Genesis, Chapter 2.4: Jehovah sent Jacob and his family into Egypt (41:45b - 47:26)

Introduction: The first journey into Egypt for food ended with Simeon in prison (41:45b - 42:38)

¶Opposite   Joseph wisely managed the abundant harvests in preparation for the coming famine (41:45b - 57)

¶Opposite   Joseph kept Simeon in prison while he sent back his brothers to their father with grain (42:1 - 38)

Body: After their second journey into Egypt, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers and brought his family to him (43:1 - 47:12)

¶Unique   Joseph tricked his brothers into leaving his brother Benjamin with him in Egypt as his servant (43:1 - 44:17)

¶Complement   Judah interceded directly with Joseph to stop his plan to keep Benjamin as his servant (44:18 - 34)

¶Complement   Joseph relented and revealed his true identity to his brothers (45:1 - 15)

¶Opposite   Jacob took his entire family into Egypt to meet Joseph (45:16 - 46:30)

¶Opposite   Joseph took his brothers and his father to meet Pharaoh (46:31 - 47:12)

Conclusion: Joseph sold the grain to the people in exchange for everything that they owned and for themselves (47:13 - 26)

¶Complement   Joseph took all of the money and cattle in Egypt in exchange for bread in one year (47:13 - 17)

¶Complement   The next year, Joseph bought all the land of Egypt and the people for servants to Pharaoh (47:18 - 26)

§Unique   Introduction: The first journey into Egypt for food resulted in Simeon being left behind in prison (41:45b - 42:38)

¶Opposite   Joseph wisely managed the abundant harvests in preparation for the coming famine (41:45b - 57)

And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. ^41:46And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.

^41:47And in the seven abundant years the earth brought forth by handfuls. ^41:48And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same. ^41:49And Joseph gathered grain as the sand of the sea, a vast amount, until he ceased counting: for it was uncountable.

^41:50And two sons were born to Joseph before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On bore to him. ^41:51And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh; and he said, “For God has made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s household.” ^41:52And the name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

^41:53And the seven years of abundance, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended. ^41:54And the seven years of famine began to come, according as Joseph had said; and the famine was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.

^41:55And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread; and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph; what he says to you, do.” ^41:56And the famine was over all the face of the earth; and Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold to the Egyptians; and the famine became severe in the land of Egypt. ^41:57And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was so terrible in all lands.

¶Opposite   Joseph kept Simeon in prison while he sent back his brothers to their father with grain (42:1 - 38)

^42:1Now when Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, “Why do you look at each other?” ^42:2And he said, “Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there, and buy grain for us from there, that we may live, and not die.” ^42:3And Joseph’s ten brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. ^42:4But Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, Jacob did not send with his brothers: for he said, “Lest perhaps harm befalls him.”

^42:5And the sons of Israel came to buy grain among those that came into Egypt: for the famine was also in the land of Canaan. ^42:6And Joseph was the governor over the land, and it was he that sold to all the people of the land; and Joseph’s brothers came, and bowed themselves down before him with their faces to the earth. ^42:7And Joseph saw his brothers; and he knew them, but made himself strange to them, and spoke harshly to them; and he said to them, “Where do you come from?” And they said, “From the land of Canaan to buy food.” ^42:8And Joseph knew his brothers, but they did not know him. ^42:9And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed about them, and said to them, “You are spies; you have come to see the nakedness of the land.” ^42:10And they said to him, “No, my lord, but your servants have come to buy food. ^42:11We are all one man’s sons; we are honest men, your servants are not spies.” ^42:12And he said to them, “No, but you have come to see the nakedness of the land.” ^42:13And they said, “Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not alive.” ^42:14And Joseph said to them, “That is what I spoke to you, saying, ‘You are spies.’ ^42:15By this shall you be tested: by the life of Pharaoh you shall not go forth from here, unless your youngest brother comes here. ^42:16Send one of you, and let him bring your brother; and you shall be kept in prison, that your words may be tested, whether there is any truth in you; or else by the life of Pharaoh surely you are spies.” ^42:17And he put them all together into prison three days.

^42:18And Joseph said to them the third day, “Do this, and live (for I fear God): ^42:19if you are honest men, let one of your brothers be bound in the house of your prison; go, and carry grain for the famine of your households. ^42:20But bring your youngest brother to me. So shall your words be verified, and you shall not die.” And they did so. ^42:21And they said one to another, “We are truly guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us.” ^42:22And Reuben answered them, saying, “Did I not speak to you, saying, ‘Do not sin against the child’, and you would not listen? Therefore, behold, also his blood is required.” ^42:23And they did not know that Joseph understood them: for he spoke to them by an interpreter. ^42:24And he turned himself away from them, and wept. And he returned to them again, and communed with them, and took Simeon from them, and bound him before their eyes. ^42:25Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with grain, and to restore every man’s money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way; and thus did he to them. ^42:26And they loaded their donkeys with the grain, and departed. ^42:27And as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey provender in the inn, he saw his money: for, behold, it was in his sack’s mouth. ^42:28And he said to his brothers, “My money is restored; and, look, it is still in my sack.” And their hearts sank; and they were afraid, saying one to another, “What is this that God has done to us?”

^42:29And they came to Jacob their father to the land of Canaan, and told him all that befell them, saying, ^42:30“The man, who is the lord of the land, spoke roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country. ^42:31And we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we are not spies. ^42:32We are twelve brothers, sons of our father: one is not alive, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.’ ^42:33And the man, the lord of the country, said to us, ‘Hereby shall I know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers here with me, and take food for the famine of your households, and be gone. ^42:34And bring your youngest brother to me, then shall I know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men; so will I deliver you your brother, and you shall trade in the land.’”

^42:35And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man’s bundle of money was in his sack. And when both they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid. ^42:36And Jacob their father said to them, “Me have you bereaved of my children. Joseph is not alive, and Simeon is not here, and you will take Benjamin away; all these things are against me.” ^42:37And Reuben spoke to his father, saying, “Slay my two sons, if I do not bring him to you; deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to you again.” ^42:38And he said, “My son shall not go down with you: for his brother is dead, and he is left alone. If harm befalls him by the way in the which you go, then you shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.”

§Complement   Body: Joseph revealed himself to his brothers and brought his family into Egypt (43:1 - 47:12)

¶Unique   Joseph tricked his brothers into leaving his brother Benjamin with him in Egypt as his servant (43:1 - 44:17)

^43:1And the famine in the land was severe. ^43:2And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.” ^43:3And Judah spoke to him, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.’ ^43:4If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food; ^43:5but if you will not send him, we will not go down: for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.’” ^43:6And Israel said, “Why did you deal so ill with me, as to tell the man whether you had yet a brother?” ^43:7And they said, “The man asked us strictly of our state, and of our family, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ And we told him according to the tenor of these words. Could we possibly know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?”

^43:8And Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy with me; and we will arise and go, that we may live, and not die: both we, and you, and also our little ones. ^43:9I will be a guarantee for him; of my hand shall you require him. If I do not bring him to you, and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever: ^43:10for unless we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.” ^43:11And their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so now, do this: take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds; ^43:12and take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand: perhaps it was an oversight; ^43:13take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man. ^43:14And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”

^43:15And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin, and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph. ^43:16And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his household, “Bring these men home, and slay fresh meat, and make ready: for these men shall dine with me at noon.” ^43:17And the man did as Joseph commanded, and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house. ^43:18And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, “Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in, that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for menservants, and our donkeys.” ^43:19And they came near to the steward of Joseph’s house, and they communed with him at the door of the house, ^43:20and said, “O sir, we indeed came down the first time to buy food; ^43:21and it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks; and, behold, every man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight; and we have brought it again in our hand. ^43:22And we have brought down other money in our hands to buy food, but we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks.” ^43:23And he said, “Peace to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money.” And he brought Simeon out to them. ^43:24And the man brought the men into Joseph’s house, and gave them water; and they washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys provender. ^43:25And they made ready the present before Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they would eat bread there.

^43:26And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth. ^43:27And he asked them of their welfare, and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” ^43:28And they answered, “Your servant our father is in good health, he is still alive.” And they bowed down their heads, and prostrated themselves. ^43:29And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your younger brother, of whom you spoke to me?” And he said, “God be gracious to you, my son.” ^43:30And Joseph hurried away (for his bowels yearned upon his brother), and he searched for a place to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there. ^43:31And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, “Serve the bread.” ^43:32And they served bread for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which ate with him, by themselves; because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews: for that is an abomination to the Egyptians. ^43:33And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth; and the men marveled at each other. ^43:34And he took and sent servings to them from before him, but Benjamin’s serving was five times as much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.

^44:1And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man’s money in his sack’s mouth. ^44:2And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, and his grain money.” And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. ^44:3As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their donkeys. ^44:4And when they went out of the city, and were not yet far away, Joseph said to his steward, “Get up, follow after the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you rewarded evil for good? ^44:5Is not this it in which my lord drinks, and whereby indeed he divines? You have done evil in so doing.’” ^44:6And he overtook them, and he spoke to them these same words. ^44:7And they said to him, “Why does my lord say these words? God forbid that your servants should do according to this thing. ^44:8Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks’ mouths, we brought again to you out of the land of Canaan. How then should we steal out of your lord’s house silver or gold? ^44:9With whomsoever of your servants it is found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord’s menservants.” ^44:10And he said, “Now also let it be according to your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and you shall be blameless.” ^44:11Then they quickly took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack. ^44:12And he searched, and began at the oldest, and left at the youngest; and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. ^44:13Then they tore their clothes, and loaded every man his donkey, and returned to the city. ^44:14And Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house (for he was still there), and they fell before him on the ground. ^44:15And Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that such a man as I can certainly discern like a diviner?” ^44:16And Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants; behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found.” ^44:17And he said, “God forbid that I should do so, but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, go up in peace to your father.”

¶Complement   Judah interceded directly with Joseph to stop his plan to keep Benjamin as his servant (44:18 - 34)

^44:18Then Judah came near to him, and said, “Oh my lord, let your servant, please, speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not your anger burn against your servant: for you are even as Pharaoh. ^44:19My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Do you have a father, or a brother?’ ^44:20And we said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loves him.’ ^44:21And you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes upon him.’ ^44:22And we said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’ ^44:23And you said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall see my face no more.’

^44:24“And it came to pass when we came up to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. ^44:25And our father said, ‘Go again, and buy us a little food.’ ^44:26And we said, ‘We cannot go down; if our youngest brother is with us, then we will go down: for we may not see the man’s face, unless our youngest brother is with us.’

^44:27“And your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons; ^44:28and the one went out from me, and I said, ‘Surely he is torn in pieces’, and I have not seen him since. ^44:29And if you take this one also from me, and harm befalls him, you shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.’”

^44:30“Now therefore when I come to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us, seeing that his life is bound up in the boy’s life, ^44:31it shall come to pass, when he sees that the boy is not with us, that he will die; and your servants shall bring down the gray hairs of your servant our father with sorrow to the grave. ^44:32For your servant became guarantee for the boy to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him to you, then I shall bear the blame to my father forever.’

^44:33“Now therefore, please, let your servant stay instead of the boy a servant to my lord; and let the boy go up with his brothers: ^44:34for how shall I go up to my father, and the boy is not with me? Lest perhaps I see the evil that shall come on my father.”

¶Complement   Joseph relented and revealed his true identity to his brothers (45:1 - 15)

^45:1Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, “Cause every man to go out from me!” And no man stood with him, while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. ^45:2And he wept aloud; and the Egyptians and the household of Pharaoh heard. ^45:3And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph. Does my father still live?” And his brothers could not answer him: for they were terrified at his presence. ^45:4And Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near; and he said, “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. ^45:5Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here: for God sent me before you to preserve life: ^45:6for these two years the famine has been in the land, and yet there are five years, in which there shall neither be plowing nor harvest. ^45:7And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. ^45:8So now it was not you that sent me here, but God; and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his household, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

^45:9““Hurry, and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, ‘God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay; ^45:10and you shall live in the land of Goshen; and you shall be near to me: you, your children, your children’s children, your flocks, your herds, and all that you have; ^45:11and there will I nourish you: for still there are five years of famine, lest you, your household, and all that you have, come to poverty.’’

^45:12And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaks to you. ^45:13And you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen; and you shall hurry and bring my father down here.”

^45:14And he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck.

^45:15Moreover he kissed all his brothers, and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him.

¶Opposite   Jacob took his entire family into Egypt to meet Joseph (45:16 - 46:30)

^45:16And the news of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come.” And it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants. ^45:17And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your beasts, and go; go into the land of Canaan; ^45:18and take your father and your households, and come to me; and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land. ^45:19Now you are commanded, do this: take wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. ^45:20Also do not regard your belongings: for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.’” ^45:21And the children of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the command of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way. ^45:22To all of them he gave each man changes of garments, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of garments. ^45:23And to his father he sent after this manner: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and food for his father by the way. ^45:24So he sent his brothers away, and they departed; and he said to them, “See that you do not fall out by the way.”

^45:25And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan to Jacob their father, ^45:26and told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive; and he is governor over all the land of Egypt!” And Jacob’s heart fainted: for he did not believe them. ^45:27And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them. And when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived; ^45:28and Israel said, “It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive; I will go and see him before I die.”

^46:1And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beer-sheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. ^46:2And God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” ^46:3And he said, “I am God, the God of your father; fear not to go down into Egypt: for I will there make of you a great nation. ^46:4I will go down with you into Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again. And Joseph shall put his hand upon your eyes.”

^46:5And Jacob rose up from Beer-sheba; and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. ^46:6And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt: Jacob, and all his seed with him: ^46:7his sons, and his grandsons with him, his daughters, and his granddaughters; and he brought all his seed with him into Egypt. ^46:8And these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn. ^46:9And the sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Phallu, Hezron, and Carmi. ^46:10And the sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman. ^46:11And the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. ^46:12And the sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Pharez, and Zarah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul. ^46:13And the sons of Issachar: Tola, Phuvah, Job, and Shimron. ^46:14And the sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. ^46:15These are the sons of Leah, which she bore to Jacob in Padan-aram, with his daughter Dinah: all the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty-three. ^46:16And the sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. ^46:17And the sons of Asher: Jimnah, Ishuah, Isui, Beriah, and Serah their sister; and the sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel. ^46:18These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob, even sixteen souls. ^46:19The sons of Rachel Jacob’s wife: Joseph and Benjamin. ^46:20And to Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On bore to him. ^46:21And the sons of Benjamin were Belah, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. ^46:22These are the sons of Rachel, which were born to Jacob: all the souls were fourteen. ^46:23And the sons of Dan: Hushim. ^46:24And the sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. ^46:25These are the sons of Bilhah, which Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, and she bore these to Jacob: all the souls were seven. ^46:26All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, besides Jacob’s sons’ wives, all the souls were sixty-six; ^46:27and the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, were two souls; all the souls of the household of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were seventy.

^46:28And he sent Judah before him to Joseph, to direct his face to Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen. ^46:29And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself to him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. ^46:30And Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face, because you are still alive.”

¶Opposite   Joseph took his brothers and his father to meet Pharaoh (46:31 - 47:12)

^46:31And Joseph said to his brothers, and to his father’s household, “I will go up, and show Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘My brothers, and my father’s household, which were in the land of Canaan, have come to me; ^46:32and the men are shepherds, for their trade has been to feed livestock; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.’

^46:33“And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, ‘What is your occupation?’, ^46:34that you shall say, ‘Your servants’ trade has been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers’, that you may live in the land of Goshen: for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”

^47:1Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, “My father and my brothers, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they possess, have come out of the land of Canaan; and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen.” ^47:2And he took some of his brothers, even five men, and presented them to Pharaoh. ^47:3And Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we, and also our fathers.” ^47:4Moreover they said to Pharaoh, “We have come to stay in the land: for your servants have no pasture for their flocks, because the famine is severe in the land of Canaan; now therefore, please let your servants live in the land of Goshen.” ^47:5And Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, “Your father and your brothers have come to you; ^47:6the land of Egypt is before you. In the best of the land make your father and brothers to live; let them live in the land of Goshen. And if you know any men of ability among them, then make them rulers over my cattle.”

^47:7And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. ^47:8And Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How old are you? ^47:9And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty years. The days of the years of my life have been few and evil, and have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.” ^47:10And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh.

^47:11And Joseph placed his father and his brothers, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. ^47:12And Joseph nourished his father, and his brothers, and all his father’s household, with bread, according to their families.

§Complement   Conclusion: Joseph sold the grain to the people in exchange for everything that they owned and for themselves (47:13 - 26)

¶Complement   Joseph took all of the money and cattle in Egypt in exchange for bread in one year (47:13 - 17)

^47:13And there was no bread in all the land: for the famine was severe, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine.

^47:14And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which they bought; and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house.

^47:15And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph, and said, “Give us bread: for why should we die in your presence? For the money is gone.”

^47:16And Joseph said, “Give your cattle; and I will give you bread for your cattle, if you have no money.”^47:17And they brought their cattle to Joseph.

And Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the donkeys. And he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year.

¶Complement   The next year, Joseph bought all the land of Egypt and the people for servants to Pharaoh (47:18 - 26)

^47:18When that year was ended, they came to him the second year, and said to him, “We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also has our herds of cattle; there is nothing left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands. ^47:19Therefore shall we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread; and we and our land will be servants to Pharaoh; and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, so that the land is not desolate.”

^47:20So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh: for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh’s. ^47:21And as for the people, he moved them to cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end of it. ^47:22Only he did not buy the land of the priests: for the priests had a portion assigned them by Pharaoh, and they ate their portion which Pharaoh gave them; therefore they did not sell their lands.

^47:23Then Joseph said to the people, “Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh; see, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. ^47:24And it shall come to pass in the increase, that you shall give the fifth part to Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for them of your households, and for food for your little ones.”

^47:25And they said, “You have saved our lives; let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be the servants of Pharaoh.”

^47:26And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt until this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth part, except the land of the priests only, which did not become Pharaoh’s.

Génesis, Capítulo 2.4: Jehová envió Jacob y su familia a Egipto (41:45b - 47:26)

Introducción: El primer viaje a Egipto para comer terminó con Simeón en prisión (41:45b - 42:38)

¶Lo opuesto   José sabiamente manejó las abundantes cosechas en preparación para la venida hambruna (41:45b - 57)

¶Lo opuesto   José mantuvo a Simeón en prisión mientras él envió a sus hermanos a su padre con grano (42:1 - 38)

Cuerpo: Después de su segundo viaje a Egipto, José se reveló a sus hermanos y trajo a su familia a él (43:1 - 47:12)

¶Único   José engañó a sus hermanos, para que dejarían a su hermano Benjamín con él en Egipto (43:1 - 44:17)

¶El complemento   Judá intercedió directamente con José para detener su plan para mantener a Benjamín (44:18 - 34)

¶El complemento   José cedió y reveló su verdadera identidad a sus hermanos (45:1 - 15)

¶Lo opuesto   Jacob llevó a toda su familia a Egipto para conocer a José (45:16 - 46:30)

¶Lo opuesto   José llevó a sus hermanos y a su padre para encontrarse con Faraón (46:31 - 47:12)

Conclusión: José vendió el grano a la gente a cambio de todo lo que poseían y para ellos mismos (47:13 - 26)

¶El complemento   José tomó todo el dinero y el ganado en Egipto a cambio de pan en uno año (47:13 - 17)

¶El complemento   Al año siguiente, José compró toda la tierra de Egipto y las personas para los siervos de Faraón (47:18 - 26)

§Único   Introducción: El primer viaje a Egipto para comer terminó con Simeón en prisión (41:45b - 42:38)

¶Lo opuesto  José sabiamente manejó las abundantes cosechas en preparación para la venida hambruna (41:45b - 57)

Y salió José por toda la tierra de Egipto. ^41:46Y era José de edad de treinta años cuando fue presentado delante de Faraón, rey de Egipto: y salió José de delante de Faraón, y transitó por toda la tierra de Egipto.

^41:47Y en aquellos siete años de abundancia, la tierra produjo a montones. ^41:48Y él reunió todo el alimento de los siete años que fueron en la tierra de Egipto, y guardó el alimento en las ciudades, poniendo en cada ciudad el alimento del campo de sus alrededores. ^41:49Y acopió José trigo como arena del mar, mucho en extremo, hasta que dejó de contar: porque no tenía número.

^41:50Y nacieron a José dos hijos antes que viniese el primer año del hambre, los cuales le dio a luz Asenat, hija de Potifera, sacerdote de On. ^41:51Y llamó José el nombre del primogénito Manasés; “porque Dios (dijo él) me hizo olvidar todo mi trabajo, y toda la casa de mi padre”. ^41:52Y el nombre del segundo lo llamó Efraín; “porque Dios (dijo él) me hizo fértil en la tierra de mi aflicción”.

^41:53Y se cumplieron los siete años de la abundancia, que hubo en la tierra de Egipto. ^41:54Y comenzaron a venir los siete años del hambre, como José había dicho: y hubo hambre en todos los países, pero en toda la tierra de Egipto había pan.

^41:55Y cuando se sintió el hambre en toda la tierra de Egipto, el pueblo clamó a Faraón por pan. ^41:56Y dijo Faraón a todos los egipcios: Id a José, y haced lo que él os dijere. Y el hambre estaba por toda la extensión del país. Entonces abrió José todo granero donde había, y vendía a los egipcios: porque había crecido el hambre en la tierra de Egipto. ^41:57Y toda la tierra venía a Egipto para comprar de José: porque por toda la tierra había crecido el hambre.

¶Lo opuesto   José mantuvo a Simeón en prisión mientras él envió a sus hermanos a su padre con grano (42:1 - 38)

^42:1Y viendo Jacob que en Egipto había alimentos, Jacob dijo a sus hijos, “¿Por qué os estáis mirando?”. ^42:2Y dijo, “He aquí, yo he oído que hay víveres en Egipto; descended allá, y comprad de allí para nosotros, para que vivamos y no muramos”. ^42:3Y descendieron los diez hermanos de José a comprar trigo a Egipto. ^42:4Pero Jacob no envió a Benjamín hermano de José con sus hermanos: porque dijo, “No sea acaso que le acontezca algún desastre”.

^42:5Y vinieron los hijos de Israel a comprar entre los que venían: porque había hambre en la tierra de Canaán. ^42:6Y José era el señor de la tierra; él era quien le vendía a todo el pueblo de la tierra. Y llegaron los hermanos de José y se inclinaron a él rostro a tierra. ^42:7Y José como vio a sus hermanos, los reconoció; pero hizo como que no los conocía, y les habló ásperamente, y les dijo, “¿De dónde habéis venido?”. Respondieron, “De la tierra de Canaán a comprar alimentos”. ^42:8José, pues, reconoció a sus hermanos; pero no le reconocieron. ^42:9Entonces se acordó José de los sueños que había tenido de ellos, y les dijo, “Espías sois; por ver lo descubierto del país habéis venido”. ^42:10Y le respondieron, “No, señor mío: pero tus siervos han venido a comprar alimentos. ^42:11Todos nosotros somos hijos de un varón: somos hombres de verdad: tus siervos nunca fueron espías”. ^42:12Y él les dijo, “No; sino que para ver lo descubierto del país habéis venido”. ^42:13Y respondieron, “Tus siervos somos doce hermanos, hijos de un varón en la tierra de Canaán; y he aquí el menor está hoy con nuestro padre, y otro no parece”. ^42:14Y José les dijo, “Eso es lo que os he dicho, afirmando que sois espías. ^42:15En esto seréis probados: Vive Faraón que no saldréis de aquí, al menos que vuestro hermano menor venga aquí. ^42:16Enviad uno de ustedes, y traiga a vuestro hermano; y ustedes quedad presos, y vuestras palabras serán probadas, si hay verdad en ustedes; y si no, vive Faraón, que sois espías. ^42:17Y los puso juntos en la cárcel por tres días.

^42:18Y al tercer día les dijo José, “Haced esto, y vivid (yo temo a Dios): ^42:19si sois hombres de verdad, quede preso en la casa de vuestra cárcel uno de vuestros hermanos; y ustedes id, llevad el alimento para el hambre de vuestras casas: ^42:20pero habéis de traerme a vuestro hermano menor, y serán verificadas vuestras palabras, y no moriréis”. Y lo hicieron así. ^42:21Y decían el uno al otro, “Verdaderamente hemos pecado contra nuestro hermano, que vimos la angustia de su alma cuando nos rogaba, y no le oímos: por eso ha venido sobre nosotros esta angustia”. ^42:22Entonces Rubén les respondió, diciendo, “¿No os hablé yo y dije, ‘No pequéis contra el joven’, y no escuchasteis? He aquí también su sangre es requerida”. ^42:23Y no sabían que los entendía José: porque había intérprete entre ellos. ^42:24Y José se apartó de ellos, y lloró: después volvió a ellos, y les habló, y tomó de entre ellos a Simeón, y lo aprisionó a vista de ellos. ^42:25Y mandó José que llenaran sus sacos de trigo, y devolviesen el dinero de cada uno de ellos, poniéndolo en su saco, y les diesen comida para el camino: y así se hizo con ellos. ^42:26Y pusieron su trigo sobre sus asnos, y se fueron de allí. ^42:27Y abriendo uno de ellos su saco para dar de comer a su asno en el mesón, vio su dinero que estaba en la boca de su costal. ^42:28Y dijo a sus hermanos, “Mi dinero se me ha devuelto, y helo aquí en mi saco”. Entonces se les sobresaltó el corazón, y espantados dijeron el uno al otro, “¿Qué es esto que nos ha hecho Dios?”.

^42:29Y vinieron a Jacob su padre en tierra de Canaán, y le contaron todo lo que les había acontecido, diciendo: ^42:30“Aquel varón, señor de la tierra, nos habló ásperamente, y nos trató como a espías de la tierra: ^42:31Y nosotros le dijimos, ‘Somos hombres de verdad, no somos espías: ^42:32Somos doce hermanos, hijos de nuestro padre; uno no parece, y el menor está hoy con nuestro padre en la tierra de Canaán’. ^42:33Y aquel varón, señor de la tierra, nos dijo, ‘En esto conoceré que sois hombres de verdad; dejad conmigo uno de vuestros hermanos, y tomad grano para el hambre de vuestras casas, y andad, ^42:34y traedme a vuestro hermano el menor, para que yo sepa que no sois espías, sino hombres de verdad: así os daré a vuestro hermano, y negociaréis en la tierra’”.

^42:35Y aconteció que vaciando ellos sus sacos, he aquí que en el saco de cada uno estaba el atado de su dinero, y viendo ellos y su padre los atados de su dinero, tuvieron temor. ^42:36Entonces su padre Jacob les dijo, “Me habéis privado de mis hijos; José no parece, Simeón tampoco, y a Benjamín le llevaréis: contra mí son todas estas cosas”. ^42:37Y Rubén habló a su padre, diciendo, “Harás morir a mis dos hijos, si no te lo volviere; entrégalo en mi mano, que yo lo volveré a ti”. ^42:38Y él dijo, “No descenderá mi hijo con ustedes; pues su hermano es muerto, y él solo ha quedado: y si le aconteciere algún desastre en el camino por donde vais, haréis descender mis canas con dolor a la sepultura”.

§El complemento   Cuerpo: José se reveló a sus hermanos y trajo a su familia a Egipto (43:1 - 47:12)

¶Único   José engañó a sus hermanos, para que dejarían a su hermano Benjamín con él en Egipto (43:1 - 44:17)

^43:1Y el hambre era grande en la tierra. ^43:2Y aconteció que cuando acabaron de comer el trigo que trajeron de Egipto, les dijo su padre, “Volved, y comprad para nosotros un poco de alimento”. ^43:3Y respondió Judá, diciendo, “Aquel varón nos protestó con ánimo resuelto, diciendo, ‘No veréis mi rostro al menos que vuestro hermano venga con ustedes’. ^43:4Si enviares a nuestro hermano con nosotros, descenderemos y te compraremos alimento; ^43:5pero si no le enviares, no descenderemos: porque aquel varón nos dijo, ‘No veréis mi rostro si no traéis a vuestro hermano con ustedes’”. ^43:6Y dijo Israel, “¿Por qué me hicisteis tanto mal, diciendo al varón que teníais otro hermano?”. ^43:7Y respondieron, “Aquel varón nos preguntó expresamente por nosotros, y por nuestra parentela, diciendo, ‘¿Vive aún vuestro padre? ¿Tenéis otro hermano?’ Y le respondimos conforme a estas palabras. ¿Cómo podíamos saber que él había de decir, ‘Haced venir a vuestro hermano’?”.

^43:8Entonces Judá dijo a Israel su padre, “Envía al joven conmigo, y nos levantaremos e iremos, a fin que vivamos y no muramos nosotros, y tú, y nuestros niños. ^43:9Yo seré fiador; a mí me pedirás cuenta de él: si yo no te lo volviere y lo pusiere delante de ti, seré para ti el culpable todos los días: ^43:10que si no nos hubiéramos detenido, ciertamente hubiéramos ya vuelto dos veces”. ^43:11Entonces Israel su padre les respondió, “Pues que así es, hacedlo: tomad de lo mejor de la tierra en vuestros sacos, y llevad a aquel varón un presente, un poco de bálsamo, y un poco de miel, aromas y mirra, nueces y almendras. ^43:12Y tomad en vuestras manos el doble de dinero, y llevad en vuestra mano el dinero vuelto en las bocas de vuestros costales; quizá fue equivocación. ^43:13Tomad también a vuestro hermano, y levantaos, y volved a aquel varón. ^43:14Y el Dios Omnipotente os dé misericordia delante de aquel varón, y os suelte al otro vuestro hermano, y a este Benjamín. Y si he de ser privado de mis hijos, séalo”.

^43:15Entonces tomaron aquellos varones el presente, y tomaron en su mano doblado dinero, y a Benjamín; y se levantaron, y descendieron a Egipto, y se presentaron delante de José. ^43:16Y vio José a Benjamín con ellos, y dijo al mayordomo de su casa, “Mete en casa a esos hombres, y degüella víctima, y aderézala: porque estos hombres comerán conmigo al mediodía”. ^43:17E hizo el hombre como José dijo; y metió aquel hombre a los hombres en casa de José. ^43:18Y aquellos hombres tuvieron temor, cuando fueron metidos en casa de José, y decían, “Por el dinero que fue vuelto en nuestros costales la primera vez nos han metido aquí, para revolver contra nosotros, y dar sobre nosotros, y tomarnos por siervos a nosotros, y a nuestros asnos”. ^43:19Y se acercaron al mayordomo de la casa de José, y le hablaron a la entrada de la casa. ^43:20Y dijeron, “Ay, señor mío, nosotros en realidad de verdad descendimos al principio a comprar alimentos; ^43:21y aconteció que cuando vinimos al mesón y abrimos nuestros costales, he aquí el dinero de cada uno estaba en la boca de su costal, nuestro dinero en su justo peso; y lo hemos vuelto a traer en nuestras manos. ^43:22Hemos también traído en nuestras manos otro dinero para comprar alimentos: nosotros no sabemos quién haya puesto nuestro dinero en nuestros costales”. ^43:23Y él respondió, “Paz a ustedes, no temáis; vuestro Dios y el Dios de vuestro padre os dio el tesoro en vuestros costales: yo recibí vuestro dinero”. Y sacó a Simeón a ellos. ^43:24Y aquel varón trajo a los hombres a casa de José: y les dio agua, y lavaron sus pies: y dio de comer a sus asnos. ^43:25Y prepararon el presente entretanto que venía José al mediodía: porque habían oído que allí habían de comer pan.

^43:26Y vino José a casa, y le trajeron el presente que tenían en su mano dentro de casa, y se inclinaron ante él hasta tierra. ^43:27Entonces José les preguntó cómo estaban, y dijo, “¿Vuestro padre, el anciano que dijisteis, está bien? ¿Áun está vivo?”. ^43:28Y respondieron, “Bien va a tu siervo nuestro padre; aún vive”. Y se inclinaron, e hicieron reverencia. ^43:29Y alzando José sus ojos vio a Benjamín su hermano, hijo de su madre, y dijo, “¿Es éste vuestro hermano menor, de quien me hablasteis?”. Y dijo, “Dios tenga misericordia de ti, hijo mío”. ^43:30Entonces José se apresuró (porque se conmovieron sus entrañas a causa de su hermano), y procuró dónde llorar: y entró en su cámara, y lloró allí. ^43:31Y lavó su rostro, y salió fuera, y se contuvo, y dijo, “Poned pan”. ^43:32Y pusieron para él aparte, y separadamente para ellos, y aparte para los egipcios que con él comían: porque los egipcios no pueden comer pan con los hebreos, lo cual es abominación a los egipcios. ^43:33Y se sentaron delante de él, el mayor conforme a su mayoría, y el menor conforme a su menoría; y estaban aquellos hombres atónitos mirándose el uno al otro. ^43:34Y él tomó viandas de delante de sí para ellos; pero la porción de Benjamín era cinco veces mayor que cualquiera de las de ellos. Y bebieron y se alegraron con él.

^44:1Y mandó José al mayordomo de su casa, diciendo, “Llena de alimento los costales de estos varones, cuanto pudieren llevar, y pon el dinero de cada uno en la boca de su costal. ^44:2Y pondrás mi copa, la copa de plata, en la boca del costal del menor, con el dinero de su trigo”. Y él hizo como dijo José. ^44:3Venida la mañana, los hombres fueron despedidos con sus asnos. ^44:4Habiendo ellos salido de la ciudad, de la que aún no se habían alejado, dijo José a su mayordomo, “Levántate, y sigue a esos hombres; y cuando los alcanzares, diles, ‘¿Por qué habéis vuelto mal por bien? ^44:5¿No es ésta la copa en la que bebe mi señor, y por la que suele adivinar? Habéis hecho mal en lo que hicisteis’”. ^44:6Y cuando él los alcanzó, les dijo estas palabras. ^44:7Y le respondieron, “¿Por qué dice mi señor tales cosas? Nunca tal hagan tus siervos. ^44:8He aquí, el dinero que hallamos en la boca de nuestros costales, te lo volvimos a traer desde la tierra de Canaán; ¿cómo, pues, habíamos de hurtar de casa de tu señor plata ni oro? ^44:9Aquel de tus siervos en quien fuere hallada la copa, que muera, y aun nosotros seremos siervos de mi señor”. ^44:10Y él dijo, “También ahora sea conforme a vuestras palabras; aquél en quien se hallare, será mi siervo, y ustedes seréis sin culpa”. ^44:11Entonces se dieron prisa, y derribando cada uno su costal en tierra, abrió cada cual el costal suyo. ^44:12Y buscó; desde el mayor comenzó, y acabó en el menor; y la copa fue hallada en el costal de Benjamín. ^44:13Entonces rasgaron sus vestiduras, y cargó cada uno su asno, y volvieron a la ciudad. ^44:14Y llegó Judá con sus hermanos a casa de José, que aún estaba allí, y se postraron delante de él en tierra. ^44:15Y José les dijo, “¿Qué obra es ésta que habéis hecho? ¿No sabéis que un hombre como yo sabe adivinar?”. ^44:16Entonces dijo Judá, “¿Qué diremos a mi señor? ¿Qué hablaremos? ¿O con qué nos justificaremos? Dios ha hallado la maldad de tus siervos: he aquí, nosotros somos siervos de mi señor, nosotros, y también aquél en cuyo poder fue hallada la copa”. ^44:17Y él respondió, “Nunca yo tal haga: el varón en cuyo poder fue hallada la copa, él será mi siervo; ustedes id en paz a vuestro padre”.

¶El complemento   Judá intercedió directamente con José para detener su plan para mantener a Benjamín (44:18 - 34)

^44:18Entonces Judá se acercó a él, y dijo, “Ay señor mío, te ruego que hable tu siervo una palabra en oídos de mi señor, y no se encienda tu enojo contra tu siervo, pues que tú eres como Faraón. ^44:19Mi señor preguntó a sus siervos, diciendo, ‘¿Tenéis padre o hermano?’ ^44:20Y nosotros respondimos a mi señor, ‘Tenemos un padre anciano, y un joven que le nació en su vejez, pequeño aún; y un hermano suyo murió, y solo él ha quedado de su madre, y su padre lo ama’. ^44:21Y tú dijiste a tus siervos, ‘Traédmelo, y pondré mis ojos sobre él’. ^44:22Y nosotros dijimos a mi señor, ‘El joven no puede dejar a su padre: porque si le dejare, su padre morirá’. ^44:23Y dijiste a tus siervos, ‘Si vuestro hermano menor no descendiere con ustedes, no veréis más mi rostro’.

^44:24“Aconteció, pues, que cuando llegamos a mi padre, tu siervo, le contamos las palabras de mi señor. ^44:25Y dijo nuestro padre, ‘Volved a comprarnos un poco de alimento’. ^44:26Y nosotros respondimos, ‘No podemos ir: si nuestro hermano va con nosotros, iremos: porque no podemos ver el rostro del varón, al menos que nuestro hermano el menor esté con nosotros’.

^44:27“Entonces tu siervo mi padre nos dijo, ‘Ustedes sabéis que mi esposa me dio a luz dos hijos; ^44:28y el uno salió de conmigo, y pienso de cierto que fue despedazado, y hasta ahora no le he visto. ^44:29Y si tomareis también éste de delante de mí, y le aconteciere algún desastre, haréis descender mis canas con dolor a la sepultura’”.

^44:30“Ahora, pues, cuando llegare yo a tu siervo mi padre, y el joven no fuere conmigo, como su alma está ligada al alma de él, ^44:31sucederá que cuando no vea al joven, morirá; y tus siervos harán descender las canas de tu siervo nuestro padre con dolor a la sepultura. ^44:32Como tu siervo salió por fiador del joven con mi padre, diciendo, ‘Si no te lo volviere, entonces yo seré culpable ante mi padre todos los días’.

^44:33“Te ruego, por tanto, que quede ahora tu siervo en lugar del joven por siervo de mi señor, y que el joven vaya con sus hermanos: ^44:34porque ¿cómo iré yo a mi padre sin el joven? No podré, por no ver el mal que sobrevendrá a mi padre”.