Joseph

37Pharaoh thought this was good. All his servants thought it was good too.

And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.

38Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find anyone like this man? The Spirit of God is in him."

And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?

NotePharaoh means that God was with Joseph in a special way.

39Pharaoh said to Joseph, "God has shown you all this. So no one is as careful and wise as you are."

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:

40"You will be over my house. All my people will be ruled by your word. Only on the throne will I be greater than you."

Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.

NoteA throne is the king's special chair. Only the king could sit on it.

41Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt."

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.

42Pharaoh took the ring off his hand and put it on Joseph's hand. He dressed him in fine linen clothes. He put a gold chain around his neck.

And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;

NoteThe ring had the king's own mark on it. Pressing it into soft clay signed his orders. Giving it to Joseph meant Joseph could speak for the king. Fine linen was soft cloth that only rich people wore. The gold chain showed everyone that Joseph was important now.

43He had Joseph ride in his second chariot. Men called out in front of him, "Bow the knee!" So he made Joseph ruler over all the land of Egypt.

And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.

NoteA chariot was a cart pulled by horses. Riding in the king's second chariot showed Joseph was second in charge. "Bow the knee" means kneel down to show honor.

44Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh. Without your word, no one in all Egypt will lift a hand or a foot."

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.

NoteLifting a hand or foot is a way of saying doing anything at all. Nobody would act without Joseph saying yes.

45Pharaoh gave Joseph a new name, Zaphnathpaaneah. He gave him Asenath as his wife. She was the daughter of Potipherah, a priest in the city of On. Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.

And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.

NotePharaoh gave Joseph an Egyptian name. Kings did that to show a man now belonged to Egypt. On was a city in Egypt. A priest there led people in worshiping their gods.

46Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Joseph left Pharaoh and traveled through all the land of Egypt.

And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.

NoteJoseph was seventeen when his brothers sold him. Thirteen years had gone by since that day.

47In the seven years of plenty, the ground grew food in great heaps.

And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.

NoteThe King James says the earth brought forth "by handfuls." It means the fields grew food in huge amounts.

48He gathered all the food of those seven years in Egypt. He stored the food in the cities. In each city he stored the food from the fields around it.

And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.

49Joseph stored up grain like the sand of the sea. There was so much that he stopped counting it. It could not be counted.

And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.

NoteSand of the sea is a way of saying too much to count.

50Two sons were born to Joseph before the years of famine came. Asenath, the daughter of Potipherah the priest of On, was their mother.

And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him.

51Joseph named his first son Manasseh. He said, "God has made me forget all my hard work and all my father's house."

And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.

NoteManasseh sounds like the Hebrew word for making someone forget.

52He named the second son Ephraim. He said, "God has made me fruitful in the land where I suffered."

And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.

NoteEphraim sounds like the Hebrew word for fruitful. Fruitful means having many good things grow.

53The seven years of plenty in the land of Egypt came to an end.

And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended.

54The seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in every land. But in all the land of Egypt there was bread.

And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.

NoteBread here means food of every kind, not just loaves.

55When all Egypt was hungry, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph. Do what he tells you."

And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.

56The famine was over all the face of the earth. Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians. The famine grew worse in the land of Egypt.

And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.

NoteA storehouse is a big building for keeping grain safe and dry.

57People from all countries came to Egypt, to Joseph, to buy grain. The famine was very bad in every land.

And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.

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.

5The sons of Israel came to buy grain along with many other people. There was no food in the land of Canaan.

And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan.

Note"Israel" is another name for Jacob. So "the sons of Israel" means Jacob's sons. Canaan is the land where they lived. It was many days of walking north of Egypt. There was a famine there: no rain, so no crops grew, and people ran out of food.

6Joseph was the ruler over the land. He was the one who sold grain to all the people. Joseph's brothers came and bowed down low before him, with their faces to the ground.

And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph’s brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.

NoteJoseph was in charge of all the food in Egypt. Only the king was above him. People bowed low to the ground to show respect to a ruler.

7Joseph saw his brothers, and he knew who they were. But he acted like a stranger and spoke harshly to them. He said, "Where do you come from?" They said, "From the land of Canaan, to buy food."

And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.

8Joseph knew who his brothers were. They did not know who he was.

And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.

NoteJoseph was a boy when his brothers last saw him. More than twenty years had passed. Now he dressed and talked like an Egyptian.

9Joseph remembered the dreams he had dreamed about them. He said to them, "You are spies. You came to find the weak places in our land."

And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.

NoteWhen Joseph was young, he dreamed that his brothers bowed down to him. He told them the dreams, and it made them angry. A spy is someone who sneaks into a country to learn its secrets. The "weak places" are spots where an enemy army could get in.

10They said to him, "No, my lord. We are your servants, and we came to buy food.

And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come.

Note"My lord" was a polite way to speak to a powerful man. Calling themselves his servants was also polite. It was their way of saying "we" to someone important.

11We are all sons of one man. We are honest men. We, your servants, are not spies."

We are all one man’s sons; we are true men, thy servants are no spies.

12He said to them, "No. You came to find the weak places in our land."

And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.

13They said, "We, your servants, are twelve brothers. We are the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. The youngest is with our father today. And one is gone."

And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not.

Note"One is gone" means Joseph. They think he is dead. He is standing right in front of them.

14Joseph said to them, "It is just as I told you. You are spies.

And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies:

15This is how you will be tested. As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place. You may go only when your youngest brother comes here.

Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither.

NotePharaoh was the king of Egypt. "As surely as Pharaoh lives" was a way to make a very strong promise.

16Send one of you to bring your brother. The rest of you will be kept in prison. Then we will see if your words are true. If not, as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies."

Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies.

17He put them all together in prison for three days.

And he put them all together into ward three days.

18On the third day Joseph said to them, "Do this and you will live, for I fear God.

And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God:

NoteTo "fear God" meant to honor God and obey him. It did not mean to be scared of him.

19If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay locked up here. The rest of you go. Carry grain home to your hungry families.

If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses:

20But bring your youngest brother to me. Then your words will be shown to be true, and you will not die." And they did so.

But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.

21They said to each other, "We are truly guilty about our brother. We saw how much pain he was in. He begged us, and we would not listen. That is why this trouble has come to us."

And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.

NoteThey are remembering the day they sold Joseph. He cried and begged them to stop. They would not listen.

22Reuben answered them, "Did I not tell you not to sin against the boy? You would not listen. Now his blood is asked of us."

And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.

NoteReuben was the oldest brother. He had tried to save Joseph that day. "His blood is asked of us" means they think they must pay for his death.

23They did not know that Joseph understood them. He had been speaking to them through a man who changed the words into another language.

And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter.

NoteJoseph spoke Egyptian to a helper. The helper said the words again in the brothers' language. That is why they did not guess he understood every word.

24He turned away from them and cried. Then he came back and talked with them. He took Simeon from them and had him tied up while they watched.

And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.

NoteSimeon was one of the older brothers. Joseph kept him so the others would have to come back.

25Then Joseph gave orders. Their sacks were filled with grain. Each man's money was put back in his sack. They were given food for the road. This is what was done for them.

Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man’s money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way: and thus did he unto them.

NotePeople did not use coins yet. They weighed out pieces of silver to pay for things.

26They loaded the grain on their donkeys and left that place.

And they laded their asses with the corn, and departed thence.

NoteDonkeys were the animals people used to carry heavy loads on long trips.

27They stopped for the night. One of them opened his sack to feed his donkey. He saw his money. It was right in the top of his sack.

And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it was in his sack’s mouth.

28He said to his brothers, "My money has been given back. Look, it is here in my sack." Their hearts sank, and they were afraid. They said to each other, "What is this that God has done to us?"

And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us?

NoteThe money made them afraid because it looked like they had stolen it. A ruler could punish them for that.

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.

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.

25They went up out of Egypt. They came to the land of Canaan, to their father Jacob.

And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father,

26They told him, "Joseph is still alive! He is the ruler over all the land of Egypt." Jacob was stunned, because he did not believe them.

And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob’s heart fainted, for he believed them not.

NoteThe King James says Jacob's "heart fainted." It means he was so surprised he could not take the news in.

27Then they told him everything Joseph had said to them. And he saw the wagons Joseph had sent to carry him. Then the spirit of their father Jacob came alive again.

And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived:

NoteHis "spirit revived" means he felt happy and strong again. He had been sad for a very long time.

28Israel said, "It is enough! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die."

And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.

NoteIsrael is Jacob's other name. He is the same person.

28Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph, to show the way to Goshen. Then they came into the land of Goshen.

And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face unto Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen.

NoteGoshen was a grassy part of Egypt. It had good land for sheep and cattle.

29Joseph got his chariot ready and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel. He came to him and threw his arms around him. He cried on his shoulder for a long time.

And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.

NoteA chariot was a light cart with two wheels. Horses pulled it, and it went fast.

30Israel said to Joseph, "Now I am ready to die. I have seen your face, and you are still alive."

And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive.

NoteJacob does not want to die right then. He means he is so happy that nothing is missing now.

31Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's family, "I will go up and tell Pharaoh. I will say to him, 'My brothers and my father's family have come to me from the land of Canaan.

And Joseph said unto his brethren, and unto his father’s house, I will go up, and shew Pharaoh, and say unto him, My brethren, and my father’s house, which were in the land of Canaan, are come unto me;

32"'The men are shepherds. Their work has always been taking care of animals. They have brought their sheep, their cattle, and everything they own.'

And the men are shepherds, for their trade hath been to feed cattle; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.

33"When Pharaoh calls for you, he will ask, 'What is your work?'

And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation?

34"Then you must say, 'We your servants have taken care of animals since we were young. Our fathers did the same.' Say this so you may live in the land of Goshen. The Egyptians hate every shepherd."

That ye shall say, Thy servants’ trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians.

NoteEgyptians did not like shepherds and kept away from them. So saying they were shepherds would help Jacob's family get land of their own in Goshen.

1Joseph went to Pharaoh and told him something. He said, "My father and my brothers have come from the land of Canaan. They brought their sheep, their cows, and everything they own. They are now in the land of Goshen."

Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen.

NotePharaoh was what Egypt called its king. It was a title, like saying "the king." Canaan was the land where Jacob's family lived. It was far from Egypt, many days of walking. Goshen was a part of Egypt with good grass for animals.

2Joseph took five of his brothers with him. He brought them to meet Pharaoh.

And he took some of his brethren, even five men, and presented them unto Pharaoh.

3Pharaoh asked the brothers, "What work do you do?" They said, "We keep sheep, sir, just like our fathers did before us."

And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What is your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and also our fathers.

4They also said to Pharaoh, "We came to live in this land for a while. There is no grass left for our sheep to eat. The hunger in Canaan is very bad. So please let us live in the land of Goshen."

They said moreover unto Pharaoh, For to sojourn in the land are we come; for thy servants have no pasture for their flocks; for the famine is sore in the land of Canaan: now therefore, we pray thee, let thy servants dwell in the land of Goshen.

NoteA famine is a long time when food will not grow. Rain does not come, so plants die and people go hungry.

5Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Your father and your brothers have come to you.

And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, saying, Thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee:

6All the land of Egypt is open to you. Give your father and brothers the best part of it. Let them live in the land of Goshen. And if any of them are good workers, put them in charge of my animals."

The land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest any men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle.

7Then Joseph brought his father Jacob in to meet Pharaoh. Jacob asked God to be good to Pharaoh.

And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.

NoteTo bless someone was to ask God to be good to them. Older people often did this for others as a kind gift.

8Pharaoh asked Jacob, "How old are you?"

And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou?

9Jacob said, "I have been traveling from place to place for 130 years. My years have been few and hard. I have not lived as many years as my fathers did in their travels."

And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.

NoteJacob lived in tents his whole life. He moved from place to place to find grass and water for his sheep.

10Jacob asked God to be good to Pharaoh again. Then he left Pharaoh and went out.

And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh.

11So Joseph gave his father and his brothers a place to live. He gave them land of their own in Egypt, in the best part, in the land of Rameses. He did this just as Pharaoh had told him.

And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.

NoteRameses was a town in the Goshen part of Egypt. The land around it was good for growing things.

12Joseph gave food to his father, his brothers, and everyone in his father's house. He gave food to each family by the number of their little ones.

And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father’s household, with bread, according to their families.

NoteThe old words say "bread." Long ago, bread could mean food of every kind, not just loaves.