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Genesis 39-50
The Voice
Genesis 39-50
The Voice
This disturbing chapter is artfully inserted at the beginning of Joseph’s story for a reason. Though Joseph has the key role in getting Israel to Egypt and saving his family from the upcoming famine, it is Judah’s line that is chosen by God to play a crucial part in Israel’s more distant future. Judah’s son, Perez, is the ancestor to King David and ultimately to the Anointed One (Matthew 1). But Perez’s strange birth is overshadowed by the sleazy events that lead to his conception. The sexually-charged atmosphere of this chapter may well upset some, but Scripture is brutally honest about people and what they do. Lust and lies, deception and prostitution do not frustrate God’s plan; in fact God has a way of taking them, redeeming them, and including them within His greater will.
39 Now Joseph had been taken to Egypt. Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard, himself an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him there to sell along with their goods and wares. 2 The Eternal One was with Joseph, however, and he became successful in his own right as a slave within the house of his Egyptian master.
3 Potiphar could not help but notice that the Eternal One was with Joseph and caused everything Joseph did to prosper. 4-5 Joseph became the favorite of the household and rose in the ranks to become Potiphar’s personal attendant. In time, Potiphar made Joseph overseer of the entire household and put him in charge of everything he owned. From that moment, the Eternal One blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake, a blessing which seemed to cover everything Potiphar possessed from house to field. 6 Potiphar entrusted everything to the care of Joseph. With him in charge, Potiphar had no concern about anything except for his private affairs, such as the food he chose to eat!
Now Joseph was a well-built, good-looking young man. 7 After a while, his master’s wife began watching him, and she tried to seduce him.
Potiphar’s Wife: Come. Sleep with me.
8 But Joseph refused.
Joseph (to Potiphar’s wife): Look, please don’t take offense, but with me in charge, my master has no concerns for anything that goes on in his house. He has trusted me with everything he has. 9 He hasn’t treated me like I am any less than he is, and he hasn’t kept anything from me—except, of course, for you because you are his wife. Why would I do something so clearly wrong and sin so blatantly against God?
Joseph’s refusal to have sex with Potiphar’s wife demonstrates how God wants His people to act. How different he is compared to Judah and Reuben!
10 Although she pursued him day after day, Joseph would not consent to sleep with her and refused to be alone with her. 11 One day, however, when he went into the house to do his work while no one else was in the house, 12 she grabbed him by his clothes and tried again to seduce him.
Potiphar’s Wife: Come on. Sleep with me.
But Joseph ran outside away from her, as far and as fast as he could, leaving her holding his clothes in her hand. 13 When she realized he rejected her again and she had his clothes in her hand, 14 she called out to the other servants of her household.
Potiphar’s Wife: See here! My husband brought this Hebrew into our house to take advantage of us! He came to me and wanted to sleep with me. I screamed as loudly as I could, 15 and when he heard me yell, he dropped his clothes here beside me and ran outside.
16 She kept Joseph’s clothes beside her until her husband came home. 17 Then she told him the same story.
Potiphar’s Wife: The Hebrew servant you brought into this household came in to take advantage of me. 18 When I screamed as loudly as I could, he dropped his clothes here beside me and ran outside.
19 When Potiphar heard his wife’s account, his face flushed with anger. 20 So Potiphar, Joseph’s master, put him into prison and locked him up in the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. Joseph remained there for a time. 21 But the Eternal One remained with Joseph and showed him His loyal love and granted him favored status with the chief jailor. 22 The jailor put Joseph in charge of all of the prisoners who were confined there. Whatever needed to be done, Joseph was the one to do it. 23 The chief jailor, like Potiphar, didn’t need to worry about anything that was in Joseph’s care because the Eternal One was with him. And whatever Joseph did worked out well because the Eternal made it so.
40 Some time later, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker both offended their lord, the king of Egypt. 2-3 Pharaoh was angry with his two attendants, and so he put the chief cupbearer and the chief baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard in the same prison where Joseph was confined. 4 The captain of the guard put Joseph in charge of the men, and Joseph took care of them as he did the others. They remained there in custody for some time.
5 One night while they were in prison, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt had dreams. Each had his own dream, and each dream had its own meaning.
6 When Joseph came to check on them the next morning, he saw that both men looked troubled.
Joseph (to Pharaoh’s prisoners): 7 Why do you both look so dejected today?
Cupbearer and Baker: 8 We’ve both had dreams, and there is no one here in prison to interpret them.
The Egyptians thought that dreams were often moments of revelation, but they also thought it took special training to know how to interpret them.
Joseph: Interpretations belong to God, don’t they? If you’d like, tell them to me!
9 So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream.
Cupbearer: In my dream, there was a vine in front of me, 10 and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, its blossoms opened up and its clusters ripened into grapes. 11 Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and then I placed the cup into Pharaoh’s hand.
Joseph: 12 This is what your dream means: the three branches are three days. 13 Within three days, Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office; you will place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer.
14 But I ask one thing. Remember me when things are going well for you. If you have the opportunity, do me a favor and mention me to Pharaoh. Perhaps he will get me out of this place. 15 You see I was stolen from the land of my people the Hebrews, and I’ve done nothing to deserve being thrown into this pit.
16 When the chief baker saw that the cupbearer received such a good interpretation, he told Joseph his dream as well.
Baker: I’ve also had a dream: There were three baskets of fine cakes stacked on my head. 17 In the upper basket, there were all sorts of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds swooped down and kept eating Pharaoh’s food out of the basket on my head.
Joseph: 18 This is what your dream means: the three baskets are three days. 19 Within three days, Pharaoh will lift your head and remove it from you. He will impale your body on a tree and vultures will swoop down and eat the flesh from your bones.
20-21 On the third day, which also happened to be Pharaoh’s birthday, he prepared a huge feast for all of his servants. As they were gathered together, he lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and restored him to his former office. That day the cupbearer resumed placing the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. But Pharaoh lifted off the head of the chief baker 22 and impaled him on a tree for the birds, just as Joseph had interpreted. 23 Sadly the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph at this time; instead, he forgot all about him.
Although the text is not clear, the chief baker dies a particularly gruesome death. The way the story is told, Pharaoh lifts up the baker’s head—a gesture which would seem to signal royal favor—but in the next treacherous instant, his head is removed. Then his lifeless corpse is impaled on a tree, exposed to the elements. Because the body is left to rot outside and be eaten by birds—instead of being carefully embalmed and entombed—the Egyptians believe the victim’s soul can never enter the afterlife. This is the worst form of capital punishment, leaving the cupbearer to fear not only death but also eternal oblivion.
41 Two years later, Pharaoh had a dream. He dreamed that he was standing by the Nile River, 2 and out of the Nile came seven healthy, fat cows. They all grazed in the grassy reeds at the river’s edge. 3 Then, seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile and stood by them on the bank of the river. 4 And the ugly, thin cows ate the seven healthy, fat cows. And then Pharaoh woke up, startled.
5 Again he fell asleep and dreamed a second time. This time, seven ears of grain, all plump and fine, were growing on one stalk. 6 Then seven other ears that were shriveled and burnt by the east wind sprouted up after them. 7 The shriveled ears swallowed up the seven plump and full ears. Then Pharaoh woke up again, realizing it was only a dream.
8 In the morning he felt uneasy, so he sent for all of the magicians and all of the wise men of Egypt to come and consult with him. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him. They had no idea what they could mean.
9 The chief cupbearer remembered Joseph, so he went to Pharaoh.
Cupbearer: I am reminded today of something I did wrong. 10 Once when Pharaoh was angry with his servants, he put me and the chief baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard. 11 One night we both had a dream. The dreams were unique, and their interpretations were also unique. 12 There was a young Hebrew there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him our dreams, he interpreted them for us. 13 Things turned out exactly as he had interpreted them: I was restored to my office, and the baker was impaled.
14 Pharaoh sent for Joseph, hoping he could also interpret Pharaoh’s dream. His officers rushed to the dungeon to get Joseph ready to meet the king. After he had been allowed to shave and change his clothes, he was brought before Pharaoh.
Pharaoh (to Joseph): 15 I’ve had a dream, and I can’t find anyone who can tell me what it means. But I’ve heard that when someone tells you a dream, you are able to interpret it.
Joseph: 16 I cannot do this, but God will answer Pharaoh’s request and relieve your concerns.
Pharaoh: 17 In my dream, I was standing on the bank of the Nile River, 18 and seven healthy, fat cows came up out of the Nile River and grazed in the grassy reeds at the river’s edge. 19 Then seven other cows came up after them. They were miserable, very ugly and thin. Never had I seen such horrible-looking cows in all the land of Egypt. 20 Anyway, the thin, ugly cows ate the first seven fat cows. 21 But after they had eaten them, no one would have known they had done so because they were still as ugly as before. Then I woke up. 22 I fell asleep and dreamed a second time. I saw in this dream seven ears of grain, all plump and fine, growing on one stalk. 23 And then seven ears that were withered, shriveled up, and burnt by the east wind sprouted after them. 24 The thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. When I told the magicians about these dreams, there was no one who could explain them to me.
Joseph (to Pharaoh): 25 Pharaoh’s dreams are one and the same. God is revealing to Pharaoh what He is going to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years and the seven good ears are the same seven years—years of plenty. Both dreams tell one story. 27 The seven thin and ugly cows that came up after them are also seven years, as are the seven thin ears burnt by the east wind. These are seven years of famine. 28 As I told Pharaoh, God is showing Pharaoh what He means to do and what will come. 29 There will be seven years of great abundance throughout all the land of Egypt. 30 But after that, there will be seven years of famine. Whatever abundance was once enjoyed will be totally forgotten, because the famine will consume the land. 31 The famine will be so severe that no one will know what it is like to have enough of anything. 32 The doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means this future is fixed by God, and He will make it happen very soon.
33 My advice is that Pharaoh should select someone who is wise and discerning and put him in charge of the land of Egypt during this time. 34 Pharaoh should appoint officers over the land and direct them to take one-fifth of all that the land of Egypt produces during the seven abundant years, 35 gather it together, store it up, and guard it under Pharaoh’s authority. That way each city will have a supply of food. 36 The food would then be held in reserve for the people during the seven years of famine that are sure to come to Egypt. In this way, the people of Egypt will not starve to death during the famine.
37 Pharaoh and all his advisors liked Joseph’s suggestion.
Pharaoh (to his advisors): 38 Is there anyone else you know like Joseph who has the Spirit of God within him?
39 (to Joseph) Since God has shown all of this to you, I can’t imagine anyone wiser and more discerning than you. 40 Therefore you will be in charge of my household. All of my people will report to you and do as you say. Only I, because I sit on the throne, will be greater than you. 41 I hereby appoint you head over all of the land of Egypt.
42 As a symbol of his power, Pharaoh removed the signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s. Then he dressed him in fine linens and put a gold chain around his neck. 43 He had Joseph ride in the chariot reserved for his second-in-command, and servants ordered everyone, “Kneel!” as he rode by. So this was how Pharaoh appointed Joseph head over all of the land of Egypt. 44 But Pharaoh had one more declaration.
Pharaoh (to Joseph): I am Pharaoh, and I decree that no one may do anything in the land of Egypt without your consent.
45 Then Pharaoh gave Joseph an Egyptian name, Zaphenath-paneah, and arranged for him to marry an Egyptian woman, Asenath (daughter of Potiphera, priest of On). So this was how Joseph gained authority over all the land of Egypt.
Pharaoh wants there to be no doubt that Joseph is his second-in-command. So he holds a formal ceremony and presents Joseph with special gifts, symbols of high office and power. He gives Joseph his signet ring, mounted with Pharaoh’s personal seal. He dresses him in royal garb and provides him with the finest chariot available. He issues decrees that put Joseph in charge of all affairs in Egypt. Finally, to top it off and to make sure this son of Israel would be fully accepted into Egyptian society, he gives him an Egyptian name and arranges a marriage with a high-profile priestly family. Just a few hours before, Joseph was a prisoner. Now he is in charge of all the land.
46 Now Joseph was 30 years old when he entered into Pharaoh’s service. He left the king of Egypt’s presence to travel throughout the land. 47 For seven years—the years of plenty—the land produced abundantly. 48 Joseph gathered up all of the food he could during those seven years of plenty in the land of Egypt and stored the grain in the cities. He arranged for every city to store the food grown in local fields. 49 And he stored up so much grain—as much as the grains of sand on the seashore—that he stopped measuring it. It was more than anyone could measure!
50 Now before the famine began, Joseph had two sons by his wife Asenath (daughter of Potiphera, priest of On). 51 Joseph named his firstborn son Manasseh because he said, “God has made me forget all about my hardship and all of my father’s family.” 52 He named the second son Ephraim, because as he said, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my misfortune.”
53 Eventually, the seven years of plenty in the land of Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine settled in, just as Joseph had predicted. Although the famine extended to all the surrounding lands, in Egypt there was still food stored away in the cities. 55 When the people in Egypt became famished, they appealed to Pharaoh for food; and Pharaoh directed them all to Joseph.
Pharaoh: Go to Joseph, and do what he tells you to do.
56 So when the famine had spread across the land of Egypt, Joseph opened up the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians. But he waited until the famine had become severe in the land. 57 When the surrounding peoples heard Egypt still had food, they journeyed to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because by this time the entire world was in the grip of a severe famine.
Famine in this part of the world normally involves a drought that extends for years. Only those with access to bodies of fresh water can survive. The Egyptians are perfectly positioned to use the Nile River to irrigate their crops during a drought. Most of the land of Canaan, on the other hand—where Jacob and his sons still live—has little fresh water even when there is no drought. Although some grain can be moved up and down the Nile or across the Mediterranean over established trade routes, the amount of grain needed to keep large populations alive cannot be moved across land or sea. So people have to go where the food is, or they starve to death. Israel knows he is out of options at home, so he has to look abroad.
42 Now when Jacob found out there was grain to be had in Egypt, he talked to his sons about it.
Jacob: Why do you just keep sitting here looking at each other? 2 Listen! I’ve heard they have grain for sale in Egypt! Go down there, and buy grain for us so that we have enough to live and won’t die of hunger.
3 So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. 4 But Jacob didn’t send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with the others, because he was afraid something might happen to him. 5 So the sons of Israel decided to go down and buy grain along with many others, because the famine had reached the land of Canaan.
6 Since Joseph was in charge of Egypt, he was the one responsible for selling the grain to the people who came from the various lands. When it was their turn, Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the ground. 7 The moment Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them even though nearly 20 years had passed since last he saw them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke gruffly to them.
Joseph: Where do you come from?
Joseph’s Brothers: We come from the land of Canaan to buy food.
8 Although Joseph recognized them, they did not recognize him. 9 He then remembered the dreams he had as a young man regarding his brothers.
Joseph: You are spies! You have come to see how this famine has weakened our defenses so you can attack us.
Joseph’s Brothers: 10 No, my lord. We, your servants, have only come to buy food. 11 We are all sons of one man, and we are honest men. We are not spies.
Joseph: 12 No. I think you have come to scout out our land and defenses.
Joseph’s Brothers: 13 My lord, we are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. The youngest, however, is with our father back home, and one brother is no longer with us.
Joseph: 14 I don’t believe you. My accusation is true; you are surely spies! 15-16 But let’s see if your story is true. Here is how you will be tested: as surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here! Choose one of you to go and bring your brother to me while the rest of you remain locked up in prison. I want to see if you are telling me the truth. If he doesn’t come back with your brother, as Pharaoh lives, then I know you are truly spies.
17 Then Joseph put all ten of his brothers in prison for three days.
18 Three days later, Joseph had come up with a different plan.
Joseph (to his brothers): Do what I am about to say and you will live, because I am a man who respects God. 19 If you really are honest men, then I will choose one of your brothers to stay here in prison. The rest of you may go and carry grain to your families who are suffering because of the famine. 20 Then all of you must return and bring your youngest brother to me. In that way, I can see if you have been telling the truth, and you will not die.
They agreed to Joseph’s conditions.
Joseph’s Brothers (to each other): 21 Now at last, we are paying the penalty for what we did to our brother. We saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we wouldn’t listen. Now that very anguish has come to us.
Reuben: 22 Didn’t I tell you not to harm the boy? But you wouldn’t listen. Now we will all pay for spilling his blood!
23 Now Joseph’s brothers were speaking to each other in their own language and had no idea that Joseph understood what they were saying, since he had been speaking with them through an interpreter. 24 But their words moved him, so he withdrew from them and cried. When he had composed himself, he came back and spoke to them again. He selected Simeon to remain behind and had him bound in ropes right in front of them. 25 Then Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to return their money to each man’s sack, and to give them food for their journey home. All of this was done for them.
26 Then they loaded up their donkeys with the grain and left for Canaan. 27 Later, when they arrived where they would stay the night, one of them opened up his sack to give his donkey some fodder, and he saw his money lying at the top of the sack.
One of the Brothers: 28 Someone put my money back into the sack! Here it is, right on top!
When they heard this, their hearts sank. They looked at one another and trembled.
The brothers of Joseph are in the dark. What does this mean? Is this some sort of trick? Has someone planted the money there only to later claim it or the grain has been stolen? Are the Egyptians even now bearing down on them? Is this part of the test? Should they go back and tell the gruff Egyptian governor what has happened? And if they do, will he believe them? What happens to Simeon? They have a thousand thoughts, but their most profound thought occurs next.
Joseph’s Brothers (nervously to each other): What is God doing to us?
29 When they finally arrived in the land of Canaan at their father Jacob’s house, they told him everything that had happened.
Joseph’s Brothers: 30 The man, the lord of the land, was very tough with us and accused us of spying on Egypt. 31 But we told him, “We are honest men. We are not spies. 32 We are twelve brothers, all sons of one father. One is no longer with us, and the youngest is with our father in Canaan right now.” 33 And then the man, the lord of the land, told us, “Here is how I will know if you really are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me, take grain back to your families suffering because of the famine, and go your way. 34 All of you must return and bring your youngest brother to me, and then I will know you aren’t spies but honest men. At that point, I will release your brother to you, and you may go about Egypt freely and buy as you wish.”
35 Now as all the brothers went to empty their sacks, each found his bag of money inside. And when they and their father saw the money there, they were very frightened.
Jacob (to his sons): 36 You have robbed me of my children: Joseph is gone, and Simeon is gone, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything and everyone is against me!
Reuben: 37 Father, you may kill my own two sons if I do not bring Benjamin back to you. Put him in my care, and I promise to bring him back to you.
Jacob: 38 Absolutely not; I can’t let my son go with you. His brother Joseph is already dead, and he’s all I have left of Rachel. If I put him in your care and any harm should come to him on that journey, the sorrow would kill me. I can’t allow you to condemn this old, gray head to the grave.
43 Now the famine raged on across the land. 2 And after Jacob and his sons had eaten up all of the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father was ready to send them again.
Jacob: Go to Egypt again, and buy us some more food.
3 But Judah cautioned him.
Judah: The man who rules Egypt clearly warned us, Father, that he will not agree to see us again unless our brother Benjamin accompanies us. 4 If you will send Benjamin along with us, then we will go down and buy the food. 5 But if you won’t allow him to go, we will not go either because the man clearly told us, “You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.”
Jacob: 6 Why did you do this to me? Why did you tell this man you had another brother?
Joseph’s Brothers: 7 The man questioned us about every detail of ourselves and our relatives. He asked if our father was still alive and if we had another brother. What we told him was only in answer to all of his questions. How could we in any way know he would tell us to bring our brother down there?
Judah (to Israel, his father): 8 Send the boy with me, and let’s be on our way. It’s the only way we’re going to live through this famine and not die of hunger—you, us, and all of our little ones. 9 I will guarantee his safety. You can hold me personally responsible if I don’t bring him back to you in one piece. If anything happens to him, I am perfectly willing to bear the blame forever. 10 Had we not waited this long already, we could have made the journey twice now and have enough food.
Jacob: 11 All right. If that’s the way it has to be. But do this: take some of the best products our land has to offer; carry them in your bags and present them to the man as a gift—a little balm and honey, some gum and resin, some pistachio nuts and almonds. 12 This time, take double the money with you. Carry back the money that was returned in the top of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight on their part. 13 Take your brother, be on your way again, and go see the man. 14 And may the All-Powerful God[a] grant you mercy from this man, so that he sends back your other brother and Benjamin. As for me, if I am to suffer the loss of my children, then what am I to do?
15 So the brothers packed up the presents, and they took double the money and their brother Benjamin with them. Then they set off on their way down to Egypt, and they came before Joseph.
16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he spoke to his steward of his household.
Joseph: Bring the men into the house. Slaughter an animal, and prepare a feast. These men are to dine with me at noon today.
17 The man did as Joseph told him, and he brought the men to Joseph’s house. 18 The brothers became very concerned when they realized where they were being taken.
Joseph’s Brothers: It must be because of the money that was put back into our sacks the last time we were here. He’s looking for an opportunity to arrest us, make us slaves, and take our donkeys.
19 They went up to the steward of the house as he was standing at the door.
Joseph’s Brothers: 20 My lord, we came down to Egypt the first time to buy food, 21 but on our return to Canaan when we came to our lodging place, we opened our sacks and were surprised to find each one’s money in the top of his sack. All our money was returned apparently, so we have brought it back with us. 22 We also brought additional money to buy more food. We don’t know who put our money back into our sacks the last time we were here.
Steward: 23 There is no need to worry or be afraid. Be at peace. Your God and the God of your father must have filled your sacks with this treasure. I received your money the last time.
In a while the steward brought Simeon out to see them. 24 After he had escorted all eleven men into Joseph’s house, given them water, and made sure they had washed their feet, he gave their donkeys some fodder. 25 The brothers prepared the presents they had brought for Joseph. It was almost noon, and they had learned they would be dining with him soon.
26 When Joseph arrived home, they brought the presents into the house. With gifts in hand, they bowed to the ground before him. 27 This time he greeted them warmly.
Joseph: Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?
Joseph’s Brothers: 28 Your servant, our father, is alive and well.
They bowed down again out of respect. 29 Then Joseph looked up and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son.
Joseph: Is this your youngest brother whom you told me about last time? God’s grace be upon you, my son!
30 Joseph hurried from the room because he was overwhelmed with affection for his brother and was afraid he would cry in front of everyone. So he went into a private room and wept there. 31 After he regained his composure, he washed his face and came out. With a controlled voice, he commanded his servants.
Joseph: You may serve the meal.
32 The staff served Joseph, who was seated separately, and then his brothers, who were seated apart from other Egyptians invited to eat with Joseph that day. (You see Egyptians do not eat with Hebrews or any other foreigners because they find the practice utterly offensive.) 33 As the brothers were seated in front of him, the men noticed the arrangement, and they looked at each other amazed and amused for they were seated by age, the firstborn on one end, the youngest on the other. 34 They were served their portions from Joseph’s table, and everyone noticed Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. But they celebrated and drank freely until everyone was quite relaxed.
44 After the meal was over, Joseph commanded the steward of his house.
Joseph: Fill the men’s sacks with food—as much as they can carry. Put each man’s money back into the top of his sack. 2 One more thing: I want you to put my personal cup, my silver cup, into the top of the sack of the youngest, along with his money for the grain.
The steward did everything Joseph told him to do.
3 The next morning, as soon as it was light, the men were sent off with their donkeys toward home. 4 But when they had gone only a short distance from the city, Joseph spoke to his steward.
Joseph: Go now, and follow them. When you catch up to them, say to them, “Why have you repaid kindness with evil? My master’s silver cup is missing, and you have it. 5 Isn’t this the cup from which he drinks? Doesn’t he use it for divination, to discover secrets hidden from most men? You have committed evil in doing this.”
6 So the steward went after them. And when he caught up to them, he repeated the words Joseph told him to say.
Joseph’s Brothers: 7 Why would my lord accuse us of something like this? We, your servants, would never do such a thing! 8 Remember the money we found at the top of our sacks after our first trip? We brought it back to you from the land of Canaan. Why then would we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house this time? 9 If you find his cup with any one of us, let that man be put to death, and the rest of us will become my lord’s servants.
Steward: 10 Let it be as you say, but I’ll be more lenient: whoever is found to possess the cup will become my servant. The rest of you will be considered innocent and may go free.
11 Then they all moved quickly, retrieved their sacks, lowered them to the ground, and opened them so the steward could see what was inside them. 12 He searched each sack, beginning with the eldest son and ending with the youngest; at last, the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. 13 When the brothers saw this, they tore their clothes in anguish. They knew what had to happen. They had no choice but to load their donkeys and return to the city.
14 Judah and his brothers all came to Joseph’s house while he was still there, and they fell to the ground in front of him.
Joseph: 15 What have you done? Don’t you know that someone in my position practices divination and can discover secrets hidden from most men?
Judah (speaking for the rest): 16 What can we possibly say to you, my lord? How can we explain this? How can we clear ourselves of this mistake? God has found your servants to be guilty. Here we are then, slaves to you, my lord, all of us and also the one in whose possession the cup has been found.
Judah speaks the truth. God has uncovered their guilt and exposed it for all to see. Not that someone in their party has stolen Joseph’s cup—that’s not what he means—but years ago they conspired and stole Joseph’s freedom. Ironically they could now lose their freedom to Joseph.
Joseph: 17 Far be it from me that I should do something like that! Only the one in possession of the cup will be my slave. As for the rest of you, go in peace to your father!
18 But then Judah stepped up to Joseph and begged him for mercy.
Judah: O, my lord, let your servant please speak a private word to you. Please don’t be angry with me, for you are just like Pharaoh himself. 19 You asked us once if we had a father or a brother, 20 and we told you, “Yes. We have a father, an old man, and a young brother, the child of his old age. His brother is dead, so he alone is left of his mother’s children, and his father loves him dearly.” 21 Then you told us to bring the boy down to you, so that you could see him. 22 At first we said to you, “The boy cannot leave his father because his father would die without him,” 23 but you told us that unless he came with us, you wouldn’t agree to see us again.
24 When we went back to your servant, our father, we told him what you said, my lord. 25 And when our father asked us to go again to buy more food, 26 we told him, “We cannot go without our youngest brother, or we won’t be able to get in to see him.” So our youngest brother came with us. 27 Then your servant, my father, responded, “You know that my wife Rachel bore me two sons: 28 one went off and never came back, and I know he was without a doubt torn to pieces. I haven’t seen him since he left. 29 But now if you take my youngest also from me and any harm should come to him, the sorrow would kill me. I can’t allow you to condemn this old, gray head to the grave.”
30-31 So now if I go back to your servant, my father, without the boy, he will die because his life depends completely on the welfare of his boy. As soon as he sees that Benjamin is not with us, the sorrow will kill him and we, your servants, will condemn the old, gray head of our father, your servant, to the grave. 32 I gave my father my word that I would take care of the boy and return him safely home. I told him, “If I don’t bring him back to you in one piece, then I am perfectly willing to bear the blame forever.” 33 So please let me, your servant, remain as your slave in place of the boy; and let him go back with his brothers. 34 For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I couldn’t stand to see the terrible suffering this would put him through.
Judah has come a long way. He is no longer the selfish young man who conspired with his brothers to sell Joseph into slavery (37:26–27). Though he knew that decision would have a devastating effect on his father, Judah did not seem to care. Nor is he the lustful man who propositioned the prostitute who happened to be his daughter-in-law (38:1–30). Now he is different. His priorities have changed. He is willing to sacrifice his freedom and future to save his father the grief of losing Benjamin. Judah’s transformation is not immediate; it takes years to accomplish. But his place in the family and his selfless example impact the children of Israel for generations to come.
45 Then Joseph could no longer keep his composure. The room was crowded with people so he ordered his attendants:
Joseph: Send everyone out of the room!
Joseph didn’t want anyone else in the room when he finally told his brothers his true identity. 2 But he began to cry so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the Pharaoh’s household heard it too! Joseph turned and addressed his brothers:
Joseph: 3 I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?
But his brothers were too shocked to speak. They couldn’t answer, for they were so overwhelmed that they were standing in Joseph’s presence.
Joseph (to his brothers): 4 Come closer to me.
His brothers approached him cautiously.
Joseph: I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 Don’t be upset or angry with yourselves any longer because of what you did. You see God sent me here ahead of you to preserve life. 6 For famine struck this land two years ago, and there are five more years in which there will be no plowing or harvesting. 7 God sent me here ahead of you to make sure you and your families survive this terrible ordeal and have a remnant left on earth. 8 So it wasn’t really you who sent me here, but God; the same God who made me an advisor to Pharaoh, master of his household, and ruler over everyone in the land of Egypt.
9 Hurry now, go to my father, and relay this message: “Here is what your son Joseph says: ‘God has made me master over all Egypt. Come to me and don’t delay. 10 I’ll arrange for all of you to settle in the land of Goshen where you can be near me—you and all of your children and grandchildren, as well as your flocks and herds and everything you have. 11 I will provide for you there. Since five more years of famine are still to come, I will make sure your household and everything you have will not descend into poverty.’”
12 Now you see with your own eyes, and even my brother Benjamin sees, that it is really I who speak to you even without an interpreter. 13 You must tell my father how honored I am here in Egypt. Tell him everything you’ve seen here. Hurry. Bring my father here.
14 With that he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck. They embraced, and both wept. 15 Then he kissed all of his brothers one by one, cried on their shoulders as well, and after that they talked for a time together.
16 The news spread to Pharaoh’s house that Joseph’s brothers had come. When Pharaoh and his other advisors heard, they were pleased.
Pharaoh (to Joseph): 17 Tell your brothers, “Do this: Load your animals, and go back to the land called Canaan. 18 Get your father and your families; come here to me, and I will give you the prime properties of Egypt. You will enjoy the very best Egypt has to offer.” 19 Now, Joseph, I command you to tell them also, “Do this: Take wagons from the land of Egypt so that your little children, your wives, and your father can make the journey. Come quickly. 20 Don’t worry about bringing all your things, for once you get here, the best of Egypt will be spread out at your feet.”
21-22 The sons of Israel did exactly as Pharaoh ordered. Joseph followed Pharaoh’s directive and made sure they had enough wagons. He gave them food and other supplies for their journey including an extra change of clothes. But to Benjamin he gave about seven and a half pounds of silver and five sets of clothes. 23 To his father, he sent even more: 10 donkeys loaded with the best Egyptian gifts and 10 female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provisions for his father for the journey. 24 Then he sent his brothers on their way. As they were leaving, he gave them one last piece of advice.
Joseph: Don’t argue along the way!
Once again Joseph and his brothers are parting company. But this time is much different: they know where he is and who he has become. Although Joseph has been separated from his brothers for many years, he remembers how they were; and he is counting on the fact that they are a quarrelsome bunch. He has intentionally given Benjamin more money and clothes than the others. That in itself is enough to cause bickering and squabbling among the crew. In addition, he knows they are worried. They have just received quite a shock. To learn after all these years that the brother they sold into slavery has become one of the most powerful men in the world takes time to process. The famine, the journey from Canaan, and the shock of seeing him again have taken a toll on them. Now they have to go back, get their families, and return. The road home leaves plenty of time to worry about what might become of them, plenty of time for nerves to fray and anger to stir. Joseph knows they have a hard journey ahead, and they need to pull together and not apart.
25 The brothers traveled east out of Egypt and eventually turned north to return to their father, Jacob, in the land of Canaan. 26 They couldn’t wait to tell him the good news.
Joseph’s Brothers: Father, Joseph is still alive! But more than that, he is ruler over all of the land of Egypt.
Their father was stunned; he couldn’t believe his ears. 27 But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him to Egypt, his spirits soared, and he resolved to make the trip.
Israel: 28 I have seen enough. My son Joseph is alive! I must go and see him before I die.
46 Israel set out on his journey to Egypt with all of his belongings, and when he came to Beersheba, he offered sacrificial gifts to the God of his father, Isaac. 2 God spoke there to Israel in visions during the night.
God: Jacob, Jacob!
Jacob: I’m here. I’m listening!
God: 3 I am the True God, the God of your father. Don’t be afraid to go down to Egypt and leave the land I promised you, for I am going to make you into a great nation there. 4 I will go down with you to Egypt, and one day I will be the One to bring you back again. And something else—Joseph’s own hands will be the ones to close your eyes at the time of your death.
5 Then Jacob got up and continued on from Beersheba toward Egypt, and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob, their little children, and their wives in the wagons Pharaoh sent with them. 6-7 They also brought their livestock and the goods they had acquired in the land of Canaan. And at last, Jacob and his family arrived in Egypt. His sons, his grandsons, his daughters, and his granddaughters—all of his descendants came with him to Egypt.
8 Here are the names of the descendants of Israel—that is, Jacob and his family—who settled in Egypt. Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn son) 9 and his sons: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. 10 Simeon and his sons: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul (the son of a Canaanite woman). 11 Levi and his sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 12 Judah and his sons: Er and Onan (who both died in the land of Canaan), Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; Perez and his sons (Judah’s grandchildren): Hezron and Hamul. 13 Issachar and his sons: Tola, Puvvah, Iob, and Shimron. 14 Zebulun and his sons: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. 15 These sons, along with his daughter Dinah, are the 33 sons and daughters born to Jacob by Leah in Paddan-aram.
16 Gad and his sons: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. 17 Asher and his sons: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah; Beriah and his sons (Gad’s grandchildren): Heber and Malchiel. 18 These are the 16 children born to Jacob by Zilpah. (Zilpah was the servant Laban gave to his daughter, Leah, when she married Jacob.)
19 Jacob’s sons by Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin. 20 Joseph had Manasseh and Ephraim in the land of Egypt with his wife Asenath (daughter of Potiphera, priest of On). 21 Benjamin and his sons: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. 22 These are the 14 children born to Jacob by Rachel.
23 Dan had only one son: Hushim. 24 Naphtali and his sons: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. 25 These are the 7 children born to Jacob by Bilhah. (Bilhah was the servant Laban gave to his daughter, Rachel, when she married Jacob.)
26 So all of Jacob’s children and grandchildren who came to Egypt—those who were in some way his offspring, but not the wives of his sons—were 66 in all. 27 Joseph had two sons who were born in Egypt. All of the people directly related to Jacob who now lived in Egypt numbered 70 people.
28 Now Israel decided to send Judah ahead to Joseph in order to learn the way into Goshen. When they came to the land of Goshen, they stopped. 29 Joseph got into his chariot and went out to meet his father, Israel. When he saw him, he fell on his neck and wept for a long time.
Jacob (to Joseph): 30 I can die now in peace, because I’ve seen your face and I know you are alive.
31 Joseph gathered his brothers and his father’s household and told them his plans.
Joseph: I’m going now to let Pharaoh know you are here. I will tell him, “My brothers and my father’s household have arrived from Canaan. 32 The men are shepherds. They make their living by keeping livestock, and they’ve brought their flocks and herds and all of their belongings.” 33 When Pharaoh calls you to the court and asks your occupation, 34 tell him, “Your servants keep livestock. We start in the family business when we are just boys. That is what we and our ancestors have always done.” That way, you’ll be allowed to settle in the land of Goshen because Egyptians can’t stand to be around shepherds.
47 So Joseph went to Pharaoh.
Joseph (to Pharaoh): My father and brothers have arrived from the land of Canaan with their flocks and herds and the rest of their belongings. They are now waiting in the land of Goshen.
2 Now Joseph had chosen five of his brothers and brought them along to present to Pharaoh.
Pharaoh (to Joseph’s brothers): 3 What is your occupation?
Joseph’s Brothers: Your servants are shepherds. We tend sheep and goats as our ancestors did before us.
4 We’ve come to reside in this land as foreigners for a time because there is no place in the land of Canaan for us to pasture our flocks on account of the severity of the famine. Now please, allow your servants to settle in the land of Goshen until this famine is over.
Pharaoh (to Joseph): 5 Your father and brothers have come to you for help. 6 You have the entire land of Egypt at your disposal. Settle your family in the best areas of the land. Let them live in Goshen, and if you know of any who are particularly good at what they do, then put them in charge of my livestock.
7 Then Joseph brought his father, Jacob, and presented him to Pharaoh, and Jacob gave Pharaoh a blessing.
Jacob blesses Pharaoh. As we have seen, words spoken as a blessing have great meaning at this time. It may be no more than a greeting spoken, such as “shalom,” which means “peace.” However the story of Genesis prompts us to consider another possibility. In God’s plan to redeem and reclaim His creation, He chooses Abraham and his descendants to be a blessing to all the families on earth. Jacob, Abraham’s grandson and God’s covenant partner, speaks a blessing over Pharaoh that creates a new reality for Egypt and its king. Little does Pharaoh know that this humble nomadic family in need of his help will one day change the course of history.
Pharaoh (to Jacob): 8 How old are you now?
Jacob: 9 I have journeyed through life for 130 years. My life has been short and hard. But they don’t compare with the many years my ancestors traveled this earth.
10 Jacob gave Pharaoh a blessing for a second time and left his presence. 11 So Joseph settled his father and brothers on some of the best land in Egypt—granting them property of their own in a region known as Rameses, as Pharaoh had instructed. 12 And Joseph also provided them with food, according to the number of all of their dependents.
13 As time went on, the famine became more severe, and food became scarce in the lands of Egypt and Canaan. The people were starving. 14 Everyone from the lands of Egypt and Canaan spent all the money they had to buy grain. Joseph collected all the money and stored it in Pharaoh’s palace. 15 But when the people of Egypt and Canaan ran out of money, the Egyptians came to Joseph to plead with him.
Egyptians: Please, give us food! Why should we all die here in front of you? Our money is gone.
Joseph: 16 You can pay with livestock then. I will give you food in exchange for your livestock, if your money is gone.
17 So the people brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food in exchange for horses, flocks, herds, and donkeys. That year, he supplied them with food in exchange for livestock. 18 But when that year was over, they came to him the next year.
Egyptians: My lord, we cannot hide the fact that our money is all spent, and now the herds of livestock all belong to you. We have nothing left to exchange for food except our bodies and our lands. 19 Why should we and our land perish now right before your eyes? Buy us and our land in exchange for food. We will become slaves to Pharaoh. We will work the land for him. Just please give us seed, so that we can live and avoid dying of hunger and so that the land doesn’t become wild and deserted.
20 So Joseph agreed. He bought up all of the land of Egypt for Pharaoh. The Egyptians sold their fields because the famine was too severe for them to get by on their own, and so all of the land became the property of Pharaoh. 21 As for the people, he made slaves of them, from one end of Egypt to the other. 22 But he did not purchase the land belonging to the priests because they received an allowance from Pharaoh and were able to live off of it. So they didn’t have to sell their land.
Joseph (to the people): 23 See I have done what you asked. I have bought you and your lands for Pharaoh. Now here is the seed you need to sow the land. 24 When the harvest arrives, you will be required to give one-fifth of what you produce to Pharaoh; and four-fifths will be your own to plant the fields and feed your families, households, and children.
Egyptians: 25 You have saved our lives. If it pleases my lord, we are honored to serve as slaves to Pharaoh under these terms.
26 So Joseph made a law regarding the land of Egypt—which stands to this day—declaring Pharaoh is due one-fifth of all the land produces. Only the land of the priests remained personal property.
27 So this was how Israel and his descendants came to live in the land of Egypt, in the region known as Goshen. They acquired property in the area, had children, and their number increased rapidly. 28 Jacob lived another 17 years in the land of Egypt; he lived to be 147. 29 And when Israel was close to death, he called his son Joseph to his side.
Jacob (to Joseph): If I have found favor with you, I need a favor from you. Put your hand here under my thigh. Swear to deal kindly and faithfully with me by honoring my dying wish: please do not bury me in Egypt. 30 When I die let me lie with my ancestors. Take my body away from Egypt, and bury me where they are buried.
Joseph: I will do as you ask, Father.
Jacob: 31 Swear to me.
And Joseph took the oath. Then, Israel bowed down at the head of his bed.
Jacob bows his final bow—perhaps in the weakness of old age or in thankfulness for Joseph’s promise, or maybe in prayer to the Lord.
In the days of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, custom demands that the firstborn son become the next head of the family and inherit the name, status, and wealth of his father. But as we have seen throughout Genesis, God makes a habit of ignoring human customs, subverting tradition, and privileging the younger over the older. When it comes to the covenant, God typically chooses to pass its blessings and duties to the younger. The trend continues throughout Scripture as God selects David and then Solomon, both younger sons, as the two greatest kings over Israel. It is almost humorous the way Joseph tries to engineer the situation placing Manasseh, his firstborn, at his father’s right hand to receive the greater blessing. But Israel has none of it. He crosses his hands and extends the right hand to Ephraim, the second-born. Joseph is sure his ailing father has made a mistake. But Jacob knows exactly what he is doing.
48 Soon after this, Joseph was brought word that his father was gravely ill; so he took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to see Jacob. 2 When Jacob was told that his son Joseph had come to see him, he gathered his strength and sat up in bed.
Jacob (to Joseph): 3 The All-Powerful God[b] appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan many years ago and spoke His blessing over me, 4 telling me, “I am going to make you fruitful and multiply your descendants so that you will give rise to nation after nation. I will give this land to them after you to have as their possession forever.” 5 So Joseph, your two sons who were born to you in Egypt before I came here are mine. I claim Ephraim and Manasseh as my own, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine. 6 As for any children you father after them, you may regard them as your own. When it comes time for your other children to gain their inheritances, they will be given land within the regions granted to their brothers, Ephraim and Manasseh. 7 When I left Paddan, your mother Rachel died on our journey in the land of Canaan. We were not far from Ephrath, so I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (which is also known as Bethlehem).
8 Just then Israel noticed Joseph’s sons.
Jacob: And who are these?
Joseph: 9 These are my sons, Father, whom God has given to me here in Egypt.
Jacob: Please bring them here to me, so I can lay my hands on them and bless them.
10 Israel’s eyes were dim because of his old age, so he couldn’t see well. Joseph brought the boys near to him, and Israel kissed them and hugged them warmly.
Jacob (to Joseph): 11 I didn’t know if I would ever see your face again, but now God has given me more than I hoped: He has let me see your children too.
12 Then Joseph moved the boys aside—they had been at his father’s knees—and he bowed down low with his face to the ground. 13 Then Joseph took his sons and brought them near to his father. He took his younger son Ephraim in his right hand and put him to the left hand of Israel, and he took Manasseh in his left hand and put him to the right hand of Israel. 14 But Israel stretched out his hands and crossed his arms, laying his right hand on the head of Ephraim, the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, the firstborn. 15 And he spoke this blessing over Joseph.
Jacob: May the God before whom my ancestors Abraham and Isaac walked,
the God who has been my shepherd all of my life and still to this day,
16 The messenger who has rescued me from all harm,
bless these boys.
And let my name be perpetuated through them,
as well as the name of my ancestors Abraham and Isaac,
And let them grow into a great multitude of people
throughout the world.
17 When Joseph saw that his father had laid his right hand on Ephraim’s head, he was troubled, and so he took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s.
Joseph: 18 No, Father! Since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.
19 But Israel refused.
Jacob: I know, my son, I know. Manasseh will also become a people, and he will be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his children will give rise to many nations.
20 So it was that Israel blessed Joseph and his sons that day.
Jacob: When the people of Israel speak blessings, they’ll remember you: “May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.”
So this is how Israel ranked Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.
Jacob (to Joseph): 21 Look, I am about to die; but I know that God will be with you, and He will bring you back to the land of your ancestors someday. 22 I am going to hand down to you more land than I give to your brothers. You will inherit a mountain ridge that I seized from the Amorites with my sword and my bow.
The Children of Jacob
| Leah | Zilpah | Bilhah | Rachel |
| 1 Reuben | 7 Gad | 5 Dan | 11 Joseph |
| 2 Simeon | 8 Asher | 6 Naphtali | 12 Benjamin |
| 3 Levi | |||
| 4 Judah | |||
| 9 Issachar | |||
| 10 Zebulun | |||
| Dinah |
The Children of Joseph
| Asenath |
| 1 Manasseh |
| 2 Ephraim |
49 After this, Jacob called all of his sons to him.
Jacob: 2 Gather near to me, so I can let you know what to expect in the days to come.
Gather around and pay attention, you sons of Jacob.
Listen carefully, my sons, to Israel, your father.
3 Reuben, you are my firstborn son,
my power and the vigor of my youth,
first in rank and first in power.
4 But you are out of control, like floodwaters; you have forfeited your place
because you have lain with your father’s wife
and defiled his bed—you climbed onto my couch!
5 Simeon and Levi are indeed brothers, kindred spirits
who use their swords[c] for cruelty and violence.
6 May I never enter their confidence;
from the two of them I must part company to retain my honor.
Because in their anger, they’ve killed men,
and they’ve hamstrung oxen on a whim.
7 Their anger be cursed, for they have fierce tempers.
Their wrath be cursed, for they can be cruel.
I will scatter their children among Jacob’s descendants
and spread them throughout the land of Israel.
8 But Judah, your brothers will praise you.
Your hand will firmly grasp the neck of your enemy,
and your brothers will bow down before you in respect.
9 Judah is a lion cub;
my son, who rises from the prey,
Who crouches down and stretches out like a lion,
and like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?
10 The scepter will not depart from Judah;
the ruler’s staff will rest securely between his feet.
Until the One comes to whom true royalty belongs,
all people will honor and obey him.
11 He ties his foal to the vine
and his donkey’s colt to the choicest vine.
He washes his clothing in wine
and dips his robe in the blood of grapes.
12 His eyes are darker than wine,
and his teeth are whiter than milk.
Israel’s blessing speaks not only what is but what will be. His words establish Judah as the father to the royal line from which King David and his dynasty will one day come. They anticipate God’s eternal covenant with David that brings peace and prosperity to the entire world. It is little wonder that early Christians referred to the risen Jesus as “the lion of the tribe of Judah,” for they found in Him the fulfillment of Israel’s blessing.
13 Jacob: Zebulun will settle near the shores of the sea,
and he will be a safe harbor for ships.
His border will extend to Sidon.
14 Issachar is a strong donkey,
lying down between its saddlebags.[d]
15 He saw a good place to rest
and a land that seemed pleasant,
So he bent down to shoulder another load
and embraced a life of hard labor.
16 Dan will judge his people,
as one of the tribes of Israel.
17 Yet Dan will also be a snake by the road,
a viper along the path
That strikes at the horse’s heels as it goes by
so that its rider falls backward.
18 I wait patiently for Your salvation, Eternal One!
19 Gad will be raided by thieves,
but he will raid them in return.
20 Asher’s food will be rich and delicious,
and he will produce royal delicacies.
21 Naphtali is a beautiful doe, wild and free,
that bears lovely fawns.[e]
22 Joseph is a fruitful plant[f] that grows beside a spring,
its fruitful branches reaching over the wall.
23 The archers fiercely attacked him,
shot at him, and pressed hard against him.
24 But his bow remained taut and strong,
his arms firm and agile.
They were made so by the strong hands of God—
by the Mighty One of Jacob, by the Shepherd of the Rock of Israel,
25 By the God of your father, who will come to your aid,
by the All-Powerful One[g] who will bless you
With the blessings from heaven above,
blessings of the deep that lie beneath,
and blessings of the breasts and womb.
26 May the blessings of your father be more potent
than the blessings of the ancient mountains.
May they extend to the heights of the everlasting hills,
and may these blessings now rest on the head of Joseph,
on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers.
27 Benjamin is a ravenous wolf,
devouring prey by morning
and dividing spoil in the evening.
28 Now all these are the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel. This is how their father described them when he blessed them—blessing each one with a blessing that suited each son.
When Israel’s inheritance of the land is divided, Levi is not included; but Joseph’s two sons become the leaders of two tribes descended from Joseph. Manasseh and Ephraim take Joseph’s and Levi’s places, filling out the twelve tribes.
Jacob (charging his sons): 29-30 I am about to join my ancestors in death. Please do as I ask, and bury me with my ancestors in the cave at Machpelah, near Mamre in the land of Canaan. It is located at the edge of a field owned by Ephron the Hittite. Abraham acquired the field from Ephron as a burial site for his family. 31 This is where Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried, also Isaac and his wife Rebekah. I buried Leah there myself. 32 The field and cave were purchased from the Hittites long ago.
33 After Jacob finished with these instructions to his sons, he pulled his feet up onto the bed, breathed his last breath, and joined his ancestors in death.
50 As his father passed on, Joseph threw himself onto his father’s face, crying and kissing him. 2 Then Joseph told the physicians in his service to embalm his father and prepare him for the journey. So the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 It took 40 days to embalm him because that’s how long it takes to embalm a body properly. And the Egyptians paid their respects by mourning and weeping for him for 70 days.
4 When the time of mourning had passed, Joseph addressed Pharaoh’s household.
Joseph: If I have found favor with you, please speak to Pharaoh on my behalf. 5 My father made me swear an oath. He said, “I am about to die. I want you to bury me in the tomb I made for myself in the land of Canaan.” So I ask that you allow me to go out of Egypt to bury my father. When I have honored his request, I will return to Egypt.
Pharaoh: 6 Go up to Canaan, and bury your father as he made you swear to do.
7 So Joseph went up to Canaan to bury his father. And all of Pharaoh’s servants went with him in a long procession that included the elders of Pharaoh’s household and the land of Egypt. 8 Joseph’s own household, his brothers, and his father’s household joined in the solemn march. Only their children, flocks, and herds were left in the land of Goshen. 9 Both chariots and charioteers accompanied him as well. It was a grand procession. 10 When they came to the threshing floor of Atad near Canaan but still beyond the Jordan River, the great company of mourners paused to observe seven days of mourning for Joseph’s father. The weeping and lamentation grew so loud that 11 the people who lived there, the Canaanites, could not help but notice the profound grief expressed on the threshing floor of Atad.
Canaanites: The Egyptians must have experienced a terrible loss to mourn so deeply.
This is why this place of mourning that lies beyond the Jordan was renamed Abel-mizraim.
12 So Jacob’s sons carried out his last instructions as he had directed. 13 They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah near Mamre, which Abraham had bought along with the field from Ephron the Hittite so he could have a place to bury his family. 14 After he had buried his father, Joseph gathered his brothers and the vast company of mourners who had journeyed with him to bury his father, and they all returned to Egypt.
15 When Joseph’s brothers began to realize the implications of their father’s death, Joseph’s brothers began to worry.
Joseph’s Brothers: What if Joseph still bears a grudge in some way against us and decides to pay us back in full for all of the wrong we did to him?
16 So they sent a message to Joseph.
Joseph’s Brothers’ Message: Your father gave us this instruction before he died. 17 He told us to say to you, “Please, I beg you. Forgive the crime of your brothers and the sins they committed against you. They were wrong to treat you so badly.” So please do what your father asked and forgive the crime that we, the servants of the God of your father, committed against you.
Joseph cried when they spoke these words to him. 18 And his brothers approached and fell at his feet.
Joseph’s Brothers: Look! We are your slaves.
Joseph: 19 Don’t be afraid. Am I to judge instead of God? It is not my place. 20 Even though you intended to harm me, God intended it only for good, and through me, He preserved the lives of countless people, as He is still doing today. 21 So don’t worry. I will provide for you myself—for you and your children.
This same sentiment is expressed in Paul’s letter to the Romans (8:28). God can take even the meanest intention and make it work for good for His devoted followers.
So Joseph reassured them and continued to speak kindly to them.
22 Now Joseph remained in Egypt for the rest of his life—he and all of his father’s household. He lived to be 110 years old, 23 long enough to see Ephraim’s children down to the third generation. Joseph adopted the children of Machir (Manasseh’s son) and brought them up as his own. 24 One day, Joseph told his brothers,
Joseph (to his brothers): I am about to die, but God will someday come to you, lead you out of this land, and bring you back to the land He swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
25 At that, Joseph made the rest of Israel’s sons swear to him an oath.
Joseph: When God comes to you, you must take my bones along with you out of this place and back to our homeland.
26 Then Joseph died. He was 110 years old, and he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.
The story of Joseph ends with the children of Israel living in Egypt. They live there in peace and security through many generations knowing that their future is not in Egypt; their future is in another land, a land of promise, a land most of them have never seen.
Genesis 39-46
New International Version
Genesis 39-46
New International Version
Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife
39 Now Joseph(A) had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard,(B) bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.(C)
2 The Lord was with Joseph(D) so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the Lord was with him(E) and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did,(F) 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes(G) and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household,(H) and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.(I) 5 From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household(J) of the Egyptian because of Joseph.(K) The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field.(L) 6 So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care;(M) with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.
Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,(N) 7 and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”(O)
8 But he refused.(P) “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care.(Q) 9 No one is greater in this house than I am.(R) My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”(S) 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused(T) to go to bed with her or even be with her.
11 One day he went into the house to attend to his duties,(U) and none of the household servants(V) was inside. 12 She caught him by his cloak(W) and said, “Come to bed with me!”(X) But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.(Y)
13 When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house, 14 she called her household servants.(Z) “Look,” she said to them, “this Hebrew(AA) has been brought to us to make sport of us!(AB) He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed.(AC) 15 When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”(AD)
16 She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home. 17 Then she told him this story:(AE) “That Hebrew(AF) slave(AG) you brought us came to me to make sport of me. 18 But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”
19 When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger.(AH) 20 Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison,(AI) the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.
But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the Lord was with him;(AJ) he showed him kindness(AK) and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.(AL) 22 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there.(AM) 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s(AN) care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.(AO)
The Cupbearer and the Baker
40 Some time later, the cupbearer(AP) and the baker(AQ) of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt. 2 Pharaoh was angry(AR) with his two officials,(AS) the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, 3 and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard,(AT) in the same prison where Joseph was confined. 4 The captain of the guard(AU) assigned them to Joseph,(AV) and he attended them.
After they had been in custody(AW) for some time, 5 each of the two men—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prison—had a dream(AX) the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.(AY)
6 When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. 7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody(AZ) with him in his master’s house, “Why do you look so sad today?”(BA)
8 “We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.”(BB)
Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God?(BC) Tell me your dreams.”
9 So the chief cupbearer(BD) told Joseph his dream. He said to him, “In my dream I saw a vine in front of me, 10 and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed,(BE) and its clusters ripened into grapes. 11 Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup and put the cup in his hand.”
12 “This is what it means,(BF)” Joseph said to him. “The three branches are three days.(BG) 13 Within three days(BH) Pharaoh will lift up your head(BI) and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer.(BJ) 14 But when all goes well with you, remember me(BK) and show me kindness;(BL) mention me to Pharaoh(BM) and get me out of this prison. 15 I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews,(BN) and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.”(BO)
16 When the chief baker(BP) saw that Joseph had given a favorable interpretation,(BQ) he said to Joseph, “I too had a dream: On my head were three baskets(BR) of bread.[a] 17 In the top basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.”
18 “This is what it means,” Joseph said. “The three baskets are three days.(BS) 19 Within three days(BT) Pharaoh will lift off your head(BU) and impale your body on a pole.(BV) And the birds will eat away your flesh.”(BW)
20 Now the third day(BX) was Pharaoh’s birthday,(BY) and he gave a feast for all his officials.(BZ) He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker(CA) in the presence of his officials: 21 He restored the chief cupbearer(CB) to his position,(CC) so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand(CD)— 22 but he impaled the chief baker,(CE) just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation.(CF)
23 The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.(CG)
Pharaoh’s Dreams
41 When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream:(CH) He was standing by the Nile,(CI) 2 when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat,(CJ) and they grazed among the reeds.(CK) 3 After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. 4 And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.(CL)
5 He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain,(CM) healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. 6 After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—thin and scorched by the east wind.(CN) 7 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up;(CO) it had been a dream.
8 In the morning his mind was troubled,(CP) so he sent for all the magicians(CQ) and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.(CR)
9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings.(CS) 10 Pharaoh was once angry with his servants,(CT) and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard.(CU) 11 Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.(CV) 12 Now a young Hebrew(CW) was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard.(CX) We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream.(CY) 13 And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was impaled.(CZ)”
14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon.(DA) When he had shaved(DB) and changed his clothes,(DC) he came before Pharaoh.
15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it.(DD) But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”(DE)
16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”(DF)
17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,(DG) 18 when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds.(DH) 19 After them, seven other cows came up—scrawny and very ugly and lean. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt. 20 The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first. 21 But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up.
22 “In my dream I saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk. 23 After them, seven other heads sprouted—withered and thin and scorched by the east wind. 24 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none of them could explain it to me.(DI)”
25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same.(DJ) God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.(DK) 26 The seven good cows(DL) are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. 27 The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.(DM)
28 “It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.(DN) 29 Seven years of great abundance(DO) are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30 but seven years of famine(DP) will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land.(DQ) 31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. 32 The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided(DR) by God, and God will do it soon.(DS)
33 “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man(DT) and put him in charge of the land of Egypt.(DU) 34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners(DV) over the land to take a fifth(DW) of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.(DX) 35 They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food.(DY) 36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt,(DZ) so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”
37 The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials.(EA) 38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God[b]?”(EB)
39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you,(EC) there is no one so discerning and wise as you.(ED) 40 You shall be in charge of my palace,(EE) and all my people are to submit to your orders.(EF) Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.(EG)”
Joseph in Charge of Egypt
41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.”(EH) 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring(EI) from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes(EJ) of fine linen(EK) and put a gold chain around his neck.(EL) 43 He had him ride in a chariot(EM) as his second-in-command,[c](EN) and people shouted before him, “Make way[d]!”(EO) Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.(EP)
44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.”(EQ) 45 Pharaoh gave Joseph(ER) the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest(ES) of On,[e](ET) to be his wife.(EU) And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.
46 Joseph was thirty years old(EV) when he entered the service(EW) of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt. 47 During the seven years of abundance(EX) the land produced plentifully. 48 Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities.(EY) In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. 49 Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea;(EZ) it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.
50 Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.(FA) 51 Joseph named his firstborn(FB) Manasseh[f](FC) and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” 52 The second son he named Ephraim[g](FD) and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful(FE) in the land of my suffering.”
53 The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine(FF) began,(FG) just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. 55 When all Egypt began to feel the famine,(FH) the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.”(FI)
56 When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians,(FJ) for the famine(FK) was severe throughout Egypt.(FL) 57 And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph,(FM) because the famine was severe everywhere.(FN)
Joseph’s Brothers Go to Egypt
42 When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt,(FO) he said to his sons, “Why do you just keep looking at each other?” 2 He continued, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us,(FP) so that we may live and not die.”(FQ)
3 Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain(FR) from Egypt. 4 But Jacob did not send Benjamin,(FS) Joseph’s brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him.(FT) 5 So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain,(FU) for there was famine in the land of Canaan(FV) also.(FW)
6 Now Joseph was the governor of the land,(FX) the person who sold grain to all its people.(FY) So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.(FZ) 7 As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them.(GA) “Where do you come from?”(GB) he asked.
“From the land of Canaan,” they replied, “to buy food.”
8 Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.(GC) 9 Then he remembered his dreams(GD) about them and said to them, “You are spies!(GE) You have come to see where our land is unprotected.”(GF)
10 “No, my lord,(GG)” they answered. “Your servants have come to buy food.(GH) 11 We are all the sons of one man. Your servants(GI) are honest men,(GJ) not spies.(GK)”
12 “No!” he said to them. “You have come to see where our land is unprotected.”(GL)
13 But they replied, “Your servants(GM) were twelve brothers, the sons of one man, who lives in the land of Canaan.(GN) The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.”(GO)
14 Joseph said to them, “It is just as I told you: You are spies!(GP) 15 And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives,(GQ) you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here.(GR) 16 Send one of your number to get your brother;(GS) the rest of you will be kept in prison,(GT) so that your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth.(GU) If you are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!(GV)” 17 And he put them all in custody(GW) for three days.
18 On the third day, Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God:(GX) 19 If you are honest men,(GY) let one of your brothers stay here in prison,(GZ) while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households.(HA) 20 But you must bring your youngest brother to me,(HB) so that your words may be verified and that you may not die.” This they proceeded to do.
21 They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother.(HC) We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress(HD) has come on us.”
22 Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy?(HE) But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting(HF) for his blood.”(HG) 23 They did not realize(HH) that Joseph could understand them,(HI) since he was using an interpreter.
24 He turned away from them and began to weep,(HJ) but then came back and spoke to them again. He had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes.(HK)
25 Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain,(HL) to put each man’s silver back in his sack,(HM) and to give them provisions(HN) for their journey.(HO) After this was done for them, 26 they loaded their grain on their donkeys(HP) and left.
27 At the place where they stopped for the night one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey,(HQ) and he saw his silver in the mouth of his sack.(HR) 28 “My silver has been returned,” he said to his brothers. “Here it is in my sack.”
Their hearts sank(HS) and they turned to each other trembling(HT) and said, “What is this that God has done to us?”(HU)
29 When they came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan,(HV) they told him all that had happened to them.(HW) They said, 30 “The man who is lord over the land spoke harshly to us(HX) and treated us as though we were spying on the land.(HY) 31 But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we are not spies.(HZ) 32 We were twelve brothers, sons of one father. One is no more, and the youngest is now with our father in Canaan.’(IA)
33 “Then the man who is lord over the land said to us, ‘This is how I will know whether you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers here with me, and take food for your starving households and go.(IB) 34 But bring your youngest brother to me so I will know that you are not spies but honest men.(IC) Then I will give your brother back to you,(ID) and you can trade[h] in the land.(IE)’”
35 As they were emptying their sacks, there in each man’s sack was his pouch of silver!(IF) When they and their father saw the money pouches, they were frightened.(IG) 36 Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more,(IH) and now you want to take Benjamin.(II) Everything is against me!(IJ)”
37 Then Reuben said to his father, “You may put both of my sons to death if I do not bring him back to you. Entrust him to my care,(IK) and I will bring him back.”(IL)
38 But Jacob said, “My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead(IM) and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him(IN) on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave(IO) in sorrow.(IP)”
The Second Journey to Egypt
43 Now the famine was still severe in the land.(IQ) 2 So when they had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt,(IR) their father said to them, “Go back and buy us a little more food.”(IS)
3 But Judah(IT) said to him, “The man warned us solemnly, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’(IU) 4 If you will send our brother along with us, we will go down and buy food for you.(IV) 5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down, because the man said to us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.(IW)’”
6 Israel(IX) asked, “Why did you bring this trouble(IY) on me by telling the man you had another brother?”
7 They replied, “The man questioned us closely about ourselves and our family. ‘Is your father still living?’(IZ) he asked us. ‘Do you have another brother?’(JA) We simply answered his questions. How were we to know he would say, ‘Bring your brother down here’?”(JB)
8 Then Judah(JC) said to Israel(JD) his father, “Send the boy along with me and we will go at once, so that we and you and our children may live and not die.(JE) 9 I myself will guarantee his safety; you can hold me personally responsible for him.(JF) If I do not bring him back to you and set him here before you, I will bear the blame(JG) before you all my life.(JH) 10 As it is, if we had not delayed,(JI) we could have gone and returned twice.”
11 Then their father Israel(JJ) said to them, “If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products(JK) of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift(JL)—a little balm(JM) and a little honey, some spices(JN) and myrrh,(JO) some pistachio nuts and almonds. 12 Take double the amount(JP) of silver with you, for you must return the silver that was put back into the mouths of your sacks.(JQ) Perhaps it was a mistake. 13 Take your brother also and go back to the man at once.(JR) 14 And may God Almighty[i](JS) grant you mercy(JT) before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you.(JU) As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”(JV)
15 So the men took the gifts and double the amount of silver,(JW) and Benjamin also. They hurried(JX) down to Egypt and presented themselves(JY) to Joseph. 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin(JZ) with them, he said to the steward of his house,(KA) “Take these men to my house, slaughter an animal and prepare a meal;(KB) they are to eat with me at noon.”
17 The man did as Joseph told him and took the men to Joseph’s house.(KC) 18 Now the men were frightened(KD) when they were taken to his house.(KE) They thought, “We were brought here because of the silver that was put back into our sacks(KF) the first time. He wants to attack us(KG) and overpower us and seize us as slaves(KH) and take our donkeys.(KI)”
19 So they went up to Joseph’s steward(KJ) and spoke to him at the entrance to the house. 20 “We beg your pardon, our lord,” they said, “we came down here the first time to buy food.(KK) 21 But at the place where we stopped for the night we opened our sacks and each of us found his silver—the exact weight—in the mouth of his sack. So we have brought it back with us.(KL) 22 We have also brought additional silver with us to buy food. We don’t know who put our silver in our sacks.”
23 “It’s all right,” he said. “Don’t be afraid. Your God, the God of your father,(KM) has given you treasure in your sacks;(KN) I received your silver.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.(KO)
24 The steward took the men into Joseph’s house,(KP) gave them water to wash their feet(KQ) and provided fodder for their donkeys. 25 They prepared their gifts(KR) for Joseph’s arrival at noon,(KS) because they had heard that they were to eat there.
26 When Joseph came home,(KT) they presented to him the gifts(KU) they had brought into the house, and they bowed down before him to the ground.(KV) 27 He asked them how they were, and then he said, “How is your aged father(KW) you told me about? Is he still living?”(KX)
28 They replied, “Your servant our father(KY) is still alive and well.” And they bowed down,(KZ) prostrating themselves before him.(LA)
29 As he looked about and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother’s son,(LB) he asked, “Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?”(LC) And he said, “God be gracious to you,(LD) my son.” 30 Deeply moved(LE) at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept(LF) there.
31 After he had washed his face, he came out and, controlling himself,(LG) said, “Serve the food.”(LH)
32 They served him by himself, the brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews,(LI) for that is detestable to Egyptians.(LJ) 33 The men had been seated before him in the order of their ages, from the firstborn(LK) to the youngest;(LL) and they looked at each other in astonishment. 34 When portions were served to them from Joseph’s table, Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as anyone else’s.(LM) So they feasted(LN) and drank freely with him.
A Silver Cup in a Sack
44 Now Joseph gave these instructions to the steward of his house:(LO) “Fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they can carry, and put each man’s silver in the mouth of his sack.(LP) 2 Then put my cup,(LQ) the silver one,(LR) in the mouth of the youngest one’s sack, along with the silver for his grain.” And he did as Joseph said.
3 As morning dawned, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys.(LS) 4 They had not gone far from the city when Joseph said to his steward,(LT) “Go after those men at once, and when you catch up with them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid good with evil?(LU) 5 Isn’t this the cup(LV) my master drinks from and also uses for divination?(LW) This is a wicked thing you have done.’”
6 When he caught up with them, he repeated these words to them. 7 But they said to him, “Why does my lord say such things? Far be it from your servants(LX) to do anything like that!(LY) 8 We even brought back to you from the land of Canaan(LZ) the silver(MA) we found inside the mouths of our sacks.(MB) So why would we steal(MC) silver or gold from your master’s house? 9 If any of your servants(MD) is found to have it, he will die;(ME) and the rest of us will become my lord’s slaves.(MF)”
10 “Very well, then,” he said, “let it be as you say. Whoever is found to have it(MG) will become my slave;(MH) the rest of you will be free from blame.”(MI)
11 Each of them quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it. 12 Then the steward(MJ) proceeded to search,(MK) beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest.(ML) And the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.(MM) 13 At this, they tore their clothes.(MN) Then they all loaded their donkeys(MO) and returned to the city.
14 Joseph was still in the house(MP) when Judah(MQ) and his brothers came in, and they threw themselves to the ground before him.(MR) 15 Joseph said to them, “What is this you have done?(MS) Don’t you know that a man like me can find things out by divination?(MT)”
16 “What can we say to my lord?(MU)” Judah(MV) replied. “What can we say? How can we prove our innocence?(MW) God has uncovered your servants’(MX) guilt. We are now my lord’s slaves(MY)—we ourselves and the one who was found to have the cup.(MZ)”
17 But Joseph said, “Far be it from me to do such a thing!(NA) Only the man who was found to have the cup will become my slave.(NB) The rest of you, go back to your father in peace.”(NC)
18 Then Judah(ND) went up to him and said: “Pardon your servant, my lord,(NE) let me speak a word to my lord. Do not be angry(NF) with your servant, though you are equal to Pharaoh himself. 19 My lord asked his servants,(NG) ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’(NH) 20 And we answered, ‘We have an aged father, and there is a young son born to him in his old age.(NI) His brother is dead,(NJ) and he is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves him.’(NK)
21 “Then you said to your servants,(NL) ‘Bring him down to me so I can see him for myself.’(NM) 22 And we said to my lord,(NN) ‘The boy cannot leave his father; if he leaves him, his father will die.’(NO) 23 But you told your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.’(NP) 24 When we went back to your servant my father,(NQ) we told him what my lord(NR) had said.(NS)
25 “Then our father said, ‘Go back and buy a little more food.’(NT) 26 But we said, ‘We cannot go down. Only if our youngest brother is with us will we go. We cannot see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’(NU)
27 “Your servant my father(NV) said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons.(NW) 28 One of them went away from me, and I said, “He has surely been torn to pieces.”(NX) And I have not seen him since.(NY) 29 If you take this one from me too and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray head down to the grave(NZ) in misery.’(OA)
30 “So now, if the boy is not with us when I go back to your servant my father,(OB) and if my father, whose life is closely bound up with the boy’s life,(OC) 31 sees that the boy isn’t there, he will die.(OD) Your servants(OE) will bring the gray head of our father down to the grave(OF) in sorrow. 32 Your servant guaranteed the boy’s safety to my father. I said, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, I will bear the blame before you, my father, all my life!’(OG)
33 “Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord’s slave(OH) in place of the boy,(OI) and let the boy return with his brothers. 34 How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery(OJ) that would come on my father.”(OK)
Joseph Makes Himself Known
45 Then Joseph could no longer control himself(OL) before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!”(OM) So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept(ON) so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.(OO)
3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?”(OP) But his brothers were not able to answer him,(OQ) because they were terrified at his presence.(OR)
4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.”(OS) When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!(OT) 5 And now, do not be distressed(OU) and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here,(OV) because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.(OW) 6 For two years now there has been famine(OX) in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant(OY) on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.[j](OZ)
8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.(PA) He made me father(PB) to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.(PC) 9 Now hurry(PD) 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.(PE) 10 You shall live in the region of Goshen(PF) and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have.(PG) 11 I will provide for you there,(PH) because five years of famine(PI) are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’(PJ)
12 “You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin,(PK) that it is really I who am speaking to you.(PL) 13 Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt(PM) and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.(PN)”
14 Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin(PO) embraced him,(PP) weeping. 15 And he kissed(PQ) all his brothers and wept over them.(PR) Afterward his brothers talked with him.(PS)
16 When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come,(PT) Pharaoh and all his officials(PU) were pleased.(PV) 17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals(PW) and return to the land of Canaan,(PX) 18 and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt(PY) and you can enjoy the fat of the land.’(PZ)
19 “You are also directed to tell them, ‘Do this: Take some carts(QA) from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. 20 Never mind about your belongings,(QB) because the best of all Egypt(QC) will be yours.’”
21 So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts,(QD) as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey.(QE) 22 To each of them he gave new clothing,(QF) but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels[k] of silver and five sets of clothes.(QG) 23 And this is what he sent to his father: ten donkeys(QH) loaded with the best things(QI) of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey.(QJ) 24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way!”(QK)
25 So they went up out of Egypt(QL) and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan.(QM) 26 They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.”(QN) Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them.(QO) 27 But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts(QP) Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 And Israel said, “I’m convinced!(QQ) My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”(QR)
Jacob Goes to Egypt
46 So Israel(QS) set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba,(QT) he offered sacrifices(QU) to the God of his father Isaac.(QV)
2 And God spoke to Israel(QW) in a vision at night(QX) and said, “Jacob! Jacob!”
“Here I am,”(QY) he replied.
3 “I am God, the God of your father,”(QZ) he said. “Do not be afraid(RA) to go down to Egypt,(RB) for I will make you into a great nation(RC) there.(RD) 4 I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again.(RE) And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.(RF)”
5 Then Jacob left Beersheba,(RG) and Israel’s(RH) sons took their father Jacob and their children and their wives in the carts(RI) that Pharaoh had sent to transport him. 6 So Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt,(RJ) taking with them their livestock and the possessions(RK) they had acquired(RL) in Canaan. 7 Jacob brought with him to Egypt(RM) his sons and grandsons and his daughters and granddaughters—all his offspring.(RN)
8 These are the names of the sons of Israel(RO) (Jacob and his descendants) who went to Egypt:
Reuben the firstborn(RP) of Jacob.
9 The sons of Reuben:(RQ)
Hanok, Pallu,(RR) Hezron and Karmi.(RS)
10 The sons of Simeon:(RT)
Jemuel,(RU) Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar(RV) and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman.
11 The sons of Levi:(RW)
Gershon,(RX) Kohath(RY) and Merari.(RZ)
12 The sons of Judah:(SA)
Er,(SB) Onan,(SC) Shelah, Perez(SD) and Zerah(SE) (but Er and Onan had died in the land of Canaan).(SF)
The sons of Perez:(SG)
Hezron and Hamul.(SH)
Footnotes
- Genesis 40:16 Or three wicker baskets
- Genesis 41:38 Or of the gods
- Genesis 41:43 Or in the chariot of his second-in-command; or in his second chariot
- Genesis 41:43 Or Bow down
- Genesis 41:45 That is, Heliopolis; also in verse 50
- Genesis 41:51 Manasseh sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for forget.
- Genesis 41:52 Ephraim sounds like the Hebrew for twice fruitful.
- Genesis 42:34 Or move about freely
- Genesis 43:14 Hebrew El-Shaddai
- Genesis 45:7 Or save you as a great band of survivors
- Genesis 45:22 That is, about 7 1/2 pounds or about 3.5 kilograms
- Genesis 46:13 Samaritan Pentateuch and Syriac (see also 1 Chron. 7:1); Masoretic Text Puvah
- Genesis 46:13 Samaritan Pentateuch and some Septuagint manuscripts (see also Num. 26:24 and 1 Chron. 7:1); Masoretic Text Iob
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