16 When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come,(A) Pharaoh and all his officials(B) were pleased.(C) 17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals(D) and return to the land of Canaan,(E) 18 and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt(F) and you can enjoy the fat of the land.’(G)

19 “You are also directed to tell them, ‘Do this: Take some carts(H) from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. 20 Never mind about your belongings,(I) because the best of all Egypt(J) will be yours.’”

21 So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts,(K) as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey.(L) 22 To each of them he gave new clothing,(M) but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels[a] of silver and five sets of clothes.(N) 23 And this is what he sent to his father: ten donkeys(O) loaded with the best things(P) of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey.(Q) 24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way!”(R)

25 So they went up out of Egypt(S) and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan.(T) 26 They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.”(U) Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them.(V) 27 But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts(W) Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 And Israel said, “I’m convinced!(X) My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”(Y)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 45:22 That is, about 7 1/2 pounds or about 3.5 kilograms

16 When the report was heard in Pharaoh’s house, “Joseph’s brothers have come,” Pharaoh and his servants were pleased. 17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your animals and go back to the land of Canaan. 18 Take your father and your households and come to me, so that I may give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you may enjoy the fat of the land.’(A) 19 You are further charged to say, ‘Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. 20 Give no thought to your possessions, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ ”

21 The sons of Israel did so. Joseph gave them wagons according to the instruction of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey. 22 To each one of them he gave a set of garments, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five sets of garments.(B) 23 To his father he sent the following: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provision for his father on the journey. 24 Then he sent his brothers on their way, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Do not quarrel[a] along the way.”

25 So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26 And they told him, “Joseph is still alive! He is even ruler over all the land of Egypt.” He was stunned; he could not believe them. 27 But when they told him all the words of Joseph that he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 Israel said, “Enough! My son Joseph is still alive. I must go and see him before I die.”

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Footnotes

  1. 45.24 Or be agitated