The First Book of Moses: Genesis

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- Kapitel 45 -

Joseph could no longer refrain himself before many that stood by: whereupon he commanded that all should go out, and no stranger be present at their knowing one another.

And he lifted up his voice with weeping, which the Egyptians and all the house of Pharao heard.

And he said to his brethren: I am Joseph: is my father yet living? His brethren could not answer him, being struck with exceeding great fear.

And he said mildly to them: Come nearer to me. And when they were come near him, he said: I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.

Be not afraid, and let it not seem to you a hard case that you sold me into these countries: for God sent me before you into Egypt for your preservation.

For it is two years since the famine began to be upon the land, and five years more remain, wherein there can be neither ploughing nor reaping.

And God sent me before, that you may be preserved upon the earth, and may have food to live.

Not by your counsel was I sent hither, but by the will of God: who hath made me as it were a father to Pharao, and lord of his whole house, and governor in all the land of Egypt.

Joseph Sends for His Father

Make haste, and go ye up to my father, and say to him: Thus saith thy son Joseph: God hath made me lord of the whole land of Egypt: come down to me, linger not.

And thou shalt dwell in the land of Gessen: and thou shalt be near me, thou and thy sons, and thy sons’ sons, thy sheep, and thy herds, and all things that thou hast.

And there I will feed thee, (for there are yet five years of famine remaining), lest both thou perish, and thy house, and all things that thou hast.

Behold, your eyes, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth that speaketh to you.

You shall tell my father of all my glory, and all things that you have seen in Egypt: make haste and bring him to me.

And falling upon the neck of his brother Benjamin, he embraced him and wept: and Benjamin in like manner wept also on his neck.

And Joseph kissed all his brethren, and wept upon every one of them: after which they were emboldened to speak to him.

Pharaoh Invites Jacob to Egypt

And it was heard, and the fame was abroad in the king’s court: The brethren of Joseph are come: and Pharao with all his family was glad.

And he spoke to Joseph that he should give orders to his brethren, saying: Load your beasts, and go into the land of Chanaan.

And bring away from thence your father and kindred, and come to me: and I will give you all the good things of Egypt, that you may eat the marrow of the land.

Give orders also that they take wagons out of the land of Egypt, for the carriage of their children and their wives: and say: Take up your father, and make haste to come with all speed:

And leave nothing of your household stuff: for all the riches of Egypt shall be yours.

And the sons of Israel did as they were bid. And Joseph gave them wagons according to Pharao’s commandment: and provisions for the way.

He ordered also to be brought out for every one of them two robes: but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver with five robes of the best:

Sending to his father as much money and raiment, adding besides ten he asses to carry off all the riches of Egypt, and as many she asses, carrying wheat and bread for the journey.

So he sent away his brethren, and at their departing said to them: Be not angry in the way.

The Revival of Jacob

And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Chanaan to their father Jacob.

And they told him, saying: Joseph thy son is living: and he is ruler in all the land of Egypt. Which when Jacob heard, he awaked as it were out of a deep sleep, yet did not believe them.

They, on the other side, told the whole order of the thing. And when he saw the wagons and all that he had sent his spirit revived,

And he said: It is enough for me, if Joseph my son be yet living: I will go and see him before I die.

Then Joseph couldn’t control himself before all those who stood before him, and he called out, “Cause everyone to go out from me!” No one else stood with him, while Joseph made himself known to his brothers.

He wept aloud. The Egyptians heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard.

Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Does my father still live?” His brothers couldn’t answer him; for they were terrified at his presence.

Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” They came near. He said, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.

Now don’t be grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.

For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are yet five years, in which there will be no plowing and no harvest.

God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to save you alive by a great deliverance.

So now it wasn’t you who sent me here, but God, and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

Joseph Sends for His Father

Hurry, and go up to my father, and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says, “God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me. Don’t wait.

You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you will be near to me, you, your children, your children’s children, your flocks, your herds, and all that you have.

There I will provide for you; for there are yet five years of famine; lest you come to poverty, you, and your household, and all that you have.”’

Behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaks to you.

You shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. You shall hurry and bring my father down here.”

He fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck.

He kissed all his brothers, and wept on them. After that his brothers talked with him.

Pharaoh Invites Jacob to Egypt

The report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come.” It pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.

Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals, and go, travel to the land of Canaan.

Take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land.’

Now you are commanded to do this: Take wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.

Also, don’t concern yourselves about your belongings, for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.”

The sons of Israel did so. Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.

He gave each one of them changes of clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of clothing.

He sent the following to his father: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and provision for his father by the way.

So he sent his brothers away, and they departed. He said to them, “See that you don’t quarrel on the way.”

The Revival of Jacob

They went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan, to Jacob their father.

They told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” His heart fainted, for he didn’t believe them.

They told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them. When he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob, their father, revived.

Israel said, “It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”