Joseph

32The people of Israel had carried Joseph's bones out of Egypt. They buried them at Shechem, in a piece of ground Jacob had bought. Jacob bought it from the sons of Hamor, Shechem's father, for a hundred pieces of silver. That land became the land of Joseph's family.

And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver: and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.

NoteJoseph died in Egypt hundreds of years before this. He asked his family to carry his bones back to this land one day. There were no coins yet. People paid with pieces of silver that were weighed.

16Then he sent a famine on the land. He cut off the food they needed.

Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.

NoteA famine is a long time when plants will not grow. People run out of food. Bread was the food people ate every day, so losing it meant losing almost everything.

17He sent one man ahead of them. It was Joseph, who was sold as a slave.

He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:

NoteJoseph was one of Jacob's sons. His brothers sold him to traders who took him to Egypt. A slave was someone owned by another person and made to work for no pay.

18They hurt his feet with chains. They put iron around his neck.

Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:

NoteChains and iron rings were locked on prisoners so they could not run away.

19This lasted until what Joseph had said came true. The word of the LORD tested him.

Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.

NoteIn prison Joseph told people what their dreams meant. It happened just the way he said. Tested here means tried out, the way gold is put in fire to see if it is pure.

20Then the king sent word and set him free. The ruler of the people let him go.

The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.

NoteThe king of Egypt was called Pharaoh. He was the most powerful person there.

21He made Joseph the head of his house. Joseph took care of everything the king owned.

He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:

22Joseph could tie up the king's leaders whenever he chose. He taught the older leaders wise things.

To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.

NoteThe King James Bible says "senators" here. It means the older men who helped the king rule. Tie up here means put in chains, the way a prisoner is held.

9Those brothers were jealous of Joseph. They sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with Joseph.

And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,

NoteJoseph was one of Jacob's twelve sons. His brothers did not like him, so they sold him to traders. The traders took him to Egypt, far from home.

10God saved him out of all his troubles. God helped him please Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and act wisely. Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of Egypt and of his whole house.

And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.

11Then food ran out all over Egypt and Canaan. People suffered a great deal. Our fathers could not find food.

Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.

NoteWhen food runs out over a whole country, it is called a famine. Rain does not come, so plants do not grow. Canaan was the land where Jacob's family lived. Later it was called Israel.

12Jacob heard there was grain in Egypt. So he sent our fathers there the first time.

But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.

NoteGrain means seeds like wheat. People ground them up to make bread.

13On the second trip, Joseph told his brothers who he was. Then Pharaoh learned about Joseph's family.

And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph’s kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.

14Joseph sent for his father Jacob. He called all his relatives too, seventy-five people in all.

Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.

15So Jacob went down to Egypt. He died there, and our fathers died there too.

So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,

16Their bones were carried back to Shechem. They were laid in the grave that Abraham had bought there. He had paid silver for it to the sons of Hamor.

And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.

NoteLong ago people were buried in caves or rooms cut into rock. Shechem was a town in Canaan. Before there were coins, people paid by weighing out pieces of silver.

22Joseph trusted God. When he was near death, he spoke about Israel leaving Egypt one day. He gave orders about what to do with his bones.

By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

NoteJoseph's family had moved to Egypt long before. Joseph knew God would bring them out again one day. He asked them to carry his bones with them when they went.