Genesis 47:1-13

Contemporary English Version

47 ^1-2 Joseph took five of his brothers to the king and told him, “My father and my brothers have come from Canaan. They have brought their sheep, goats, cattle, and everything else they own to the region of Goshen.”

Then he introduced his brothers to the king, ³ who asked them, “What do you do for a living?”

“Sir, we are shepherds,” was their answer. “Our families have always raised sheep. ⁴ But in our country all the pastures are dried up, and our sheep have no grass to eat. So we, your servants, have come here. Please let us live in the region of Goshen.”

⁵ The king said to Joseph, “It's good that your father and brothers have arrived. ⁶ I will let them live anywhere they choose in the land of Egypt, but I suggest that they settle in Goshen, the best part of our land. I would also like for your finest shepherds to watch after my own sheep and goats.”

⁷ Then Joseph brought his father Jacob and introduced him to the king. Jacob gave the king his blessing, ⁸ and the king asked him, “How old are you?”

⁹ Jacob answered, “I have lived only 130 years, and I have had to move from place to place. My parents and my grandparents also had to move from place to place. But they lived much longer, and their life was not as hard as mine.” ¹⁰ Then Jacob gave the king his blessing once again and left. ¹¹ Joseph obeyed the king's orders and gave his father and brothers some of the best land in Egypt near the city of Rameses. ¹² Joseph also provided food for their families.

A Famine in Egypt

¹³ The famine was bad everywhere in Egypt and Canaan, and the people were suffering terribly.