Joseph Reveals His Identity to His Brothers

45:1-28

45 Then Joseph was not able to control himself before all who were standing by him, and he called out, “Have every man leave from beside me!” So no man stood with him when Joseph revealed himself to his brothers. 2 And he gave his voice in crying, and the Egyptians heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard. 3 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.

4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come close to me.” So they came close, and he said, “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now, do not be grieved and do not let it burn in your eyes that you sold me here, because God sent me ahead of you for the preservation of life. 6 For this is two years the famine has been in the midst of the land, and there are still five years in which there will not be plowing and harvesting. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve a remnant for you on the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. 8 So now, it was not you who sent me here, but God. And he has made me father to Pharaoh, and lord over all his house and the ruler in all the land of Egypt.

9 “Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says, “God has made me lord over all Egypt. Come down to me, do not delay. 10 And you will live in the land of Goshen so that you will be near to me—you and your children and your children’s children and your flocks and your herds and all that belongs to you. 11 And I will provide for you there, because there are still five years of famine, so that you will not become impoverished, you and your household and all that belongs to you.” ’

12 “And behold, your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth that is speaking to you. 13 So report to my father all my glory in Egypt and all that you have seen. Then hurry and bring my father down here.”

14 Then he fell on the neck of Benjamin his brother and cried, and Benjamin cried on his neck. 15 Then he kissed all his brothers and cried over them. And after that his brothers talked with him.

16 And the report was heard in the house of Pharaoh, saying, “The brothers of Joseph have come.” And it was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of his servants. 17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and leave; go to the land of Canaan. 18 Then get your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give to you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land.’

19 “And you are commanded, ‘Do this: Take carts with you from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and get your father and come. 20 And do not let your eyes grieve over your belongings, because the best of all the land of Egypt belongs to you.’ ”

21 Then the sons of Israel did so. And Joseph gave to them carts according to the mouth of Pharaoh, and he gave provisions to them for the road. 22 To all of them, to each one, he gave changes of clothes, but to Benjamin he gave 300 shekels of silver and five changes of clothes. 23 And to his father he sent this: ten he-donkeys loaded with the best of Egypt, and ten she-donkeys loaded with grain and bread and provisions for his father for the road. 24 Then he sent his brothers, and as they left, then he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the road.”

25 Then they went up from Egypt and came to the land of Canaan, to Jacob their father. 26 And they reported to him, saying, “Joseph is still alive! And in fact, he is the ruler over all the land of Egypt!” But his heart went numb because he did not believe them. 27 Then they told him all the words of Joseph that he had spoken to them, and he saw the carts that Joseph had sent to carry him, then the spirit of Jacob their father revived. 28 And Israel said, “Enough! Joseph my son is still alive! I will go and see him before I die.”