Study Desk

Pharaoh's birthday came three days later, and he prepared a banquet for all his officials and staff. He summoned his chief cup-bearer and chief baker to join the other officials.

The next morning Pharaoh was very disturbed by the dreams. So he called for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. When Pharaoh told them his dreams, not one of them could tell him what they meant.

Pharaoh sent for Joseph at once, and he was quickly brought from the prison. After he shaved and changed his clothes, he went in and stood before Pharaoh.

But afterward you wouldn't have known it, for they were still as thin and scrawny as before! Then I woke up.

"This will happen just as I have described it, for God has revealed to Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do.

As for having two similar dreams, it means that these events have been decreed by God, and he will soon make them happen.

Then he had Joseph ride in the chariot reserved for his second-in-command. And wherever Joseph went, the command was shouted, "Kneel down!" So Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all Egypt.

As predicted, for seven years the land produced bumper crops.

Joseph named his older son Manasseh, for he said, "God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my father's family."

Joseph named his second son Ephraim, for he said, "God has made me fruitful in this land of my grief."

Eventually, however, the famine spread throughout the land of Egypt as well. And when the people cried out to Pharaoh for food, he told them, "Go to Joseph, and do whatever he tells you."

So with severe famine everywhere, Joseph opened up the storehouses and distributed grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout the land of Egypt.

But Jacob wouldn't let Joseph's younger brother, Benjamin, go with them, for fear some harm might come to him.

So Jacob's sons arrived in Egypt along with others to buy food, for the famine was in Canaan as well.

So Joseph put them all in prison for three days.

If you really are honest men, choose one of your brothers to remain in prison. The rest of you may go home with grain for your starving families.

Speaking among themselves, they said, "Clearly we are being punished because of what we did to Joseph long ago. We saw his anguish when he pleaded for his life, but we wouldn't listen. That's why we're in this trouble."

"Didn't I tell you not to sin against the boy?" Reuben asked. "But you wouldn't listen. And now we have to answer for his blood!"

Of course, they didn't know that Joseph understood them, for he had been speaking to them through an interpreter.

Joseph then ordered his servants to fill the men's sacks with grain, but he also gave secret instructions to return each brother's payment at the top of his sack. He also gave them supplies for their journey home.