35 As they were emptying their sacks, each man found his bag of money in his sack. When they and their father saw the bags of money, they were frightened. 36 Their father Jacob said to them, "You're going to make me lose all my children! Joseph is no longer with us, Simeon is no longer with us, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything's against me!"

37 So Reuben said to his father, "You may put my two sons to death if I don't bring him back to you. Let me take care of him, and I'll bring him back to you."

38 Jacob replied, "My son will not go with you. His brother is dead, and he's the only one left. If any harm comes to him on the trip you're taking, the grief would drive this gray-haired old man to his grave!"

Jacob [Israel] Sends Ten Sons Back to Egypt 43 1 The famine was severe in the land. 2 When they finished eating the grain they had brought from Egypt, Israel said to his sons, "Go back and buy us a little more food."

3 Judah said to him, "The man gave us a severe warning: 'You won't be allowed to see me again unless your brother is with you.' 4 If you let our brother go with us, we'll go and buy food for you. 5 If you won't let him go, we won't go. The man said to us, 'You won't be allowed to see me again unless your brother is with you.'"

6 Israel asked, "Why have you made trouble for me by telling the man you had another brother?"

7 They answered, "The man kept asking about us and our family: 'Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?' We simply answered his questions. How could we possibly know he would say, 'Bring your brother here'?"

8 Then Judah said to his father Israel, "Send the boy along with me. Let's get going so that we won't starve to death. 9 I guarantee that he will come back. You can hold me responsible for him. If I don't bring him back to you and place him here in front of you, you can blame me the rest of my life. 10 If we hadn't waited so long, we could have made this trip twice by now."

11 Then their father Israel said to them, "If that's the way it has to be, then take the man a gift. Put some of the best products of the land in your bags. Take a little balm, a little honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds. 12 Take twice as much money with you. You must return the money that was put back in your sacks. Maybe it was a mistake. 13 Take your brother, and go back to the man. 14 May El Shadday make him merciful to you so that he will send your other brother and Benjamin home with you. If I lose my children, I lose my children."

15 The men took the gifts, twice as much money, and Benjamin. They went to Egypt, where they presented themselves to Joseph.

The Banquet at Joseph's House 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the man in charge of his house, "Take these men to my house. Butcher an animal, and prepare a meal, because they are going to eat with me at noon."

17 So the man did as Joseph said and took them to Joseph's house. 18 The men were frightened, because they had been brought to Joseph's house. They thought, "We've been brought here because of the money that was put back into our sacks the first time. They're going to attack us, overpower us, take our donkeys, and make us slaves."

19 So they came to the man in charge of Joseph's house and spoke to him at the door. 20 "Please, sir," they said, "we came here to buy food once before. 21 When we stopped for the night, we opened our sacks, and each man found all of his money inside. So we brought it back with us. 22 We also brought more money to buy food. We have no idea who put our money back in our sacks."

23 "It's alright," he said. "Don't be afraid! Your Elohim , the Elohim of your father, must have given you treasure in your sacks. I received your money." Then he brought Simeon out to them.

24 The man took the brothers into Joseph's house. He gave them water to wash their feet and feed for their donkeys. 25 They got their gifts ready for Joseph's return at noon, because they had heard they were going to eat there.

26 When Joseph came home, they gave him the gifts they had brought to the house. Then they bowed to him with their faces touching the ground. 27 He asked them how they were. Then he said, "You told me about your elderly father. How is he? Is he still alive?"

28 They answered, "Yes, sir. Our father is alive and well." Then they knelt, bowing down.

29 As Joseph looked around, he saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son. "Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?" he asked. "God be gracious to you, my son," he said. 30 Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, he hurried away, looking for a place to cry. He went into his private room and cried there.

31 Then he washed his face and came out. He was in control of his emotions when he said, "Serve the food."

32 He was served separately from his brothers. The Egyptians who were there with him were also served separately, because they found it offensive to eat with Hebrews. 33 The brothers were seated facing him according to their ages-from the oldest to the youngest. They looked at each other in amazement.

34 Joseph had portions of food brought to them from his table, but Benjamin's portion was five times more than any of the others. So they ate and drank with Joseph until they were drunk.

Jacob

Isaac's son tricked his way to an inheritance, was tricked himself by his father-in-law, and showed a tenacious quality in both his life and faith. He called God Yahweh (Gen. 27:20) Elohim (Gen. 28:17) El Shadday (Gen. 43:14)

Joseph's Plan to Trap His Brothers 44 1 Joseph commanded the man in charge of his house, "Fill the men's sacks with as much food as they can carry. Put each man's money in his sack. 2 Then put my silver cup in the youngest brother's sack along with the money for his grain." He did what Joseph told him.

3 At dawn the men were sent on their way with their donkeys. 4 They had not gone far from the city when Joseph said to the man in charge of his house, "Go after those men at once, and when you catch up with them, say to them, 'Why have you paid me back with evil when I was good to you? 5 Isn't this the cup that my master drinks from and that he uses for telling the future? What you have done is evil!'"

6 When he caught up with them, he repeated these words to them. 7 They answered him, "Sir, how can you say such things? We would never think of doing anything like that! 8 We brought the money we found in our sacks back from Canaan. So why would we steal any silver or gold from your master's house? 9 If one of us has it, he will die, and the rest of us will become your slaves."

10 "I agree," he said. "We'll do what you've said. The man who has the cup will be my slave, and the rest of you can go free."

11 Each one quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it. 12 Then the man made a thorough search. He began with the oldest and ended with the youngest. The cup was found in Benjamin's sack. 13 When they saw this, they tore their clothes in grief. Then each one loaded his donkey and went back into the city.

14 Judah and his brothers arrived at Joseph's house while Joseph was still there. Immediately, they bowed with their faces touching the ground. 15 Joseph asked them, "What have you done? Don't you know that a man like me can find things out because he knows the future?"

16 "Sir, what can we say to you?" Judah asked. "How else can we explain it? How can we prove we're innocent? Elohim has uncovered our guilt. Now all of us are your slaves, including the one who had the cup."

17 But Joseph said, "I would never think of doing that! Only the man who had the cup will be my slave. The rest of you can go back to your father in peace."

Judah Defends Benjamin 18 Then Judah went up to Joseph and said, "Please, sir, let me speak openly with you. Don't be angry with me, although you are equal to Pharaoh. 19 Sir, you asked us, 'Do you have a father or a brother?' 20 We answered, 'We have a father who is old and a younger brother born to him when he was already old. The boy's brother is dead, so he's the only one of his mother's sons left, and his father loves him.'

21 "Then you said to us, 'Bring him here to me so that I can see him myself.' 22 We replied, 'The boy can't leave his father. If the boy leaves him, his father will die.' 23 Then you told us, 'If your youngest brother doesn't come here with you, you will never be allowed to see me again.' 24 When we went back to our father, we told him what you had said.

25 "Then our father said, 'Go back and buy us a little more food.' 26 We answered, 'We can't go back. We can only go back if our youngest brother is with us. The man won't see us unless our youngest brother is with us.'

27 "Then our father said to us, 'You know that my wife Rachel gave me two sons. 28 One is gone, and I said, "He must have been torn to pieces!" I haven't seen him since. 29 If you take this one away from me too and anything happens to him, you'll drive this gray-haired old man to his grave.'

30 "Our father's life is wrapped up with the boy's life. If I come home without the boy 31 and he sees that the boy isn't with me, he'll die. The grief would drive our gray-haired old father to his grave.

32 "I guaranteed my father that the boy would come back. I said, 'If I don't bring him back to you, then you can blame me the rest of my life, Father.' 33 Sir, please let me stay and be your slave in the boy's place, and let the boy go back with his brothers. 34 How could I go back to my father if the boy isn't with me? I couldn't bear to see my father's misery!"

Joseph Reveals His Identity 45 1 Joseph could no longer control his emotions in front of everyone who was standing around him, so he cried out, "Have everyone leave me!" No one else was there when Joseph told his brothers who he was. 2 He cried so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh's household heard about it.

3 Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?" His brothers could not answer him because they were afraid of him.

4 "Please come closer to me," Joseph said to his brothers. When they did so, he said, "I am Joseph, the brother you sold into slavery in Egypt! 5 Now, don't be sad or angry with yourselves that you sold me. Elohim sent me ahead of you to save lives. 6 The famine has been in the land for two years. There will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. 7 Elohim sent me ahead of you to make sure that you would have descendants on the earth and to save your lives in an amazing way. 8 It wasn't you who sent me here, but Elohim. He has made me like a father to Pharaoh, lord over his entire household, and ruler of Egypt.

9 "Hurry back to my father, and say to him, 'This is what your son Joseph says, "Elohim has made me lord of Egypt. Come here to me right away! 10 Live in the land of Goshen, where you will be near me. Live there with your children and your grandchildren, as well as your flocks, your herds, and everything you have. 11 I will provide for you in Egypt, since there will be five more years of famine. Then you, your family, and all who belong to you won't lose everything."'

12 "You and my brother Benjamin can see for yourselves that I am the one who is speaking to you. 13 Tell my father how greatly honored I am in Egypt and about everything you have seen. Hurry and bring my father here!"

14 He threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and cried with Benjamin, who was crying on his shoulder. 15 He kissed all his brothers and cried with them. After that his brothers talked with him.

Pharaoh Invites Jacob's [Israel's] Family to Live in Egypt 16 When Pharaoh's household heard the news that Joseph's brothers had come, Pharaoh and his officials were pleased. 17 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Say to your brothers, 'Load up your animals, and go back to Canaan. 18 Take your father and your families, and come to me. I will give you the best land in Egypt. Then you can enjoy the best food in the land.'

19 "Give them this order: 'Take wagons with you from Egypt for your children and your wives. Bring your father, and come back. 20 Don't worry about your belongings because the best of everything in Egypt is yours.'"

21 Israel's sons did as they were told. Joseph gave them wagons and supplies for their trip as Pharaoh had ordered. 22 He gave each of them a change of clothes, but he gave Benjamin three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of clothes. 23 He sent his father ten male donkeys carrying Egypt's best products and ten female donkeys carrying grain, bread, and food for his father's trip. 24 So Joseph sent his brothers on their way. As they were leaving, he said to them, "Don't quarrel on your way back!"

25 So they left Egypt and came to their father Jacob in Canaan. 26 They told him, "Joseph is still alive! Yes, he is ruler of Egypt." Jacob was stunned and didn't believe them. 27 Yet, when they told their father everything Joseph had said to them and he saw the wagons Joseph had sent to bring him back, his spirits were lifted.

28 "You have convinced me!" Israel said. "My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die."

Jacob's [Israel's] Seventh Encounter with God 46 1 Israel moved with all he had. When he came to Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the Elohim of his father Isaac.

2 Elohim spoke to Israel in a vision that night and said, "Jacob, Jacob!"

"Here I am," he answered.

3 "I am El, the Elohim of your father," he said. "Don't be afraid to go to Egypt, because I will make you a great nation there. 4 I will go with you to Egypt, and I will make sure you come backagain. Joseph will close your eyes when you die."

5 So Jacob left Beersheba. Israel's sons put their father Jacob, their children, and their wives in the wagons Pharaoh had sent to bring him back. 6 They also took their livestock and the possessions they had accumulated in Canaan.

Jacob and all his family arrived in Egypt. 7 He had brought his sons, his grandsons, his daughters, and his granddaughters-his entire family.

Jacob's [Israel's] Descendants-Exodus 6:14-16; 1 Chronicles 2:3-5 8 These are the names of Israel's descendants (Jacob and his descendants) who arrived in Egypt.

Reuben was Jacob's firstborn.

9 The sons of Reuben were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

10 The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman.

11 The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

12 The sons of Judah were Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah. (Er and Onan had died in Canaan.) The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.

13 The sons of Issachar were Tola, Puvah, Iob, and Shimron.

14 The sons of Zebulun were Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.

15 These were the descendants of the sons Leah gave to Jacob in Paddan Aram, in addition to his daughter Dinah. The total number of these sons and daughters was 33.

16 The sons of Gad were Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.

17 The sons of Asher were Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah. Their sister was Serah.

The sons of Beriah were Heber and Malchiel.

18 These were the descendants of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Leah. She gave birth to these children for Jacob. The total was 16.

19 The sons of Jacob's wife Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin.

20 In Egypt, Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph by Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, priest from the city of On.

21 The sons of Benjamin were Bela, Beker, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.

22 These were the descendants of Rachel who were born to Jacob. The total was 14.

23 The son of Dan was Hushim.

24 The sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.

25 These were the descendants of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Rachel. She gave birth to these sons for Jacob. The total was 7.

26 The total number of Jacob's direct descendants who went with him to Egypt was 66. This didn't include the wives of Jacob's sons. 27 Joseph had two sons who were born in Egypt. The grand total of people in Jacob's household who went to Egypt was 70.

Joseph and Jacob [Israel] Reunited 28 Israel sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen. When Israel's family arrived in the region of Goshen, 29 Joseph prepared his chariot and went to meet his father Israel. As soon as he saw his father, he threw his arms around him and cried on his shoulder a long time.

30 Israel said to Joseph, "Now that I've seen for myself that you're still alive, I'm ready to die."

31 Then Joseph said to his brothers and his father's family, "I'm going to Pharaoh to tell him, 'My brothers and my father's family, who were in Canaan, have come to me. 32 The men are shepherds. They take care of livestock. They've brought their flocks and herds and everything they own.' 33 Now, when Pharaoh calls for you and asks, 'What kind of work do you do?' 34 you must answer, 'We have taken care of herds all our lives, as our ancestors have done.' You must say this so that you may live in the region of Goshen, because all shepherds are disgusting to Egyptians."

Jacob [Israel] Meets Pharaoh 47 1 Joseph went and told Pharaoh, "My father and my brothers have arrived from Canaan with their flocks, herds, and everything they have. Now they are in Goshen." 2 Since he had taken five of his brothers with him, he presented them to Pharaoh.

3 Pharaoh asked the brothers, "What kind of work do you do?"

They answered Pharaoh, "We are shepherds, as were our ancestors. 4 We have come to live in this land for a while. The famine is so severe in Canaan that there's no pasture for our flocks. So please let us live in Goshen."

5 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Your father and your brothers have come to you. 6 All of Egypt is available to you. Have your father and your brothers live in the best part of the land. Let them live in Goshen. If they are qualified, put them in charge of my livestock."

7 Then Joseph brought his father Jacob and had him stand in front of Pharaoh. Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 8 Pharaoh asked him, "How old are you?"

9 Jacob answered Pharaoh, "The length of my stay on earth has been 130 years. The years of my life have been few and difficult, fewer than my ancestors' years." 10 Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh and left.

11 As Pharaoh had ordered, Joseph had his father and his brothers live in the best part of Egypt, the region of Rameses. He gave them property there. 12 Joseph also provided his father, his brothers, and all his father's family with food based on the number of children they had.