The Reconciliation of the Brothers

45 Joseph was no longer able to control himself before all his attendants,^[a] so he cried out, “Make everyone go out from my presence!” No one remained^[b] with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. ² He wept loudly;^[c] the Egyptians heard it and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.^[d]

³ Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” His brothers could not answer him because they were dumbfounded before him. ⁴ Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me,” so they came near. Then he said, “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. ⁵ Now, do not be upset and do not be angry with yourselves because you sold me here,^[e] for God sent me^[f] ahead of you to preserve life! ⁶ For these past two years there has been famine in^[g] the land and for five more years there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. ⁷ God sent me^[h] ahead of you to preserve you^[i] on the earth and to save your lives^[j] by a great deliverance. ⁸ So now, it is not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me an adviser^[k] to Pharaoh, lord over all his household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt. ⁹ Now go up to my father quickly^[l] and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: “God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not delay! ¹⁰ You will live^[m] in the land of Goshen, and you will be near me—you, your children, your grandchildren, your flocks, your herds, and everything you have. ¹¹ I will provide you with food^[n] there because there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise you would become poor—you, your household, and everyone who belongs to you.”’ ¹² You and my brother Benjamin can certainly see with your own eyes that I really am the one who speaks to you.^{[o] 13} So tell^[p] my father about all my honor in Egypt and about everything you have seen. But bring my father down here quickly!”^[q]

¹⁴ Then he threw himself on the neck of his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. ¹⁵ He kissed all his brothers and wept over them. After this his brothers talked with him.

¹⁶ Now it was reported^[r] in the household of Pharaoh, “Joseph’s brothers have arrived.” It pleased^[s] Pharaoh and his servants. ¹⁷ Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and go^[t] to the land of Canaan! ¹⁸ Get your father and your households and come to me! Then I will give you^[u] the best land in Egypt and you will eat^[v] the best^[w] of the land.’ ¹⁹ You are also commanded to say,^[x] ‘Do this: Take for yourselves wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives. Bring your father and come. ²⁰ Don’t worry^[y] about your belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt will be yours.’”

²¹ So the sons of Israel did as he said.^[z] Joseph gave them wagons as Pharaoh had instructed,^[aa] and he gave them provisions for the journey. ²² He gave sets of clothes to each one of them,^[ab] but to Benjamin he gave 300 pieces of silver and five sets of clothes.^{[ac] 23} To his father he sent the following:^[ad] ten donkeys loaded with the best products of Egypt and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, food, and provisions for his father’s journey. ²⁴ Then he sent his brothers on their way and they left. He said to them, “As you travel don’t be overcome with fear.”^[ae]

²⁵ So they went up from Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan.^{[af] 26} They told him, “Joseph is still alive and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt!” Jacob was stunned,^[ag] for he did not believe them. ²⁷ But when they related to him everything Joseph had said to them,^[ah] and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to transport him, their father Jacob’s spirit revived. ²⁸ Then Israel said, “Enough! My son Joseph is still alive! I will go and see him before I die.”