Study Desk

So they prepared the present for Joseph's coming at noon; for they had heard that they were to eat a meal there.

And Joseph hurried out for he was deeply stirred with compassion over his brother, and he sought a place to weep; and he entered his chamber and wept there.

So they set the meal for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.

Now put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his money for the grain." And he did as Joseph had told him.

Now they had just gone out of the city and were not far off when Joseph said to his house steward, "Arise, pursue the men; you shall overtake them and say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good?

But he said, "Far be it from me to do this. The man in whose possession the cup has been found, he shall be my slave; but as for you, go up in peace to your father."

Then Judah came near to him and said, "O my lord, may your servant please speak a word in my lord's ears, and do not be angry with your servant; for you are equal to Pharaoh.

But we said, ‘We cannot go down. If our youngest brother is with us, then we will go down; for we cannot see the man's face if our youngest brother is not with us.'

For your servant became a guarantee for the boy to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the sin before my father all my days.'

For how shall I go up to my father if the boy is not with me, lest I see the evil that would overtake my father?"

Then Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?" But his brothers could not answer him, for they were terrified at his presence.

So now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.

For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.

So God sent me before you to establish for you a remnant in the earth and to keep you alive for a great remnant of survivors.

There I will also provide for you, for there are still five years of famine to come, lest you and your household and all that you have be impoverished."'

Now you are commanded, ‘Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father and come.

Now do not concern yourselves with your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.'"

Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them wagons according to the command of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey.

Now to his father he sent as follows: ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and sustenance for his father on the journey.

And they told him, saying, "Joseph is still alive, and indeed he is ruler over all the land of Egypt." But his heart was stunned, for he did not believe them.