Genesis
Chapter 45: 1-24
Joseph Makes Himself Known
1 Then
Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out,
"Have everyone leave my presence!" So there was no one with Joseph when he made
himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so
loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh's household heard about it.
3 Joseph
said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still living?" But his brothers
were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.
4 Then
Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said,
"I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with
yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of
you. 6 For two years now there has been famine
in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a
remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
8 "So
then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his
entire household and ruler of all Egypt. 9 Now
hurry back 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; don't delay. 10
You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and
grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. 11
I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise
you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.'
12
"You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who
am speaking to you. 13 Tell my father about all
the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father
down here quickly."
14 Then he
threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them.
Afterward his brothers talked with him.
16 When
the news reached Pharaoh's palace that Joseph's brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his
officials were pleased. 17 Pharaoh said to
Joseph, "Tell your brothers, 'Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of
Canaan, 18 and bring your father and your
families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the
fat of the land.'
19
"You are also directed to tell them, 'Do this: Take some carts from Egypt for your
children and your wives, and get your father and come. 20
Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.' "
21 So the
sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also
gave them provisions for their journey. 22 To
each of them he gave new clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver
and five sets of clothes. 23 And this is what he
sent to his father: ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt, and ten female
donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey. 24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were
leaving he said to them, "Don't quarrel on the way!"
