Study Desk

Joseph then hurried out, for he was deeply stirred over his brother, and he looked for a place to weep; so he entered his chamber and wept there.

Then he took portions to them from his own table, but Benjamin's portion was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank freely with him.

So he overtook them and spoke these words to them.

So he said, "Now let it indeed be according to your words; he with whom it is found shall be my slave, but the rest of you shall be considered innocent."

So Judah said, "What can we say to my lord? What words can we speak? And how can we justify ourselves? God has found out the guilt of your servants; behold, we are my lord's slaves, both we and the one in whose possession the cup has been found."

"And we said to my lord, 'We have an old father and a little boy born in our father's old age. Now his brother is dead, so he alone is left of his mother, and his father loves him.'

"Then you said to your servants, 'Bring him down to me so that I may set my eyes on him.'

"So it came about when we went up to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.

"So now, when I come to your servant, my father, and the boy is not with us—since our father's life is so attached to the boy's life—

when he sees that the boy is not with us, he will die. So your servants will bring the gray hair of your servant, our father, down to Sheol in sorrow.

"So now, please let your servant remain as a slave to my lord instead of the boy, and let the boy go up with his brothers.

Then Joseph could not control himself in front of everyone standing before him, and he shouted, "Have everyone leave me!" So there was no one with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers.

Then he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard about it.

"So God sent me ahead of you to ensure for you a remnant on the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance.

Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them wagons according to the command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey.

So he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, "Do not quarrel on the journey."

So Israel set out with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.

you shall say, 'Your servants have been keepers of livestock since our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,' so that you may live in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians."

Then Pharaoh said to his brothers, "What is your occupation?" So they said to Pharaoh, "Your servants are shepherds, both we and our fathers."

So Jacob said to Pharaoh, "The years of my living abroad are 130; few and unpleasant have been the years of my life, nor have they attained the years that my fathers lived during the days of their living abroad."