16 Now when (A)the [a]news was heard in Pharaoh’s house [b]that Joseph’s brothers had come, it [c]pleased Pharaoh and his servants. 17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your livestock and [d]go to the land of Canaan, 18 and take your father and your households and come to me; and (B)I will give you the [e]best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land.’ 19 Now you are ordered, ‘Do this: [f]take (C)wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father and come. 20 And do not [g]concern yourselves with your property, for the [h]best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”

21 Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them (D)wagons according to the [i]command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey. 22 To [j]each of them he gave (E)changes of garments, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and (F)five changes of garments. 23 And to his father he sent [k]the following: ten male donkeys loaded with the [l]best things of Egypt, ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and sustenance for his father [m]on the journey.

24 So he sent his brothers away, and [n]as they departed, he said to them, “Do not [o]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 [p]he was stunned, for (G)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 (H)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.”

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 45:16 Lit voice
  2. Genesis 45:16 Lit saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come”
  3. Genesis 45:16 Lit was good in the eyes of
  4. Genesis 45:17 Lit come, go
  5. Genesis 45:18 Lit good
  6. Genesis 45:19 Lit take for yourselves
  7. Genesis 45:20 Lit let your eye look with regret upon your vessels
  8. Genesis 45:20 Lit good
  9. Genesis 45:21 Lit mouth
  10. Genesis 45:22 Lit all of them he gave each man
  11. Genesis 45:23 Lit like this
  12. Genesis 45:23 Lit good
  13. Genesis 45:23 Lit for
  14. Genesis 45:24 Lit they departed; and he said
  15. Genesis 45:24 Lit be agitated
  16. Genesis 45:26 Lit his heart grew numb

Joseph’s brothers return for Jacob

16 When Pharaoh’s household heard the message “Joseph’s brothers have arrived,” both Pharaoh and his servants were pleased. 17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Give your brothers these instructions: Load your pack animals and go back to the land of Canaan. 18 Get your father and your households and come back to me. Let me provide you with good things from the land of Egypt so that you may eat the land’s best food. 19 Give them these instructions too: Take wagons from the land of Egypt for your children and wives, and pick up your father and come back. 20 Don’t worry about your possessions because you will have good things from the entire land of Egypt.”

21 So Israel’s sons did that. Joseph gave them wagons as Pharaoh instructed, and he gave them provisions for the road. 22 To all of them he gave a change of clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of clothing. 23 To his father he sent ten male donkeys carrying goods from Egypt, ten female donkeys carrying grain and bread, and rations for his father for the road. 24 He sent his brothers off; and as they were leaving, he told them, “Don’t be worried about the trip.”[a]

25 So they left Egypt and returned to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26 They announced to him, “Joseph’s still alive! He’s actually ruler of all the land of Egypt!” Jacob’s heart nearly failed, and he didn’t believe them.

27 When they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the wagons Joseph had sent to carry him, Jacob recovered. 28 Then Israel said, “This is too much! My son Joseph is still alive! Let me go and see him before I die.”

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 45:24 Or Don’t quarrel during the trip.