Benjamin

16They left Bethel and traveled on. They were still a little way from the town of Ephrath. Then Rachel began to have her baby, and it was very hard for her.

And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.

17While she was working so hard, the midwife spoke to her. She said, "Do not be afraid. You are having another son."

And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.

NoteA midwife is a woman who helps babies be born.

18Rachel was dying, and with her last breath she named the baby Benoni. But his father named him Benjamin.

And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.

NoteBenoni means "son of my sadness." Benjamin means "son of my right hand." The right hand was the strong, happy side.

19So Rachel died. They buried her beside the road to Ephrath, the town also called Bethlehem.

And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.

NoteBethlehem is a small town. Many stories in the Bible happen there later.

20Jacob set up a tall stone over her grave. That stone still marks Rachel's grave today.

And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.

1Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt. He said to his sons, "Why do you keep looking at each other?"

Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?

NoteJacob is Joseph's father. Years before, his older sons sold Joseph away to Egypt. They told Jacob that Joseph was dead.

2He said, "Listen. I have heard there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us. Then we will live and not die."

And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.

NoteThe King James says "corn." Back in 1611 that word meant any grain, like wheat. It does not mean corn on the cob.

3So ten of Joseph's brothers went down to Egypt to buy grain.

And Joseph’s ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt.

NoteJoseph had eleven brothers. Ten of them made this trip.

4But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph's brother, with them. He said, "Something bad might happen to him."

But Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him.

NoteBenjamin was the youngest brother. He and Joseph had the same mother. Jacob wanted to keep him safe at home.

29They came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. They told him everything that had happened to them. They said:

And they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of Canaan, and told him all that befell unto them; saying,

30"The man who is lord of that land spoke harshly to us. He took us for spies come to look at his country.

The man, who is the lord of the land, spake roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country.

31We said to him, 'We are honest men. We are not spies.

And we said unto him, We are true men; we are no spies:

32We are twelve brothers, sons of one father. One is gone. The youngest is with our father in the land of Canaan today.'

We be twelve brethren, sons of our father; one is not, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.

33The man, the lord of the country, said to us, 'This is how I will know that you are honest men. Leave one of your brothers here with me. Take food home for your hungry families and go.

And the man, the lord of the country, said unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye are true men; leave one of your brethren here with me, and take food for the famine of your households, and be gone:

34And bring your youngest brother to me. Then I will know you are not spies but honest men. I will give your brother back to you. And you may buy and sell in this land.'"

And bring your youngest brother unto me: then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are true men: so will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffick in the land.

NoteThe King James says "traffick." That old word means to buy and sell, not traffic on a road.

35Then they emptied their sacks. Each man's bag of money was there in his sack. When they and their father saw the money bags, they were afraid.

And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man’s bundle of money was in his sack: and when both they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid.

36Jacob their father said to them, "You have taken my children away from me. Joseph is gone. Simeon is gone. Now you will take Benjamin. All these things are against me."

And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.

NoteJacob does not know that Joseph is alive. He thinks he has lost one son already.

37Reuben said to his father, "Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you. Put him in my care, and I will bring him back to you."

And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again.

NoteThis was Reuben's way of promising as strongly as he could. He was saying he would risk anything to keep his word.

38But Jacob said, "My son will not go down with you. His brother is dead, and he is the only one left. Something bad might happen to him on the way you go. Then you would bring my gray hairs down to the grave in sorrow."

And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.

NoteGray hairs mean Jacob is old. He is saying that this sadness would put him in his grave, where dead people were laid.

1The famine was very bad in the land.

And the famine was sore in the land.

NoteA famine is a long time when crops do not grow. People cannot get enough food to eat.

2They ate up all the grain they had brought from Egypt. Then their father said to them, "Go back and buy us a little food."

And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food.

NoteEgypt was a country far away, with a great river. Food still grew there when other lands had none. The brothers had gone there once already to buy grain.

3Judah said to him, "The man warned us in a very serious way. He said, 'You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.'

And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.

Note"The man" is the ruler who sold them grain in Egypt. He was really their own brother Joseph. They did not know that yet.

4If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food.

If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food:

5But if you will not send him, we will not go down. The man told us, 'You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.'"

But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.

6Their father Israel said, "Why did you treat me so badly? Why did you tell the man you had another brother?"

And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?

NoteIsrael is another name for their father Jacob. The story uses both names for the same man.

7They said, "The man asked us many careful questions about us and our family. He said, 'Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?' We answered him just as he asked. How could we know he would say, 'Bring your brother down here'?"

And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?

8Judah said to his father Israel, "Send the boy with me. We will get up and go. Then we will live and not die, and so will you and our little children.

And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.

NoteThe boy is Benjamin, the youngest brother. Judah wants his father to let Benjamin go with them.

9I will promise to keep him safe. You can hold me to it. If I do not bring him back and stand him in front of you, let me carry the blame forever.

I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever:

10If we had not waited so long, we would already be back from this second trip."

For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.

11Their father Israel said to them, "If it must be this way, then do this. Put some of the best things the land grows in your bags. Carry them down to the man as a gift. Take a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts and almonds.

And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:

NoteBalm was a sticky sap from a tree. People used it like medicine. Myrrh was sap too, and it smelled sweet. Bringing a gift to a powerful man was the polite thing to do.

12Take twice as much money with you. Also take back the money that was put in the top of your sacks. Maybe it was a mistake.

And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight:

NoteMoney then was not coins. It was pieces of silver, weighed to see what they were worth.

13Take your brother too. Get up and go back to the man.

Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man:

14May God Almighty make the man kind to you. Then he may send back your other brother, and Benjamin too. If I lose my children, then I lose them."

And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.

NoteAlmighty is an old word. It means having all power.

15The men took the gift and twice as much money, and they took Benjamin. They got up and went down to Egypt. There they stood in front of Joseph.

And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.

16Joseph saw Benjamin with them. He said to the servant in charge of his house, "Bring these men to my house. Kill an animal and get a meal ready. These men will eat with me at noon."

And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon.

NoteMeat was special food back then. People killed an animal for guests or for a feast day.

17The man did what Joseph told him. He brought the men into Joseph's house.

And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house.

18The men were afraid because they were brought into Joseph's house. They said, "We were brought in because of the money that was put back in our sacks the first time. He wants to find something against us. He will attack us, and make us slaves, and take our donkeys."

And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.

NoteA slave was a person owned by someone else. A slave had to work and could not go home. Donkeys carried heavy loads on long trips. Losing them would leave the brothers with nothing.

19So they came up to the steward, the servant who ran Joseph's house. They talked with him at the door of the house.

And they came near to the steward of Joseph’s house, and they communed with him at the door of the house,

20They said, "Please, sir, we truly did come down the first time to buy food.

And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:

21When we came to the place where we stayed the night, we opened our sacks. There was each man's money in the top of his sack! It was all there, the full amount. We have brought it back with us.

And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand.

NoteThey had no bags of coins. Silver was weighed, so they could tell none was missing.

22We have brought more money with us to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks."

And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks.

23He said, "Peace to you. Do not be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, gave you treasure in your sacks. I got your money." Then he brought Simeon out to them.

And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.

Note"Peace to you" was a normal greeting, like saying hello. It also meant everything is all right. Simeon was their brother. He had been kept in Egypt until they came back.

24The man brought the men into Joseph's house. He gave them water, and they washed their feet. He gave their donkeys food.

And the man brought the men into Joseph’s house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender.

NotePeople wore open sandals on dusty roads. Washing a guest's feet was a kind welcome.

25They got the gift ready for when Joseph would come at noon. They had heard they were going to eat there.

And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there.

26When Joseph came home, they brought him the gift they had with them. They bowed down low to the ground in front of him.

And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.

NoteBowing low to the ground showed great respect. People did this in front of a king or ruler.

27He asked how they were. He said, "Is your father well, the old man you told me about? Is he still alive?"

And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?

28They answered, "Your servant our father is well. He is still alive." And they bowed their heads down low to honor him.

And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance.

NoteCalling yourself someone's servant was a polite way to talk. It showed respect to an important person.

29He looked up and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother's son. He said, "Is this your younger brother, the one you told me about?" Then he said, "God be kind to you, my son."

And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son.

NoteJacob had more than one wife. Only Benjamin had the same mother as Joseph. Her name was Rachel.

30Joseph hurried away, because his heart was full of love for his brother. He looked for a place to cry. He went into his room and cried there.

And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.

NoteJoseph still had not told them who he was. So he went away to cry where they could not see.

31Then he washed his face and came out. He held his feelings back. He said, "Bring the food."

And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.

32They served Joseph by himself, and his brothers by themselves. The Egyptians who ate with him were served by themselves. Egyptians would not eat with Hebrews. They thought that was a disgusting thing to do.

And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.

NoteHebrews was the name for Jacob's family and their people. Egyptians had rules about who they would share a meal with. Eating with foreigners was not allowed for them.

33The brothers sat in front of him, in order of age. The oldest sat first and the youngest sat last. The men were amazed and looked at one another.

And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another.

NoteThe brothers were amazed because a stranger should not know their ages. Yet the seats were in the right order, oldest to youngest.

34He sent them servings of food from his own table. But Benjamin's serving was five times bigger than anyone else's. They drank and were happy with him.

And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin’s mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.

NoteGiving someone a much bigger serving was a way to honor them. It showed that guest was special.

1Joseph told the man who ran his house, "Fill the men's bags with food. Give them all they can carry. Put each man's money back in the top of his bag."

And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man’s money in his sack’s mouth.

NoteA steward was the servant who ran a rich man's house for him. The "sack's mouth" just means the open top of the bag. Money then was pieces of silver that people weighed out. There were no coins yet.

2"Put my silver cup in the top of the youngest brother's bag. Put his grain money there too." The man did just what Joseph said.

And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.

NoteIn the King James, "corn" means any grain, like wheat or barley. It does not mean the yellow corn we eat today.

3As soon as it was light in the morning, the men were sent away with their donkeys.

As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.

Note"Asses" is the old word for donkeys. Donkeys carried heavy loads for people.

4They had left the city and were not far away yet. Joseph said to his helper, "Hurry after those men. When you catch up, say to them, 'Why have you paid back good with evil?'"

And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?

5"Is this not the cup my master drinks from? He also uses it to find out hidden things. You did a wrong thing."

Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.

NoteSome important men in Egypt used a special cup to try to learn secret things. They would watch how water or oil moved inside it. The old word for this is "divineth."

6The man caught up with them. He said these same words to them.

And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words.

7They said to him, "Why does my lord say these things? We, your servants, would never do such a thing."

And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing:

Note"My lord" was a polite way to say "sir" to a powerful man. Calling yourself his "servant" was polite too. It did not always mean you worked for him. "God forbid" was a strong way to say "we would never do that."

8"We found money in the top of our bags. We brought it back to you from the land of Canaan. So why would we steal silver or gold from your master's house?"

Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks’ mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord’s house silver or gold?

9"If you find it with any of us, that man must die. And the rest of us will be my lord's slaves."

With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord’s bondmen.

Note"Bondmen" means slaves. A slave belonged to another person and had to work without pay.

10He said, "All right, let it be as you say. The man who has it will be my slave. The rest of you will not be blamed."

And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless.

11Then each man quickly put his bag down on the ground. Each man opened his bag.

Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.

12The man searched. He started with the oldest brother and ended with the youngest. The cup was found in Benjamin's bag.

And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.

13Then they tore their clothes. Each man loaded his donkey again. They all went back to the city.

Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city.

NoteTearing your clothes was how people showed they were very sad or upset. Anyone who saw the torn clothes knew right away.

14Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's house. Joseph was still there. They fell down on the ground in front of him.

And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph’s house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.

NoteFalling flat on the ground showed great respect to a ruler. People did this in front of kings and great men.

15Joseph said to them, "What is this you have done? Don't you know that a man like me can find out hidden things?"

And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?

Note"Wot ye not" is old English for "don't you know."

16Judah said, "What can we say to my lord? What words can we speak? How can we show we did no wrong? God has found the wrong your servants did. We are my lord's slaves now. All of us, and the one who had the cup."

And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found.

17Joseph said, "I would never do that. Only the man who had the cup will be my slave. The rest of you, go home to your father in peace."

And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.

18Then Judah came close to him and said, "Please, my lord, let me say one word to you. Please do not be angry with me. You are as great as Pharaoh."

Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh.

NotePharaoh was the king of Egypt. Saying Joseph was like Pharaoh meant Joseph had huge power. "Let not thine anger burn" means "please do not get angry with me."

19"My lord asked us, 'Do you have a father or a brother?'"

My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother?

20"We said to my lord, 'We have a father. He is old. He has a young son who was born when he was old. That boy's brother is dead. He is the only son left from his mother. His father loves him.'"

And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him.

NoteThe brother they say is dead is Joseph. They do not know they are speaking to him right now.

21"Then you said to us, 'Bring him down to me so I can see him with my own eyes.'"

And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him.

22"We said to my lord, 'The boy cannot leave his father. If he left him, his father would die.'"

And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die.

23"Then you said to us, 'If your youngest brother does not come with you, you will not see my face again.'"

And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more.

Note"See my face" means to come and talk with someone important. He is saying they may not come back to him.

24"So we went back up to your servant, my father. We told him what my lord said."

And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.

25"Our father said, 'Go back and buy us a little food.'"

And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food.

26"We said, 'We cannot go down. If our youngest brother comes with us, then we will go. We cannot see the man's face without our youngest brother.'"

And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man’s face, except our youngest brother be with us.

27"Your servant, my father, said to us, 'You know that my wife had two sons for me.'"

And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons:

NoteThis father is Jacob. He had twelve sons, but only two of them came from his wife Rachel. Those two were Joseph and Benjamin.

28"'One of them went away from me. I said, "He has surely been torn to pieces." I have not seen him since then.'"

And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since:

NoteHe thought a wild animal had killed his son and torn his body.

29"'If you take this one away from me too, and something bad happens to him, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow.'"

And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.

NoteGray hair meant a person was old. "Bring my gray hairs to the grave" means the sadness would kill his old father. The grave is where a person's body is put after they die.

30"My father's own life is tied to the boy's life. So think what will happen if I go back to my father without the boy."

Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad’s life;

31"When he sees the boy is not with us, he will die. Then we will bring our old father down to the grave in sorrow."

It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave.

32"I promised my father that the boy would be safe. I said, 'If I do not bring him back to you, I will carry the blame forever.'"

For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever.

Note"Became surety" means he made a strong promise. He said he would take the punishment himself if the boy did not come home.

33"So please let me stay here as my lord's slave instead of the boy. Let the boy go home with his brothers."

Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren.

34"How can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the trouble that would come to my father."

For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.

Note"Peradventure" is an old word for "maybe."

1Joseph could not hold his feelings back any longer in front of the people near him. He called out, "Send everyone away from me!" So no one else was there when Joseph told his brothers who he was.

Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.

NoteJoseph's brothers had sold him years before, when he was young. He now looked and dressed like an Egyptian leader. That is why they did not know him.

2He cried out loud. The Egyptians heard him, and the house of Pharaoh heard about it.

And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.

NotePharaoh was the king of Egypt. "The house of Pharaoh" means the king's family and all his workers.

3Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?" His brothers could not answer him. They were too scared to be standing in front of him.

And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.

NoteThe brothers were scared because they had sold Joseph away. Now he was one of the most powerful men in Egypt.

4Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come close to me." So they came close. He said, "I am Joseph, your brother. I am the one you sold into Egypt."

And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.

NoteLong ago the brothers sold Joseph to traders. He was taken to Egypt and made to work as a slave.

5"Now do not be sad, and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here. God sent me ahead of you to keep people alive."

Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.

6"For two years now there has been a famine in the land. Five more years are coming with no plowing and no harvest."

For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.

NoteA famine is a long time when food will not grow. People get very hungry. Plowing means digging up the dirt to plant seeds. Harvest means gathering the food when it is ready.

7"God sent me ahead of you so that your family would still be left on the earth. He kept you alive for a great rescue."

And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

8"So it was not you who sent me here. It was God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, master of all his house, and ruler over all the land of Egypt."

So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

NoteA "father to Pharaoh" does not mean his real father. It means the king's most trusted helper, the one who gives him advice.

9"Hurry back to my father and say to him, 'Your son Joseph says this: God has made me master of all Egypt. Come down to me. Do not wait.'"

Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not:

NoteThe Bible says "go up" to Canaan and "come down" to Egypt. Canaan was hill country, higher up. Egypt was low, flat land by a river.

10"'You will live in the land of Goshen, close to me. You, your children, your grandchildren, your flocks, your herds, and everything you own.'"

And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children’s children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast:

NoteGoshen was a green part of Egypt with good grass. It was a fine place for sheep and cows. "Flocks" means sheep and goats. "Herds" means cows.

11"'I will take care of you and feed you there. Five more years of famine are coming. If I did not, you and your household and all you own would become very poor.'"

And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty.

Note"Household" means everyone who lived in the home. That was the family and the workers too.

12"Look, you can see with your own eyes. My brother Benjamin can see too. It is my own mouth that is speaking to you."

And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you.

NoteBefore this, Joseph had talked to them through a helper who changed one language into another. Now he speaks their own language himself.

13"Tell my father about all the honor I have in Egypt, and about everything you have seen. Then hurry and bring my father down here."

And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither.

14He threw his arms around his brother Benjamin's neck and cried. Benjamin cried on his neck too.

And he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck.

NoteThe King James says he "fell upon his brother's neck." That means he hugged him tight. These are happy tears, not sad ones.

15He also kissed all his brothers and cried over them. After that his brothers talked with him.

Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.

NoteA kiss on the cheek was a normal way to greet family back then. It was like a big hug hello.

16The news was heard in Pharaoh's house: "Joseph's brothers have come." This was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and his servants.

And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, Joseph’s brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.

Note"Good in the eyes of Pharaoh" just means the news made the king happy.

17Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Tell your brothers to do this: Load up your animals and go back to the land of Canaan."

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan;

NoteCanaan was the land where Jacob and his family lived. It was many days away from Egypt.

18"'Get your father and your families and come to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt. You will eat the best food it gives.'"

And take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land.

Note"Eat the fat of the land" means eat the very best food the land grows.

19"You are also told to say this: 'Take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little children and your wives. Bring your father and come.'"

Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.

NoteWagons were carts pulled by animals. Most people walked or rode donkeys. Wagons were a special gift from the king.

20"'And do not worry about your things, because the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.'"

Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.

21The sons of Israel did just that. Joseph gave them wagons, as Pharaoh had said. He also gave them food for the trip.

And the children of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.

NoteIsrael was another name for Jacob, their father. So "the sons of Israel" means Jacob's sons.

22He gave each of them new sets of clothes. But to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five sets of clothes.

To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment.

NotePeople did not use coins yet. They weighed out pieces of silver to pay for things. Three hundred pieces was a very large gift. New clothes were a rich gift too.

23This is what he sent to his father: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt. He also sent ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and food for his father's trip.

And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way.

NoteDonkeys are strong animals that carry heavy loads on their backs. The King James word "corn" means grain, like wheat, not corn on the cob.

24So he sent his brothers off, and they left. He said to them, "Do not fight with each other on the way."

So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way.