Study Desk

So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Because God has enabled you to know all this, there is no one as wise and discerning as you are!

Pharaoh had him ride in the chariot used by his second-in-command, and they cried out before him, "Kneel down!" So he placed him over all the land of Egypt.

Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah. He also gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife. So Joseph took charge of all the land of Egypt.

He then said, "Look, I hear that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy grain for us so that we may live and not die."

So ten of Joseph's brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt.

So Israel's sons came to buy grain among the other travelers, for the famine was severe in the land of Canaan.

Reuben said to them, "Didn't I say to you, ‘Don't sin against the boy,' but you wouldn't listen? So now we must pay for shedding his blood!"

So they loaded their grain on their donkeys and left.

But bring your youngest brother back to me so I will know that you are honest men and not spies. Then I will give your brother back to you and you may move about freely in the land.'"

They replied, "The man questioned us thoroughly about ourselves and our family, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?' So we answered him in this way. How could we possibly know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down'?"

Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best products of the land in your bags, and take a gift down to the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds.

May the sovereign God grant you mercy before the man so that he may release your other brother and Benjamin! As for me, if I lose my children I lose them."

So the men took these gifts, and they took double the money with them, along with Benjamin. Then they hurried down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.

So they approached the man who was in charge of Joseph's household and spoke to him at the entrance to the house.

But when we came to the place where we spent the night, we opened our sacks and each of us found his money—the full amount—in the mouth of his sack. So we have returned it.

Joseph hurried out, for he was overcome by affection for his brother and was at the point of tears. So he went to his room and wept there.

They set a place for him, a separate place for his brothers, and another for the Egyptians who were eating with him. (The Egyptians are not able to eat with Hebrews, for the Egyptians think it is disgusting to do so.)

So each man quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it.

So Judah and his brothers came back to Joseph's house. He was still there, and they threw themselves to the ground before him.

"Then you told your servants, ‘Bring him down to me so I can see him.'