Study Desk

Joseph understood what they said, but they did not know it, because they had been speaking to him through an interpreter.

If you are not willing, we will not go, because the man told us we would not be admitted to his presence unless our brother was with us."

Take with you also twice as much money, because you must take back the money that was returned in the top of your sacks. Maybe it was a mistake.

As they were being brought to the house, they were afraid and thought, "We are being brought here because of the money that was returned in our sacks the first time. They will suddenly attack us, take our donkeys, and make us his slaves."

They got their gifts ready to present to Joseph when he arrived at noon, because they had been told that they were to eat with him.

Then Joseph left suddenly, because his heart was full of tender feelings for his brother. He was about to break down, so he went to his room and cried.

Joseph was served at one table and his brothers at another. The Egyptians who were eating there were served separately, because they considered it beneath their dignity to eat with Hebrews.

One of them has already left me. He must have been torn to pieces by wild animals, because I have not seen him since he left.

Now do not be upset or blame yourselves because you sold me here. It was really God who sent me ahead of you to save people's lives.

be sure to tell him that you have taken care of livestock all your lives, just as your ancestors did. In this way he will let you live in the region of Goshen." Joseph said this because Egyptians will have nothing to do with shepherds.

"We have come to live in this country, because in the land of Canaan the famine is so severe that there is no pasture for our flocks. Please give us permission to live in the region of Goshen."

Joseph bought all the land in Egypt for the king. Every Egyptian was forced to sell his land, because the famine was so severe; and all the land became the king's property.

The only land he did not buy was the land that belonged to the priests. They did not have to sell their lands, because the king gave them an allowance to live on.

I am doing this because of your mother Rachel. To my great sorrow she died in the land of Canaan, not far from Ephrath, as I was returning from Mesopotamia. I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath." (Ephrath is now known as Bethlehem.)

Jacob's eyesight was failing because of his age, and he could not see very well. Joseph brought the boys to him, and he hugged them and kissed them.

A curse be on their anger, because it is so fierce, And on their fury, because it is so cruel. I will scatter them throughout the land of Israel. I will disperse them among its people.

You plotted evil against me, but God turned it into good, in order to preserve the lives of many people who are alive today because of what happened.

Because the midwives were God-fearing, God was good to them and gave them families of their own. And the Israelites continued to increase and become strong.

God said, "Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals, because you are standing on holy ground.

I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." So Moses covered his face, because he was afraid to look at God.