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Joseph Tells His Brothers Who He Is

¹ Then Joseph could not hide his feelings in front of all who stood by him. He cried, "Send all the people away from me." So no one was with him when Joseph told his brothers who he was. ² He cried so loud that the Egyptians heard it, and those of Pharaoh's house heard of it. ³ Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?" But his brothers could not answer him, for they were afraid in front of him.

⁴ Joseph said to his brothers, "Come near to me." So they came near. He said, "I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. ⁵ But do not be troubled or angry with yourselves because you sold me here. For God sent me before you to save your life. ⁶ For the land has been without food these two years. And there are five more years without plowing or gathering. ⁷ God sent me before you to make sure that your people will keep living on the earth. Now many of you will be saved. ⁸ So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and ruler of all his house, and of all the land of Egypt. ⁹ Hurry and go to my father. Say to him, ‘Your son Joseph says to you, "God has made me ruler of all Egypt. Come to me, and do not wait. ¹⁰ You will live in the land of Goshen, you and your children and grandchildren, your flocks and cattle, and all you have. And you will be near me. ¹¹ There I will take care of you, so that you and your family will not be in need. For there are still five years coming without food. By then you would have nothing."'

¹² "Now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth which is speaking to you. ¹³ You must tell my father of all my greatness in Egypt, and of all you have seen. You must hurry and bring my father here." ¹⁴ Then he put his arms around his brother Benjamin and cried. And Benjamin cried on his neck. ¹⁵ Joseph kissed all his brothers and cried over them. After that his brothers talked with him.

¹⁶ When the news was heard in Pharaoh's house that Joseph's brothers had come, Pharaoh and his servants were pleased. ¹⁷ Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Tell your brothers this: ‘Load your animals and go to the land of Canaan. ¹⁸ Take your father and your families and come to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt. And you will live on the fat of the land.' ¹⁹ Also say to them, ‘Take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives. Bring your father and come. ²⁰ Do not worry about the things that belong to you. For the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.'"

²¹ The sons of Israel did as he said. Joseph gave them wagons as Pharaoh had told him. And he gave them what they would need as they traveled. ²² He gave new clothes to each of them. But to Benjamin he gave 300 pieces of silver and five times as many clothes. ²³ To his father he sent ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and things his father would need as he traveled. ²⁴ Then he sent his brothers away. As they left he said to them, "Do not be mad at each other on the way."

²⁵ So they went out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. ²⁶ They told him, "Joseph is still alive! He is ruler of all the land of Egypt!" Jacob's heart almost stopped, because he did not believe them. ²⁷ So they told him all the things that Joseph had said to them. And when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the life of Jacob's spirit returned. ²⁸ Israel said, "It is enough. My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die."