45Genesis 45

Joseph Tells His Brothers Who He Is

1Since Joseph could no longer control his feelings in front of his servants, he sent them out of the room. When he was alone with his brothers, he told them, “I am Joseph.”Select Genesis 45:1

2Then he cried so loudly that the Egyptians heard him and told about it in the king's palace.Select Genesis 45:2

3Joseph asked his brothers if his father was still alive, but they were too frightened to answer.Select Genesis 45:3

4Joseph told them to come closer to him, and when they did, he said: Yes, I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt.Select Genesis 45:4

5Don't worry or blame yourselves for what you did. God is the one who sent me ahead of you to save lives.Select Genesis 45:5

6There has already been a famine for two years, and for five more years no one will plow fields or harvest grain.Select Genesis 45:6

7But God sent me on ahead of you to keep your families alive and to save you in this wonderful way.Select Genesis 45:7

8After all, you weren't really the ones who sent me here—it was God. He made me the highest official in the king's court and placed me over all Egypt.Select Genesis 45:8

9Now hurry back and tell my father that his son Joseph says, “God has made me ruler of Egypt. Come here as quickly as you can.Select Genesis 45:9

10You will live near me in the region of Goshen with your children and grandchildren, as well as with your sheep, goats, cattle, and everything else you own.Select Genesis 45:10

11I will take care of you there during the next five years of famine. But if you don't come, you and your family and your animals will starve to death.”Select Genesis 45:11

12All of you, including my brother Benjamin, can tell by what I have said that I really am Joseph.Select Genesis 45:12

13Tell my father about my great power here in Egypt and about everything you have seen. Hurry and bring him here.Select Genesis 45:13

14Joseph and Benjamin hugged each other and started crying.Select Genesis 45:14

15Joseph was still crying as he kissed each of his other brothers. After this, they started talking with Joseph.Select Genesis 45:15

16When it was told in the palace that Joseph's brothers had come, the king and his officials were happy.Select Genesis 45:16

17So the king said to Joseph: Tell your brothers to load their donkeys and return to Canaan.Select Genesis 45:17

18Tell them to bring their father and their families here. I will give them the best land in Egypt, and they can eat and enjoy everything that grows there.Select Genesis 45:18

19Also tell your brothers to take some wagons from Egypt for their wives and children to ride in. And be sure they bring their father.Select Genesis 45:19

20They can leave their possessions behind, because they will be given the best of everything in Egypt.Select Genesis 45:20

21Jacob's sons agreed to do what the king had said. And Joseph gave them wagons and food for their trip home, just as the king had ordered.Select Genesis 45:21

22Joseph gave some new clothes to each of his brothers, but to Benjamin he gave five new outfits and 300 pieces of silver.Select Genesis 45:22

23To his father he sent ten donkeys loaded with the best things in Egypt, and ten other donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other food for the return trip.Select Genesis 45:23

24Then he sent his brothers off and told them, “Don't argue on the way home!”Select Genesis 45:24

25Joseph's brothers left Egypt, and when they arrived in Canaan,Select Genesis 45:25

26they told their father that Joseph was still alive and was the ruler of Egypt. But their father was so surprised that he could not believe them.Select Genesis 45:26

27Then they told him everything Joseph had said. When he saw the wagons Joseph had sent, he felt much betterSelect Genesis 45:27

28and said, “Now I can believe you! My son Joseph must really be alive, and I will get to see him before I die.”Select Genesis 45:28