Genesis 37-50 (New International Version)

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Show resources Genesis 37-50 New International Version (NIV) Genesis 37 Josephs Dreams Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed the land of !anaan"
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#his is the account of Jacob$s fa%ily line"

Joseph a young %an of seventeen was tending the floc&s with his brothers the sons of 'ilhah and the sons of (ilpah his father$s wives and he brought their father a bad report about the%" Now Israel loved Joseph %ore than any of his other sons because he had been born to hi% in his old age) and he %ade an ornate"a# robe for hi%" $ *hen his brothers saw that their father loved hi% %ore than any of the% they hated hi% and could not spea& a &ind word to hi%" Joseph had a drea% and when he told it to his brothers they hated hi% all the %ore" % +e said to the% ,-isten to this drea% I had. 7 *e were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly %y sheaf rose and stood upright while your sheaves gathered around %ine and bowed down to it"/ +is brothers said to hi% ,0o you intend to reign over us1 *ill you actually rule us1/ And they hated hi% all the %ore because of his drea% and what he had said" #hen he had another drea% and he told it to his brothers" ,-isten / he said ,I had another drea% and this ti%e the sun and %oon and eleven stars were bowing down to %e"/ *hen he told his father as well as his brothers his father rebu&ed hi% and said ,*hat is this drea% you had1 *ill your %other and I and your brothers actually co%e and bow down to the ground before you1/ +is brothers were 2ealous of hi% but his father &ept the %atter in %ind" Joseph (ol) *+ ,is -rothers Now his brothers had gone to gra3e their father$s floc&s near Sheche% 3 and Israel said to Joseph ,As you &now your brothers are gra3ing the floc&s near Sheche%" !o%e I a% going to send you to the%"/ ,Very well / he replied" So he said to hi% ,4o and see if all is well with your brothers and with the floc&s and bring word bac& to %e"/ #hen he sent hi% off fro% the Valley of +ebron" *hen Joseph arrived at Sheche% 5 a %an found hi% wandering around in the fields and as&ed hi% ,*hat are you loo&ing for1/ +e replied ,I$% loo&ing for %y brothers" !an you tell %e where they are gra3ing their floc&s1/ ,#hey have %oved on fro% here / the %an answered" ,I heard the% say 5-et$s go to 0othan"$/ So Joseph went after his brothers and found the% near 0othan" distance and before he reached the% they plotted to &ill hi%"
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'ut they saw hi% in the

,+ere co%es that drea%er6/ they said to each other" !0 ,!o%e now let$s &ill hi% and throw hi% into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious ani%al devoured hi%" #hen we$ll see what co%es of his drea%s"/ *hen 7euben heard this he tried to rescue hi% fro% their hands" ,-et$s not ta&e his life / he said"!! ,0on$t shed any blood" #hrow hi% into this cistern here in the wilderness but don$t lay a hand on hi%"/ 7euben said this to rescue hi% fro% the% and ta&e hi% bac& to his father" So when Joseph ca%e to his brothers they stripped hi% of his robe8the ornate robe he was wearing8 !$ and they too& hi% and threw hi% into the cistern" #he cistern was e%pty) there was no water in it" As they sat down to eat their %eal they loo&ed up and saw a caravan of Ish%aelites co%ing fro% 4ilead" #heir ca%els were loaded with spices bal% and %yrrh and they were on their way to ta&e the% down to 9gypt" Judah said to his brothers ,*hat will we gain if we &ill our brother and cover up his blood1 !7!o%e let$s sell hi% to the Ish%aelites and not lay our hands on hi%) after all he is our brother our own flesh and blood"/ +is brothers agreed" So when the :idianite %erchants ca%e by his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold hi% for twenty she&els"*# of silver to the Ish%aelites who too& hi% to 9gypt" *hen 7euben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not there he tore his clothes" 30 +e went bac& to his brothers and said ,#he boy isn$t there6 *here can I turn now1/ #hen they got Joseph$s robe slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood" 3! #hey too& the ornate robe bac& to their father and said ,*e found this" 9;a%ine it to see whether it is your son$s robe"/ +e recogni3ed it and said ,It is %y son$s robe6 So%e ferocious ani%al has devoured hi%" Joseph has surely been torn to pieces"/ #hen Jacob tore his clothes put on sac&cloth and %ourned for his son %any days" 35 All his sons and daughters ca%e to co%fort hi% but he refused to be co%forted" ,No / he said ,I will continue to %ourn until I 2oin %y son in the grave"/ So his father wept for hi%" :eanwhile the :idianites".# sold Joseph in 9gypt to Potiphar one of Pharaoh$s officials the captain of the guard" Genesis 3& J/)ah an) 0amar At that ti%e Judah left his brothers and went down to stay with a %an of Adulla% na%ed +irah" !#here Judah %et the daughter of a !anaanite %an na%ed Shua" +e %arried her and
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%ade love to her)3 she beca%e pregnant and gave birth to a son who was na%ed 9r" $ She conceived again and gave birth to a son and na%ed hi% Onan" 5 She gave birth to still another son and na%ed hi% Shelah" It was at <e3ib that she gave birth to hi%" Judah got a wife for 9r his firstborn and her na%e was #a%ar" 7 'ut 9r Judah$s firstborn was wic&ed in the -O70$s sight) so the -O70 put hi% to death" #hen Judah said to Onan ,Sleep with your brother$s wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother=in=law to raise up offspring for your brother"/ ' 'ut Onan &new that the child would not be his) so whenever he slept with his brother$s wife he spilled his se%en on the ground to &eep fro% providing offspring for his brother" 0 *hat he did was wic&ed in the -O70$s sight) so the -O70 put hi% to death also" Judah then said to his daughter=in=law #a%ar ,-ive as a widow in your father$s household until %y son Shelah grows up"/ >or he thought ,+e %ay die too 2ust li&e his brothers"/ So #a%ar went to live in her father$s household" After a long ti%e Judah$s wife the daughter of Shua died" *hen Judah had recovered fro% his grief he went up to #i%nah to the %en who were shearing his sheep and his friend +irah the Adulla%ite went with hi%" *hen #a%ar was told ,?our father=in=law is on his way to #i%nah to shear his sheep / $ she too& off her widow$s clothes covered herself with a veil to disguise herself and then sat down at the entrance to 9nai% which is on the road to #i%nah" >or she saw that though Shelah had now grown up she had not been given to hi% as his wife" *hen Judah saw her he thought she was a prostitute for she had covered her face" % Not reali3ing that she was his daughter=in=law he went over to her by the roadside and said ,!o%e now let %e sleep with you"/ ,And what will you give %e to sleep with you1/ she as&ed"
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,I$ll send you a young goat fro% %y floc& / he said"

,*ill you give %e so%ething as a pledge until you send it1/ she as&ed"
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+e said ,*hat pledge should I give you1/

,?our seal and its cord and the staff in your hand / she answered" So he gave the% to her and slept with her and she beca%e pregnant by hi%" ' After she left she too& off her veil and put on her widow$s clothes again" :eanwhile Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adulla%ite in order to get his pledge bac& fro% the wo%an but he did not find her" ! +e as&ed the %en who lived there ,*here is the shrine prostitute who was beside the road at 9nai%1/ ,#here hasn$t been any shrine prostitute here / they said"
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So he went bac& to Judah and said ,I didn$t find her" 'esides the %en who lived there said 5#here hasn$t been any shrine prostitute here"$/ #hen Judah said ,-et her &eep what she has or we will beco%e a laughingstoc&" After all I did send her this young goat but you didn$t find her"/ About three %onths later Judah was told ,?our daughter=in=law #a%ar is guilty of prostitution and as a result she is now pregnant"/ Judah said ,'ring her out and have her burned to death6/ As she was being brought out she sent a %essage to her father=in=law" ,I a% pregnant by the %an who owns these / she said" And she added ,See if you recogni3e whose seal and cord and staff these are"/ Judah recogni3ed the% and said ,She is %ore righteous than I since I wouldn$t give her to %y son Shelah"/ And he did not sleep with her again" *hen the ti%e ca%e for her to give birth there were twin boys in her wo%b" !& As she was giving birth one of the% put out his hand) so the %idwife too& a scarlet thread and tied it on his wrist and said ,#his one ca%e out first"/ !' 'ut when he drew bac& his hand his brother ca%e out and she said ,So this is how you have bro&en out6/ And he was na%ed Pere3" ")# 30 #hen his brother who had the scarlet thread on his wrist ca%e out" And he was na%ed (erah""e# Genesis 3' Joseph an) 1otiphars 2i3e Now Joseph had been ta&en down to 9gypt" Potiphar an 9gyptian who was one of Pharaoh$s officials the captain of the guard bought hi% fro% the Ish%aelites who had ta&en hi% there" #he -O70 was with Joseph so that he prospered and he lived in the house of his 9gyptian %aster"3 *hen his %aster saw that the -O70 was with hi% and that the -O70 gave hi% success in everything he did $ Joseph found favor in his eyes and beca%e his attendant" Potiphar put hi% in charge of his household and he entrusted to his care everything he owned" 5 >ro% the ti%e he put hi% in charge of his household and of all that he owned the -O70 blessed the household of the 9gyptian because of Joseph" #he blessing of the -O70 was on everything Potiphar had both in the house and in the field" % So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph$s care) with Joseph in charge he did not concern hi%self with anything e;cept the food he ate" Now Joseph was well=built and handso%e 7 and after a while his %aster$s wife too& notice of Joseph and said ,!o%e to bed with %e6/ 'ut he refused" ,*ith %e in charge / he told her ,%y %aster does not concern hi%self with anything in the house) everything he owns he has entrusted to %y care" ' No one is
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greater in this house than I a%" :y %aster has withheld nothing fro% %e e;cept you because you are his wife" +ow then could I do such a wic&ed thing and sin against 4od1/ 0 And though she spo&e to Joseph day after day he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her" One day he went into the house to attend to his duties and none of the household servants was inside" ! She caught hi% by his cloa& and said ,!o%e to bed with %e6/ 'ut he left his cloa& in her hand and ran out of the house" *hen she saw that he had left his cloa& in her hand and had run out of the house $ she called her household servants" ,-oo& / she said to the% ,this +ebrew has been brought to us to %a&e sport of us6 +e ca%e in here to sleep with %e but I screa%ed" 5 *hen he heard %e screa% for help he left his cloa& beside %e and ran out of the house"/ She &ept his cloa& beside her until his %aster ca%e ho%e" 7 #hen she told hi% this story. ,#hat +ebrew slave you brought us ca%e to %e to %a&e sport of %e" & 'ut as soon as I screa%ed for help he left his cloa& beside %e and ran out of the house"/ *hen his %aster heard the story his wife told hi% saying ,#his is how your slave treated %e / he burned with anger" !0 Joseph$s %aster too& hi% and put hi% in prison the place where the &ing$s prisoners were confined" 'ut while Joseph was there in the prison ! the -O70 was with hi%) he showed hi% &indness and granted hi% favor in the eyes of the prison warden" !! So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison and he was %ade responsible for all that was done there" !3 #he warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph$s care because the -O70 was with Joseph and gave hi% success in whatever he did" Genesis $0 0he 4/p*earer an) the -a5er So%e ti%e later the cupbearer and the ba&er of the &ing of 9gypt offended their %aster the &ing of 9gypt" ! Pharaoh was angry with his two officials the chief cupbearer and the chief ba&er 3 and put the% in custody in the house of the captain of the guard in the sa%e prison where Joseph was confined" $ #he captain of the guard assigned the% to Joseph and he attended the%" After they had been in custody for so%e ti%e 5 each of the two %en8the cupbearer and the ba&er of the &ing of 9gypt who were being held in prison8had a drea% the sa%e night and each drea% had a %eaning of its own" *hen Joseph ca%e to the% the ne;t %orning he saw that they were de2ected" 7 So he as&ed Pharaoh$s officials who were in custody with hi% in his %aster$s house ,*hy do you loo& so sad today1/
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,*e both had drea%s / they answered ,but there is no one to interpret the%"/

#hen Joseph said to the% ,0o not interpretations belong to 4od1 #ell %e your drea%s"/ So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his drea%" +e said to hi% ,In %y drea% I saw a vine in front of %e 0 and on the vine were three branches" As soon as it budded it blosso%ed and its clusters ripened into grapes" Pharaoh$s cup was in %y hand and I too& the grapes s@uee3ed the% into Pharaoh$s cup and put the cup in his hand"/ ,#his is what it %eans / Joseph said to hi%" ,#he three branches are three days" 3 *ithin three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position and you will put Pharaoh$s cup in his hand 2ust as you used to do when you were his cupbearer" $ 'ut when all goes well with you re%e%ber %e and show %e &indness) %ention %e to Pharaoh and get %e out of this prison" 5 I was forcibly carried off fro% the land of the +ebrews and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon"/ *hen the chief ba&er saw that Joseph had given a favorable interpretation he said to Joseph ,I too had a drea%. On %y head were three bas&ets of bread""3# 7 In the top bas&et were all &inds of ba&ed goods for Pharaoh but the birds were eating the% out of the bas&et on %y head"/ ,#his is what it %eans / Joseph said" ,#he three bas&ets are three days" ' *ithin three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and i%pale your body on a pole" And the birds will eat away your flesh"/ Now the third day was Pharaoh$s birthday and he gave a feast for all his officials" +e lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief ba&er in the presence of his officials. ! +e restored the chief cupbearer to his position so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh$s hand8 !! but he i%paled the chief ba&er 2ust as Joseph had said to the% in his interpretation"
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#he chief cupbearer however did not re%e%ber Joseph) he forgot hi%"

Genesis $ 1haraohs Dreams *hen two full years had passed Pharaoh had a drea%. +e was standing by the Nile ! when out of the river there ca%e up seven cows slee& and fat and they gra3ed a%ong the reeds" 3 After the% seven other cows ugly and gaunt ca%e up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverban&" $And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven slee& fat cows" #hen Pharaoh wo&e up" +e fell asleep again and had a second drea%. Seven heads of grain healthy and good were growing on a single stal&" % After the% seven other heads of grain sprouted8thin and scorched by the east wind" 7 #he thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy full heads" #hen Pharaoh wo&e up) it had been a drea%" In the %orning his %ind was troubled so he sent for all the %agicians and wise %en of 9gypt" Pharaoh told the% his drea%s but no one could interpret the% for hi%"
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#hen the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh ,#oday I a% re%inded of %y shortco%ings" 0 Pharaoh was once angry with his servants and he i%prisoned %e and the chief ba&er in the house of the captain of the guard" 9ach of us had a drea% the sa%e night and each drea% had a %eaning of its own" ! Now a young +ebrew was there with us a servant of the captain of the guard" *e told hi% our drea%s and he interpreted the% for us giving each %an the interpretation of his drea%" 3 And things turned out e;actly as he interpreted the% to us. I was restored to %y position and the other %an was i%paled"/ So Pharaoh sent for Joseph and he was @uic&ly brought fro% the dungeon" *hen he had shaved and changed his clothes he ca%e before Pharaoh" Pharaoh said to Joseph ,I had a drea% and no one can interpret it" 'ut I have heard it said of you that when you hear a drea% you can interpret it"/ ,I cannot do it / Joseph replied to Pharaoh ,but 4od will give Pharaoh the answer he desires"/ #hen Pharaoh said to Joseph ,In %y drea% I was standing on the ban& of the Nile & when out of the river there ca%e up seven cows fat and slee& and they gra3ed a%ong the reeds" ' After the% seven other cows ca%e up8scrawny and very ugly and lean" I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of 9gypt" !0 #he lean ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that ca%e up first" ! 'ut even after they ate the% no one could tell that they had done so) they loo&ed 2ust as ugly as before" #hen I wo&e up" ,In %y drea% I saw seven heads of grain full and good growing on a single stal&" !3 After the% seven other heads sprouted8withered and thin and scorched by the east wind" !$ #he thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads" I told this to the %agicians but none of the% could e;plain it to %e"/ #hen Joseph said to Pharaoh ,#he drea%s of Pharaoh are one and the sa%e" 4od has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do" !% #he seven good cows are seven years and the seven good heads of grain are seven years) it is one and the sa%e drea%" !7 #he seven lean ugly cows that ca%e up afterward are seven years and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind. #hey are seven years of fa%ine" ,It is 2ust as I said to Pharaoh. 4od has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do" !' Seven years of great abundance are co%ing throughout the land of 9gypt 30 but seven years of fa%ine will follow the%" #hen all the abundance in 9gypt will be forgotten and the fa%ine will ravage the land" 3 #he abundance in the land will not be re%e%bered because the fa%ine that follows it will be so severe" 3!#he reason the drea% was given to Pharaoh in two for%s is that the %atter has been fir%ly decided by 4od and 4od will do it soon" ,And now let Pharaoh loo& for a discerning and wise %an and put hi% in charge of the land of 9gypt" 3$ -et Pharaoh appoint co%%issioners over the land to ta&e a fifth of the harvest of 9gypt during the seven years of abundance" 35 #hey should collect all the food of these good years that are co%ing and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh to be &ept in the cities for food" 3% #his food should be held in reserve for the country to be used
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during the seven years of fa%ine that will co%e upon 9gypt so that the country %ay not be ruined by the fa%ine"/ #he plan see%ed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials" 3& So Pharaoh as&ed the% ,!an we find anyone li&e this %an one in who% is the spirit of 4od"6#1/ #hen Pharaoh said to Joseph ,Since 4od has %ade all this &nown to you there is no one so discerning and wise as you" $0 ?ou shall be in charge of %y palace and all %y people are to sub%it to your orders" Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you"/ Joseph in 4har6e o3 76+pt So Pharaoh said to Joseph ,I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of 9gypt"/ $! #hen Pharaoh too& his signet ring fro% his finger and put it on Joseph$s finger" +e dressed hi% in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his nec&" $3 +e had hi% ride in a chariot as his second=in=co%%and "h# and people shouted before hi% ,:a&e way"i#6/ #hus he put hi% in charge of the whole land of 9gypt" #hen Pharaoh said to Joseph ,I a% Pharaoh but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all 9gypt"/ $5 Pharaoh gave Joseph the na%e (aphenath=Paneah and gave hi% Asenath daughter of Potiphera priest of On "8# to be his wife" And Joseph went throughout the land of 9gypt" Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh &ing of 9gypt" And Joseph went out fro% Pharaoh$s presence and traveled throughout 9gypt" $7 0uring the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully" $& Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in 9gypt and stored it in the cities" In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it" $' Joseph stored up huge @uantities of grain li&e the sand of the sea) it was so %uch that he stopped &eeping records because it was beyond %easure" 'efore the years of fa%ine ca%e two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera priest of On" 5 Joseph na%ed his firstborn :anasseh"5# and said ,It is because 4od has %ade %e forget all %y trouble and all %y father$s household"/ 5! #he second son he na%ed 9phrai%"l# and said ,It is because 4od has %ade %e fruitful in the land of %y suffering"/ #he seven years of abundance in 9gypt ca%e to an end 5$ and the seven years of fa%ine began 2ust as Joseph had said" #here was fa%ine in all the other lands but in the whole land of 9gypt there was food" 55 *hen all 9gypt began to feel the fa%ine the people cried to Pharaoh for food" #hen Pharaoh told all the 9gyptians ,4o to Joseph and do what he tells you"/ *hen the fa%ine had spread over the whole country Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the 9gyptians for the fa%ine was severe throughout 9gypt" 57 And all the world ca%e to 9gypt to buy grain fro% Joseph because the fa%ine was severe everywhere"
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Genesis $! Josephs -rothers Go to 76+pt *hen Jacob learned that there was grain in 9gypt he said to his sons ,*hy do you 2ust &eep loo&ing at each other1/ ! +e continued ,I have heard that there is grain in 9gypt" 4o down there and buy so%e for us so that we %ay live and not die"/ #hen ten of Joseph$s brothers went down to buy grain fro% 9gypt" $ 'ut Jacob did not send 'en2a%in Joseph$s brother with the others because he was afraid that har% %ight co%e to hi%" 5 So Israel$s sons were a%ong those who went to buy grain for there was fa%ine in the land of !anaan also" Now Joseph was the governor of the land the person who sold grain to all its people" So when Joseph$s brothers arrived they bowed down to hi% with their faces to the ground" 7 As soon as Joseph saw his brothers he recogni3ed the% but he pretended to be a stranger and spo&e harshly to the%" ,*here do you co%e fro%1/ he as&ed" ,>ro% the land of !anaan / they replied ,to buy food"/ Although Joseph recogni3ed his brothers they did not recogni3e hi%" ' #hen he re%e%bered his drea%s about the% and said to the% ,?ou are spies6 ?ou have co%e to see where our land is unprotected"/ ,No %y lord / they answered" ,?our servants have co%e to buy food" sons of one %an" ?our servants are honest %en not spies"/
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*e are all the

,No6/ he said to the%" ,?ou have co%e to see where our land is unprotected"/

'ut they replied ,?our servants were twelve brothers the sons of one %an who lives in the land of !anaan" #he youngest is now with our father and one is no %ore"/ Joseph said to the% ,It is 2ust as I told you. ?ou are spies6 5 And this is how you will be tested. As surely as Pharaoh lives you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother co%es here" %Send one of your nu%ber to get your brother) the rest of you will be &ept in prison so that your words %ay be tested to see if you are telling the truth" If you are not then as surely as Pharaoh lives you are spies6/ 7 And he put the% all in custody for three days" On the third day Joseph said to the% ,0o this and you will live for I fear 4od. ' If you are honest %en let one of your brothers stay here in prison while the rest of you go and ta&e grain bac& for your starving households" !0 'ut you %ust bring your youngest brother to %e so that your words %ay be verified and that you %ay not die"/ #his they proceeded to do" #hey said to one another ,Surely we are being punished because of our brother" *e saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life but we would not listen) that$s why this distress has co%e on us"/
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7euben replied ,0idn$t I tell you not to sin against the boy1 'ut you wouldn$t listen6 Now we %ust give an accounting for his blood"/ !3 #hey did not reali3e that Joseph could understand the% since he was using an interpreter" +e turned away fro% the% and began to weep but then ca%e bac& and spo&e to the% again" +e had Si%eon ta&en fro% the% and bound before their eyes" Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain to put each %an$s silver bac& in his sac& and to give the% provisions for their 2ourney" After this was done for the% !% they loaded their grain on their don&eys and left" At the place where they stopped for the night one of the% opened his sac& to get feed for his don&ey and he saw his silver in the %outh of his sac&" !& ,:y silver has been returned / he said to his brothers" ,+ere it is in %y sac&"/ #heir hearts san& and they turned to each other tre%bling and said ,*hat is this that 4od has done to us1/ *hen they ca%e to their father Jacob in the land of !anaan they told hi% all that had happened to the%" #hey said 30 ,#he %an who is lord over the land spo&e harshly to us and treated us as though we were spying on the land" 3 'ut we said to hi% 5*e are honest %en) we are not spies" 3!*e were twelve brothers sons of one father" One is no %ore and the youngest is now with our father in !anaan"$ ,#hen the %an who is lord over the land said to us 5#his is how I will &now whether you are honest %en. -eave one of your brothers here with %e and ta&e food for your starving households and go" 3$'ut bring your youngest brother to %e so I will &now that you are not spies but honest %en" #hen I will give your brother bac& to you and you can trade"m# in the land"$/ As they were e%ptying their sac&s there in each %an$s sac& was his pouch of silver6 *hen they and their father saw the %oney pouches they were frightened" 3% #heir father Jacob said to the% ,?ou have deprived %e of %y children" Joseph is no %ore and Si%eon is no %ore and now you want to ta&e 'en2a%in" 9verything is against %e6/ #hen 7euben said to his father ,?ou %ay put both of %y sons to death if I do not bring hi% bac& to you" 9ntrust hi% to %y care and I will bring hi% bac&"/ 'ut Jacob said ,:y son will not go down there with you) his brother is dead and he is the only one left" If har% co%es to hi% on the 2ourney you are ta&ing you will bring %y gray head down to the grave in sorrow"/ Genesis $3 0he (e.on) Jo/rne+ to 76+pt Now the fa%ine was still severe in the land" ! So when they had eaten all the grain they had brought fro% 9gypt their father said to the% ,4o bac& and buy us a little %ore food"/
3& 37 35 33 !' !7 !5 !$

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'ut Judah said to hi% ,#he %an warned us sole%nly 5?ou will not see %y face again unless your brother is with you"$ $ If you will send our brother along with us we will go down and buy food for you"5 'ut if you will not send hi% we will not go down because the %an said to us 5?ou will not see %y face again unless your brother is with you"$/ Israel as&ed ,*hy did you bring this trouble on %e by telling the %an you had another brother1/ #hey replied ,#he %an @uestioned us closely about ourselves and our fa%ily" 5Is your father still living1$ he as&ed us" 50o you have another brother1$ *e si%ply answered his @uestions" +ow were we to &now he would say 5'ring your brother down here$1/ #hen Judah said to Israel his father ,Send the boy along with %e and we will go at once so that we and you and our children %ay live and not die" ' I %yself will guarantee his safety) you can hold %e personally responsible for hi%" If I do not bring hi% bac& to you and set hi% here before you I will bear the bla%e before you all %y life" 0 As it is if we had not delayed we could have gone and returned twice"/ #hen their father Israel said to the% ,If it %ust be then do this. Put so%e of the best products of the land in your bags and ta&e the% down to the %an as a gift8a little bal% and a little honey so%e spices and %yrrh so%e pistachio nuts and al%onds" ! #a&e double the a%ount of silver with you for you %ust return the silver that was put bac& into the %ouths of your sac&s" Perhaps it was a %ista&e" 3 #a&e your brother also and go bac& to the %an at once" $ And %ay 4od Al%ighty"n# grant you %ercy before the %an so that he will let your other brother and 'en2a%in co%e bac& with you" As for %e if I a% bereaved I a% bereaved"/ So the %en too& the gifts and double the a%ount of silver and 'en2a%in also" #hey hurried down to 9gypt and presented the%selves to Joseph" % *hen Joseph saw 'en2a%in with the% he said to the steward of his house ,#a&e these %en to %y house slaughter an ani%al and prepare a %eal) they are to eat with %e at noon"/ #he %an did as Joseph told hi% and too& the %en to Joseph$s house" & Now the %en were frightened when they were ta&en to his house" #hey thought ,*e were brought here because of the silver that was put bac& into our sac&s the first ti%e" +e wants to attac& us and overpower us and sei3e us as slaves and ta&e our don&eys"/ So they went up to Joseph$s steward and spo&e to hi% at the entrance to the house" !0 ,*e beg your pardon our lord / they said ,we ca%e down here the first ti%e to buy food" ! 'ut at the place where we stopped for the night we opened our sac&s and each of us found his silver8the e;act weight8in the %outh of his sac&" So we have brought it bac& with us" !! *e have also brought additional silver with us to buy food" *e don$t &now who put our silver in our sac&s"/ ,It$s all right / he said" ,0on$t be afraid" ?our 4od the 4od of your father has given you treasure in your sac&s) I received your silver"/ #hen he brought Si%eon out to the%"
!3 ' 7 5 & 7 %

#he steward too& the %en into Joseph$s house gave the% water to wash their feet and provided fodder for their don&eys" !5 #hey prepared their gifts for Joseph$s arrival at noon because they had heard that they were to eat there" *hen Joseph ca%e ho%e they presented to hi% the gifts they had brought into the house and they bowed down before hi% to the ground" !7 +e as&ed the% how they were and then he said ,+ow is your aged father you told %e about1 Is he still living1/ #hey replied ,?our servant our father is still alive and well"/ And they bowed down prostrating the%selves before hi%" As he loo&ed about and saw his brother 'en2a%in his own %other$s son he as&ed ,Is this your youngest brother the one you told %e about1/ And he said ,4od be gracious to you %y son"/ 300eeply %oved at the sight of his brother Joseph hurried out and loo&ed for a place to weep" +e went into his private roo% and wept there"
3 !' !& !%

!$

After he had washed his face he ca%e out and controlling hi%self said ,Serve the food"/

#hey served hi% by hi%self the brothers by the%selves and the 9gyptians who ate with hi% by the%selves because 9gyptians could not eat with +ebrews for that is detestable to 9gyptians" 33 #he %en had been seated before hi% in the order of their ages fro% the firstborn to the youngest) and they loo&ed at each other in astonish%ent" 3$ *hen portions were served to the% fro% Joseph$s table 'en2a%in$s portion was five ti%es as %uch as anyone else$s" So they feasted and dran& freely with hi%" Genesis $$ 9 (il:er 4/p in a (a.5 Now Joseph gave these instructions to the steward of his house. ,>ill the %en$s sac&s with as %uch food as they can carry and put each %an$s silver in the %outh of his sac&" ! #hen put %y cup the silver one in the %outh of the youngest one$s sac& along with the silver for his grain"/ And he did as Joseph said" As %orning dawned the %en were sent on their way with their don&eys" $ #hey had not gone far fro% the city when Joseph said to his steward ,4o after those %en at once and when you catch up with the% say to the% 5*hy have you repaid good with evil1 5 Isn$t this the cup %y %aster drin&s fro% and also uses for divination1 #his is a wic&ed thing you have done"$/ *hen he caught up with the% he repeated these words to the%" 7 'ut they said to hi% ,*hy does %y lord say such things1 >ar be it fro% your servants to do anything li&e that6 & *e even brought bac& to you fro% the land of !anaan the silver we found inside the %ouths of our sac&s" So why would we steal silver or gold fro% your %aster$s house1 ' If any of your servants is found to have it he will die) and the rest of us will beco%e %y lord$s slaves"/
% 3

3!

,Very well then / he said ,let it be as you say" *hoever is found to have it will beco%e %y slave) the rest of you will be free fro% bla%e"/ 9ach of the% @uic&ly lowered his sac& to the ground and opened it" ! #hen the steward proceeded to search beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest" And the cup was found in 'en2a%in$s sac&" 3 At this they tore their clothes" #hen they all loaded their don&eys and returned to the city" Joseph was still in the house when Judah and his brothers ca%e in and they threw the%selves to the ground before hi%" 5 Joseph said to the% ,*hat is this you have done1 0on$t you &now that a %an li&e %e can find things out by divination1/ ,*hat can we say to %y lord1/ Judah replied" ,*hat can we say1 +ow can we prove our innocence1 4od has uncovered your servants$ guilt" *e are now %y lord$s slaves8we ourselves and the one who was found to have the cup"/ 'ut Joseph said ,>ar be it fro% %e to do such a thing6 Only the %an who was found to have the cup will beco%e %y slave" #he rest of you go bac& to your father in peace"/ #hen Judah went up to hi% and said. ,Pardon your servant %y lord let %e spea& a word to %y lord" 0o not be angry with your servant though you are e@ual to Pharaoh hi%self" ' :y lord as&ed his servants 50o you have a father or a brother1$ !0 And we answered 5*e have an aged father and there is a young son born to hi% in his old age" +is brother is dead and he is the only one of his %other$s sons left and his father loves hi%"$ ,#hen you said to your servants 5'ring hi% down to %e so I can see hi% for %yself"$ !! And we said to %y lord 5#he boy cannot leave his father) if he leaves hi% his father will die"$ !3 'ut you told your servants 5Anless your youngest brother co%es down with you you will not see %y face again"$ !$*hen we went bac& to your servant %y father we told hi% what %y lord had said" ,#hen our father said 54o bac& and buy a little %ore food"$ !% 'ut we said 5*e cannot go down" Only if our youngest brother is with us will we go" *e cannot see the %an$s face unless our youngest brother is with us"$ ,?our servant %y father said to us 5?ou &now that %y wife bore %e two sons" !& One of the% went away fro% %e and I said ,+e has surely been torn to pieces"/ And I have not seen hi% since" !' If you ta&e this one fro% %e too and har% co%es to hi% you will bring %y gray head down to the grave in %isery"$ ,So now if the boy is not with us when I go bac& to your servant %y father and if %y father whose life is closely bound up with the boy$s life 3 sees that the boy isn$t there he will die" ?our servants will bring the gray head of our father down to the grave in sorrow" 3! ?our servant guaranteed the boy$s safety to %y father" I said 5If I do not bring hi% bac& to you I will bear the bla%e before you %y father all %y life6$
30 !7 !5 ! & 7 % $

,Now then please let your servant re%ain here as %y lord$s slave in place of the boy and let the boy return with his brothers" 3$ +ow can I go bac& to %y father if the boy is not with %e1 No6 0o not let %e see the %isery that would co%e on %y father"/ Genesis $5 Joseph ;a5es ,imsel3 <nown #hen Joseph could no longer control hi%self before all his attendants and he cried out ,+ave everyone leave %y presence6/ So there was no one with Joseph when he %ade hi%self &nown to his brothers" ! And he wept so loudly that the 9gyptians heard hi% and Pharaoh$s household heard about it" Joseph said to his brothers ,I a% Joseph6 Is %y father still living1/ 'ut his brothers were not able to answer hi% because they were terrified at his presence" #hen Joseph said to his brothers ,!o%e close to %e"/ *hen they had done so he said ,I a% your brother Joseph the one you sold into 9gypt6 5 And now do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling %e here because it was to save lives that 4od sent %e ahead of you" % >or two years now there has been fa%ine in the land and for the ne;t five years there will be no plowing and reaping" 7 'ut 4od sent %e ahead of you to preserve for you a re%nant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance""o# ,So then it was not you who sent %e here but 4od" +e %ade %e father to Pharaoh lord of his entire household and ruler of all 9gypt" ' Now hurry bac& to %y father and say to hi% 5#his is what your son Joseph says. 4od has %ade %e lord of all 9gypt" !o%e down to %e) don$t delay" 0 ?ou shall live in the region of 4oshen and be near %e8you your children and grandchildren your floc&s and herds and all you have" I will provide for you there because five years of fa%ine are still to co%e" Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will beco%e destitute"$ ,?ou can see for yourselves and so can %y brother 'en2a%in that it is really I who a% spea&ing to you" 3 #ell %y father about all the honor accorded %e in 9gypt and about everything you have seen" And bring %y father down here @uic&ly"/ #hen he threw his ar%s around his brother 'en2a%in and wept and 'en2a%in e%braced hi% weeping" 5 And he &issed all his brothers and wept over the%" Afterward his brothers tal&ed with hi%" *hen the news reached Pharaoh$s palace that Joseph$s brothers had co%e Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased" 7 Pharaoh said to Joseph ,#ell your brothers 50o this. -oad your ani%als and return to the land of !anaan & and bring your father and your fa%ilies bac& to %e" I will give you the best of the land of 9gypt and you can en2oy the fat of the land"$ ,?ou are also directed to tell the% 50o this. #a&e so%e carts fro% 9gypt for your children and your wives and get your father and co%e" !0 Never %ind about your belongings because the best of all 9gypt will be yours"$/
' % $ ! & $ 3

33

So the sons of Israel did this" Joseph gave the% carts as Pharaoh had co%%anded and he also gave the% provisions for their 2ourney" !! #o each of the% he gave new clothing but to 'en2a%in he gave three hundred she&els"p# of silver and five sets of clothes" !3 And this is what he sent to his father. ten don&eys loaded with the best things of 9gypt and ten fe%ale don&eys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his 2ourney" !$ #hen he sent his brothers away and as they were leaving he said to the% ,0on$t @uarrel on the way6/ So they went up out of 9gypt and ca%e to their father Jacob in the land of !anaan" !% #hey told hi% ,Joseph is still alive6 In fact he is ruler of all 9gypt"/ Jacob was stunned) he did not believe the%" !7 'ut when they told hi% everything Joseph had said to the% and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry hi% bac& the spirit of their father Jacob revived" !& And Israel said ,I$% convinced6 :y son Joseph is still alive" I will go and see hi% before I die"/ Genesis $% Ja.o* Goes to 76+pt So Israel set out with all that was his and when he reached 'eersheba he offered sacrifices to the 4od of his father Isaac"
! !5

And 4od spo&e to Israel in a vision at night and said ,Jacob6 Jacob6/ ,+ere I a% / he replied"

,I a% 4od the 4od of your father / he said" ,0o not be afraid to go down to 9gypt for I will %a&e you into a great nation there" $ I will go down to 9gypt with you and I will surely bring you bac& again" And Joseph$s own hand will close your eyes"/ #hen Jacob left 'eersheba and Israel$s sons too& their father Jacob and their children and their wives in the carts that Pharaoh had sent to transport hi%" % So Jacob and all his offspring went to 9gypt ta&ing with the% their livestoc& and the possessions they had ac@uired in !anaan" 7 Jacob brought with hi% to 9gypt his sons and grandsons and his daughters and granddaughters8all his offspring"
& 5

#hese are the na%es of the sons of Israel (Jacob and his descendants) who went to 9gypt. 7euben the firstborn of Jacob"

'

#he sons of 7euben. +ano& Pallu +e3ron and <ar%i"

0

#he sons of Si%eon. Je%uel Ja%in Ohad Ja&in (ohar and Shaul the son of a !anaanite wo%an" #he sons of -evi. 4ershon <ohath and :erari"

#he sons of Judah. 9r Onan Shelah Pere3 and (erah (but 9r and Onan had died in the land of !anaan)" #he sons of Pere3. +e3ron and +a%ul"

#he sons of Issachar. #ola Puah "=# Jashub"r# and Shi%ron" #he sons of (ebulun. Sered 9lon and Jahleel"

#hese were the sons -eah bore to Jacob in Paddan Ara% "s# besides his daughter 0inah" #hese sons and daughters of his were thirty=three in all"
%

#he sons of 4ad. (ephon "t# +aggi Shuni 93bon 9ri Arodi and Areli" #he sons of Asher. I%nah Ishvah Ishvi and 'eriah" #heir sister was Serah" #he sons of 'eriah. +eber and :al&iel"

#hese were the children born to Jacob by (ilpah who% -aban had given to his daughter -eah8si;teen in all" #he sons of Jacob$s wife 7achel. Joseph and 'en2a%in" !0 In 9gypt :anasseh and 9phrai% were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera priest of On""/#
! '

&

#he sons of 'en2a%in. 'ela 'e&er Ashbel 4era Naa%an 9hi 7osh :uppi% +uppi% and Ard" #hese were the sons of 7achel who were born to Jacob8fourteen in all"

!!

!3

#he son of 0an. +ushi%" #he sons of Naphtali. Jah3iel 4uni Je3er and Shille%"

!$

#hese were the sons born to Jacob by 'ilhah who% -aban had given to his daughter 7achel8seven in all" All those who went to 9gypt with Jacob8those who were his direct descendants not counting his sons$ wives8nu%bered si;ty=si; persons" !7 *ith the two sons":# who had been
!%

!5

born to Joseph in 9gypt the %e%bers of Jacob$s fa%ily which went to 9gypt were seventy"w# in all" Now Jacob sent Judah ahead of hi% to Joseph to get directions to 4oshen" *hen they arrived in the region of 4oshen !' Joseph had his chariot %ade ready and went to 4oshen to %eet his father Israel" As soon as Joseph appeared before hi% he threw his ar%s around his father"># and wept for a long ti%e" Israel said to Joseph ,Now I a% ready to die since I have seen for %yself that you are still alive"/ #hen Joseph said to his brothers and to his father$s household ,I will go up and spea& to Pharaoh and will say to hi% 5:y brothers and %y father$s household who were living in the land of !anaan have co%e to %e" 3! #he %en are shepherds) they tend livestoc& and they have brought along their floc&s and herds and everything they own"$ 33 *hen Pharaoh calls you in and as&s 5*hat is your occupation1$ 3$ you should answer 5?our servants have tended livestoc& fro% our boyhood on 2ust as our fathers did"$ #hen you will be allowed to settle in the region of 4oshen for all shepherds are detestable to the 9gyptians"/ Genesis $7 Joseph went and told Pharaoh ,:y father and brothers with their floc&s and herds and everything they own have co%e fro% the land of !anaan and are now in 4oshen"/ ! +e chose five of his brothers and presented the% before Pharaoh"
3 3 30 !&

Pharaoh as&ed the brothers ,*hat is your occupation1/

,?our servants are shepherds / they replied to Pharaoh ,2ust as our fathers were"/ $ #hey also said to hi% ,*e have co%e to live here for a while because the fa%ine is severe in !anaan and your servants$ floc&s have no pasture" So now please let your servants settle in 4oshen"/ Pharaoh said to Joseph ,?our father and your brothers have co%e to you % and the land of 9gypt is before you) settle your father and your brothers in the best part of the land" -et the% live in 4oshen" And if you &now of any a%ong the% with special ability put the% in charge of %y own livestoc&"/ #hen Joseph brought his father Jacob in and presented hi% before Pharaoh" After Jacob blessed"+#Pharaoh & Pharaoh as&ed hi% ,+ow old are you1/ And Jacob said to Pharaoh ,#he years of %y pilgri%age are a hundred and thirty" :y years have been few and difficult and they do not e@ual the years of the pilgri%age of %y fathers"/ 0 #hen Jacob blessed"?# Pharaoh and went out fro% his presence" So Joseph settled his father and his brothers in 9gypt and gave the% property in the best part of the land the district of 7a%eses as Pharaoh directed" ! Joseph also provided his father and his brothers and all his father$s household with food according to the nu%ber of their children"
' 7 5

Joseph an) the @amine #here was no food however in the whole region because the fa%ine was severe) both 9gypt and !anaan wasted away because of the fa%ine" $ Joseph collected all the %oney that was to be found in 9gypt and !anaan in pay%ent for the grain they were buying and he brought it to Pharaoh$s palace" 5*hen the %oney of the people of 9gypt and !anaan was gone all 9gypt ca%e to Joseph and said ,4ive us food" *hy should we die before your eyes1 Our %oney is all gone"/ ,#hen bring your livestoc& / said Joseph" ,I will sell you food in e;change for your livestoc& since your %oney is gone"/ 7 So they brought their livestoc& to Joseph and he gave the% food in e;change for their horses their sheep and goats their cattle and don&eys" And he brought the% through that year with food in e;change for all their livestoc&" *hen that year was over they ca%e to hi% the following year and said ,*e cannot hide fro% our lord the fact that since our %oney is gone and our livestoc& belongs to you there is nothing left for our lord e;cept our bodies and our land" ' *hy should we perish before your eyes8we and our land as well1 'uy us and our land in e;change for food and we with our land will be in bondage to Pharaoh" 4ive us seed so that we %ay live and not die and that the land %ay not beco%e desolate"/ So Joseph bought all the land in 9gypt for Pharaoh" #he 9gyptians one and all sold their fields because the fa%ine was too severe for the%" #he land beca%e Pharaoh$s ! and Joseph reduced the people to servitude "aa# fro% one end of 9gypt to the other" !! +owever he did not buy the land of the priests because they received a regular allot%ent fro% Pharaoh and had food enough fro% the allot%ent Pharaoh gave the%" #hat is why they did not sell their land" Joseph said to the people ,Now that I have bought you and your land today for Pharaoh here is seed for you so you can plant the ground" !$ 'ut when the crop co%es in give a fifth of it to Pharaoh" #he other four=fifths you %ay &eep as seed for the fields and as food for yourselves and your households and your children"/ ,?ou have saved our lives / they said" ,:ay we find favor in the eyes of our lord) we will be in bondage to Pharaoh"/ So Joseph established it as a law concerning land in 9gypt8still in force today8that a fifth of the produce belongs to Pharaoh" It was only the land of the priests that did not beco%e Pharaoh$s" Now the Israelites settled in 9gypt in the region of 4oshen" #hey ac@uired property there and were fruitful and increased greatly in nu%ber" Jacob lived in 9gypt seventeen years and the years of his life were a hundred and forty= seven" !'*hen the ti%e drew near for Israel to die he called for his son Joseph and said to hi% ,If I have found favor in your eyes put your hand under %y thigh and pro%ise that you will show %e &indness and faithfulness" 0o not bury %e in 9gypt 30 but when I rest with %y fathers carry %e out of 9gypt and bury %e where they are buried"/
!& !7 !% !5 !3 !0 & % 3

,I will do as you say / he said" ,Swear to %e / he said" #hen Joseph swore to hi% and Israel worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff""a*# Genesis $& ;anasseh an) 7phraim So%e ti%e later Joseph was told ,?our father is ill"/ So he too& his two sons :anasseh and 9phrai% along with hi%" ! *hen Jacob was told ,?our son Joseph has co%e to you / Israel rallied his strength and sat up on the bed" Jacob said to Joseph ,4od Al%ighty"a.# appeared to %e at -u3 in the land of !anaan and there he blessed %e $ and said to %e 5I a% going to %a&e you fruitful and increase your nu%bers" I will %a&e you a co%%unity of peoples and I will give this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you"$ ,Now then your two sons born to you in 9gypt before I ca%e to you here will be rec&oned as %ine) 9phrai% and :anasseh will be %ine 2ust as 7euben and Si%eon are %ine" % Any children born to you after the% will be yours) in the territory they inherit they will be rec&oned under the na%es of their brothers" 7 As I was returning fro% Paddan "a)# to %y sorrow 7achel died in the land of !anaan while we were still on the way a little distance fro% 9phrath" So I buried her there beside the road to 9phrath/ (that is 'ethlehe%)"
& 5 3 3

*hen Israel saw the sons of Joseph he as&ed ,*ho are these1/ ,#hey are the sons 4od has given %e here / Joseph said to his father" #hen Israel said ,'ring the% to %e so I %ay bless the%"/

'

Now Israel$s eyes were failing because of old age and he could hardly see" So Joseph brought his sons close to hi% and his father &issed the% and e%braced the%" Israel said to Joseph ,I never e;pected to see your face again and now 4od has allowed %e to see your children too"/ #hen Joseph re%oved the% fro% Israel$s &nees and bowed down with his face to the ground" 3 And Joseph too& both of the% 9phrai% on his right toward Israel$s left hand and :anasseh on his left toward Israel$s right hand and brought the% close to hi%" $ 'ut Israel reached out his right hand and put it on 9phrai%$s head though he was the younger and crossing his ar%s he put his left hand on :anasseh$s head even though :anasseh was the firstborn"
5 !

#hen he blessed Joseph and said

,:ay the 4od before who% %y fathers Abraha% and Isaac wal&ed faithfully the 4od who has been %y shepherd

all %y life to this day the Angel who has delivered %e fro% all har% 8%ay he bless these boys" :ay they be called by %y na%e and the na%es of %y fathers Abraha% and Isaac and %ay they increase greatly on the earth"/
%

*hen Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on 9phrai%$s head he was displeased) so he too& hold of his father$s hand to %ove it fro% 9phrai%$s head to :anasseh$s head" & Joseph said to hi% ,No %y father this one is the firstborn) put your right hand on his head"/ 'ut his father refused and said ,I &now %y son I &now" +e too will beco%e a people and he too will beco%e great" Nevertheless his younger brother will be greater than he and his descendants will beco%e a group of nations"/ !0 +e blessed the% that day and said ,In your"ae# na%e will Israel pronounce this blessing. 5:ay 4od %a&e you li&e 9phrai% and :anasseh"$/ So he put 9phrai% ahead of :anasseh" #hen Israel said to Joseph ,I a% about to die but 4od will be with you"a3# and ta&e you"a6# bac& to the land of your"ah# fathers" !! And to you I give one %ore ridge of land"ai# than to your brothers the ridge I too& fro% the A%orites with %y sword and %y bow"/ Genesis $' Ja.o* -lesses ,is (ons #hen Jacob called for his sons and said. ,4ather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to co%e"
! ! '

,Asse%ble and listen sons of Jacob) listen to your father Israel"

,7euben you are %y firstborn %y %ight the first sign of %y strength e;celling in honor e;celling in power" $ #urbulent as the waters you will no longer e;cel for you went up onto your father$s bed onto %y couch and defiled it" ,Si%eon and -evi are brothers8 their swords"a8# are weapons of violence" % -et %e not enter their council let %e not 2oin their asse%bly for they have &illed %en in their anger
5

and ha%strung o;en as they pleased" !ursed be their anger so fierce and their fury so cruel6 I will scatter the% in Jacob and disperse the% in Israel"
7

,Judah "a5# your brothers will praise you) your hand will be on the nec& of your ene%ies) your father$s sons will bow down to you" ' ?ou are a lion$s cub Judah) you return fro% the prey %y son" -i&e a lion he crouches and lies down li&e a lioness8who dares to rouse hi%1 0 #he scepter will not depart fro% Judah nor the ruler$s staff fro% between his feet "al# until he to who% it belongs"am# shall co%e and the obedience of the nations shall be his" +e will tether his don&ey to a vine his colt to the choicest branch) he will wash his gar%ents in wine his robes in the blood of grapes" ! +is eyes will be dar&er than wine his teeth whiter than %il&""an#
3

&

,(ebulun will live by the seashore and beco%e a haven for ships) his border will e;tend toward Sidon"

,Issachar is a rawboned"ao# don&ey lying down a%ong the sheep pens""ap# 5 *hen he sees how good is his resting place and how pleasant is his land he will bend his shoulder to the burden and sub%it to forced labor" ,0an"a=# will provide 2ustice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel" 7 0an will be a sna&e by the roadside a viper along the path that bites the horse$s heels so that its rider tu%bles bac&ward"
& %

,I loo& for your deliverance -O70"

'

,4ad"ar# will be attac&ed by a band of raiders but he will attac& the% at their heels"

!0

,Asher$s food will be rich) he will provide delicacies fit for a &ing" ,Naphtali is a doe set free that bears beautiful fawns""as#

,Joseph is a fruitful vine a fruitful vine near a spring whose branches cli%b over a wall""at# !3 *ith bitterness archers attac&ed hi%) they shot at hi% with hostility" !$ 'ut his bow re%ained steady his strong ar%s stayed"a/# li%ber because of the hand of the :ighty One of Jacob because of the Shepherd the 7oc& of Israel !5 because of your father$s 4od who helps you because of the Al%ighty "a:# who blesses you with blessings of the s&ies above blessings of the deep springs below blessings of the breast and wo%b" !% ?our father$s blessings are greater than the blessings of the ancient %ountains than"aw# the bounty of the age=old hills" -et all these rest on the head of Joseph on the brow of the prince a%ong"a># his brothers"
!7

!!

,'en2a%in is a ravenous wolf) in the %orning he devours the prey in the evening he divides the plunder"/

All these are the twelve tribes of Israel and this is what their father said to the% when he blessed the% giving each the blessing appropriate to hi%" 0he Death o3 Ja.o* #hen he gave the% these instructions. ,I a% about to be gathered to %y people" 'ury %e with %y fathers in the cave in the field of 9phron the +ittite 30 the cave in the field of :achpelah near :a%re in !anaan which Abraha% bought along with the field as a burial place fro% 9phron the +ittite" 3 #here Abraha% and his wife Sarah were buried there Isaac and his wife 7ebe&ah were buried and there I buried -eah" 3! #he field and the cave in it were bought fro% the +ittites""a+#/ *hen Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons he drew his feet up into the bed breathed his last and was gathered to his people" Genesis 50
33 !'

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Joseph threw hi%self on his father and wept over hi% and &issed hi%" ! #hen Joseph directed the physicians in his service to e%bal% his father Israel" So the physicians e%bal%ed hi% 3 ta&ing a full forty days for that was the ti%e re@uired for e%bal%ing" And the 9gyptians %ourned for hi% seventy days" *hen the days of %ourning had passed Joseph said to Pharaoh$s court ,If I have found favor in your eyes spea& to Pharaoh for %e" #ell hi% 5 5:y father %ade %e swear an oath and said ,I a% about to die) bury %e in the to%b I dug for %yself in the land of !anaan"/ Now let %e go up and bury %y father) then I will return"$/
% $

Pharaoh said ,4o up and bury your father as he %ade you swear to do"/

So Joseph went up to bury his father" All Pharaoh$s officials acco%panied hi%8the dignitaries of his court and all the dignitaries of 9gypt8 & besides all the %e%bers of Joseph$s household and his brothers and those belonging to his father$s household" Only their children and their floc&s and herds were left in 4oshen" ' !hariots and horse%en"a?# also went up with hi%" It was a very large co%pany" *hen they reached the threshing floor of Atad near the Jordan they la%ented loudly and bitterly) and there Joseph observed a seven=day period of %ourning for his father" *hen the !anaanites who lived there saw the %ourning at the threshing floor of Atad they said ,#he 9gyptians are holding a sole%n cere%ony of %ourning"/ #hat is why that place near the Jordan is called Abel :i3rai%""*a# So Jacob$s sons did as he had co%%anded the%. 3 #hey carried hi% to the land of !anaan and buried hi% in the cave in the field of :achpelah near :a%re which Abraha% had bought along with the field as a burial place fro% 9phron the +ittite" $ After burying his father Joseph returned to 9gypt together with his brothers and all the others who had gone with hi% to bury his father" Joseph Aeass/res ,is -rothers *hen Joseph$s brothers saw that their father was dead they said ,*hat if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us bac& for all the wrongs we did to hi%1/ % So they sent word to Joseph saying ,?our father left these instructions before he died. 7 5#his is what you are to say to Joseph. I as& you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they co%%itted in treating you so badly"$ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the 4od of your father"/ *hen their %essage ca%e to hi% Joseph wept" +is brothers then ca%e and threw the%selves down before hi%" ,*e are your slaves / they said" 'ut Joseph said to the% ,0on$t be afraid" A% I in the place of 4od1 !0 ?ou intended to har% %e but 4od intended it for good to acco%plish what is now being done the saving of %any lives" ! So then don$t be afraid" I will provide for you and your children"/ And he reassured the% and spo&e &indly to the%"
' & 5 ! 0

0he Death o3 Joseph Joseph stayed in 9gypt along with all his father$s fa%ily" +e lived a hundred and ten years !3 and saw the third generation of 9phrai%$s children" Also the children of :a&ir son of :anasseh were placed at birth on Joseph$s &nees""**# #hen Joseph said to his brothers ,I a% about to die" 'ut 4od will surely co%e to your aid and ta&e you up out of this land to the land he pro%ised on oath to Abraha% Isaac and Jacob"/ !5 And Joseph %ade the Israelites swear an oath and said ,4od will surely co%e to your aid and then you %ust carry %y bones up fro% this place"/ So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten" And after they e%bal%ed hi% he was placed in a coffin in 9gypt" @ootnotesB a" 4enesis BC.B #he %eaning of the +ebrew for this word is uncertain) also in verses DB and BD" b" 4enesis BC.DE #hat is about E ounces or about DBF gra%s c" 4enesis BC.BG Sa%aritan Pentateuch Septuagint Vulgate and Syriac (see also verse DE)) :asoretic #e;t Medanites d" 4enesis BE.DH Perez %eans breaking out. e" 4enesis BE.BF Zerah can %ean scarlet or brightness. f" 4enesis IF.JG Or three wicker baskets g" 4enesis IJ.BE Or of the gods h" 4enesis IJ.IB Or in the chariot of his second-in-command) or in his second chariot i" 4enesis IJ.IB Or Bow down 2" 4enesis IJ.IK #hat is +eliopolis) also in verse KF &" 4enesis IJ.KJ Manasseh sounds li&e and %ay be derived fro% the +ebrew for forget. l" 4enesis IJ.KD Ephraim sounds li&e the +ebrew for twice fruitful. %" 4enesis ID.BI Or move about freely n" 4enesis IB.JI +ebrew El- haddai o" 4enesis IK.C Or save you as a great band of survivors p" 4enesis IK.DD #hat is about C JLD pounds or about B"K &ilogra%s
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@" 4enesis IG.JB Sa%aritan Pentateuch and Syriac (see also J !hron" C.J)) :asoretic #e;t Puvah r" 4enesis IG.JB Sa%aritan Pentateuch and so%e Septuagint %anuscripts (see also Nu%" DG.DI and J !hron" C.J)) :asoretic #e;t !ob s" 4enesis IG.JK #hat is Northwest :esopota%ia t" 4enesis IG.JG Sa%aritan Pentateuch and Septuagint (see also Nu%" DG.JK)) :asoretic #e;tZiphion u" 4enesis IG.DF #hat is +eliopolis v" 4enesis IG.DC +ebrew) Septuagint the nine children w" 4enesis IG.DC +ebrew (see also 9;odus J.K and note)) Septuagint (see also Acts C.JI) seventy-five ;" 4enesis IG.DH +ebrew around him y" 4enesis IC.C Or greeted 3" 4enesis IC.JF Or said farewell to aa" 4enesis IC.DJ Sa%aritan Pentateuch and Septuagint (see also Vulgate)) :asoretic #e;t and he moved the people into the cities bb" 4enesis IC.BJ Or !srael bowed down at the head of his bed cc" 4enesis IE.B +ebrew El- haddai dd" 4enesis IE.C #hat is Northwest :esopota%ia ee" 4enesis IE.DF #he +ebrew is singular" ff" 4enesis IE.DJ #he +ebrew is plural" gg" 4enesis IE.DJ #he +ebrew is plural" hh" 4enesis IE.DJ #he +ebrew is plural" ii" 4enesis IE.DD #he +ebrew for ridge of land is identical with the place na%e Sheche%" 22" 4enesis IH.K #he %eaning of the +ebrew for this word is uncertain" &&" 4enesis IH.E "udah sounds li&e and %ay be derived fro% the +ebrew for praise. ll" 4enesis IH.JF Or from his descendants %%" 4enesis IH.JF Or to whom tribute belongs) the %eaning of the +ebrew for this phrase is uncertain"

nn" 4enesis IH.JD Or will be dull from wine# $ his teeth white from milk oo" 4enesis IH.JI Or strong pp" 4enesis IH.JI Or the campfires) or the saddlebags @@" 4enesis IH.JG %an here %eans he provides &ustice. rr" 4enesis IH.JH 'ad sounds li&e the +ebrew for attack and also for band of raiders. ss" 4enesis IH.DJ Or free( $ he utters beautiful words tt" 4enesis IH.DD Or "oseph is a wild colt# $ a wild colt near a spring# $ a wild donkey on a terraced hill uu" 4enesis IH.DI Or archers will attack ) will shoot ) will remain ) will stay vv" 4enesis IH.DK +ebrew haddai ww" 4enesis IH.DG Or of my progenitors# $ as great as

;;" 4enesis IH.DG Or of the one separated from yy" 4enesis IH.BD Or the descendants of *eth 33" 4enesis KF.H Or charioteers aaa" bbb" 4enesis KF.JJ +bel Mizraim %eans mourning of the Egyptians. 4enesis KF.DB #hat is were counted as his