Study Desk

They should gather all the food that is produced during the good years that are coming, and under the king's authority they should store the grain in the cities and guard it.

And they said, "We are ten of twelve brothers, sons of the same father, and we live in the land of Canaan. Our youngest brother is there with our father right now, and our other brother is gone."

They said to each other, "We are being punished for what we did to our brother. We saw his trouble, and he begged us to save him, but we refused to listen. That is why we are in this trouble now."

Joseph told his servants to fill his brothers' bags with grain and to put the money the brothers had paid for the grain back in their bags. The servants were also to give them what they would need for their trip back home. And the servants did this.

As the brothers emptied their sacks, each of them found his money in his sack. When they and their father saw it, they were afraid.

When Jacob's family had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, Jacob said to them, "Go to Egypt again and buy a little more grain for us to eat."

So the brothers took the gifts. They also took twice as much money as they had taken the first time, and they took Benjamin. They hurried down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.

The brothers were afraid when they were brought to Joseph's house and thought, "We were brought here because of the money that was put in our sacks on the first trip. He wants to attack us, make us slaves, and take our donkeys."

The servant led the men into Joseph's house and gave them water, and they washed their feet. Then he gave their donkeys food to eat.

When Joseph came home, the brothers gave him the gift they had brought into the house and bowed down to the ground in front of him.

The brothers answered, "Your servant, our father, is well. He is still alive." And they bowed low before Joseph to show him respect.

So they served Joseph at one table, his brothers at another table, and the Egyptians who ate with him at another table. This was because Egyptians did not like Hebrews and never ate with them.

Then Joseph gave a command to the servant in charge of his house. He said, "Fill the men's sacks with as much grain as they can carry, and put each man's money into his sack with the grain.

The brothers tore their clothes to show they were afraid. Then they put their sacks back on the donkeys and returned to the city.

When the king of Egypt and his officers learned that Joseph's brothers had come, they were very happy.

and bring their father and their families back here to me. I will give them the best land in Egypt, and they will eat the best food we have here.

They told him, "Joseph is still alive and is the ruler over all the land of Egypt." Their father was shocked and did not believe them.

They also took their farm animals and everything they had gotten in Canaan. So Jacob went to Egypt with all his descendants—

They are shepherds and take care of farm animals, and they have brought their flocks and their herds and everything they own with them.'

Joseph went in to the king and said, "My father and my brothers have arrived from Canaan with their flocks and herds and everything they own. They are now in the land of Goshen."