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Genesis 45 Discussion

Genesis 45

Joseph maketh himself known to his brethren.

1 At hearing this Joseph could no longer control himself before his brothers as they stood before him; and he cried, “Everyone else but these men, go out from me!” And nobody was left there except the brothers when Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.

2 And he [a]wept aloud: and the Egyptians heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard.

3 And Joseph said unto his brethren, “I am Joseph; is my father still alive?” And his brothers were speechless, and afraid at his presence.

4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, “Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.

5 And now, do not be grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here: for God sent me here before you to preserve life.

6 For these two years has the famine been in the land; and there are yet five years, in which there shall be neither plowing nor harvest.

7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a remnant in the earth, and to save you alive [b]by a great deliverance.

He showeth that all was done by God’s providence.

8 So now it was not you that sent me here, but God; and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

9 Hasten, and go up to my father, and say to him, “Thus says your son Joseph, “God has made me the lord of all Egypt; come down to me without delay;

10 and you shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you, and your children, and your children’s children, and your flocks, and your herds, and all that you have:

11 and there will I nourish you; for there are yet five years of famine; and you may come to poverty, you, and your household, and all that you have.

12 And, as your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaks to you.

13 And you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen; now make haste and bring my father down here.”

14 And he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck.

15 And he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them; and after that his brethren talked with him.

16 And the report of these events was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, 'Joseph’s brothers have come;” and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.

17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, 'This shall you do: load your beasts and go unto the land of Canaan;

Pharaoh commandeth him to send for his father.

18 and take your father and your households, and come unto me; and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land.

19 Now you are commanded to do this: take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.

20 Also do not worry about too many things; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.”

21 And the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the way.

22 To all of them he gave each man a suit of fine clothing; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five fine suits of clothing.

23 And to his father he sent after this manner; ten animals laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten more laden with grain and bread and provision for his father by the way.

Joseph exhorteth his brethren to concord.

24 So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said to them, “See that you take care along the way.”

25 And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father.

26 And they told him, saying, “Joseph is alive! And he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” And his heart fainted, for he believed them not.

27 And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived:

28 and Israel said, “It is enough that Joseph my son is still alive; I will go and see him before I die.”

Notes

[2] Hebrew gave forth his voice in weeping.

[7] Or, to be a great company that escape

[8] like ‘emunah’; God is in control of all things, so one must have faith in God’s plan.