph was (CD)handsome in form and appearance. And it came about after these events (CE)that his master’s wife [cd]had her eyes on Joseph, and she said, “(CF)Sleep with me.” But (CG)he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, with me here, my master [ce]does not concern himself with anything in the house, and he has [cf]put me in charge of all that he owns. [cg](CH)There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil, and (CI)sin against God?” 10 Though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he did not listen to her to lie beside her or be with her. 11 Now it happened [ch]one day that he went into the house to do his work, and none of the people of the household was there inside. 12 So she grabbed him by his garment, saying, “Sleep with me!” But he left his garment in her hand and fled, and went outside. 13 [ci]When she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled outside, 14 she called to the men of her household and said to them, “See, he has brought in a [cj]Hebrew to us to make fun of us; he came in to me to sleep with me, and I [ck]screamed. 15 When he heard that I raised my voice and [cl]screamed, he left his garment beside me and fled and went outside.” 16 So she [cm]left his garment beside her until his master came home. 17 Then she (CJ)spoke to him [cn]with these [co]words: “The Hebrew slave, whom you brought to us, came in to me to make fun of me; 18 but when I raised my voice and [cp]screamed, he left his garment beside me and fled outside.”

Joseph Imprisoned

19 Now when his master heard the words of his wife which she spoke to him, saying, “[cq]This is what your slave did to me,” (CK)his anger burned. 20 So Joseph’s master took him and (CL)put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined; and he was there in the prison. 21 But (CM)the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and (CN)gave him favor in the sight of the warden of the prison. 22 And the warden of the prison [cr](CO)put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison; so that whatever was done there, he was [cs]responsible for it. 23 (CP)The warden of the prison did not supervise anything [ct]under Joseph’s authority, because (CQ)the Lord was with him; and, (CR)the Lord made whatever he did prosper.

Joseph Interprets Dreams

40 Then it came about after these things, that (CS)the cupbearer and the baker for the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt. And Pharaoh was (CT)furious with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker. So he put them in confinement in the house of the (CU)captain of the bodyguard, in the prison, the same place where Joseph was imprisoned. And the captain of the bodyguard put Joseph in charge of them, and he [cu]took care of them; and they were in confinement for [cv]some time. Then the cupbearer and the baker for the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison, both had a dream the same night, each man with his own dream and each dream with its own interpretation. [cw]When Joseph came to them in the morning and saw them, [cx]behold, they were dejected. So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were with him in confinement in his master’s house, “[cy](CV)Why are your faces so sad today?” And they said to him, “(CW)We have [cz]had a dream, and there is no one to interpret it.” Then Joseph said to them, “(CX)Do interpretations not belong to God? Tell it to me, please.”

So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph, [da]saying to him, “In my dream, [db]behold, there was a vine in front of me; 10 and on the vine were three branches. And as it was budding, its blossoms came out, and its clusters produced ripe grapes. 11 Now Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand; so I took the grapes and squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and I put the cup into Pharaoh’s [dc]hand.” 12 Then Joseph said to him, “This is the (CY)interpretation of it: the three branches are three days; 13 within three more days Pharaoh will [dd]lift up your head and restore you to your office; and you will put Pharaoh’s cup into his hand as in your former practice when you were his cupbearer. 14 Only [de]keep me in mind when it goes well for you, and please (CZ)do me a kindness [df]by mentioning me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this [dg]prison. 15 For (DA)I was in fact kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing that they should have put me into the [dh]dungeon.”

16 When the chief baker saw that he had interpreted favorably, he said to Joseph, “I also saw in my dream, and behold, there were three baskets of white bread on my head; 17 and in the top basket there were some of all [di]kinds of baked food for Pharaoh, and the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.” 18 Then Joseph answered and said, “This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days; 19 within three more days Pharaoh will lift up your head from you and will hang you on a wooden post, and the birds will eat your flesh off you.”

20 So it came about on the third day, which was (DB)Pharaoh’s birthday, that he held a feast for all his servants; (DC)and he lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. 21 He restored the chief cupbearer to his [dj]office, and (DD)he put the cup into Pharaoh’s [dk]hand; 22 but (DE)he hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but (DF)forgot him.

Pharaoh’s Dream

41 Now it happened at the end of two full years that Pharaoh had a dream, and behold, he was standing by the Nile. And behold, from the Nile seven cows came up, fine-looking and [dl]fat; and they grazed in the (DG)marsh grass. Then behold, seven other cows came up after them from the Nile, ugly and [dm]thin, and they stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. Then the ugly and [dn]thin cows ate the seven fine-looking and fat cows. Then Pharaoh awoke. But he fell asleep and dreamed a second time; and behold, seven ears of grain came up on a single stalk, plump and good. Then behold, seven ears, thin and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them. And the thin ears swallowed the seven plump and full ears. Then Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Now in the morning (DH)his spirit was troubled, so he sent messengers and called for all the (DI)soothsayer priests of Egypt, and all its (DJ)wise men. And Pharaoh told them his [do]dreams, but (DK)there was no one who could interpret them for Pharaoh.

Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying, “I would make mention today of (DL)my own [dp]offenses. 10 Pharaoh was (DM)furious with his servants, and (DN)he put me in confinement in the house of the captain of the bodyguard, both me and the chief baker. 11 Then (DO)we had a dream one night, [dq]he and I; each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream. 12 Now a Hebrew youth was there with us, a (DP)servant of the captain of the bodyguard, and we told him the dreams, and (DQ)he interpreted our dreams for us. For each man he interpreted according to his own dream. 13 And just (DR)as he interpreted for us, so it happened; Pharaoh restored me in my office, but he hanged [dr]the chief baker.”

Joseph Interprets

14 Then Pharaoh sent word and (DS)called for Joseph, and they (DT)hurriedly brought him out of the dungeon; and when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came to Pharaoh. 15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, (DU)but no one can interpret it; and (DV)I have heard [ds]it said about you, that [dt]when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16 Joseph then answered Pharaoh, saying, “[du](DW)It has nothing to do with me; (DX)God will [dv]give Pharaoh an answer for his own good.” 17 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream, there I was, standing on the bank of the Nile; 18 and behold, seven cows, [dw]fat and fine-looking came up out of the Nile, and they grazed in the marsh grass. 19 Then behold, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very [dx]ugly and [dy]thin, such as I had never seen for [dz]ugliness in all the land of Egypt; 20 and the thin and ugly cows ate the first seven fat cows. 21 Yet when they had [ea]devoured them, it could not be [eb]detected that they had [ec]devoured them, [ed]for they were just as ugly as [ee]before. Then I awoke. 22 I saw also in my dream, and behold, seven ears of grain, full and good, came up on a single stalk; 23 and behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind sprouted up after them; 24 and the thin ears swallowed the seven good ears. Then (DY)I told it to the soothsayer priests, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”

25 And Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Pharaoh’s [ef]dreams are one and the same; (DZ)God has told to Pharaoh what He is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years; the [eg]dreams are one and the same. 27 The seven thin and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven thin ears scorched by the east wind (EA)will be seven years of famine. 28 [eh]It is as I have spoken to Pharaoh: (EB)God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. 29 Behold, (EC)seven years of great abundance are coming in all the land of Egypt; 30 and after them (ED)seven years of famine will [ei]come, and all the abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt, and the famine will [ej]ravage the land. 31 So the abundance will be unknown in the land because of that subsequent famine; for it will be very severe. 32 Now as for the repeating of the dream to Pharaoh twice, it means that (EE)the matter is confirmed by God, and God will quickly bring it about. 33 So now let Pharaoh look for a man (EF)discerning and wise, and appoint him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh take action to appoint overseers [ek]in charge of the land, and let him take a fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt as a tax in the seven years of abundance. 35 Then have them (EG)collect all the food of these good years that are coming, and store up the grain for food in the cities under Pharaoh’s authority, and have them guard it. 36 Let the food be used as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which will occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land will not perish during the famine.”

37 Now the [el]proposal seemed good [em]to Pharaoh and [en]to all his servants.

Joseph Is Made a Ruler of Egypt

38 Then Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, (EH)in whom there is a divine spirit?” 39 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has informed you of all this, there is no one as (EI)discerning and wise as you are. 40 (EJ)You shall be [eo]in charge of my house, and all my people shall [ep]be obedient to you; only regarding the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 Pharaoh also said to Joseph, “See, I have placed you (EK)over all the land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh (EL)took off his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen, and (EM)put the gold necklace around his neck. 43 And he had him ride in [eq]his second chariot; and they proclaimed ahead of him, “[er]Bow the knee!” And he placed him over all the land of Egypt. 44 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Though I am Pharaoh, yet (EN)without [es]your permission no one shall raise his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” 45 Then Pharaoh named Joseph [et]Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of [eu](EO)On, to be his wife. And Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.

46 Now Joseph was (EP)thirty years old when he [ev]stood in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. 47 During the seven years of plenty the land produced [ew]abundantly. 48 So he collected all the food of these seven years which occurred in the land of Egypt and put the food in the cities; he put in every city the food from its own surrounding fields. 49 Joseph stored up grain [ex]in great abundance like the sand of the sea, until he stopped [ey]measuring it, for it was [ez]beyond measure.

The Sons of Joseph

50 Now before the year of famine came, (EQ)two sons were born to Joseph, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of [fa]On, bore to him. 51 Joseph named the firstborn [fb]Manasseh; “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my trouble and all of my father’s household.” 52 And he named the second [fc]Ephraim; “For,” he said, “(ER)God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

53 When the seven years of plenty which had taken place in the land of Egypt came to an end, 54 and (ES)the seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said, then there was famine in all the lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 So when all the land of Egypt suffered famine, the people cried out to Pharaoh for bread; and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph; (ET)whatever he says to you, you shall do.” 56 When the famine was spread over the entire face of the earth, then Joseph opened all [fd]the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians; and the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57 Then the people of all the earth came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because (EU)the famine was severe in all the earth.

Joseph’s Brothers Sent to Egypt

42 Now (EV)Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, “Why are you staring at one another?” Then he said, “Look, (EW)I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down there and buy some for us from [fe]that place, (EX)so that we may live and not die.” So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother (EY)Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, “(EZ)I am afraid that harm may happen to him.” So the sons of Israel came to buy grain among those who were coming, (FA)because the famine was also in the land of Canaan.

Now (FB)Joseph was the ruler over the land; he was the one who sold grain to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and (FC)bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he disguised himself to them and (FD)spoke to them harshly. He said to them, “Where have you come from?” And they said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.”

But Joseph had recognized his brothers, although (FE)they did not recognize him. And Joseph (FF)remembered the dreams which he [ff]had about them, and he said to them, “You are spies; you have come to look at the [fg]undefended parts of our land.” 10 And they said to him, “No, (FG)my lord, but your servants have come to buy food. 11 We are all sons of one man; we are (FH)honest men, your servants are not spies.” 12 Yet he said to them, “No, but you have come to look at the [fh]undefended parts of our land!” 13 But they said, “Your servants are twelve brothers in all, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and behold, the youngest is with (FI)our father today, and (FJ)one is no longer alive.” 14 Yet Joseph said to them, “It is as I said [fi]to you, you are spies; 15 by this you will be tested: (FK)by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here! 16 Send one of you and have him get your brother, while you remain confined, so that your words may be tested, whether there is (FL)truth in you. But if not, by the life of Pharaoh, you are certainly spies!” 17 So he put them all together in (FM)prison for three days.

18 Now Joseph said to them on the third day, “Do this and live, for (FN)I fear God: 19 if you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined in [fj]your prison; but as for the rest of you, go, carry grain for the famine of your households, 20 and (FO)bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified, and you will not die.” And they did so. 21 Then they said to one another, “(FP)Truly we are guilty concerning our brother, because we saw the distress of his soul when he pleaded with us, yet we would not listen; for that reason this distress has happened to us.” 22 Reuben answered them, saying, “(FQ)Did I not tell [fk]you, ‘Do not sin against the boy’; and you would not listen? [fl](FR)Now justice for his blood is required.” 23 They did not know, however, that Joseph understood, for there was an interpreter between them. 24 Then he turned away from them and (FS)wept. But when he returned to them and spoke to them, he (FT)took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes. 25 (FU)Then Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, but also to return every man’s money in his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. And that is what was done for them.

26 So they loaded their donkeys with their grain and departed from there. 27 But when one of them opened his sack to give his donkey feed at the overnight campsite, he saw his (FV)money; and behold, it was in the opening of his sack! 28 So he said to his brothers, “My money has been returned, and look, it is right in my sack!” Then their hearts [fm]sank, and they turned [fn]trembling to one another, saying, “(FW)What is this that God has done to us?”

Simeon Is Held Hostage

29 When they came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they told him everything that had happened to them, saying, 30 “The man, the lord of the land, (FX)spoke harshly with us, and took us for spies of the country. 31 But we said to him, ‘We are (FY)honest men; we are not spies. 32 We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no longer alive, and the youngest is with our father today in the land of Canaan.’ 33 But the man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘(FZ)By this I will know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me and take grain for the famine of your households, and go. 34 But bring your youngest brother to me so that I may know that you are not spies, but [fo]honest men. I will give your brother to you, and you may (GA)trade in the land.’”

35 Now it came about, as they were emptying their sacks, that behold, (GB)every man’s bag of money was in his sack; and when they and their father saw their bags of money, they were afraid. 36 And their father Jacob said to them, “You have (GC)deprived me of my sons: Joseph is gone, and Simeon is gone, and now you would take Benjamin; all these things are against me.” 37 Then Reuben spoke to his father, saying, “You may put my two sons to death if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my [fp]care, and I will return him to you.” 38 But [fq]Jacob said, “My son shall not go down with you; for his (GD)brother is dead, and he alone is left. (GE)If harm should happen to him on the journey [fr]you are taking, then you will (GF)bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.”

The Return to Egypt

43 (GG)Now the famine was severe in the land. So it came about, when they had finished eating the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, “Go back, buy us a little food.” Judah spoke to him, however, saying, “(GH)The man sternly warned [fs]us, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. But if you do not send him, we will not go down; for the man said to us, ‘You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.’” Then Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly, [ft]by telling the man whether you still had another brother?” But they said, “The man specifically asked about us and our relatives, saying, ‘(GI)Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ So we [fu]answered his questions. Could we possibly know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” So Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me and we will arise and go, (GJ)so that we may live and not die, we as well as you and our little ones. (GK)I myself will take responsibility for him! You may demand him back from [fv]me. If I do not bring him back to you and present him to you, then [fw]you can let me take the blame forever. 10 For if we had not delayed, surely by now we could have returned twice.”

11 Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the best products of the land in your [fx]bags, and carry down to the man (GL)as a gift, a little (GM)balsam and a little honey, labdanum resin and [fy]myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. 12 And take double the money in your hand, and take back in your hand (GN)the money that was returned in the opening of your sacks; perhaps it was a mistake. 13 Take your brother also, and arise, return to the man; 14 and may [fz](GO)God Almighty (GP)grant you compassion in the sight of the man, so that he will release to you (GQ)your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, (GR)if I am bereaved of my sons, I am bereaved!” 15 So the men took (GS)this gift, and they took double the money in their hand, and Benjamin; then they set out and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.

Joseph Sees Benjamin

16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to his (GT)house steward, “Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make preparations; for the men are to dine with me at noon.” 17 So the man did as Joseph said, and [ga]brought the men to Joseph’s house. 18 Now the men were afraid, because they were brought to Joseph’s house; and they said, “It is because of the money that was returned in our sacks the first time that we are being brought in, so that he may [gb]attack us and [gc]overpower us, and take us as slaves with our donkeys.” 19 So they approached Joseph’s house steward, and spoke to him at the entrance of the house, 20 and said, “Oh, my lord, we indeed came down the first time to buy food, 21 and it happened when we came to the campsite, that we opened our sacks, and behold, (GU)each man’s money was in the opening of his sack, our money in [gd]full. So (GV)we have brought it back in our hand. 22 We have also brought down other money in our hand to buy food; we do not know who put our money in our sacks.” 23 But he said, “Peace be to you, do not be afraid. (GW)Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; your [ge]money was in my possession.” Then (GX)he brought Simeon out to them. 24 Then the man brought the men into Joseph’s house and (GY)gave them water, and they (GZ)washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys feed. 25 So they prepared (HA)the gift [gf]for Joseph’s arrival at noon; for they had heard that they were to eat [gg]a meal there.

26 When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the gift which was in their hand, and they (HB)bowed down to the ground before him. 27 Then he asked them about their welfare, and said, “(HC)Is your old father well, of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” 28 And they said, “Your servant our father is well; he is still alive.” Then (HD)they bowed down again [gh]in homage. 29 And as he raised his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, he said, “Is this (HE)your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me?” Then he said, “(HF)May God be gracious to you, my son.” 30 Joseph then hurried out, for [gi](HG)he was deeply stirred over his brother, and he looked for a place to weep; so he entered his chamber and (HH)wept there. 31 Then he washed his face and came out; and he (HI)controlled himself and said, “[gj]Serve the meal.” 32 Then they served him by himself, and [gk]Joseph’s brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is an (HJ)abomination to the Egyptians. 33 Now they [gl]were seated before him, from (HK)the firstborn according to his birthright to the youngest according to his youth, and the men looked at one another in astonishment. 34 Then he took portions to them from [gm]his own table, (HL)but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank freely with him.

The Brothers Are Brought Back

44 (HM)Then he commanded his house steward, saying, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the opening of his sack. And put my cup, the silver cup, in the opening of the sack of the youngest, and his money for the grain.” And he did [gn]as Joseph had told him. [go]As soon as it was light, the men were sent away, they with their donkeys. They had just left (HN)the city, and were not far away, when Joseph said to his house steward, “Up, follow the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good? Is this not that from which my lord drinks, and which he indeed uses for (HO)divination? You have done wrong in doing this!’”

So [gp]he overtook them and spoke these words to them. And they said to him, “Why does my lord say such words as these? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing! Behold, (HP)the money which we found in the opening of our sacks we have brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? (HQ)With whomever of your servants it is found, he shall die, and we also shall be my lord’s (HR)slaves.” 10 So he said, “Now let it indeed be according to your words; he with whom it is found shall be my slave, but the rest of you shall be considered innocent.” 11 Then they hurried, each man lowered his sack to the ground, and each man opened his sack. 12 And he searched, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest; and (HS)the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. 13 Then they (HT)tore their clothes in grief, and when each man had loaded his donkey, they returned to (HU)the city.

14 When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there, and (HV)they fell down to the ground before him. 15 Joseph said to them, “What is this thing that you have done? Do you not know that a man who is like me can indeed practice (HW)divination?” 16 So Judah said, “What can we say to my lord? What words can we speak? And how can we justify ourselves? God has found out the guilt of your servants; behold, we are my lord’s (HX)slaves, both we and the one in whose [gq]possession the cup has been found.” 17 But he said, “Far be it from me to do this. The man in whose [gr]possession the cup has been found, he shall be my slave; but as for you, go up in peace to your father.”

18 Then Judah approached him and said, “Oh my lord, may your servant please speak a word in my lord’s ears, and [gs](HY)do not be angry with your servant; for (HZ)you are equal to Pharaoh. 19 (IA)My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father or a brother?’ 20 And we said to my lord, ‘We have an old father and (IB)a little boy born in our father’s old age. Now (IC)his brother is dead, so he alone is left of his mother, and his father loves him.’ 21 Then you said to your servants, ‘(ID)Bring him down to me so that I may set my eyes on him.’ 22 But we said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, [gt]his father would die.’ 23 You said to your servants, however, ‘(IE)Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.’ 24 So it came about when we went up to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. 25 And (IF)our father said, ‘Go back, buy us a little food.’ 26 But we said, ‘We cannot go down. If our youngest brother is with us, then we will go down; for we cannot see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’ 27 Then your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that (IG)my wife bore me two sons; 28 and the one left me, and (IH)I said, “Surely he is torn to pieces,” and I have not seen him since. 29 If you also take this one from [gu]me, and harm happens to him, you will (II)bring my gray hair down to Sheol in [gv]sorrow.’ 30 So now, when I come to your servant, my father, and the boy is not with us—since [gw](IJ)our father’s life is so attached to the boy’s life— 31 when he sees that the boy is not with us, he will die. So your servants will (IK)bring the gray hair of your servant, our father, down to Sheol in sorrow. 32 For your servant (IL)accepted responsibility for the boy from my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then [gx]my father can let me take the blame forever.’ 33 So now, please let your servant remain as a slave to my lord instead of the boy, and let the boy go up with his brothers. 34 For how shall I go up to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear that I may see the evil that would [gy]overtake my father.”

Joseph Deals Kindly with His Brothers

45 Then Joseph could not control himself in front of everyone standing before him, and he shouted, “Have everyone leave me!” So there [gz]was no one with him (IM)when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. Then (IN)he [ha]wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard about it. And Joseph said to his brothers, “(IO)I am Joseph! (IP)Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for (IQ)they were terrified in his presence.

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come [hb]closer to me.” And they came [hc]closer. And he said, “I am your brother Joseph, whom you (IR)sold to Egypt. Now do not be grieved or angry [hd]with yourselves because (IS)you sold me here, for (IT)God sent me ahead of you [he]to save lives. For the famine has been in the land (IU)these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. So (IV)God sent me ahead of you to ensure for you a remnant on the earth, and to [hf]keep you alive by a great deliverance. Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a (IW)father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Hurry and go up to my father, and (IX)say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. 10 For you shall live in the land of (IY)Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your [hg]grandchildren, and your flocks and your herds and all that you have. 11 There I will also (IZ)provide for you, for there are still five years of famine to come, and you and your household and all that you have would be impoverished.”’ 12 Behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth which is speaking to you. 13 Now you must tell my father of all my splendor in Egypt, and all that you have seen; and you must hurry and (JA)bring my father down here.” 14 Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and (JB)wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept on them, and afterward his brothers talked with him.

16 Now when (JC)the [hh]news was heard in Pharaoh’s house [hi]that Joseph’s brothers had come, it [hj]pleased Pharaoh and his servants. 17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your livestock and [hk]go to the land of Canaan, 18 and take your father and your households and come to me; and (JD)I will give you the [hl]best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land.’ 19 Now you are ordered, ‘Do this: [hm]take (JE)wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father and come. 20 And do not [hn]concern yourselves with your property, for the [ho]best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”

21 Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them (JF)wagons according to the [hp]command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey. 22 To [hq]each of them he gave (JG)changes of garments, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and (JH)five changes of garments. 23 And to his father he sent [hr]the following: ten male donkeys loaded with the [hs]best things of Egypt, ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and sustenance for his father [ht]on the journey.

24 So he sent his brothers away, and [hu]as they departed, he said to them, “Do not [hv]quarrel on the journey.” 25 Then they went up from Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan, to their father Jacob. 26 And they told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and indeed he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” But [hw]he was stunned, for (JI)he did not believe them. 27 When they told him all the words of Joseph that he had spoken to them, and when he saw the (JJ)wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, then the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 Then Israel said, “It is enough; my son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

Jacob Moves to Egypt

46 So Israel set out with all that he had, and came to (JK)Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the (JL)God of his father Isaac. And (JM)God spoke to Israel [hx]in visions of the night and said, “(JN)Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “(JO)I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will (JP)make you into a great nation there. (JQ)I will go down with you to Egypt, and (JR)I will also assuredly bring you up again; and (JS)Joseph will [hy]close your eyes.”

Then Jacob left Beersheba, and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob and their little ones and their wives in the (JT)wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. They also took their livestock and their possessions, which they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and (JU)came to Egypt, Jacob and all his [hz]descendants with him: his sons and his grandsons with him, his daughters and his granddaughters, and all his [ia]descendants he brought with him to Egypt.

Those Who Came to Egypt

Now these are the (JV)names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn. And the sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. 10 And the (JW)sons of Simeon: [ib]Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, [ic]Jachin, [id]Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman. 11 And the sons of Levi: [ie]Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 12 And the sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan). And the (JX)sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul. 13 And the sons of Issachar: Tola, [if]Puvvah, [ig]Iob, and Shimron. 14 And the sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. 15 These are the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan-aram, with his daughter Dinah; [ih]all his sons and his daughters numbered thirty-three. 16 And the (JY)sons of Gad: [ii]Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, [ij]Ezbon, Eri, [ik]Arodi, and Areli. 17 And the (JZ)sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah. And the (KA)sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel. 18 These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Leah; and she bore to Jacob these sixteen persons. 19 The sons of Jacob’s wife Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. 20 (KB)Now to Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, bore to him. 21 And the (KC)sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, [il]Ehi, Rosh, [im]Muppim, [in]Huppim, and Ard. 22 These are the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob; there were fourteen persons in all. 23 And the sons of Dan: [io]Hushim. 24 And the sons of Naphtali: [ip]Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and [iq]Shillem. 25 These are the (KD)sons of Bilhah, whom (KE)Laban gave to his daughter Rachel, and she bore these to Jacob; there were seven persons in all. 26 (KF)All the people belonging to Jacob, who came to Egypt, [ir]his direct descendants, not including the wives of Jacob’s sons, were sixty-six persons in all, 27 and the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were [is]two; (KG)all the people of the house of Jacob, who came to Egypt, were seventy.

28 Now Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph, to [it]guide him to (KH)Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen. 29 And Joseph [iu]prepared his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel; as soon as he appeared to him, Joseph threw himself on his neck and (KI)wept on his neck a long time. 30 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face, that you are still alive.” 31 But Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “(KJ)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 and the men are shepherds, for they have been [iv]keepers of livestock; and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’ 33 When Pharaoh calls for you and says, ‘(KK)What is your occupation?’ 34 you shall say, ‘Your servants have been [iw](KL)keepers of livestock since our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ so that you may live in the land of (KM)Goshen; for every shepherd is an (KN)abomination to the Egyptians.”

Jacob’s Family Settles in Goshen

47 Then (KO)Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, and said, “My father and my brothers and their flocks and their herds and all that they have, have come out of the land of Canaan; and behold, they are in the land of (KP)Goshen.” And he took five men from among his brothers and (KQ)presented them to Pharaoh. Then Pharaoh said to his brothers, “(KR)What is your occupation?” So they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are (KS)shepherds, both we and our fathers.” They also said to Pharaoh, “(KT)We have come to reside in the land, for there is no pasture for your servants’ flocks, for (KU)the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now, therefore, please let your servants (KV)live in the land of Goshen.” Then Pharaoh said to [ix]Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. The land of Egypt is [iy]at your disposal; settle your father and your brothers in (KW)the best of the land, let them live in the land of Goshen; and if you know any (KX)capable men among them, then [iz]put them in charge of my livestock.”

Then Joseph brought his father Jacob and [ja]presented him to Pharaoh; and Jacob (KY)blessed Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How many [jb]years have you lived?” So Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The [jc](KZ)years of my living abroad are [jd]130; few and [je]unpleasant have been the [jf]years of my life, nor have they [jg]attained (LA)the [jh]years [ji]that my fathers lived during the days of their living abroad.” 10 So Jacob (LB)blessed Pharaoh, and went out from [jj]his presence. 11 Now Joseph settled his father and his brothers and gave them property in the land of Egypt, in (LC)the best of the land, in the land of (LD)Rameses, as Pharaoh had ordered. 12 Joseph also (LE)provided his father and his brothers and all his father’s household with [jk]food, according to the [jl]number of their little ones.

13 Now there was no [jm]food in all the land, because the famine was very severe, so that (LF)the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because of the famine. 14 And (LG)Joseph collected all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan in payment for the grain which they bought, and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house. 15 When the money was all spent in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph saying, “Give us [jn]food, for (LH)why should we die in your presence? For our money is [jo]gone.” 16 Then Joseph said, “Give up your livestock, and I will give you food for your livestock, since your money is [jp]gone.” 17 So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them [jq]food in exchange for the horses and the [jr]flocks and the herds and the donkeys; and he [js]fed them with [jt]food in exchange for all their livestock [ju]that year. 18 But when that year ended, they came to him the [jv]next year and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord the fact that our money is all spent, and the [jw]livestock are my lord’s. There is nothing left [jx]for my lord except our bodies and our lands. 19 Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for [jy]food, and we and our land will be slaves to Pharaoh. So give us seed, so that we may live and not die, and that the land may not be desolate.”

Result of the Famine

20 So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for [jz]every Egyptian sold his field, because the famine was severe upon them. So the land became Pharaoh’s. 21 As for the people, he relocated them to the cities from one end of Egypt’s border to the other. 22 Only the land of the priests he did not buy, because the priests had an allotment from Pharaoh, and they [ka]lived off the allotment which Pharaoh gave them. Therefore, they did not sell their land. 23 Then Joseph said to the people, “Behold, today I have purchased you and your land for Pharaoh; now, here is seed for you, and you may sow the land. 24 [kb]At the harvest you shall give a (LI)fifth to Pharaoh, and [kc]four-fifths shall be your own for seed of the field and for your food, and for those of your households and as food for your little ones.” 25 So they said, “You have saved our lives! Let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s slaves.” 26 Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt, valid to this day, that Pharaoh was to have the fifth; (LJ)only the land of the priests [kd]did not become Pharaoh’s.

27 Now Israel lived in the land of Egypt, in [ke]Goshen, and they (LK)acquired property in it and (LL)were fruitful and became very numerous. 28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt for (LM)seventeen years; so the [kf]length of Jacob’s life was 147 years.

29 When [kg](LN)the time for Israel to die drew near, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “Please, if I have found favor in your sight, (LO)place your hand under my thigh now and (LP)deal with me in kindness and [kh]faithfulness: please do not bury me in Egypt, 30 but when I (LQ)[ki]lie down with my fathers, you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in (LR)their burial place.” And he said, “I will do as you have said.” 31 And he said, “(LS)Swear to me.” So he swore to him. Then (LT)Israel bowed in worship at the head of the bed.

Israel’s Last Days

48 Now it came about after these things that [kj]Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is sick.” So he took his two sons (LU)Manasseh and Ephraim with him. When [kk]it was told to Jacob, “Behold, your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel [kl]collected his strength and sat [km]up in the bed. Then Jacob said to Joseph, “[kn](LV)God Almighty appeared to me at (LW)Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, and He said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and numerous, and I will make you a multitude of peoples, and will give this land to your [ko]descendants after you as (LX)an everlasting possession.’ Now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; (LY)Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as (LZ)Reuben and Simeon are. But your children that you have fathered after them shall be yours; they shall be called by the [kp]names of their brothers in their inheritance. Now as for me, when I came from (MA)Paddan, (MB)Rachel died, [kq]to my sorrow, in the land of Canaan on the journey, when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath. I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).”

When Israel (MC)saw Joseph’s sons, he said, “Who are these?” And Joseph said to his father, “(MD)They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” So he said, “Bring them to me, please, so that (ME)I may bless them.” 10 Now (MF)the eyes of Israel were so [kr]dim from age that he could not see. And [ks]Joseph brought them close to him, and he (MG)kissed them and embraced them. 11 And Israel said to Joseph, “I never [kt]expected to see your face, and behold, God has let me see your [ku]children as well!” 12 Then Joseph [kv]took them from his knees, and (MH)bowed with his face to the ground. 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel’s left, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel’s right, and brought them close to him. 14 But Israel reached out his right hand and placed it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, crossing his hands, although (MI)Manasseh was the firstborn. 15 And he blessed Joseph, and said,

(MJ)The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
(MK)The God who has been my shepherd [kw]all my life to this day,
16 (ML)The angel who has redeemed me from all evil,
(MM)Bless the boys;
And may my name [kx]live on in them,
And the [ky]names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;
And (MN)may they grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”

17 When Joseph saw that his father (MO)placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head, it displeased him; and he grasped his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn. Place your right hand on his head.” 19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know; he also will become a people and he also will be great. However, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and (MP)his [kz]descendants shall become [la]a multitude of nations.” 20 So (MQ)he blessed them that day, saying,

“By you Israel will pronounce blessing, saying,
‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!’”

And so he put Ephraim before Manasseh. 21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but (MR)God will be with you, and (MS)bring you back to the land of your fathers. 22 And I give you one [lb]portion more than your brothers, (MT)which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow.”

Jacob’s Prophecy concerning His Sons

49 Then Jacob summoned his sons and said, “Assemble yourselves, so that I may tell you what will happen to you (MU)in the [lc]days to come.

Gather together and listen, sons of Jacob;
Yes, (MV)listen to Israel your father.

“Reuben, you are my firstborn,
My might and (MW)the beginning of my strength,
Preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.
[ld]Uncontrollable as water, you shall not have preeminence,
(MX)Because you went up to your father’s bed;
Then you defiled it—he went up to my couch.

(MY)Simeon and Levi are brothers;
Their [le]swords are implements of violence.
(MZ)May my soul not enter into their council;
May my glory not be united with their assembly;
For in their anger they killed [lf]men,
And in their self-will they lamed [lg]oxen.
Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce;
And their wrath, for it is cruel.
(NA)I will scatter them in Jacob,
And disperse them among Israel.

“As for you, Judah, your brothers shall praise you;
Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;
(NB)Your father’s sons shall bow down to you.
Judah is a (NC)lion’s cub;
From the prey, my son, you have gone up.
(ND)He [lh]crouches, he lies down as a lion,
And as a [li]lion, who [lj]dares to stir him up?
10 (NE)The scepter will not depart from Judah,
Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,
[lk]Until Shiloh comes,
And (NF)to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
11 (NG)He ties his foal to the vine,
And his donkey’s colt to the choice vine;
(NH)He washes his garments in wine,
And his robes in the blood of grapes.
12 His eyes are [ll]dull from wine,
And his teeth [lm]white from milk.

13 (NI)Zebulun will reside at the seashore;
And he shall be [ln]a harbor for ships,
And his flank shall be toward Sidon.

14 “Issachar is a [lo]strong donkey,
(NJ)Lying down between the sheepfolds.
15 When he saw that a resting place was good
And that the land was pleasant,
He bowed his shoulder to carry burdens,
And became a slave at forced labor.

16 (NK)Dan shall (NL)judge his people,
As one of the tribes of Israel.
17 Dan shall be a serpent in the way,
A horned viper in the path,
That bites the horse’s heels,
So that its rider falls backward.
18 (NM)For Your salvation I wait, Lord.

19 (NN)As for Gad, a band of raiders shall attack him,
But he will attack at their [lp]heels.

20 [lq](NO)As for (NP)Asher, his [lr]food shall be [ls]rich,
And he will yield royal delicacies.

21 (NQ)Naphtali is a doe let loose;
He utters beautiful words.

22 (NR)Joseph is a fruitful [lt]branch,
A fruitful [lu]branch by a spring;
Its [lv]branches hang over a wall.
23 The archers provoked him,
And shot at him and were hostile toward him;
24 But his (NS)bow remained [lw]firm,
And [lx](NT)his arms were agile,
From the hands of the (NU)Mighty One of Jacob
(From there is (NV)the Shepherd, (NW)the Stone of Israel),
25 From (NX)the God of your father who helps you,
And [ly](NY)by the [lz]Almighty who blesses you
With (NZ)blessings of heaven above,
Blessings of the deep that lies beneath,
Blessings of the breasts and of the womb.
26 The blessings of your father
Have surpassed the blessings of my ancestors
Up to the [ma]furthest boundary of (OA)the everlasting hills;
May they be on the head of Joseph,
And on the top of the head of the one distinguished among his brothers.

27 “Benjamin is a [mb]ravenous wolf;
In the morning he devours the prey,
And in the evening he divides the spoils.”

28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them [mc]when he blessed them. He blessed them, every one [md]with the blessing appropriate to him.

Jacob Dies

29 Then he commanded them and said to them, “I am about to be (OB)gathered to my people; (OC)bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in (OD)the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 in the (OE)cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is opposite Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought along with the field from Ephron the Hittite as a [me]burial site. 31 There they buried (OF)Abraham and his wife (OG)Sarah, there they buried (OH)Isaac and his wife Rebekah, and there I buried Leah— 32 the field and the cave that is in it, purchased from the sons of Heth.” 33 When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew his feet into the bed and (OI)breathed his last, and was (OJ)gathered to his people.

Jacob Is Buried

50 Then Joseph fell on his father’s face, and wept over him and kissed him. Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians (OK)embalmed Israel. Now forty days were [mf]required for [mg]it, for [mh]such is the period required for embalming. And the Egyptians (OL)wept for him seventy days.

When the days of [mi]mourning for him were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your sight, please speak [mj]to Pharaoh, saying, (OM)My father made me swear, saying, “Behold, I am about to die; in my grave (ON)which I dug for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me.” Now then, please let me go up and bury my father; then I will return.’” Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear.”

So Joseph went up to bury his father, and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household and all the elders of the land of Egypt, and all the household of Joseph and his brothers and his father’s household; they left only their little ones and their flocks and their herds in the land of Goshen. Chariots with teams of horses also went up with him; and it was a very great company. 10 When they came to the [mk]threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they (OO)mourned there with a very great and [ml]sorrowful lamentation; and he [mm]observed seven days of mourning for his father. 11 Now when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning at [mn]the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a [mo]grievous [mp]mourning for the Egyptians.” Therefore it was named [mq]Abel-mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan.

Burial at Machpelah

12 And so his sons did for him as he had commanded them; 13 for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in (OP)the cave of the field of Machpelah opposite Mamre, which Abraham had bought along with the field as a [mr]burial site from Ephron the Hittite. 14 And after he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, he and his brothers, and all who had gone up with him to bury his father.

15 When Joseph’s brothers had seen that their father was dead, they said, “(OQ)What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong which we did to him!” 16 So they sent instructions to Joseph, saying, “Your father commanded us before he died, saying, 17 ‘This is what you shall say to Joseph: “Please forgive, I beg you, the offense of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong.”’ And now, please forgive the offense of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 Then his brothers also came and (OR)fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? 20 As for you, (OS)you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about [ms]this present result, to keep many people alive. 21 So therefore, do not be afraid; (OT)I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke [mt]kindly to them.

Death of Joseph

22 Now Joseph stayed in Egypt, he and his father’s household, and Joseph lived 110 years. 23 Joseph saw the third generation of Ephraim’s sons; also the sons of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were (OU)born on Joseph’s knees. 24 Joseph said to his brothers, “(OV)I am about to die, but God will assuredly [mu]take care of you and bring you up from this land to the land which He [mv]promised on oath to (OW)Abraham, to (OX)Isaac, and to (OY)Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will assuredly [mw]take care of you, and (OZ)you shall carry my bones up from here.” 26 So Joseph died at the age of 110 years; and they (PA)embalmed him and placed him in a coffin in Egypt.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 36:2 Lit daughter; LXX son (referring to Anah)
  2. Genesis 36:6 Lit the souls of his house
  3. Genesis 36:9 Lit Edom
  4. Genesis 36:11 In 1 Chr 1:36, Zephi
  5. Genesis 36:14 See note v 2
  6. Genesis 36:14 Lit and she
  7. Genesis 36:16 Lit of Eliphaz
  8. Genesis 36:17 Lit of Reuel
  9. Genesis 36:18 Lit of Oholibamah, Esau’s wife
  10. Genesis 36:21 Lit of the Horites
  11. Genesis 36:22 In 1 Chr 1:39, Homam
  12. Genesis 36:23 In 1 Chr 1:40, Alian
  13. Genesis 36:23 In 1 Chr 1:40, Shephi
  14. Genesis 36:26 Heb Dishan
  15. Genesis 36:26 In 1 Chr 1:41, Hamran
  16. Genesis 36:27 In 1 Chr 1:42, Jaakan
  17. Genesis 36:29 Lit of the Horites
  18. Genesis 36:30 Lit of the Horites
  19. Genesis 36:32 Lit And Bela
  20. Genesis 36:35 Or struck
  21. Genesis 36:39 In 1 Chr 1:50, Hadad
  22. Genesis 36:39 In 1 Chr 1:50, Pai
  23. Genesis 36:40 Lit of Esau
  24. Genesis 36:40 In 1 Chr 1:51, Aliah
  25. Genesis 36:43 Heb Edom
  26. Genesis 37:3 Or full-length tunic
  27. Genesis 37:4 Lit in peace
  28. Genesis 37:5 Lit dreamed
  29. Genesis 37:6 Lit dreamed
  30. Genesis 37:9 Lit dreamed
  31. Genesis 37:9 Lit dreamed
  32. Genesis 37:10 Lit dreamed
  33. Genesis 37:13 Lit Behold me
  34. Genesis 37:15 Lit saying, “What...?”
  35. Genesis 37:18 Or And
  36. Genesis 37:19 Lit Behold, this master of dreams comes
  37. Genesis 37:21 Lit and said
  38. Genesis 37:21 Lit strike his soul
  39. Genesis 37:23 Lit came to
  40. Genesis 37:23 Or full-length tunic
  41. Genesis 37:25 Lit bread
  42. Genesis 37:25 Or resinous bark
  43. Genesis 37:25 Lit going
  44. Genesis 37:28 Lit Joseph
  45. Genesis 37:28 About 10 oz. or 280 gm
  46. Genesis 37:32 Or full-length tunic
  47. Genesis 37:32 Or recognize
  48. Genesis 37:33 Or recognized
  49. Genesis 37:36 Lit Medanites
  50. Genesis 38:1 Lit went down
  51. Genesis 38:1 Lit turned aside to
  52. Genesis 38:5 Lit when
  53. Genesis 38:8 Lit seed
  54. Genesis 38:9 Lit seed
  55. Genesis 38:9 Lit spilled on the ground
  56. Genesis 38:9 Lit seed
  57. Genesis 38:11 Lit said
  58. Genesis 38:12 Lit the days became many and
  59. Genesis 38:12 Lit Judah was comforted, he
  60. Genesis 38:14 Lit removed from herself
  61. Genesis 38:14 Or shawl
  62. Genesis 38:14 In Josh 15:34, Enam
  63. Genesis 38:16 Or Come, now
  64. Genesis 38:17 Lit kid of goats
  65. Genesis 38:19 Lit removed from herself
  66. Genesis 38:19 Or shawl
  67. Genesis 38:20 Lit kid of goats by the hand of
  68. Genesis 38:23 Lit take for herself
  69. Genesis 38:23 Lit Behold
  70. Genesis 38:24 Lit informed, saying
  71. Genesis 38:26 Lit know her yet again
  72. Genesis 38:29 I.e., a breach
  73. Genesis 38:30 I.e., a dawning or brightness
  74. Genesis 39:1 Lit from the hand of
  75. Genesis 39:2 Or prosperous
  76. Genesis 39:4 Or ministered to him
  77. Genesis 39:4 Lit handed over to him
  78. Genesis 39:6 Lit in Joseph’s hand
  79. Genesis 39:6 Lit know
  80. Genesis 39:6 Lit bread
  81. Genesis 39:6 Or used to eat
  82. Genesis 39:7 Lit lifted up her eyes at
  83. Genesis 39:8 Lit does not know what is in the house
  84. Genesis 39:8 Lit handed over to me
  85. Genesis 39:9 Or He is not greater
  86. Genesis 39:11 Lit about this day
  87. Genesis 39:13 Lit And it came about when
  88. Genesis 39:14 Lit Hebrew man
  89. Genesis 39:14 Lit called with a great voice
  90. Genesis 39:15 Lit called out
  91. Genesis 39:16 Lit let...lie beside
  92. Genesis 39:17 Lit according to
  93. Genesis 39:17 Lit words, saying
  94. Genesis 39:18 Lit called out
  95. Genesis 39:19 Lit According to these things your slave
  96. Genesis 39:22 Lit handed over to Joseph all
  97. Genesis 39:22 Lit the doer
  98. Genesis 39:23 Lit in his hand
  99. Genesis 40:4 Lit ministered to
  100. Genesis 40:4 Lit days
  101. Genesis 40:6 Or And
  102. Genesis 40:6 Lit and behold
  103. Genesis 40:7 Lit saying, Why
  104. Genesis 40:8 Lit dreamed
  105. Genesis 40:9 Lit and said
  106. Genesis 40:9 Lit and behold
  107. Genesis 40:11 Lit palm
  108. Genesis 40:13 I.e., a royal gesture of forgiveness
  109. Genesis 40:14 Lit remember me with yourself
  110. Genesis 40:14 Lit and mention
  111. Genesis 40:14 Lit house
  112. Genesis 40:15 Or pit
  113. Genesis 40:17 Lit food for Pharaoh made by a baker
  114. Genesis 40:21 Lit wine-pouring
  115. Genesis 40:21 Lit palm
  116. Genesis 41:2 Lit fat of flesh
  117. Genesis 41:3 Lit thin of flesh
  118. Genesis 41:4 Lit thin of flesh
  119. Genesis 41:8 Lit dream
  120. Genesis 41:9 Or sins
  121. Genesis 41:11 Lit I and he
  122. Genesis 41:13 Lit him
  123. Genesis 41:15 Lit about you, saying
  124. Genesis 41:15 Lit you hear a dream to interpret it
  125. Genesis 41:16 Lit Apart from me
  126. Genesis 41:16 Lit answer the peace of Pharaoh
  127. Genesis 41:18 Lit fat of flesh
  128. Genesis 41:19 Lit bad
  129. Genesis 41:19 Lit thin of flesh
  130. Genesis 41:19 Lit badness
  131. Genesis 41:21 Lit entered their inward parts
  132. Genesis 41:21 Or known
  133. Genesis 41:21 Lit entered their inward parts
  134. Genesis 41:21 Lit and
  135. Genesis 41:21 Lit in the beginning
  136. Genesis 41:25 Lit dream is
  137. Genesis 41:26 Lit dream is
  138. Genesis 41:28 Lit That is the thing which I spoke
  139. Genesis 41:30 Lit arise
  140. Genesis 41:30 Lit destroy
  141. Genesis 41:34 Lit over
  142. Genesis 41:37 Lit word
  143. Genesis 41:37 Lit in the sight of
  144. Genesis 41:37 Lit in the sight of
  145. Genesis 41:40 Lit over
  146. Genesis 41:40 Lit kiss your mouth; LXX obey at your command
  147. Genesis 41:43 Lit the second...which was his
  148. Genesis 41:43 Or Make way
  149. Genesis 41:44 Lit you no one
  150. Genesis 41:45 Prob. Egyptian for “God speaks; he lives”
  151. Genesis 41:45 Or Heliopolis
  152. Genesis 41:46 Or entered the service of
  153. Genesis 41:47 Lit by handfuls
  154. Genesis 41:49 Lit very much
  155. Genesis 41:49 Lit numbering
  156. Genesis 41:49 Or without number
  157. Genesis 41:50 Or Heliopolis
  158. Genesis 41:51 I.e., making to forget
  159. Genesis 41:52 I.e., fruitfulness
  160. Genesis 41:56 Lit that which was in them
  161. Genesis 42:2 Lit there
  162. Genesis 42:9 Lit had dreamed
  163. Genesis 42:9 Lit nakedness of the land
  164. Genesis 42:12 Lit nakedness of the land
  165. Genesis 42:14 Lit to you, saying
  166. Genesis 42:19 Lit the house of your prison
  167. Genesis 42:22 Lit you, saying,
  168. Genesis 42:22 Lit And behold, his blood also is required
  169. Genesis 42:28 Lit went out
  170. Genesis 42:28 Lit trembled
  171. Genesis 42:34 Lit you are honest
  172. Genesis 42:37 Lit hand
  173. Genesis 42:38 Lit he
  174. Genesis 42:38 Lit on which you are going
  175. Genesis 43:3 Lit us, saying
  176. Genesis 43:6 Lit to tell
  177. Genesis 43:7 Lit told him according to these words
  178. Genesis 43:9 Lit my hand
  179. Genesis 43:9 Lit I will be culpable before you all the days
  180. Genesis 43:11 Or vessels
  181. Genesis 43:11 Or resinous bark
  182. Genesis 43:14 Heb El Shaddai
  183. Genesis 43:17 Lit the man brought
  184. Genesis 43:18 Lit roll himself upon us
  185. Genesis 43:18 Lit fall upon
  186. Genesis 43:21 Lit its weight
  187. Genesis 43:23 Lit your money had come to me
  188. Genesis 43:25 Lit until
  189. Genesis 43:25 Lit bread
  190. Genesis 43:28 I.e., great respect and honor to a superior
  191. Genesis 43:30 Lit his compassion grew warm
  192. Genesis 43:31 Lit Set on bread
  193. Genesis 43:32 Lit them
  194. Genesis 43:33 Lit sat
  195. Genesis 43:34 Lit his face
  196. Genesis 44:2 Or according to the word
  197. Genesis 44:3 Lit The morning was light
  198. Genesis 44:6 I.e., the steward
  199. Genesis 44:16 Lit hand
  200. Genesis 44:17 Lit hand
  201. Genesis 44:18 Lit let not your anger burn against
  202. Genesis 44:22 Lit he would
  203. Genesis 44:29 Lit my face
  204. Genesis 44:29 Lit evil
  205. Genesis 44:30 Lit his soul is bound with his soul
  206. Genesis 44:32 Lit I will be culpable for all the days before my father
  207. Genesis 44:34 Lit find
  208. Genesis 45:1 Lit stood
  209. Genesis 45:2 Lit gave forth his voice in weeping
  210. Genesis 45:4 Lit near
  211. Genesis 45:4 Lit near
  212. Genesis 45:5 Lit in your eyes
  213. Genesis 45:5 Lit for preservation of life
  214. Genesis 45:7 As in MT; another reading (cf. LXX) keep alive for you a great remnant
  215. Genesis 45:10 Lit children’s children
  216. Genesis 45:16 Lit voice
  217. Genesis 45:16 Lit saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come”
  218. Genesis 45:16 Lit was good in the eyes of
  219. Genesis 45:17 Lit come, go
  220. Genesis 45:18 Lit good
  221. Genesis 45:19 Lit take for yourselves
  222. Genesis 45:20 Lit let your eye look with regret upon your vessels
  223. Genesis 45:20 Lit good
  224. Genesis 45:21 Lit mouth
  225. Genesis 45:22 Lit all of them he gave each man
  226. Genesis 45:23 Lit like this
  227. Genesis 45:23 Lit good
  228. Genesis 45:23 Lit for
  229. Genesis 45:24 Lit they departed; and he said
  230. Genesis 45:24 Lit be agitated
  231. Genesis 45:26 Lit his heart grew numb
  232. Genesis 46:2 Lit in the visions
  233. Genesis 46:4 Lit put his hand on
  234. Genesis 46:6 Lit seed
  235. Genesis 46:7 Lit seed
  236. Genesis 46:10 In Num 26:12 and 1 Chr 4:24, Nemuel
  237. Genesis 46:10 In 1 Chr 4:24, Jarib
  238. Genesis 46:10 In Num 26:13 and 1 Chr 4:24, Zerah
  239. Genesis 46:11 In 1 Chr 6:16, Gershom
  240. Genesis 46:13 In Num 26:23, Puvah; in 1 Chr 7:1, Puah
  241. Genesis 46:13 In Num 26:24 and 1 Chr 7:1, Jashub
  242. Genesis 46:15 Lit all the souls of
  243. Genesis 46:16 In Num 26:15, Zephon
  244. Genesis 46:16 In Num 26:16, Ozni
  245. Genesis 46:16 In Num 26:17, Arod
  246. Genesis 46:21 In Num 26:38, Ahiram
  247. Genesis 46:21 In Num 26:39, Shephupham; in 1 Chr 7:12, Shuppim
  248. Genesis 46:21 In Num 26:39, Hupham
  249. Genesis 46:23 In Num 26:42, Shuham
  250. Genesis 46:24 In 1 Chr 7:13, Jahziel
  251. Genesis 46:24 In 1 Chr 7:13, Shallum
  252. Genesis 46:26 Lit who came out of his loins
  253. Genesis 46:27 Lit two souls
  254. Genesis 46:28 Lit instruct before him
  255. Genesis 46:29 Lit harnessed
  256. Genesis 46:32 Lit men
  257. Genesis 46:34 Lit men
  258. Genesis 47:5 Lit Joseph, saying
  259. Genesis 47:6 Lit before you
  260. Genesis 47:6 Lit appoint them rulers
  261. Genesis 47:7 Lit set him before
  262. Genesis 47:8 Lit are the days of the years of your life
  263. Genesis 47:9 Lit days of the years
  264. Genesis 47:9 Lit 130 years
  265. Genesis 47:9 Lit evil
  266. Genesis 47:9 Lit days of the years
  267. Genesis 47:9 Lit reached
  268. Genesis 47:9 Lit days of the years
  269. Genesis 47:9 Lit of the life of my fathers
  270. Genesis 47:10 Lit Pharaoh’s
  271. Genesis 47:12 Or bread
  272. Genesis 47:12 Lit mouth
  273. Genesis 47:13 Or bread
  274. Genesis 47:15 Or bread
  275. Genesis 47:15 Lit at an end
  276. Genesis 47:16 Lit at an end
  277. Genesis 47:17 Or bread
  278. Genesis 47:17 Lit livestock of the flocks and livestock of the herds
  279. Genesis 47:17 Lit led them as a shepherd
  280. Genesis 47:17 Or bread
  281. Genesis 47:17 Lit in that year
  282. Genesis 47:18 Lit second
  283. Genesis 47:18 Lit livestock of the cattle
  284. Genesis 47:18 Lit in the presence of
  285. Genesis 47:19 Or bread
  286. Genesis 47:20 Lit Egypt, every man
  287. Genesis 47:22 Lit ate their allotment
  288. Genesis 47:24 Lit It shall come about...that you shall
  289. Genesis 47:24 Lit four parts
  290. Genesis 47:26 Lit alone did
  291. Genesis 47:27 Lit the land of Goshen
  292. Genesis 47:28 Lit days of Jacob, the years of his life
  293. Genesis 47:29 Lit the days of Israel
  294. Genesis 47:29 Lit truth
  295. Genesis 47:30 I.e., die
  296. Genesis 48:1 Lit one said to Joseph
  297. Genesis 48:2 Lit one told Jacob and said
  298. Genesis 48:2 Lit strengthened himself
  299. Genesis 48:2 Lit upon the bed
  300. Genesis 48:3 Heb El Shaddai
  301. Genesis 48:4 Lit seed
  302. Genesis 48:6 Lit name
  303. Genesis 48:7 Lit upon me
  304. Genesis 48:10 Lit dull
  305. Genesis 48:10 Lit he
  306. Genesis 48:11 Lit assumed
  307. Genesis 48:11 Lit seed
  308. Genesis 48:12 Lit made them come out
  309. Genesis 48:15 Lit from the continuance of me
  310. Genesis 48:16 Lit be called
  311. Genesis 48:16 Lit name
  312. Genesis 48:19 Lit seed
  313. Genesis 48:19 Lit the fullness
  314. Genesis 48:22 Or ridge; lit shoulder; Heb Shechem
  315. Genesis 49:1 Lit end of the days
  316. Genesis 49:4 Or Gushing over
  317. Genesis 49:5 Or plans; meaning uncertain
  318. Genesis 49:6 Lit a man
  319. Genesis 49:6 Lit an ox
  320. Genesis 49:9 Lit bows down
  321. Genesis 49:9 Lit lioness
  322. Genesis 49:9 Lit shall
  323. Genesis 49:10 Or Until he comes to Shiloh; or Until he comes to whom it belongs
  324. Genesis 49:12 Or darker than
  325. Genesis 49:12 Or whiter than
  326. Genesis 49:13 Lit a shore of ships
  327. Genesis 49:14 Lit donkey of bone
  328. Genesis 49:19 Lit heel
  329. Genesis 49:20 Lit From
  330. Genesis 49:20 Or bread
  331. Genesis 49:20 Lit fat
  332. Genesis 49:22 Lit son
  333. Genesis 49:22 Lit son
  334. Genesis 49:22 Lit daughters
  335. Genesis 49:24 I.e., in an unyielding position
  336. Genesis 49:24 Lit the arms of his hands
  337. Genesis 49:25 Or with
  338. Genesis 49:25 Heb Shaddai
  339. Genesis 49:26 Lit limit; or desire
  340. Genesis 49:27 Lit a wolf that tears
  341. Genesis 49:28 Lit and
  342. Genesis 49:28 Lit according to his blessing
  343. Genesis 49:30 Lit possession of a burial place
  344. Genesis 50:3 Lit fulfilled
  345. Genesis 50:3 Or him
  346. Genesis 50:3 Lit so are fulfilled the days of embalming
  347. Genesis 50:4 Lit weeping
  348. Genesis 50:4 Lit In the ears of
  349. Genesis 50:10 Heb Goren ha-Atad
  350. Genesis 50:10 Lit heavy
  351. Genesis 50:10 Lit made a mourning for seven days
  352. Genesis 50:11 Heb Goren ha-Atad
  353. Genesis 50:11 Lit heavy
  354. Genesis 50:11 Heb ebel
  355. Genesis 50:11 I.e., the meadow (or mourning) of Egypt
  356. Genesis 50:13 Lit possession of a burial place
  357. Genesis 50:20 Lit as this day
  358. Genesis 50:21 Lit to their heart
  359. Genesis 50:24 Or visit
  360. Genesis 50:24 Lit swore
  361. Genesis 50:25 Or visit

Esau’s Descendants(A)(B)

36 This is the account(C) of the family line of Esau (that is, Edom).(D)

Esau took his wives from the women of Canaan:(E) Adah daughter of Elon the Hittite,(F) and Oholibamah(G) daughter of Anah(H) and granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite(I) also Basemath(J) daughter of Ishmael and sister of Nebaioth.(K)

Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, Basemath bore Reuel,(L) and Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam and Korah.(M) These were the sons of Esau, who were born to him in Canaan.

Esau took his wives and sons and daughters and all the members of his household, as well as his livestock and all his other animals and all the goods he had acquired in Canaan,(N) and moved to a land some distance from his brother Jacob.(O) Their possessions were too great for them to remain together; the land where they were staying could not support them both because of their livestock.(P) So Esau(Q) (that is, Edom)(R) settled in the hill country of Seir.(S)

This is the account(T) of the family line of Esau the father of the Edomites(U) in the hill country of Seir.

10 These are the names of Esau’s sons:

Eliphaz, the son of Esau’s wife Adah, and Reuel, the son of Esau’s wife Basemath.(V)

11 The sons of Eliphaz:(W)

Teman,(X) Omar, Zepho, Gatam and Kenaz.(Y)

12 Esau’s son Eliphaz also had a concubine(Z) named Timna, who bore him Amalek.(AA) These were grandsons of Esau’s wife Adah.(AB)

13 The sons of Reuel:

Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah. These were grandsons of Esau’s wife Basemath.(AC)

14 The sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah(AD) daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon, whom she bore to Esau:

Jeush, Jalam and Korah.(AE)

15 These were the chiefs(AF) among Esau’s descendants:

The sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau:

Chiefs Teman,(AG) Omar, Zepho, Kenaz,(AH) 16 Korah,[a] Gatam and Amalek. These were the chiefs descended from Eliphaz(AI) in Edom;(AJ) they were grandsons of Adah.(AK)

17 The sons of Esau’s son Reuel:(AL)

Chiefs Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah. These were the chiefs descended from Reuel in Edom; they were grandsons of Esau’s wife Basemath.(AM)

18 The sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah:(AN)

Chiefs Jeush, Jalam and Korah.(AO) These were the chiefs descended from Esau’s wife Oholibamah daughter of Anah.

19 These were the sons of Esau(AP) (that is, Edom),(AQ) and these were their chiefs.(AR)

20 These were the sons of Seir the Horite,(AS) who were living in the region:

Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,(AT) 21 Dishon, Ezer and Dishan. These sons of Seir in Edom were Horite chiefs.(AU)

22 The sons of Lotan:

Hori and Homam.[b] Timna was Lotan’s sister.

23 The sons of Shobal:

Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho and Onam.

24 The sons of Zibeon:(AV)

Aiah and Anah. This is the Anah who discovered the hot springs[c](AW) in the desert while he was grazing the donkeys(AX) of his father Zibeon.

25 The children of Anah:(AY)

Dishon and Oholibamah(AZ) daughter of Anah.

26 The sons of Dishon[d]:

Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran and Keran.

27 The sons of Ezer:

Bilhan, Zaavan and Akan.

28 The sons of Dishan:

Uz and Aran.

29 These were the Horite chiefs:

Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,(BA) 30 Dishon, Ezer and Dishan. These were the Horite chiefs,(BB) according to their divisions, in the land of Seir.

The Rulers of Edom(BC)

31 These were the kings who reigned in Edom before any Israelite king(BD) reigned:

32 Bela son of Beor became king of Edom. His city was named Dinhabah.

33 When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah(BE) succeeded him as king.

34 When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites(BF) succeeded him as king.

35 When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad, who defeated Midian(BG) in the country of Moab,(BH) succeeded him as king. His city was named Avith.

36 When Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah succeeded him as king.

37 When Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth(BI) on the river succeeded him as king.

38 When Shaul died, Baal-Hanan son of Akbor succeeded him as king.

39 When Baal-Hanan son of Akbor died, Hadad[e] succeeded him as king. His city was named Pau, and his wife’s name was Mehetabel daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-Zahab.

40 These were the chiefs(BJ) descended from Esau, by name, according to their clans and regions:

Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, 41 Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, 42 Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, 43 Magdiel and Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom, according to their settlements in the land they occupied.

This is the family line of Esau, the father of the Edomites.(BK)

Joseph’s Dreams

37 Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed,(BL) the land of Canaan.(BM)

This is the account(BN) of Jacob’s family line.

Joseph,(BO) a young man of seventeen,(BP) was tending the flocks(BQ) with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah(BR) and the sons of Zilpah,(BS) his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report(BT) about them.

Now Israel(BU) loved Joseph more than any of his other sons,(BV) because he had been born to him in his old age;(BW) and he made an ornate[f] robe(BX) for him.(BY) When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him(BZ) and could not speak a kind word to him.

Joseph had a dream,(CA) and when he told it to his brothers,(CB) they hated him all the more.(CC) He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves(CD) of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”(CE)

His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?”(CF) And they hated him all the more(CG) because of his dream and what he had said.

Then he had another dream,(CH) and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars(CI) were bowing down to me.”(CJ)

10 When he told his father as well as his brothers,(CK) his father rebuked(CL) him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?”(CM) 11 His brothers were jealous of him,(CN) but his father kept the matter in mind.(CO)

Joseph Sold by His Brothers

12 Now his brothers had gone to graze their father’s flocks near Shechem,(CP) 13 and Israel(CQ) said to Joseph, “As you know, your brothers are grazing the flocks near Shechem.(CR) Come, I am going to send you to them.”

“Very well,” he replied.

14 So he said to him, “Go and see if all is well with your brothers(CS) and with the flocks, and bring word back to me.” Then he sent him off from the Valley of Hebron.(CT)

When Joseph arrived at Shechem, 15 a man found him wandering around in the fields and asked him, “What are you looking for?”

16 He replied, “I’m looking for my brothers. Can you tell me where they are grazing their flocks?”

17 “They have moved on from here,” the man answered. “I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.(CU)’”

So Joseph went after his brothers and found them near Dothan. 18 But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him.(CV)

19 “Here comes that dreamer!(CW)” they said to each other. 20 “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns(CX) and say that a ferocious animal(CY) devoured him.(CZ) Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.”(DA)

21 When Reuben(DB) heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. “Let’s not take his life,” he said.(DC) 22 “Don’t shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern(DD) here in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father.(DE)

23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe(DF) he was wearing— 24 and they took him and threw him into the cistern.(DG) The cistern was empty; there was no water in it.

25 As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites(DH) coming from Gilead.(DI) Their camels were loaded with spices, balm(DJ) and myrrh,(DK) and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt.(DL)

26 Judah(DM) said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?(DN) 27 Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother,(DO) our own flesh and blood.(DP)” His brothers agreed.

28 So when the Midianite(DQ) merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern(DR) and sold(DS) him for twenty shekels[g] of silver(DT) to the Ishmaelites,(DU) who took him to Egypt.(DV)

29 When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes.(DW) 30 He went back to his brothers and said, “The boy isn’t there! Where can I turn now?”(DX)

31 Then they got Joseph’s robe,(DY) slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood.(DZ) 32 They took the ornate robe(EA) back to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe.”

33 He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! Some ferocious animal(EB) has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.”(EC)

34 Then Jacob tore his clothes,(ED) put on sackcloth(EE) and mourned for his son many days.(EF) 35 All his sons and daughters came to comfort him,(EG) but he refused to be comforted.(EH) “No,” he said, “I will continue to mourn until I join my son(EI) in the grave.(EJ)” So his father wept for him.

36 Meanwhile, the Midianites[h](EK) sold Joseph(EL) in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard.(EM)

Judah and Tamar

38 At that time, Judah(EN) left his brothers and went down to stay with a man of Adullam(EO) named Hirah.(EP) There Judah met the daughter of a Canaanite man named Shua.(EQ) He married her and made love to her; she became pregnant and gave birth to a son, who was named Er.(ER) She conceived again and gave birth to a son and named him Onan.(ES) She gave birth to still another son and named him Shelah.(ET) It was at Kezib that she gave birth to him.

Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.(EU) But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the Lord’s sight;(EV) so the Lord put him to death.(EW)

Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to raise up offspring for your brother.”(EX) But Onan knew that the child would not be his; so whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother. 10 What he did was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death also.(EY)

11 Judah then said to his daughter-in-law(EZ) Tamar,(FA) “Live as a widow in your father’s household(FB) until my son Shelah(FC) grows up.”(FD) For he thought, “He may die too, just like his brothers.” So Tamar went to live in her father’s household.

12 After a long time Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua,(FE) died. When Judah had recovered from his grief, he went up to Timnah,(FF) to the men who were shearing his sheep,(FG) and his friend Hirah the Adullamite(FH) went with him.

13 When Tamar(FI) was told, “Your father-in-law is on his way to Timnah to shear his sheep,”(FJ) 14 she took off her widow’s clothes,(FK) covered herself with a veil(FL) to disguise herself, and then sat down(FM) at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah.(FN) For she saw that, though Shelah(FO) had now grown up, she had not been given to him as his wife.

15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute,(FP) for she had covered her face. 16 Not realizing(FQ) that she was his daughter-in-law,(FR) he went over to her by the roadside and said, “Come now, let me sleep with you.”(FS)

“And what will you give me to sleep with you?”(FT) she asked.

17 “I’ll send you a young goat(FU) from my flock,” he said.

“Will you give me something as a pledge(FV) until you send it?” she asked.

18 He said, “What pledge should I give you?”

“Your seal(FW) and its cord, and the staff(FX) in your hand,” she answered. So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she became pregnant by him.(FY) 19 After she left, she took off her veil and put on her widow’s clothes(FZ) again.

20 Meanwhile Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite(GA) in order to get his pledge(GB) back from the woman, but he did not find her. 21 He asked the men who lived there, “Where is the shrine prostitute(GC) who was beside the road at Enaim?”

“There hasn’t been any shrine prostitute here,” they said.

22 So he went back to Judah and said, “I didn’t find her. Besides, the men who lived there said, ‘There hasn’t been any shrine prostitute here.’”

23 Then Judah said, “Let her keep what she has,(GD) or we will become a laughingstock.(GE) After all, I did send her this young goat, but you didn’t find her.”

24 About three months later Judah was told, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar is guilty of prostitution, and as a result she is now pregnant.”

Judah said, “Bring her out and have her burned to death!”(GF)

25 As she was being brought out, she sent a message to her father-in-law. “I am pregnant by the man who owns these,” she said. And she added, “See if you recognize whose seal and cord and staff these are.”(GG)

26 Judah recognized them and said, “She is more righteous than I,(GH) since I wouldn’t give her to my son Shelah.(GI)” And he did not sleep with her again.

27 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb.(GJ) 28 As she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand; so the midwife(GK) took a scarlet thread and tied it on his wrist(GL) and said, “This one came out first.” 29 But when he drew back his hand, his brother came out,(GM) and she said, “So this is how you have broken out!” And he was named Perez.[i](GN) 30 Then his brother, who had the scarlet thread on his wrist,(GO) came out. And he was named Zerah.[j](GP)

Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife

39 Now Joseph(GQ) had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard,(GR) bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.(GS)

The Lord was with Joseph(GT) so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him(GU) and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did,(GV) Joseph found favor in his eyes(GW) and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household,(GX) and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.(GY) From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household(GZ) of the Egyptian because of Joseph.(HA) The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field.(HB) So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care;(HC) with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.

Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,(HD) and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”(HE)

But he refused.(HF) “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care.(HG) No one is greater in this house than I am.(HH) My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”(HI) 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused(HJ) to go to bed with her or even be with her.

11 One day he went into the house to attend to his duties,(HK) and none of the household servants(HL) was inside. 12 She caught him by his cloak(HM) and said, “Come to bed with me!”(HN) But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.(HO)

13 When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house, 14 she called her household servants.(HP) “Look,” she said to them, “this Hebrew(HQ) has been brought to us to make sport of us!(HR) He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed.(HS) 15 When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”(HT)

16 She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home. 17 Then she told him this story:(HU) “That Hebrew(HV) slave(HW) you brought us came to me to make sport of me. 18 But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”

19 When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger.(HX) 20 Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison,(HY) the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.

But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the Lord was with him;(HZ) he showed him kindness(IA) and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.(IB) 22 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there.(IC) 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s(ID) care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.(IE)

The Cupbearer and the Baker

40 Some time later, the cupbearer(IF) and the baker(IG) of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt. Pharaoh was angry(IH) with his two officials,(II) the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard,(IJ) in the same prison where Joseph was confined. The captain of the guard(IK) assigned them to Joseph,(IL) and he attended them.

After they had been in custody(IM) for some time, each of the two men—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prison—had a dream(IN) the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.(IO)

When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody(IP) with him in his master’s house, “Why do you look so sad today?”(IQ)

“We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.”(IR)

Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God?(IS) Tell me your dreams.”

So the chief cupbearer(IT) told Joseph his dream. He said to him, “In my dream I saw a vine in front of me, 10 and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed,(IU) and its clusters ripened into grapes. 11 Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup and put the cup in his hand.”

12 “This is what it means,(IV)” Joseph said to him. “The three branches are three days.(IW) 13 Within three days(IX) Pharaoh will lift up your head(IY) and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer.(IZ) 14 But when all goes well with you, remember me(JA) and show me kindness;(JB) mention me to Pharaoh(JC) and get me out of this prison. 15 I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews,(JD) and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.”(JE)

16 When the chief baker(JF) saw that Joseph had given a favorable interpretation,(JG) he said to Joseph, “I too had a dream: On my head were three baskets(JH) of bread.[k] 17 In the top basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.”

18 “This is what it means,” Joseph said. “The three baskets are three days.(JI) 19 Within three days(JJ) Pharaoh will lift off your head(JK) and impale your body on a pole.(JL) And the birds will eat away your flesh.”(JM)

20 Now the third day(JN) was Pharaoh’s birthday,(JO) and he gave a feast for all his officials.(JP) He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker(JQ) in the presence of his officials: 21 He restored the chief cupbearer(JR) to his position,(JS) so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand(JT) 22 but he impaled the chief baker,(JU) just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation.(JV)

23 The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.(JW)

Pharaoh’s Dreams

41 When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream:(JX) He was standing by the Nile,(JY) when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat,(JZ) and they grazed among the reeds.(KA) After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.(KB)

He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain,(KC) healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—thin and scorched by the east wind.(KD) The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up;(KE) it had been a dream.

In the morning his mind was troubled,(KF) so he sent for all the magicians(KG) and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.(KH)

Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings.(KI) 10 Pharaoh was once angry with his servants,(KJ) and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard.(KK) 11 Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.(KL) 12 Now a young Hebrew(KM) was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard.(KN) We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream.(KO) 13 And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was impaled.(KP)

14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon.(KQ) When he had shaved(KR) and changed his clothes,(KS) he came before Pharaoh.

15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it.(KT) But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”(KU)

16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”(KV)

17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,(KW) 18 when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds.(KX) 19 After them, seven other cows came up—scrawny and very ugly and lean. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt. 20 The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first. 21 But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up.

22 “In my dream I saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk. 23 After them, seven other heads sprouted—withered and thin and scorched by the east wind. 24 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none of them could explain it to me.(KY)

25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same.(KZ) God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.(LA) 26 The seven good cows(LB) are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. 27 The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.(LC)

28 “It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.(LD) 29 Seven years of great abundance(LE) are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30 but seven years of famine(LF) will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land.(LG) 31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. 32 The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided(LH) by God, and God will do it soon.(LI)

33 “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man(LJ) and put him in charge of the land of Egypt.(LK) 34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners(LL) over the land to take a fifth(LM) of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.(LN) 35 They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food.(LO) 36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt,(LP) so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”

37 The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials.(LQ) 38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God[l]?”(LR)

39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you,(LS) there is no one so discerning and wise as you.(LT) 40 You shall be in charge of my palace,(LU) and all my people are to submit to your orders.(LV) Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.(LW)

Joseph in Charge of Egypt

41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.”(LX) 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring(LY) from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes(LZ) of fine linen(MA) and put a gold chain around his neck.(MB) 43 He had him ride in a chariot(MC) as his second-in-command,[m](MD) and people shouted before him, “Make way[n]!”(ME) Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.(MF)

44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.”(MG) 45 Pharaoh gave Joseph(MH) the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest(MI) of On,[o](MJ) to be his wife.(MK) And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.

46 Joseph was thirty years old(ML) when he entered the service(MM) of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt. 47 During the seven years of abundance(MN) the land produced plentifully. 48 Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities.(MO) In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. 49 Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea;(MP) it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.

50 Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.(MQ) 51 Joseph named his firstborn(MR) Manasseh[p](MS) and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” 52 The second son he named Ephraim[q](MT) and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful(MU) in the land of my suffering.”

53 The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine(MV) began,(MW) just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. 55 When all Egypt began to feel the famine,(MX) the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.”(MY)

56 When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians,(MZ) for the famine(NA) was severe throughout Egypt.(NB) 57 And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph,(NC) because the famine was severe everywhere.(ND)

Joseph’s Brothers Go to Egypt

42 When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt,(NE) he said to his sons, “Why do you just keep looking at each other?” He continued, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us,(NF) so that we may live and not die.”(NG)

Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain(NH) from Egypt. But Jacob did not send Benjamin,(NI) Joseph’s brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him.(NJ) So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain,(NK) for there was famine in the land of Canaan(NL) also.(NM)

Now Joseph was the governor of the land,(NN) the person who sold grain to all its people.(NO) So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.(NP) As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them.(NQ) “Where do you come from?”(NR) he asked.

“From the land of Canaan,” they replied, “to buy food.”

Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.(NS) Then he remembered his dreams(NT) about them and said to them, “You are spies!(NU) You have come to see where our land is unprotected.”(NV)

10 “No, my lord,(NW)” they answered. “Your servants have come to buy food.(NX) 11 We are all the sons of one man. Your servants(NY) are honest men,(NZ) not spies.(OA)

12 “No!” he said to them. “You have come to see where our land is unprotected.”(OB)

13 But they replied, “Your servants(OC) were twelve brothers, the sons of one man, who lives in the land of Canaan.(OD) The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.”(OE)

14 Joseph said to them, “It is just as I told you: You are spies!(OF) 15 And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives,(OG) you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here.(OH) 16 Send one of your number to get your brother;(OI) the rest of you will be kept in prison,(OJ) so that your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth.(OK) If you are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!(OL) 17 And he put them all in custody(OM) for three days.

18 On the third day, Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God:(ON) 19 If you are honest men,(OO) let one of your brothers stay here in prison,(OP) while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households.(OQ) 20 But you must bring your youngest brother to me,(OR) so that your words may be verified and that you may not die.” This they proceeded to do.

21 They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother.(OS) We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress(OT) has come on us.”

22 Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy?(OU) But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting(OV) for his blood.”(OW) 23 They did not realize(OX) that Joseph could understand them,(OY) since he was using an interpreter.

24 He turned away from them and began to weep,(OZ) but then came back and spoke to them again. He had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes.(PA)

25 Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain,(PB) to put each man’s silver back in his sack,(PC) and to give them provisions(PD) for their journey.(PE) After this was done for them, 26 they loaded their grain on their donkeys(PF) and left.

27 At the place where they stopped for the night one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey,(PG) and he saw his silver in the mouth of his sack.(PH) 28 “My silver has been returned,” he said to his brothers. “Here it is in my sack.”

Their hearts sank(PI) and they turned to each other trembling(PJ) and said, “What is this that God has done to us?”(PK)

29 When they came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan,(PL) they told him all that had happened to them.(PM) They said, 30 “The man who is lord over the land spoke harshly to us(PN) and treated us as though we were spying on the land.(PO) 31 But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we are not spies.(PP) 32 We were twelve brothers, sons of one father. One is no more, and the youngest is now with our father in Canaan.’(PQ)

33 “Then the man who is lord over the land said to us, ‘This is how I will know whether you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers here with me, and take food for your starving households and go.(PR) 34 But bring your youngest brother to me so I will know that you are not spies but honest men.(PS) Then I will give your brother back to you,(PT) and you can trade[r] in the land.(PU)’”

35 As they were emptying their sacks, there in each man’s sack was his pouch of silver!(PV) When they and their father saw the money pouches, they were frightened.(PW) 36 Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more,(PX) and now you want to take Benjamin.(PY) Everything is against me!(PZ)

37 Then Reuben said to his father, “You may put both of my sons to death if I do not bring him back to you. Entrust him to my care,(QA) and I will bring him back.”(QB)

38 But Jacob said, “My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead(QC) and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him(QD) on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave(QE) in sorrow.(QF)

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 36:16 Masoretic Text; Samaritan Pentateuch (also verse 11 and 1 Chron. 1:36) does not have Korah.
  2. Genesis 36:22 Hebrew Hemam, a variant of Homam (see 1 Chron. 1:39)
  3. Genesis 36:24 Vulgate; Syriac discovered water; the meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  4. Genesis 36:26 Hebrew Dishan, a variant of Dishon
  5. Genesis 36:39 Many manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Samaritan Pentateuch and Syriac (see also 1 Chron. 1:50); most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text Hadar
  6. Genesis 37:3 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain; also in verses 23 and 32.
  7. Genesis 37:28 That is, about 8 ounces or about 230 grams
  8. Genesis 37:36 Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac (see also verse 28); Masoretic Text Medanites
  9. Genesis 38:29 Perez means breaking out.
  10. Genesis 38:30 Zerah can mean scarlet or brightness.
  11. Genesis 40:16 Or three wicker baskets
  12. Genesis 41:38 Or of the gods
  13. Genesis 41:43 Or in the chariot of his second-in-command; or in his second chariot
  14. Genesis 41:43 Or Bow down
  15. Genesis 41:45 That is, Heliopolis; also in verse 50
  16. Genesis 41:51 Manasseh sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for forget.
  17. Genesis 41:52 Ephraim sounds like the Hebrew for twice fruitful.
  18. Genesis 42:34 Or move about freely