28 Now Jacob sent Judah(A) ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen.(B) When they arrived in the region of Goshen, 29 Joseph had his chariot(C) made ready and went to Goshen to meet his father Israel.(D) As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his father[a] and wept(E) for a long time.(F)

30 Israel(G) said to Joseph, “Now I am ready to die, since I have seen for myself that you are still alive.”(H)

31 Then Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and speak to Pharaoh and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were living in the land of Canaan,(I) have come to me.(J) 32 The men are shepherds;(K) they tend livestock,(L) and they have brought along their flocks and herds and everything they own.’(M) 33 When Pharaoh calls you in and asks, ‘What is your occupation?’(N) 34 you should answer, ‘Your servants(O) have tended livestock from our boyhood on, just as our fathers did.’(P) Then you will be allowed to settle(Q) in the region of Goshen,(R) for all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.(S)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 46:29 Hebrew around him

28 Israel had sent Judah ahead to Joseph so that Joseph could explain the way to Goshen. Then they arrived in the land of Goshen. 29 Joseph hitched up his chariot and went to meet his father Israel in Goshen. When he arrived, he threw his arms around his neck and wept, embracing him for a long time. 30 Israel said to Joseph, “I can die now after seeing your face. You are really still alive!”

Jacob’s household settles in Egypt

31 Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “Let me go up and inform Pharaoh and tell him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household who were in the land of Canaan have arrived. 32 The men are shepherds, because they own livestock. They’ve brought with them their flocks and herds and everything they own.’ 33 When Pharaoh summons you and says, ‘What do you do?’ 34 say, ‘Your servants have owned livestock since we were young, both we and our ancestors,’ so that you will be able to settle in the land of Goshen, since Egyptians think all shepherds are beneath their dignity.”

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