45:1 Joseph could not restrain himself
in front of all those around him.
He finally cried out:
Everyone please leave me!
This was so no one would be around
when Joseph revealed himself
to his brothers.
45:2 Then he cried out so loudly
that the Egyptians heard him
and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.
45:3 Joseph said to his brothers:
I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?
But his brothers were unable to answer
as they stood before him stunned.
45:4 Then Joseph said to his brothers:
Please come closer to me.
When they did this he said:
I am your brother Joseph
whom you sold into
45:5 Now don’t be distressed
and don’t be angry with yourselves
because you sold me here
because God sent me ahead of you
in order to save lives.
45:6 For the famine has been here
for two years now
and it will be another five years
where no plowing and reaping will occur.
45:7 Yet God sent me ahead of you
to preserve for you a remnant on earth
saving your lives with a great escape.
45:8 Therefore it wasn’t you
who sent me to this place.
Rather it was God.
He made me a teacher to Pharaoh
and in charge of his entire household
and in charge of all of
45:9 Hurry and go back to my father
and tell him that your son Joseph says:
God has put me in charge of all
Come and visit me right away.
45:10 You can live in the area of
and be close to me:
You, your children and grandchildren
your flocks and herds
and everything you have.
45:11 I will provide for you there
for the famine will last another five years.
Otherwise you and your household
and everything you have
will become impoverished.
45:12 See for yourselves
as can my brother Benjamin
that it is really me who speaks with you.
45:13 Now you should tell my father
about the honor given to me in
and all that you have seen.
So hurry and bring my father here.
45:14 Then he wept
and embraced his brother Benjamin.
Benjamin also wept and hugged him.
45:15 He kissed all his brothers
and cried with them.
Afterward he and his brothers talked.
45:16 When news reached Pharaoh’s palace
that Joseph’s brothers had arrived
Pharaoh and his attendants were pleased.
45:17 Pharaoh said to Joseph:
Tell your brothers to load their donkeys
and go back to the
45:18 And bring your father back
and your families back to me.
You receive the best of
and you can enjoy the fat of the land.
45:19 You are instructed to also bring
some wagons from
for your children and your wives
and get your father and come.
45:20 Don’t worry about your things
because the best of
45:21 So Israel’s sons did this.
Joseph gave them wagons
just as Pharaoh had ordered
and he gave them supplies
for their journey.
45:22 He gave each of them new clothing
but he gave Benjamin 300 pieces of silver
and five sets of clothing.
45:23 To his father he sent the following:
ten donkeys loaded with the finest Egyptian goods
ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread
and other supplies for his journey.
45:24 Then he sent his brothers off
and as they were leaving he told them
not to quarrel on the journey.
45:25 So they traveled out of
and arrived in the
and stood before their father Jacob.
45:26 They told him:
Joseph is still alive
and he is a ruler
in the nation of
Jacob was stunned
and did not believe them.
45:27 After they told him everything
Joseph had been saying to them
and when he saw the wagons
Joseph had sent to bring him back
the spirit of father Jacob was restored.
45:28 Then Israel said to them:
It’s amazing my son Joseph is still alive.
I will go see him before I die.
