Father and Son: Abraham and Isaac

Before the text

Isaac is the only son of Abraham and Sarah. He is born when they are very old and have lost
hope of having a child, so he is very precious to them. In this chapter Abraham's faith is tested
when God asks him to offer up his only son as a burnt offering. Isaac is given to Abraham by
God, and now God asks Abraham to give him back.

Main Characters ‫܀‬

Abraham: the father of Isaac Isaac: the son of Abraham God: the Lord

Genesis 22

1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him,
Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. 1 2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son
Isaac, whom thou

1 Early Modern English (1470-1700) thou = you /subjective, singular; thee = = you /objective,
singular; thy your /singular; thine = your /plural (and /singular when used before a vowel or h),
thine also yours; ye = you /subjective, plural; thyself = yourself; thou art = you are /singular; ye
are = you are /plural

Father and Son: Abraham and Isaac

lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of
the mountains which I will tell thee of.

3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young
men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and
went unto the place of which God had told him.

4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.

5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go
yonder and worship, and come again to you.

6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took
the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.

7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my
son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?

8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went
both of them together.

9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and
laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.

10 11 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay³ his son. And the angel
of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here
am I.

2 Early Modern English (1470-1700) you /singular + v with st or est-dost/doest = do,

wouldst/shouldst/mightest = would/should/might, canst = can, wast = were, hast have, =

gavest gave, madest = made, comest = come, hatest = hate, eatest = eat, lovest 3 = == ==
referring to Mount Moriah, the site usually identified with Mount Zion, where King Solomon built
a temple

= love

4 an offering burnt upon an altar in sacrifice to a god 5 kill

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12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I
know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket
by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the
stead of his son.

14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the
mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

15 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,

16 17 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing,
and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in
multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the
sea

shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my
voice.

Word Bank

altar: a surface or structure where religious rites are performed or on which sacrifices are
offered to gods

ram: a male sheep

saddle: to put a leather seat of a rider on a horse or donkey (past tense: saddled) withhold: to
hold back, restrain (past tense: withheld)

6 Early Modern English (1470-1700) he/she/it + v with th-doth/doeth = does, hath = has, saith =
says, goeth = goes, knoweth = knows, cometh = comes, giveth = gives, feedeth feeds, =
moveth = moves, wanteth = wants; maketh = makes, sendeth = sends

7 offspring, children

8 shall have access to (the gate of)

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Father and Son: Abraham and Isaac

Study Questions

How is Abraham tested by God? What does God tell Abraham to do?

2. Why is Abraham regarded as the "the father of faith"?

1.

What is offered as a burnt offering in place of his son?

3.

What does Abraham name the place? What does it mean?

How is Abraham blessed for his faith and obedience to God?

4.

5.

393

The Twin Brothers: Jacob and Esau

Before the text

God considers Isaac to be Abraham's only son, the one to inherit the promises given by God to
Abraham. So Isaac needs to have a son, and God gives him twin sons, Esau and Jacob. But
the brothers become rivals.

Main Characters

Abraham: the father of Isaac

Isaac: the son of Abraham Rebekah: wife of Isaac Esau: the older twin, son of Isaac and
Rebekah Jacob: the younger twin, son of Isaac and Rebekah God: the Lord

Genesis 25:19-34

19 And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat¹ Isaac:

20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the
Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.

fathered, made (a child)

The Twin Brothers: Jacob and Esau 395

21 And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren:² and the LORD was
intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.³ 22 And the children struggled together within
her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.
23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall
be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and
the elder shall serve the younger.

24 And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.

25 And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.

26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name
was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.

27 And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a
plain man, dwelling in tents.

28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.

29 30 And Jacob sod pottage:³ and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said
to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his
name called Edom.

And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

31

32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

2 unable to have children

3 became pregnant

4 you /subjective, singular; thee = Early Modern English (1470-1700) thou = you /objective,
singular; thy = your /singular; thine your plural (and /singular when used before a vowel = or h),
thine also yours; ye = you /subjective, plural; thyself = yourself; thou art = you are Isingular; ye
are = you are /plural; thou art = you are

cooked stew

6 right (of a person who is firstborn)

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33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto
Jacob.

34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up,
and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

Genesis 27

1 And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not
see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold,
here am I.

2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: 3 Now therefore take, I
pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some
venison;

4 And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul
may bless thee before I die.

5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for
venison, and to bring it.

6 And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau
thy brother, saying,

7 Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the
LORD before my death.

8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee.

9 Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids¹ of the goats; and I will make
them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth:

Sell your birthright has come to mean exchanging a thing of great value for a thing of little value.

8 small flat round beans

9 container for arrows (usually carried on the back) 10

young sheep

7
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The Twin Brothers: Jacob and Esau

10 And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his
death.

11 And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a
smooth man:

My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a

13 deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. And his mother said unto
him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.

14 And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury
meat, such as his father loved.

And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house,
and put them upon Jacob her

16 younger son: And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the
smooth of his neck:

17 And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her
son Jacob.

18 And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my
son?

19 And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy first born; I have done according as thou
badest" me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.

And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly,

21 my son? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me. And Isaac said unto
Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau
or not.

22 And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's
voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.
23 And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he
blessed him.

|| == Early Modern English (1470-1700) you /singular + v with st or est-dost/doest = do,

wouldst/shouldst/mightest would/should/might, canst = can, wast = were, hast have, made,
comest = come, hatest hate, eatest eat, badest = bade, gavest gave, madest = == =

asked (me)

20

15

12

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And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.

7 24

25 And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless
thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine and he drank.

26 22 27 And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son. And he
came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said,
See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed:

28 Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of
corn and wine:

29 Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy
mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that
blesseth thee.

30 And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was
yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from
his hunting.
31 And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father,
Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me.

32 And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn
Esau.

33 And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath 12 taken
venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him?
yea, and he shall be blessed.

34 And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry,
and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.

35 And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing.

= = = 12 Early Modern English (1470-1700) he/she/it + v with th―doth/doeth = does, hath has,
saith = says, goeth goes, knoweth knows, cometh = comes, giveth = gives, feedeth moveth =
moves, wanteth = wants; maketh = makes, sendeth = sends = feeds,

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The Twin Brothers: Jacob and Esau

36 And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted ¹³ me these two times:
he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said,
Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?

37 And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his
brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained 14 him: and
what shall I do now unto thee, my son?

38 39 And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me
also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. And Isaac his father answered and
said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling

shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;

40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when
thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.

41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau
said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother
Jacob.

42 43 And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called
Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth
comfort himself, purposing to kill thee. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; arise, flee thou to
Laban my

brother to Haran;

And tarry¹s with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away;

45 Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him:
then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one
day?

15

13 took the place of 14 nourished, fed to maintain (his) life 15 stay

44

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Word Bank

deceiver: a person who causes someone to believe something that is false dew: small drops of
water which form during the night, e.g. the morning dew mourn: to show grief for the death of
someone (continuous: mourning), e.g. They are mourning their dead son.

Study Questions

What do the twins become when they grow up? 1.

2. How does Jacob acquire the birthright of Esau?

How is Isaac deceived into blessing Jacob instead of Esau?

What kind of blessing is bestowed on Jacob?

3.
4.

5. Why is Jacob forced to leave home?

400

Joseph: The First Two Dreams

Before the text

Of all his wives and sons, Jacob loves Rachel, Joseph and Benjamin the most. Joseph's
brothers are jealous, and when they see a multi-colored coat that Jacob gives Joseph, they
decide to kill their brother. Fortunately, Joseph is saved by some merchants.

Main Characters

Jacob: the father of Joseph

Israel: Jacob's name was changed to Israel¹

Joseph: the son of Jacob

Reuben: the oldest half-brother of Joseph

Judah: an older half-brother of Joseph

Potiphar: an official of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard

Genesis 37

1 And Jacob dwelt² in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.

2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock
with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of

1 From 35:21 he is referred to as Israel and sometimes as Jacob.

2 lived for a time (in a place)

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Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their
evil report.

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age:
and he made him a coat of many colours.³ 3

4 5 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated
him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his
brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:

7 For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood
upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.

8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have
dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have
dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made
obeisance to me.

10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto
him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed
come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem.

13 And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will
send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.

3 This coat made Joseph the envy of his brothers.

4 tying bunches of grain plants

scolded

6 = = Early Modern English (1470-1700) thou you /subjective, singular; thee you /objective,
singular; thy = your /singular; thine = your /plural (and /singular when used before a vowel or h),
thine also yours; ye = you /subjective, plural; thyself = yourself; thou art = you are /singular; ye
are = you are /plural; thou art = you are

12

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Joseph: The First Two Dreams

14 And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with
the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to
Shechem.

15 And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked
him, saying, What seekest thou?

16 And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks.

17 And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And
Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.

18 And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired
against him to slay him.

And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us
slay him, and cast him into some pit, and

we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his
dreams.

21 And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.

22 And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the
wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to
his father again.

23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they

24 24 stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him; And they took him,
and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.
25 And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a
company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and
myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.

26 26

And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?

= == Early Modern English (1470-1700) he/she/it + v with th-doth/doeth = does, hath = has,
saith = says, goeth = goes, knoweth knows, cometh comes, giveth = gives, feedeth = feeds,
moveth moves, wanteth = wants; maketh = makes, sendeth = sends

19

20

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27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our
brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.

28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of
the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph
into Egypt.

29 And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his
clothes.

30 And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?

31 And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;

32 And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This
have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat or no.

33 And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is
without doubt rent in pieces.

34 And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many
days.

35 And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be
comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father
wept for him.

36 And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of
the guard.

Word Bank

conspire: to plan together secretly (past tense: conspired) devour: to eat up quickly and hungrily
(past tense: devoured) Pharaoh: the title of an ancient Egyptian King

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Joseph: The First Two Dreams

Study Questions

How do we know that Israel loved Joseph more than all his other sons?

What is the first dream that Joseph has?

3. What is Joseph's second dream?

4. What do the dreams mean?

When the brothers conspire to kill Joseph, who tries to save him?

2.

5.

1.

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Joseph:

The Interpretation of Dreams

Before the text

In Egypt, Joseph quickly becomes an overseer for an important person. However, he is unjustly
accused and thrown into prison, where he is put in charge of the prisoners and becomes an
interpreter of dreams. After a while, the chief butler and the chief baker of the Pharaoh offend
their King and are put in prison, and Joseph interprets their dreams.

Main Characters

Joseph: the son of Jacob

Potiphar: the captain of the guard for Pharaoh

Potiphar's wife

Chief cupbearer: the chief official in a royal court who serves wine Chief baker: the chief official
in a royal court who serves bread

The Lord: God

Genesis 39

1 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the
guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down
thither. And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he

was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

Joseph: The Interpretation of Dreams

And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to
prosper in his hand.

And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his
house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
ミ And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all
that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of
the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.

6 And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread
which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and
she said, Lie with me.

8 1 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with
me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;

9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but
thee, 2 because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against
God?

10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to
lie by her, or to be with her.

11 12 And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business;
and there was none of the men of the house there within. And she caught him by his garment,
saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

I know, 1 know or learn-Middle English (11th c) Scot and Northern English dialect-I wot = you
/singular wost/wotest you know, he/she/it wot/wotteth = he/she/it knows, we witen = we know,
you/plural wist = you know ==

2 = = Early Modern English (1470-1700) thou you /subjective, singular; thee = you /objective,
singular; thy your /singular; thine your plural (and /singular when used before a vowel or h),
thine also yours; ye = you /subjective, plural; thyself = yourself; thou art = Isingular; ye are = you
are /plural; thou art = you are you are

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13 And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled
forth,

14 That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath
brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a
loud voice:

15 And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his
garment with me, and fled, and got him out.

And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.

17 18 And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which
thou hast³ brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me: And it came to pass, as I lifted up my
voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.4

19 And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him,
saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.

20 21 And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's
prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. But the LORD was with Joseph, and
shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the
prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.

23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD
was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.

3 = = do, = have, Early Modern English (1470-1700) you /singular + v with st or est-dost/doest
wouldst/shouldst/mightest would/should/might, canst = can, wast = were, hast gavest gave,
madest = made, comest= come, hatest hate, eatest = eat ==

4 "Potiphar's wife" has come to mean a woman who tries to seduce young men and then
accuses them when her advances are rejected.

5 showed

16

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Joseph: The Interpretation of Dreams

Genesis 40

And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had
offended their lord the king of Egypt.

2 And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against
the chief of the bakers.

3 And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place
where Joseph was bound." 7

4 And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they
continued a season in ward.

5 And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man
according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler

6 and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison. And Joseph came in unto
them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad.

7 And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of his lord's house, saying,
Wherefore look ye so sadly to day?

8 And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And
Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.

9 And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine
was before me;

10 And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot
forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes:

11 12 And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into
Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand. And Joseph said unto him, This is the
interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:

prison 7 held

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13 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and
thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his
butler.

14 But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and
make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:

15 For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done
nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.

16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was
in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head:

17 And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the
birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.

18 And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are
three days:

Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree;
and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.

20 And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto
all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his
servants.

21 And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into
Pharaoh's hand:

22 But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet did not the chief
butler remember Joseph, but forgat³ him.

Word Bank

butler: a male servant

dungeon: a dark prison usually underground

interpretation: an explanation, e.g. interpretation of a situation mock: to laugh and make fun of,
e.g. You should not mock foreigners.

8 forgot
19

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overseer: a person who watches to see that work is done properly

Study Questions

In Potiphar's house what is Joseph put in charge of?

2. Explain the special meaning of "Potiphar's wife

3. In prison, what is Joseph put in charge of?

."

What is the dream of the butler? What is the interpretation?

5. What is the dream of the baker? What is the interpretation?

4.

1.

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Joseph:

The Pharaoh's Dreams

Before the text

After two years the Pharaoh has a dream that no one can interpret. The butler remembers
Joseph, and the Pharaoh sends for him. Joseph is able to interpret the Pharaoh's dreams, and
is made overseer of all the land of Egypt. Seven years of abundance come, and then come
seven years of famine. The famine seems to be everywhere, including the land of Canaan,
where Jacob and his other sons live.
Main Characters

Joseph: the son of Jacob

Pharaoh: King of Egypt

Chief butler

Asenath: wife of Joseph; the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On

Genesis 41

1 And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood
by the river.

2 And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine¹ and fatfleshed; and they
fed in a meadow.

COWS

Joseph: The Pharaoh's Dreams

3 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and
leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river.

4 And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So
Pharaoh awoke.

5 And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon
one stalk, rank and good.

6 And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted² with the east wind sprung up after them.

7 And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and,
behold, it was a dream.

8 And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all
the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but
there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.

9 Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day:
10 Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard's house,
both me and the chief baker:

11 And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the
interpretation of his dream.

12 And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard;
and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he
did interpret.

13 And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and
him he hanged.

14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and
he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.

15 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none

blown

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that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee,³ that thou canst understand a dream to
interpret it.

16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of
peace.

17 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river:

18 And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and
they fed in a meadow:

19 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and
leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness:

And the lean and the ill favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine:
220 20

21 And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they
were still ill favoured, as at the beginning. So I awoke.

22 And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good:

23 And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after
them:

24 And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told this unto the magicians; but there
was none that could declare it to me.

25 And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh
what he is about to do.

3. = = Early Modern English (1470-1700) thou you /subjective, singular; thee you /objective,
singular; thy your /singular; thine = your /plural (and /singular when used before a vowel or h),
thine also yours; ye = you /subjective, plural; thyself = yourself; thou art = you are /singular; ye
are = you are /plural; thou art = you are

4 Early Modern English (1470-1700) you /singular + v with st or est-dost/doest

wouldst/shouldst/mightest would/should/might, canst = can, wast = were, hast gavest gave,
madest = made, comest = come, hatest = hate, eatest = eat = do, == have,

5 Early Modern English (1470-1700) he/she/it + v with th―doth/doeth = does, hath = has, saith
= = says, goeth goes, knoweth = knows, cometh comes, giveth = gives, feedeth = feeds, =
moveth moves, wanteth = wants; maketh = makes, sendeth = sends 6

showed

Joseph: The Pharaoh's Dreams

26 The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream
is one.

27 And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the
seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.

28 This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth
unto Pharaoh.
29 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:

30 And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in
the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;

31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall
be very grievous.

32 And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is
established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

33 Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of
Egypt.

34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of
the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.

35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the
hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.

36 And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be
in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.

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

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

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

a modest man who shows self-control in speech and behavior

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40 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.
41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.

42 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;

43 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.

44 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.

45 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.

46 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.

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

47

48 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.

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

50 50 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. 51 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.

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

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

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54 7 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.

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.

56 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.

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

Word Bank

famine: a very serious lack of food, e.g. Many people in Africa die from famines every year.

perish: to die in a terrible way

ward: Here it means a prison.

Study Questions

1. What two dreams does the Pharaoh have?

2. What is the interpretation of the dreams?

What actions does Joseph take in anticipation of the events in the dreams?

4. What gifts does the Pharaoh give to Joseph?

5. Is the famine only in Egypt?

3.

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Joseph and His Brothers

Before the text

When the famine comes, all of Joseph's half-brothers go to Egypt to buy corn. Joseph disguises
himself and tells them to go and bring the youngest brother back with them next time or he won't
sell them anything. When they do, he first tricks them, but then reveals himself and asks them to
go bring their father and all of their families to Egypt.

Main Characters

Jacob: father of Joseph Israel: Jacob's name was changed to Israel¹ Joseph: the son of Jacob
Reuben: the oldest half-brother of Joseph Judah: half-brother of Joseph Simeon: half-brother of
Joseph Benjamin: the younger brother of Joseph Pharaoh: the King of Egypt

Genesis 42

1 Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye² look
one upon another?

1 From 35:21 he is referred to as Israel and sometimes as Jacob.

= you /objective, 2 Early Modern English (1470-1700) thou = you /subjective, singular; thee
singular; thy = your /singular; thine = your /plural (and /singular when used before a vowel or h),
thine also yours; ye = you /subjective, plural; thyself = yourself; thou art = Isingular; ye are = you
are /plural; thou art = you are you are

Joseph and His Brothers

2 And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy
for us from thence; 4 that we may live, and not die. 3 And Joseph's ten brethren went down to
buy corn in

Egypt.

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

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

6 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.

7 8 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. And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.

And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said

10 unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. And they said unto
him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come.

11 12 We are all one man's sons; we are true men, thy servants are no spies. And he said unto
them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.

13 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.

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

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

3 thither toward that place, hither = toward this place

4 thence

= from there, hence = from here

5 changed his appearance (to hide his identity)

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16 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.

And he put them all together into ward three days.

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

19 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:
20 20 But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not
die. And they did so.

12 21 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.

22 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.

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

24 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.

25 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.

26 27 And they laded their asses with the corn, and departed thence. 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.

28 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?

food for cattle or horses

7 Early Modern English (1470-1700) he/she/it + v with th-doth/doeth = does, hath = has, saith =
says, goeth = goes, knoweth = knows, cometh = comes, giveth = gives, feedeth = feeds,
moveth = moves, wanteth = wants; maketh = makes, sendeth = sends

17

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Joseph and His Brothers 421

20 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 the lord of the land, spake roughly to us, and took us for spies of the
country.

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

32 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.

33 And the man, the lord of the country, said unto us, Hereby³ 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:

34 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.

35 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.

36 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.

37 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.

38 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.

31

in this way

Here it means "You have taken away my precious children by force (or through death)."

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Genesis 43

1 And the famine was sore in the land.

2 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.

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

5 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.

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

7 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 tenor¹ of these
words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?

8 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.

9 12 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:

10 11 For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time. 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

you will

11 general meaning

guarantee

10

12
3

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Joseph and His Brothers

13 present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:

12 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:

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

14 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.

15 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.

16 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.

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

18 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, 14 and our asses.

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

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

21 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.

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

20
13 lemon mint 14 slave, servent

13

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23 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.

24 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.

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

26 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.

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

28 And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed
down their heads, and made obeisance. 15

29 29 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 spake¹ unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto
thee, my son.

30 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.

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

32 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.

33 34 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. And he took and sent messes
unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of their's. And
they drank, and were merry with him.

15 gestured to show respect 16 spoke

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Joseph and His Brothers

Genesis 44

1 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.

2 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.

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

4 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 not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth?¹ ye have done evil in
so doing.

6 7 And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words. And they said unto him,
Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this
thing:

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

10 And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with

11 whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless. Then they speedily took
down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.
12 And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found
in Benjamin's sack.

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

17 perceives (by supernatural power)

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

15 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?

16 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 18 of thy servants: behold, we are my lord's
servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found.

17 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.

18 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.

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

20 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.

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

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

23 And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye
shall see my face no more.
24 And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of
my lord.

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

22

25

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

evil act

18

19

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Joseph and His Brothers

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

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

30 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 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 33 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. 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 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.
Genesis 45

1 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.

2 And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. 3 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.

4 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.

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

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6 For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are 7 five years, in the
which there shall neither be earing" nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a
posterity 20 in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

S 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.

9 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:

10 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:

11 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.

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

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.
13

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

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

16 17 And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying, Joseph's brethren are come:
and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy
brethren, This do ye; lade Canaan;

your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of

18 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.

19 growth of the ear (of corn); plowing

future generations

20

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10 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.

20 21 Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is your's. 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.

22 To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; 21 but to Benjamin he gave three
hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment.

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

15 25 And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father,

26 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.

27 27 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:

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

Genesis 46:1-8, 28-34

1 And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices
unto the God of his father Isaac.

2 And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said,
Here am I.

23

21 clothes

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3 And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there
make of thee a great nation:

4 I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall
put his hand upon thine eyes.

5 And Jacob rose up from Beersheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their
little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.

And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the

7 land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him: His sons, and his
sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and all his seed brought he with
him into Egypt.

8 And these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons:
Reuben, Jacob's firstborn.

**

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

29 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.

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

31 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 33 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. And it shall come to pass, when
Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation?

34 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.

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Word Bank

abomination: cause of hate with disgust

interpreter: a person who translates one spoken language to another

verify: to make sure that a statement is true (past tense: verified), e.g. The defendant's alibi was
verified by witnesses.
Study Questions

1. Why does Jacob send his ten sons to Egypt?

Recall the first two dreams of Joseph. When do they come true?

3. Why does Joseph accuse his brothers of being spies, put them all together in prison for three
days, take Simeon away, and put the silver in their sacks?

4. When does Joseph reveal himself to his brothers? Does Joseph blame his brothers for what
happened to him?

5. What part appealed to you most: when Joseph reveals himself or when Joseph meets Jacob
again?

2.

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