Study Desk

But when we came to the place we stopped for the night, we opened our sacks and, behold, each of us found his silver in the mouth of his sack! It was the full amount of our money, and we have brought it back with us.

And the steward took the men into Joseph's house, gave them water to wash their feet, and provided food for their donkeys.

Since the brothers had been told that they were going to eat a meal there, they prepared their gift for Joseph's arrival at noon.

Joseph hurried out because he was moved to tears for his brother, and he went to a private room to weep.

Put my cup, the silver one, in the mouth of the youngest one's sack, along with the silver for his grain." So the steward did as Joseph told him.

Is this not the cup that my master drinks from and uses for divination? What you have done is wicked!'"

Then Judah approached Joseph and said, "Sir, please let your servant speak personally to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, for you are an equal to Pharaoh.

Then you told your servants, 'Bring him down to me so that I can see him for myself.'

For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the misery that would overwhelm him."

For the famine has covered the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting.

And there I will provide for you, because there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise, you and your household and everything you own will come to destitution.'

You are also directed to tell them: 'Take wagons from the land of Egypt for your young children and your wives, and bring your father and come back.

But pay no regard to your belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt will be yours.'"

So the sons of Israel did as they were told. Joseph gave them wagons as Pharaoh had instructed, and he also gave them provisions for their journey.

And he sent to his father the following: ten donkeys loaded with the best of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and provisions for his father's journey.

"Joseph is still alive," they said, "and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt!" But Jacob was stunned, for he did not believe them.

"I am God," He said, "the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.

Then they said to Pharaoh, "We have come to live in the land for a time, because there is no pasture for the flock of your servants, since the famine in the land of Canaan has been severe. So now, please allow your servants to settle in the land of Goshen."

Joseph also provided his father and brothers and all his father's household with food for their families.

Joseph collected all the money to be found in the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan in exchange for the grain they were buying, and he brought it into Pharaoh's palace.