Genesis 45
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Joseph Reveals His Identity
45 Joseph could no longer keep his composure in front of all his attendants,[a] so he called out, “Send everyone away from me!” No one was with him when he revealed his identity to his brothers.(A) 2 But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and also Pharaoh’s household heard it. 3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But they could not answer him because they were terrified in his presence.
4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please, come near me,” and they came near. “I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt.(B) 5 And now don’t be worried or angry with yourselves for selling me here, because God sent me ahead of you to preserve life.(C) 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. 7 God sent me ahead of you to establish you as a remnant within the land and to keep you alive by a great deliverance.[b] 8 Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
9 “Return quickly to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: “God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me without delay. 10 You can settle in the land of Goshen(D) and be near me—you, your children, and grandchildren, your sheep, cattle, and all you have. 11 There I will sustain you, for there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise, you, your household, and everything you have will become destitute.”’(E) 12 Look! Your eyes and my brother Benjamin’s eyes can see that it is I , Joseph, who am[c] speaking to you. 13 Tell my father about all my glory in Egypt and about all you have seen. And bring my father here quickly.”(F)
14 Then Joseph threw his arms around Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept on his shoulder. 15 Joseph kissed each of his brothers as he wept,[d] and afterward his brothers talked with him.
The Return for Jacob
16 When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace, “Joseph’s brothers have come,” Pharaoh and his servants were pleased. 17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and go on back to the land of Canaan. 18 Get your father and your families, and come back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you can eat from the richness of the land.’ 19 You are also commanded, ‘Do this: Take wagons from the land of Egypt for your young children and your wives and bring your father here.(G) 20 Do not be concerned about your belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”(H)
21 The sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them wagons as Pharaoh had commanded, and he gave them provisions for the journey. 22 He gave each of the brothers changes of clothes,(I) but he gave Benjamin 300 pieces of silver and five changes of clothes.(J) 23 He sent his father the following: 10 donkeys carrying the best products of Egypt and 10 female donkeys carrying grain, food, and provisions for his father on the journey. 24 So Joseph sent his brothers on their way, and as they were leaving, he said to them, “Don’t argue on the way.”
25 So they went up from Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26 They said, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt!” Jacob was stunned,[e] for he did not believe them. 27 But when they told Jacob all that Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to transport him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived.
28 Then Israel said, “Enough! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go to see him before I die.”
Footnotes
- Genesis 45:1 Lit all those standing about him
- Genesis 45:7 Or keep alive for you many survivors
- Genesis 45:12 Lit that my mouth is
- Genesis 45:15 Lit brothers, and he wept over them
- Genesis 45:26 Lit Jacob’s heart was numb
Genesis 45
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 45
Joseph Reveals Himself to His Brothers and Manifests God’s Plan.[a] 1 Joseph could no longer control himself in front of all of his attendants and he cried out, “Let everyone leave my presence!” Thus no one was there when Joseph revealed himself to his brothers. 2 He cried out so loudly that all the Egyptians heard him, and the news reached Pharaoh’s palace.
3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not respond for they were dumbfounded at his presence.
4 Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me!” They approached him, and he said to them, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 But do not be grieved and do not be angry with yourselves for having sold me down here, for God sent me here before you to save your lives. 6 The famine has already lasted two years in the land, and there are another five years in which there will be neither plowing not reaping. 7 God sent me here before you, to preserve a remnant for you on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
8 “It was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me a father to Pharaoh, lord over his whole household, and ruler of all the land of Egypt.
9 “Hurry, go up to my father and tell him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, “God has made me lord over all of Egypt. Come down here to me and do not delay. 10 You will live in the land of Goshen[b] and stay near me, you and your sons and the sons of your sons, your flocks and your herds, and all your possessions. 11 There I will give you provisions, for there will still be five more years to this famine, lest your family fall into poverty, you, and your family, and all you possess.” ’
12 “Your own eyes have seen it and the eyes of my brother Benjamin have seen it: it is I who speak to you. 13 Tell my father all the glory that I have in Egypt and what you have seen. Hurry to bring my father down here.”
14 He threw himself on the neck of Benjamin and cried. Benjamin also cried, holding on to his neck. 15 He then kissed all his brothers and cried, holding them to himself. Afterward, his brothers spoke to him.
16 In the house of Pharaoh they heard the report: “The brothers of Joseph have arrived.” This pleased Pharaoh and his ministers. 17 Pharaoh said to Joseph: “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: load up your animals, leave, and go to the land of Canaan. 18 Then bring your father and your families and come to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the finest products of the land.’
19 “As for you, give them this command: ‘Do this: take wagons with you from the land of Egypt for your children and your wives. Bring your father and come. 20 Do not be concerned about your possessions, for the best of everything in the land of Egypt shall be yours.’ ”
21 The Sons of Jacob Return Home Again.[c] This is what the sons of Israel did. Joseph gave them wagons as Pharaoh ordered, and he gave them provisions for their journey. 22 He gave all of them fresh clothing, but he gave Benjamin three hundred shekels of silver and five sets of clothes. 23 He also sent his father ten donkeys loaded with products of Egypt and ten donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and other food for their father’s trip. 24 He then sent his brothers off and, while they were leaving, he said to them, “Do not fight during the journey.”
25 They left Egypt and returned to the land of Canaan, to their father Jacob, 26 and immediately told him, “Joseph is alive; he is the ruler over the whole land of Egypt!” But his heart was cold, for he could not believe them. 27 When they told him all the things Joseph had said to them and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to bring him, their father’s spirit revived. 28 Israel said, “Enough! Joseph, my son, is alive. I will go to see him before I die!”
Footnotes
- Genesis 45:1 Here at last is the denouement. This scene of the brothers’ reunion magnifies the benevolence of Joseph. Far from avenging himself on his brothers, he pardons them for having sold him. His words are a recognition of God’s Providence whose action in favor of his faithful ones Joseph discovers in the unfolding of his own adventures. And in preparation for the great epic of the Exodus it was necessary that Israel should settle in Egypt, as Pharaoh now invites them to do.
- Genesis 45:10 Goshen: a region suitable for stock-rearing. For religious and legal reasons the Egyptians detested shepherds (the Hyksos; see Gen 46:34). The Hebrews will win positions of power and great wealth (vv. 18, 20; 47:6).
- Genesis 45:21 In contrast with the anxiety of the first return, it is a triumphal caravan that comes home to Canaan where the sons of Jacob go to fetch their aged father.
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