451Joseph was unable to control himself in front of all his attendants, so he called out, “Send everyone out from my presence!” When no one else was left with him, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers. 2He wept out loud. The Egyptians heard him, and the house of Pharaoh heard about it. 3Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?”
His brothers could not answer him, because they were terrified by his presence. 4Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me, please.”
They came closer. He said, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5Now do not be upset or angry with yourselves for selling me to this place, since God sent me ahead of you to preserve life. 6For two years now the famine has been in the land, and there are still five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7God sent me ahead of you to preserve you as survivors on the earth, and to keep you alive by a great act of deliverance. 8So it was not you who sent me here, but God, and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord over his entire household, and ruler over the whole land of Egypt. 9Hurry, go up to my father and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: “God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me. Do not delay. 10You shall live in the land of Goshen, where you will be close to me—you, your children, your grandchildren, your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11I will take care of you here, for there are still five years of famine. Otherwise you will come to ruin, you, and your household, and all that you have.”’ 12Pay attention. Your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth that speaks to you. 13You shall tell my father all about my position of honor in Egypt and about everything that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.”
14He threw his arms around his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his shoulder. 15He kissed all his brothers and wept over them. After that his brothers talked with him.
16This report was heard in Pharaoh's house: “Joseph's brothers have come.” This pleased Pharaoh and his officials.
17Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Load your animals. Travel quickly to the land of Canaan. 18Get your father and your households, and return to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the rich food of the land. 19Now I command you to do this: Take carts[] from the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives, and bring your father here. 20Also, do not worry about your belongings, for the best of the whole land of Egypt is yours.’” 24So he dismissed his brothers, and they departed. He said to them, “See to it that you do not quarrel on the way.”
25They went up from Egypt and came to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan. 26They told him, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” He was stunned[] because he did not believe them. 27They told Jacob every word that Joseph had said to them. When he saw the carts that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28Israel said, “It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”
