Study Desk

To his father, he sent after this manner: ten donkeys laden with the good things of Mitzrayim, and ten she-asses laden with grain and bread and provision for his father by the way.

They told him, saying, "Yosef is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Mitzrayim." His heart fainted, for he didn't believe them.

He said, "I am God, the God of your father. Don't be afraid to go down into Mitzrayim; for there I will make of you a great nation.

These men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of cattle, and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.'

that you shall say, 'Your servants have been keepers of cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and our fathers:' that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Mitzrim."

They said to Par`oh, "We have come to sojourn in the land, for there is no pasture for your servants' flocks. For the famine is severe in the land of Kana`an. Now therefore, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen."

There was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Mitzrayim and the land of Kana`an fainted by reason of the famine.

Yosef gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Mitzrayim, and in the land of Kana`an, for the grain which they bought: and Yosef brought the money into Par`oh's house.

When the money was all spent in the land of Mitzrayim, and in the land of Kana`an, all the Mitzrim came to Yosef, and said, "Give us bread, for why should we die in your presence? For our money fails."

Yosef said, "Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fails."

They brought their cattle to Yosef, and Yosef gave them bread in exchange for the horses, and for the flocks, and for the herds, and for the donkeys: and he fed them with bread in exchange for all their cattle for that year.

Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants to Par`oh. Give us seed, that we may live, and not die, and that the land won't be desolate."

So Yosef bought all the land of Mitzrayim for Par`oh, for the Mitzrim sold every man his field, because the famine was severe on them, and the land became Par`oh's.

As for the people, he moved them to the cities from one end of the border of Mitzrayim even to the other end of it.

Only he didn't buy the land of the Kohanim, for the Kohanim had a portion from Par`oh, and ate their portion which Par`oh gave them. That is why they didn't sell their land.

Then Yosef said to the people, "Behold, I have bought you and your land today for Par`oh. Behold, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land.

It will happen at the harvests, that you shall give a fifth to Par`oh, and four parts will be your own, for seed of the field, for your food, for them of your households, and for food for your little ones."

and said to me, 'Behold, I will make you fruitful, and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples, and will give this land to your seed after you for an everlasting possession.'

As for me, when I came from Paddan, Rachel died by me in the land of Kana`an in the way, when there was still some distance to come to Efrat, and I buried her there in the way to Efrat (the same is Beit-Lechem)."

Now the eyes of Yisra'el were dim for age, so that he couldn't see. He brought them near to him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.