Genesis 45:16-28
New English Translation
16 Now it was reported[a] in the household of Pharaoh, “Joseph’s brothers have arrived.” It pleased[b] Pharaoh and his servants. 17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and go[c] to the land of Canaan! 18 Get your father and your households and come to me! Then I will give you[d] the best land in Egypt and you will eat[e] the best[f] of the land.’ 19 You are also commanded to say,[g] ‘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[h] 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.[i] Joseph gave them wagons as Pharaoh had instructed,[j] and he gave them provisions for the journey. 22 He gave sets of clothes to each one of them,[k] but to Benjamin he gave 300 pieces of silver and five sets of clothes.[l] 23 To his father he sent the following:[m] 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.”[n]
25 So they went up from Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan.[o] 26 They told him, “Joseph is still alive and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt!” Jacob was stunned,[p] for he did not believe them. 27 But when they related to him everything Joseph had said to them,[q] 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.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Genesis 45:16 tn Heb “and the sound was heard.”
- Genesis 45:16 tn Heb “was good in the eyes of.”
- Genesis 45:17 tn Heb “and go! Enter!”
- Genesis 45:18 tn After the imperatives in vv. 17-18a, the cohortative with vav indicates result.
- Genesis 45:18 tn After the cohortative the imperative with vav states the ultimate goal.
- Genesis 45:18 tn Heb “fat.”
- Genesis 45:19 tn The words “to say” have been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
- Genesis 45:20 tn Heb “let not your eye regard.”
- Genesis 45:21 tn Heb “and the sons of Israel did so.”
- Genesis 45:21 tn Heb “according to the mouth of Pharaoh.”
- Genesis 45:22 tn Heb “to all of them he gave, to each one, changes of outer garments.”
- Genesis 45:22 tn Heb “changes of outer garments.”
- Genesis 45:23 tn Heb “according to this.”
- Genesis 45:24 tn Heb “do not be stirred up in the way.” The verb means “stir up.” Some understand the Hebrew verb רָגָז (ragaz, “to stir up”) as a reference to quarreling (see Prov 29:9, where it has this connotation), but in Exod 15:14 and other passages it means “to fear.” This might refer to a fear of robbers, but more likely it is an assuring word that they need not be fearful about returning to Egypt. They might have thought that once Jacob was in Egypt, Joseph would take his revenge on them.
- Genesis 45:25 tn Heb “and they entered the land of Canaan to their father.”
- Genesis 45:26 tn Heb “and his heart was numb.” Jacob was stunned by the unbelievable news and was unable to respond.
- Genesis 45:27 tn Heb “and they spoke to him all the words of Joseph which he had spoke to them.”
Genesis 45:16-28
New Living Translation
Pharaoh Invites Jacob to Egypt
16 The news soon reached Pharaoh’s palace: “Joseph’s brothers have arrived!” Pharaoh and his officials were all delighted to hear this.
17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘This is what you must do: Load your pack animals, and hurry back to the land of Canaan. 18 Then get your father and all of your families, and return here to me. I will give you the very best land in Egypt, and you will eat from the best that the land produces.’”
19 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Take wagons from the land of Egypt to carry your little children and your wives, and bring your father here. 20 Don’t worry about your personal belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”
21 So the sons of Jacob[a] did as they were told. Joseph provided them with wagons, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he gave them supplies for the journey. 22 And he gave each of them new clothes—but to Benjamin he gave five changes of clothes and 300 pieces[b] of silver. 23 He also sent his father ten male donkeys loaded with the finest products of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other supplies he would need on his journey.
24 So Joseph sent his brothers off, and as they left, he called after them, “Don’t quarrel about all this along the way!” 25 And they left Egypt and returned to their father, Jacob, in the land of Canaan.
26 “Joseph is still alive!” they told him. “And he is governor of all the land of Egypt!” Jacob was stunned at the news—he couldn’t believe it. 27 But when they repeated to Jacob everything Joseph had told them, and when he saw the wagons Joseph had sent to carry him, their father’s spirits revived.
28 Then Jacob exclaimed, “It must be true! My son Joseph is alive! I must go and see him before I die.”
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