Genesis 42:1 And Jacob saw that there was grain-breaking in Egypt. And Jacob said to his sons, “Why do ye look at yourselves?” ²And he said, “Behold, I heard that there is breaking in Egypt. Descend ye thereward and break ye to us from there. And we have lived. And we will not die.” ³And Joseph’s ten brethren descended to break grain from Egypt. ⁴And Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with his brethren. For he said, “Lest harm will suddenly-meet him.”

⁵And the sons of Israel came to break in the midst of the comers. For the famine was in the land of Merchant [Canaan]. ⁶And Joseph: he is the sultan over the land. He is the ‘breaker’ to all people of the land.

And Joseph’s brethren came. And they prostrated to him faces landward. ⁷And Joseph saw his brothers. And he recognized them. And he estranged himself unto them. And he spoke hardnesses with them. And he said unto them, “From where did ye come?” And they said, “From the land of Canaan to break food.” ⁸And Joseph recognized his brothers. And they, they didn’t recognize him. ⁹And Joseph remembered the dreams that he dreamed to them. And he said unto them, “Ye are spies! Ye came to see the nakedness of the land!” ¹⁰And they said unto him, “No, my lord! And thy slaves came to break food! ¹¹All of us—we are sons of one man! We are established! Thy slaves were not spies.” ¹²And he said unto them, “No! For ye have come to see the nakedness of the land!” ¹³And they said, “Thy slaves are twelve. We are brothers—sons of one man in the land of Canaan. And behold, the youngest is with our father today. And the one is not.” ¹⁴And Joseph said unto them, “He is what I spoke unto you, saying, ‘Ye are spies!’ ¹⁵Ye shall be proven via this. Pharaoh lives!—if ye shall exit from this except via the coming of your little brother here! ¹⁶Send ye one from you. And he took your brother. And ye, ye were imprisoned! And your words were proved! Is the truth with you? And if not, Pharaoh lives! For ye are spies!” ¹⁷And he gathered them unto guard three days.

¹⁸And Joseph said unto them in the third day, “Do ye this and live. I fear the gods! ¹⁹If ye are established, your one brother shall be bound in the house of your guard. And ye, walk-ye! Bring-ye the breaking of famine of your houses! ²⁰And ye shall bring your little brother unto me. And your speeches shall be verified. And ye shall not die!” And they did so.

²¹And they said a man unto his brother, “But we are guilty-[ones] concerning our brother—that we saw the tribulation of his being during his beseeching unto us! And we did not hearken. Therefore this tribulation came unto us!” ²²And Reuben answered them, saying, “Didn’t I say unto you, saying, ‘Do not sin via the child,’ and ye did not hearken! And indeed, his blood—behold—is being researched!” ²³And they did not know that Joseph hearkened. For the translator is between them. ²⁴And he circled from upon them. And he wept.

And he returned unto them. And he spoke unto them. And he took Shimon from with them. And he bound him to their eyes. ²⁵And Joseph commanded. And they filled their vessels grain, and to restore their silver, a man unto his sack, and to give provision to them to (for) the way. And he did so to them. ²⁶And they lifted their breaking upon their asses. And they walked from there.

²⁷And the one opened his sack to give provender to his ass in the inn. And he saw his silver. And behold, he is in the mouth of his container! ²⁸And he said unto his brethren, “My silver is returned, and also behold, into my container!” And their heart exited! And they were terrified, a man unto his brother, saying, “What is this Elohim did to us?”

²⁹And they came unto Jacob their father toward the land of Canaan. And they told to him all the happenings with them saying, ³⁰ “The man—lords of the land—spoke hardnesses with us! And he gave us as spies of the land! ³¹And we said unto him, ‘We are established! We were not spies! ³²Twelve are we—brothers—sons of our father. One is not, and the little-[one] is with our father today in the land of Canaan.’ ³³And the man—lords of the land—said unto us, ‘I will know via this that ye are established. Rest-ye your one brother with me. And take-ye the famine of your houses. And walk! ³⁴And bring your little brother unto me. And I knew that ye are not spies because ye are established! I will give your brother to you. And ye shall trade [in] the land.’”

³⁵And he was. They are emptying their sacks. And behold, a man a bundle of his silver is in his sack! And they saw the bundles of their silver—they and their father! And they feared! ³⁶And Jacob their father said unto them, “Ye have bereaved me! Joseph is not, and Shimon is not! And ye shall take Benjamin? All of hers were upon me!” ³⁷And Reuben said unto his father to say, “Thou wilt kill my two sons if I will not bring him unto thee! Give her him upon my hand. And I, I will return him unto thee.” ³⁸And he said, “My son shall not descend with you! For his brother is dead. And he remained alone. And hurt shall happen to him in the way that ye shall walk via her! And ye shall descend my gray-hairs via sorrow Sheolward!”

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And the famine is heavy in the land. ²And he was just-as they finished to eat the breaking that they brought from Egypt. And their father said unto them, “Return. Break for us a little food.” ³And Judah spoke unto him, saying, “Testifying, the man testified into us, saying, ‘Ye shall not see my faces without your brother with you!’ ⁴If thou art sending our brother with us, we will descend. And we will break food to thee. ⁵And if thou art not sending, we will not descend. For the man said unto us, ‘Ye shall not see my faces without your brother with you!’” ⁶And Israel said, “Why bad-did ye to me to tell to the man yet a brother is to you?” ⁷And they said, “Asking, the man asked to us and to our kindred, saying, ‘Is your father yet alive? Is there a brother to you?’ And we told him upon the mouth of these sayings. Knowing, will we know that he will say, ‘Descend ye your brother!’?” ⁸And Judah said unto Israel his father, “Send the youth with me. And we have arisen. And we have walked. And we have lived. And we will not die—also we, also thou, also our little one. ⁹I, I will be his surety. Thou shalt seek him from my hand if I didn’t bring him unto thee. And I will present him to thy faces. And I shall sin to thee all the days. ¹⁰For if we had not what?-what?ed ourselves… for now we returned this two-strokes!” ¹¹And their father Israel said unto them, “If established where, do ye this. Take ye from the prune of the land in your vessels. And descend ye a rest to the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts and almonds. ¹²And take ye silver repeated in your hand. And the silver brought in the mouth of your sacks—ye shall return in your hand. Perhaps he is an oversight. ¹³And take ye your brother. And arise ye. Return ye unto the man. ¹⁴And El Shaddai shall give wombings to you to the faces of the man. And he shall send your other brother and Benjamin to you. And I—just as I have been bereaved, I have been bereaved.”

¹⁵And the men took this rest. And they took the repeat of silver in their hand, and Benjamin. And they arose. And they descended Egypt.

And they stood to the faces of Joseph. ¹⁶And Joseph saw Benjamin with them. And he said to whoever is over his house, “Bring the men to home. And slaughter a slaughter. And establish. For the men shall eat with me in noon.” ¹⁷And the man did just as Joseph said.

And the man brought the men to Joseph’s house. ¹⁸And the men feared because they were brought to Joseph’s house. And they said, “We are brought concerning the speech of the silver returned in our sacks at the first to make-ourselves-roll concerning us and to make-ourselves-fall upon us and to take us to slaves, and our asses!”

¹⁹And they approached unto the man who is over the house of Joseph. And they spoke unto him, the opening of the house. ²⁰And they said, “Via me, my sir, descending, we descended at the beginning to break food. ²¹And he was. For we came unto the inn. And we opened our sacks. And behold, a man’s silver is in the mouth of his sack—our silver via his weight! And we returned him via our hand. ²²And we descended other silver in our hand to break food. We didn’t know who put our silver in our sacks.” ²³And he said, “Peace to you. Fear ye not. Your Gods and the Gods of your father gave treasure to you in your sacks. Your silver came unto me.”

And he exited Shimon unto them. ²⁴And the man brought the men to Joseph’s house. And he gave water. And they washed their feet. And he gave their provender to their asses. ²⁵And they established the rest unto the coming of Joseph at noon. For they heard that they shall eat bread there.

²⁶And Joseph came home. And they brought the rest that is in their hand to him, to the house. And they prostrated themselves to him to the land. ²⁷And he asked to them for peace. And he said, “Is peace of your father the elder of whom ye said? Is there yet life to him?” ²⁸And they answered, “Peace is to thy slave, to our father. There is yet life to him.” And they bowed. And they prostrated. ²⁹And he carried his eyes. And he saw Benjamin his brother, son of his mother. And he said, “Is this your brother the little whom ye said unto me?” And he said, “Elohim will favour thee, my son.” ³⁰And Joseph hastened. For his wombs yearned unto his brother. And he sought to weep. And he came to the chamber. And he wept there.

³¹And he washed his faces. And he exited. And he restrained himself.

And he said, “Set ye bread!” ³²And they set to him by himself and to them by themselves and to the Egyptians eating with him by themselves. (For the Egyptians will not be able to eat bread with the Hebrews. For he is an abomination to the Egyptians.) ³³And they sat to his faces, the firstborn according to his firstbornship and the youngest according to his youth. And the men ‘what?ed’ themselves a man unto his neighbour. ³⁴And he carried portions unto them from with his faces. And Benjamin’s portion was multiplied five hands from the portions of all of them. And they drank. And they were tipsy with him.

Chapter 44

And he commanded whoever is over his house, saying, “Fill the men’s sacks of food just as they will be able to carry. And put silver of a man into his sack’s mouth. ²And thou wilt put my goblet—the silver goblet—in the mouth of the sack of the little, and the silver of his break.” And he did according to the speech that Joseph spoke.

³The morning is light. And they sent the men, they and their asses. ⁴They exited the city. They didn’t distance, and Joseph said to whoever is over his house, “Arise! Pursue after the men and overtake them. And say unto them, ‘Why ‘peaced’ ye bad under good? ⁵Is not this in which my lord will drink? And he, divining, will divine via him! Ye bad-did what ye did!”

⁶And he overtook them. And he spoke these same words unto them. ⁷And they said unto him, “Why will my lord speak according to these words? Profanity to thy slaves from doing according to this speech! ⁸Behold, we returned unto thee the silver that we found in the mouth of our sacks from the land of Canaan. And how shall we steal silver or gold from thy lord’s house? ⁹With whom he will be found from thy servants, and he shall die! And we, we also shall be slaves to my lord!” ¹⁰And he said, “And also now he is established according to your speeches! He with whom he shall be found will be a slave to me! And ye, ye shall be innocent.”

¹¹And they hurried. And they descended, a man with his sack to the land. And they opened a man his sack. ¹²And he dug. He began in the big and he finished in the little. And he found the goblet in Benjamin’s sack. ¹³And they tore their clothes.

And a man loaded upon his ass. And they returned to the city. ¹⁴And Judah came, and his brethren to Joseph’s house. (And he, he is still there!) And they fell to his faces landward. ¹⁵And Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that ye did? Did ye not know that, divining, a man who is as I will divine?” ¹⁶And Judah said, “What will we say unto my lord? What will we speak? And what will we justify ourselves? The Elohim found the iniquity of thy slaves. Behold, we are slaves to my lord—also we and also whom the goblet is found in his hand.” ¹⁷And he said, “Profanity to me from doing this! The man in whose hand the goblet is found—he shall be a slave to me! And ye—ascend ye to peace unto your father!”

¹⁸And Judah neared unto him. And he said, “Via me, my lord. Thy slave shall speak, na, a speech in my lord’s ears. And thy nose shall not burn via thy slave. For like thee, like Pharaoh. ¹⁹My lord asked his slaves, saying, ‘Have ye a father or a brother?’ ²⁰And we said unto my lord, ‘We have an old father and a little child of his old age. And his brother is dead. And he alone is left of his mother. And his father loved him.’ ²¹And thou said unto thy slaves, ‘Ascend-ye him unto me and I have set my eyes upon him.’ ²²And we said unto my lord, ‘The youth will not be able to leave his father. And he shall leave his father, and he shall die.’ ²³And thou said unto thy slaves, ‘If your little brother will not descend with you, ye shall not gather to see my faces!’ ²⁴And he was, for we ascended unto thy slave my father. And we told to him the speeches of my lord. ²⁵And our father said, ‘Return ye. Break for us a little food.’ ²⁶And we said, ‘We will not be able to descend. If our little brother is with us, and will we descend. For we will not be able to see the man’s faces, and our little brother is not with us.’ ²⁷And thy slave my father said unto us, ‘Ye know that my woman bare me two. ²⁸And the one went out from with me. And I said, ‘But he was torn! He was torn!’ And I didn’t see him unto now. ²⁹And ye shall take also this from with my faces? And harm will happen to him! And ye shall bring down my gray hairs via bad to Sheol!’ ³⁰And now, as I come to thy slave my father, and the youth is not with us—and his being is bundled up in his being—³¹and he shall be, as his seeing that the youth is not, and he will die. And thy slaves shall descend the gray hairs of thy slave our father via sorrow to Sheol. ³²For thy slave is surety with the youth from with my father, saying, ‘If I don’t bring him unto thee… And I shall sin to my father all the days!’ ³³And now, sit thy slave, na, under the youth, a slave to my lord. And the youth shall ascend with his brethren. ³⁴For how shall I ascend to my father, and the youth is not with me?—lest I shall see via bad that shall find my father!”

Chapter 45

¹And Joseph was not able to restrain himself to all who are positioned by him. And he called, “Exit-ye every man from by me!” And a man didn’t stand with him in Joseph’s making known unto his brothers. ²And he gave his voice via weeping. And the Egyptians hearkened. And the house of Pharaoh hearkened.

³And Joseph said unto his brethren, “I am Joseph! Does my father yet live?” And his brethren were not able to answer him. For they quaked from his faces. ⁴And Joseph said unto his brothers, “Draw-ye near to me, na.” And they neared. And he said, “I am Joseph your brother whom ye sold me Egyptward. ⁵And now, be ye not labour-pained. And he shall not be hot in your eyes that ye sold me here. For Elohim sent me to your faces to keep-alive! ⁶For this two-year the famine is in the midst of the land. And further are five years that there is not plowing and harvest. ⁷And Elohim sent me to your faces to put a remnant to you in the land and to keep-alive to you to a big escape! ⁸And now, ye did not send me here, but the Elohim! And He put me to a father to Pharaoh and to a lord to all his house, and a ruler in all the land of Egypt! ⁹Hurry ye! And ascend ye unto my father! And ye shall say unto him, ‘Thus said thy son Joseph, “Elohim put me to a lord to all Egypt! Descend-thou unto me! Do not stand! ¹⁰And 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 flock and thy herd and all that is to thee! ¹¹And I will all-all-thee there—for further five years are famine—lest thou will be impoverished, and thy house and all that is to thee.’ ¹²And behold, your eyes see—and the eyes of my brother Benjamin—that my mouth is the speaker unto you! ¹³And ye shall tell to my father all my glory in Egypt and all that ye saw. And ye shall hurry. And ye shall descend my father here!” ¹⁴And he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s necks. And he wept. And Benjamin wept upon his necks. ¹⁵And he kissed to all his brethren. And he wept upon them. And afterward his brethren spoke with him.

¹⁶And the voice was heard [in] Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers came!” And he was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of his slaves. ¹⁷And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, “Say unto thy brethren, ‘This do ye. Saddle up your stupid-beasts. And walk-ye—come ye to the land of Canaan! ¹⁸And take-ye your father and your houses. And come unto me. And I gave her to you—the good of the land of Egypt. And ye shall eat the fat of the land! ¹⁹And thou, thou art commanded! Do ye this! Take-ye oxcarts to you from the land of Egypt to your little one and to your women. And ye shall carry your father. And ye shall come! ²⁰And your eye shall not spare concerning your utensils. For the good of all the land of Egypt—he is to you!’” ²¹And the children of Israel did so.

And Joseph gave oxcarts to them according to the mouth of Pharaoh. And he gave provision to them to the way. ²²He gave to all of them changes of raiment to a man. And he gave to Benjamin three hundred of silver and five changes of raiment. ²³And he sent to his father as this: ten asses carrying from the good of Egypt and ten she asses carrying grain and bread and nourishment to his father to the way. ²⁴And he sent his brethren. And they walked. And he said unto them, “Do not be violently-angry in the way!”

²⁵And they ascended from Egypt. And they came, the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father. ²⁶And they told to him, saying, “Joseph is yet alive,” and that “he is governor in all the land of Egypt!” And Jacob’s heart froze, for he didn’t believe to them. ²⁷And they spoke all the words of Joseph that he spoke unto them unto him. And he saw the oxcarts that Joseph sent to carry him. And the spirit of Jacob their father lived. ²⁸And Israel said, “Much! Joseph my son is yet alive! I will walk! And I have seen him before I will die!”

Chapter 46

And Israel journeyed, and all that is to him. And he came Beershevaward. And he sacrificed sacrifices to the Gods of his father, Isaac. ²And Elohim said to Israel via visions of the night. And He said, “Jacob! Jacob!” And he said, “Behold, I!” ³And He said, “I am the Mighty-[One] Gods of thy father. Fear thou not from descending Egyptward. For I will put thee there to a big race. ⁴I, I will descend with thee Egyptward. And I, I will also ascend thee ascending. And Joseph will put his hand upon thine eyes.”

⁵And Jacob arose from Beersheva. And the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father and their little one and their women in oxcarts that Pharaoh sent to carry him. ⁶And they took their cattle and their stuff that they stuffed in the land of Canaan. And they came Egyptward—Jacob and all his seed with him— ⁷his sons and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters and his sons’ daughters and all his seed—he brought with him Egyptward.

⁸And these are the names of the children of Israel coming Egyptward—Jacob and his sons:

They-Saw-A-Son [Reuben], Jacob’s firstborn. ⁹And the sons of They-Saw-A-Son [Reuben]:

Dedicated [Hanoch] and Miracled [Phallu] and Trumpet-Sounding [Hezron] and My-Vineyard [Carmi].

¹⁰And the sons of Hearkening [Shimon]: Sea-And-Mighty-[one] [Yemuel] and Right [Yamin] and I-Will-Be-Majesty [Ohad] and He-Will-Establish [Yakhin] and He-Dazzled [Zohar] and He-Was-Asked [Shaul] son of a Merchantess [Canaanitess].

¹¹And the sons of My-Joined-[One] [Levi]: Exile [Gershon], Dullness-Of [Kohat] and My-Bitter-[one] [Merari].

¹²And the sons of He-Confessed-Yehovah [Judah]: Awake [Er] and Their-Lust [Onan] and That-Is-To-Her [Shelah] and Breach [Pharez] and Sunrise [Zarah]. (And Awake [Er] and Their-Lust [Onan] died in the land of Merchant [Canaan].) And the sons of Breach [Pharez] are Trumpet-Sounding [Hezron] and Compassioned [Hamul].

¹³And the sons of There-Is-A-Wage [Issachar]: Worm [Tola] and Corner [Phuvah] and He-Is-Shrilly-Crying [Job] and Guarding [Shimron].

¹⁴And the sons of They-Cohabited [Zebulun]: Sullenness-Descended [Sered] and Might [Elon] and A-Mighty-One-Shall-Whirl [Yahle-el].

¹⁵These are the sons of Weary [Leah] whom she childed to Jacob in High Extension [Padan-Aram], and his daughter Her-Adjudicator [Dinah]. Every being of his sons and his daughters are thirty and three.

¹⁶And the sons of Troop [Gad]: Lookout [Ziphion] and My-Solemnities [Haggi], He-Sharpens-Me [Shuni] and Without-Purpose [Ezbon], My-Wakefulness [Eri] and I-Will-Descend-Me [Arodi] and I-Will-See-To-Me [Areli].

¹⁷And the sons of Happiness [Asher]: He-Will-Reckon [Yimnah] and He-Will-Equal-Her [Ishuah] and He-Will-Equal-Me [Isui] and Via-Her-Shout [Beriah] and Prince-Blew [Serah] their sister. And the sons of Via-Her-Shout [Beriah]: Friend [Hever] and My-King-Is-Mighty-One [Malchiel].

¹⁸These are the sons of Her-Trickling [Zilpah] whom White [Laban] gave to Weary [Leah] his daughter. And she childed these to He-Will-Heel [Jacob], sixteen beings.

¹⁹The sons of Ewe [Raquel] He-Will-Heel’s [Jacob’s] woman: He-Will-Gather [Joseph] and Son-Of-My-Right [Benjamin]. ²⁰And he was childed to He-Will-Gather [Joseph] in the land of Egypt whom Where-Is-The-Bush [Asnat] the daughter of My-Unrestricted-Bow [Poti Pherah] priest of Lust [On] childed to him with Forgetter [Manasseh] and I-Will-Be-Fruitful-There [Ephraim].

²¹And the sons of Benjamin: He-Swallowed [Belah] and Firstborn [Bekher] and I-Will-Cluster [Ashbel], He-Saw-A-Sojourner [Gera] and Their-[fem.]-Pleasant-[one] [Naaman], My-Brother [Ekhi] and Head [Rosh], Memphis-ites [Muppim] and Enveloped-[ones] [Huppim] and I-Will-Descend [Ard].

²²These are the sons of Ewe [Raquel] whom he childed to Jacob. All the beings are fourteen.

²³And the sons of Adjudication [Dan]: Hastening-[ones] [Hushim].

²⁴And the sons of My-Wrestling [Naphtali]: Mighty-[one]-Shall-Divide-[in half] [Yahze-el] and My-Defender [Guni] and He-Will-Form [Yetzer] and Vengeance-Peace [Shillem].

²⁵These are the sons of Via-Languishing [Bilhah] whom White [Laban] gave unto Ewe [Raquel] his daughter. And she childed these unto He-Will-Heel [Jacob]. All the beings are seven. ²⁶Each being that came to Jacob Egyptward, exiters of his side (besides Jacob’s sons’ women)—each being is sixty and six.

²⁷And the sons of Joseph that he childed to him in Egypt are two being(s). All the being to the House of Jacob that came Egyptward is seventy.

²⁸And he sent Judah to his faces unto Joseph to teach to his faces Goshenward. And they came landward Goshen. ²⁹And Joseph hitched his chariot. And he ascended to meet Israel his father Goshenward. And he was seen unto him. And he fell upon his necks. And he wept more upon his necks.

³⁰And Israel said unto Joseph, “I shall die the stroke after my seeing thy faces! For thou art yet alive!” ³¹And Joseph said unto his brethren and unto his father’s house, “I will ascend! And I have told to Pharaoh! And I have said unto him, ‘My brethren and my father’s house who are in the land of Canaan came unto me! ³²And the men are shepherds of a flock. For they were cattlemen. And they brought their flock and their herd and all that they have!’ ³³And he shall be for Pharaoh shall call to you. And he shall say, ‘What is your doing?’ ³⁴And ye shall say, ‘Thy slaves were cattlemen from our youths and until now—also we, also our fathers’—in order that ye will dwell in the land of Goshen. For every shepherd of a flock is an abomination unto the Egyptians.”

Chapter 47

And Joseph came. And he told to Pharaoh. And he said, “My father and my brethren and their flock and their herd, and all that they have have come from the land of Canaan. And behold, they are in the land of Goshen.” ²And he took five men from the fringe of his brethren. And he presented them unto Pharaoh. ³And Pharaoh said unto his brothers, “What is your doing?” And they said unto Pharaoh, “Thy slaves are a shepherd of a flock—also we, also our fathers.” ⁴And they said unto Pharaoh, “We have come to sojourn in the land because thy slaves have no pasturage for the flock. For the famine is heavy in the land of Canaan. And now, na, thy slaves shall dwell in the land of Goshen.”

⁵And Pharaoh spoke unto Joseph, saying, “Thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee! ⁶The land of Egypt is before thee! Make thy father and brethren to settle in the best of the land! They shall dwell in the land of Goshen! And if thou hast known, and if there are among them men of valiance, and set them princes of my cattle!”

⁷And Joseph brought Jacob his father. And he stood him to the faces of Pharaoh. And Jacob blessed Pharaoh. ⁸And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, “How many are the days of the years of thy lives?” ⁹And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my sojournings are a hundred and thirty years. The days of the years of my lives were few and bad. And they didn’t reach the days of the years of the lives of my fathers in the days of their sojournings.” ¹⁰And Jacob blessed Pharaoh. And he exited from to the faces of Pharaoh.

¹¹And Joseph sat with his father and with his brethren. And he gave to them a possession in the land of Egypt via the best of the land—in the land of Raamses—as Pharaoh had commanded. ¹²And Joseph ‘all-alled’ his father and his brethren and all his father’s house, bread to the mouth of the little-one.

¹³And no bread is in all the land. For the famine is very heavy. And the land of Egypt hung, and the land of Canaan, from the faces of the famine. ¹⁴And Joseph collected all the silver that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan via the breaking that they are breaking. And Joseph brought the silver to Pharaoh’s house.

¹⁵And silver finished from the land of Egypt and from the land of Canaan. And all Egyptians came unto Joseph to say, “Render bread to us!” and “Why shall we die straight-in-front-of thee? For silver doesn’t exist.” ¹⁶And Joseph said, “Render your cattle. And I gave her to you via your cattle if silver doesn’t exist.” ¹⁷And they brought their cattle unto Joseph. And Joseph gave to them bread via horses and via cattle of the flock and via cattle of the herd and via asses. And he led them via bread via all their cattle in that year.

¹⁸And that year finished. And they came unto him in the second year. And they said to him, “We will not hide from my lord, but rather the silver finished. And livestock of the beast is unto my lord. No remainder is to the faces of my lord except if our bodies and our soil. ¹⁹Why shall we die to thine eyes—also we, also our soil? Buy us and our soil via bread. And we, we were, and our soil, slaves to Pharaoh. And give seed. And we lived. And we will not die. And the soil will not be desolate.” ²⁰And Joseph bought all the soil of Egypt to Pharaoh. For the Egyptians sold, a man his field. For the famine gripped upon them. And the land became to Pharaoh. ²¹And the people—he caused him to cross over to cities from the end of the border of Egypt and unto his end. ²²Only he didn’t acquire the soil of the priests. For a statute is to the priests from with Pharaoh. And they will eat their statute that Pharaoh gave to them. Therefore they didn’t sell their soil.

²³And He-Will-Gather [Joseph] said unto the people, “Behold I acquired you today and your soil to Pharaoh. Hey! Seed is to you! And ye shall seed the soil! ²⁴And he shall be via bringings. And ye shall give a fifth to Pharaoh. And four of the hands will be to you to seed the field and to your eating and to whomever is in your houses and to the eating to your Top (little-one). ²⁵And they said, “Thou caused-us-to-live. We will find favour in the eyes of my lord. And we will be slaves to Pharaoh.”

²⁶And He-Will-Gather [Joseph] put her to a statute unto this day upon the soil of Egypt: “To Pharaoh, to a fifth.” Only the soil of the priests, them alone, she was not to Pharaoh.

²⁷And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen. And they grasped in her. And they were fruitful. And they multiplied very much.

²⁸And He-Will-Heel [Jacob] lived in the land of Egypt seventeen year(s). And the days of He-Will-Heel [Jacob], years of his lives, were seven years and forty and one hundred year(s).

²⁹And the days of Israel to die approached. And he called to his son, to He-Will-Gather [Joseph]. And he said to him, “If, na, I found favour in thine eyes, put, na, thy hand under my side. And thou shalt do grace and truth with me. Do not, na, entomb me in Egypt. ³⁰And I will lie with my fathers. And thou wilt carry me from Egypt. And thou wilt entomb me in their tomb.” And he said, “I, I will do as thy speech.” ³¹And he said, “Swear to me.” And he swore to him. And Israel prostrated upon the head of the bed.

I. The Need (chapter 42, verses 1-4)

Jacob observed that there was grain breaking in Egypt. He said to his sons, “Why do ye look at yourselves?” He continued, “Behold, I heard that there is breaking in Egypt. Descend ye thereward and break ye to us from there. And we have lived. And we will not die.”

Joseph’s ten brothers went down to break grain from Egypt. Jacob made sure to not send Benjamin with his brothers, saying, “Lest harm will suddenly-meet him.”

Questions

1. How did Jacob see that there was grain breaking in Egypt?

2. Why did Jacob say to his sons, “Why do ye look at yourselves”? What did he mean by this?

3. How was Jacob affected by this famine?

4. What does the word thereward mean?

5. What does breaking mean in these texts?

6. Why would going to Egypt be descending?

7. Why is “and we have lived” in the past tense?

8. Why does Jacob say both, “We have lived” and “we will not die”?

9. Was Jacob superstitious that harm would come to Benjamin if he sent him?

10. Why wasn’t Jacob concerned and worried about his other ten sons who were present?

II. The Facts (verses 5-6)

Israel’s sons came to break in the midst of other folks who came. The famine also hit the land of Canaan.

Joseph is now sultan over the land, and he is the one who breaks grain to all people of the land.

Questions

1. What does “the sons of Israel came to break in the midst of the comers” mean?

2. What is a sultan?

3. The text states that Zaphnat Paaneah (remember, this is the Egyptian name given to Joseph) is the breaker to all people of the land. Does this mean that he personally oversaw every amount of food given out during this time of famine?

III. Recognition and Election (verses 6-17)

Joseph’s brothers came. They prostrated to Joseph with their faces toward the land. Joseph saw and recognized his brothers. He determined to appear a total stranger to them.

He spoke hardnesses with them—he spoke harshly. He said to them, “From where did ye come?” They responded, “From the land of Canaan to break food.” The text again states that Joseph recognized his brothers; they didn’t recognize him.

Joseph then remembered dreams that he dreamed to them.

He then accused them: “Ye are spies! Ye came to see the nakedness of the land!” They responded, “No, my lord! And thy slaves came to break food! All of us—we are sons of one man! We are established! Thy slaves were not spies.” Joseph contradicted them: “No! For ye have come to see the nakedness of the land!” They again tried to explain: “Thy slaves are twelve. We are brothers—sons of one man in the land of Canaan. And behold, the youngest is with our father today. And the one is not.”

Joseph determined to put them to a test after accusing them: “He is what I spoke unto you, saying, ‘Ye are spies!’” He continued, “Ye shall be proved via this. Pharaoh lives!—if ye shall exit from this except via the coming of your little brother here!” Joseph then stated that one of the ten brothers would be sent to fetch the other brother, and the other nine brothers would be prisoners! If these things didn’t prove true, that would establish them as spies.

He then imprisoned them for three days.

Questions

1. What does prostrate mean?

2. Why did they prostrate to him ‘faces landward’?

3. How did Joseph recognize his brothers after so many years?

4. Why did Joseph estrange himself unto them?

5. What does hardnesses mean, and why did he speak hardnesses with them?

6. Did the slaves who worked for Zaphnat Paaneah know that Joseph was behaving differently with these men?

7. The question, “From where did ye come,” doesn’t seem like a harsh question. Was it a harsh question?

8. Was Joseph being vindictive, getting back at his brothers for mistreating him now that he was a ruler in Egypt?

9. Why does the text again state, “Joseph recognized his brothers”?

10. The text reads, “And Joseph remembered the dreams that he dreamed to them.” Explain what to them means and indicates.

11. Zaphnat Paaneah said, “Ye are spies! Ye came to see the nakedness of the land!” Is he lying?

12. Why did Joseph make these accusations?

13. What does “Ye came to see the nakedness of the land” mean?

14. These brothers referred to themselves as Zaphnat Paaneah’s slaves. Were they lying?

15. Why did the brothers tell Zaphnat Paaneah more information, like, “All of us—we are sons of one man,” and “we are established”?

16. Why did the brothers volunteer that they had two other brothers—one who is at home, and one “who is not”?

17. What did they mean by “one is not”?

18. Who is He in, “He is what I spoke unto you, saying, ‘Ye are spies!’”?

19. Why would Zaphnat Paaneah think that this proves that they are spies?

20. Is Joseph playing a game with them?

21. Why did Zaphnat Paaneah say, “Pharaoh lives”?

22. What did Zaphnat Paaneah mean by, “if ye shall exit from this except via the coming of your little brother here”?

23. Why didn’t Joseph just tell who he was and get them to send for their father and little brother?

24. Verse 16 states, “Send ye one from you. And he took your brother. And ye, ye were imprisoned!” What was Zaphat Paaneah’s plan in this verse?

25. What did Zaphnat Paaneah mean by, “And if not, Pharaoh lives! For ye are spies”?

26. What did Zaphnat Paaneah do with all ten brothers, for how long, and why?

IV. Joseph’s Threat (verses 18-20)

On the third day, Joseph told them, “Do ye this and live. I fear the gods! If ye are established, your one brother shall be bound in the house of your guard. And ye, walk-ye! Bring-ye the breaking of famine of your houses! And ye shall bring your little brother unto me. And your speeches shall be verified. And ye shall not die!”

They did what Joseph said in this new plan.

Questions

1. What did Zaphnat Paaneah mean by, “Do ye this and live”?

2. What gods did Zaphnat Paaneah fear?

3. What did he mean by, “If ye are established, your one brother shall be bound in the house of your guard”?

4. What does “And ye, walk-ye! Bring-ye the breaking of famine of your houses” mean?

5. Did they bring their little brother to Zaphnat Paaneah?

V. Truth Comes Out (verses 21-24)

They began to talk to each other while still in the presence of Joseph: “But we are guilty-[ones] concerning our brother—that we saw the tribulation of his being during his beseeching unto us! And we did not hearken. Therefore this tribulation came unto us!”

Reuben answered, “Didn’t I say unto you, saying, ‘Do not sin via the child,’ and ye did not hearken! And indeed, his blood—behold—is being researched!” They had no idea that Joseph heard and understood every word, since a translator translated between Joseph and them.

Joseph then circled “from upon” (from beside) them. When he was no longer in their range, he wept.

Questions

1. Why did they start talking about being guilty ones concerning their missing brother when Joseph didn’t say a word about him?

2. What did they mean by “the tribulation of his being”?

3. What does beseech mean?

4. What does “Therefore this tribulation came unto us” show about them?

5. Reuben stated, “Didn’t I say unto you, saying, ‘Do not sin via the child,’ and ye did not hearken! And indeed, his blood—behold—is being researched!” What is he doing?

6. Is Reuben right, saying that he really isn’t as guilty, because he warned them?

7. Who is doing the research, according to Reuben, and what does this mean?

8. Why didn’t they know that Joseph (Zaphnat Paaneah) hearkened (that is, listened and understood)?

9. What does “and he circled from upon them” mean?

10. Why did Joseph weep when he heard what his brothers said?

11. Why wasn’t Joseph just furious with his brothers over what they did and how they did it, including refusing to undo it?

VI. The Sad Journey (verses 24-26)

Joseph then returned to them. He spoke more words, and then he took Shimon from their group. He bound him in front of them.

Joseph then commanded, and Joseph’s slaves filled their vessels with grain. He also commanded that their silver be returned to them by placing it in the sack of each person. He also commanded provision to them for the journey. They lifted the grain breaking upon their asses, and they walked from there.

Questions

1. The text states, “And he spoke unto them.” What did he say?

2. Why did Zaphnat Paaneah bind Shimon “to their eyes” (in their viewing)?

3. Whom did Zaphnat Paaneah command to fill the vessels of the brother with grain, to place their silver in the vessels, and to give them provision for the way?

4. Why did Zaphnat Paaneah place their silver in their sacks? Wasn’t that silver for payment for the food?

5. Did Zaphnat Paaneah normally give provision to folks for their journeys?

6. The provision for the journey was for what purpose?

7. Did they ride their asses?

VII. Shock! (verses 27-28)

At an inn (much like a stable), one of the brothers opened up his sack to give provender (food for animals) to his ass. He saw his silver! It was right there, in the mouth of his container!

He said unto his brothers, “My silver is returned, and also behold, into my container!” Their heart exited—they lost their mind! They were terrified. They asked each other, “What is this Elohim did to us?”

Questions

1. What is provender?

2. Was the brother who found his silver returned and in the mouth of his container happy about this discovery?

3. Why did they react so badly about the silver being in the container?

4. Why did they ask, “What is this Elohim did to us?”

VIII. Another Version (verses 29-34)

They came unto Jacob as they headed toward te land of Canaan. They told him all the events that happened to them: “The man—lords of the land—spoke hardnesses with us! And he gave us as spies of the land! And we said unto him, ‘We are established! We were not spies! Twelve are we—brothers—sons of our father. One is not, and the little-[one] is with our father today in the land of Canaan.’ And the man—lords of the land—said unto us, ‘I will know via this that ye are established. Rest-ye your one brother with me. And take-ye the famine of your houses. And walk! And bring your little brother unto me. And I knew that ye are not spies because ye are established! I will give your brother to you. And ye shall trade [in] the land.’”

Questions

1. Did they tell their father what occurred with excitement, with dread, or with as little detail as possible to avoid discussing it?

2. According to the brothers, the man, the lords of the land, said unto them, “Rest-ye your one brother with me. And take-ye the famine of your houses. And walk!” Is this accurate?

3. Did he say, “bring your little brother unto me. And I knew that ye are not spies because ye are established”?

4. Did he ever say, “I will give your brother to you, and ye shall trade [in] the land”?

5. Were they lying by telling these events the way they were?

6. Did Jacob suspect them of lying?

IX. More Silver! (verses 35-38)

The next event occurred while they emptied their sacks. Each one had a bundle of his silver in his own sack! They all saw the silver, including Jacob. They feared!

Jacob finally responded, “Ye have bereaved me! Joseph is not, and Shimon is not! And ye shall take Benjamin? All of hers were upon me!”

Reuben responded to his father, “Thou wilt kill my two sons if I will not bring him unto thee! Give her him upon my hand. And I, I will return him unto thee.”

Jacob’s reply was strong: “My son shall not descend with you! For his brother is dead. And he remained alone. And hurt shall happen to him in the way that ye shall walk in her! And ye shall descend my gray-hairs via sorrow Sheolward!”

Questions

1. What does “And he was” mean?

2. Why did they fear when silver was in each person’s sack, since they had already feared when one of them had silver in the sack? Why was this worse?

3. Why did Jacob react by saying, “Ye have bereaved me! Joseph is not, and Shimon is not”? What does that have to do with finding the silver in the sacks?

4. What did Jacob mean by, “And ye shall take Benjamin?”

5. Explain what “All of hers were upon me” means:

6. Reuben made an offer: “Thou wilt kill my two sons if I will not bring him unto thee!” Was this a good and reasonable offer?

7. Reuben added, “Give her him upon my hand.” Who is her?

8. Reuben offered to return him unto Jacob. Was this a good offer?

9. Why did Jacob say, “My son shall not descend with you” instead of “My son shall not descend with thee”?

10. Jacob said, “For his brother is dead. And he remained alone.” What did he mean by this?

11. What did Jacob mean by, “And hurt shall happen to him in the way that ye shall walk via her”?

12. What did Jacob mean by, “And ye shall descend my gray-hairs via sorrow Sheolward”?

13. Where is Sheol?

14. What was and is Sheol?

X. Out of Food Again (chapter 43, verses 1-14)

In the meantime, they did nothing for the one brother. The famine was very heavy in the land. They finally finished the food supplied they had brought from Egypt.

Jacob told them to return and to break a little food for Jacob and his group.

Judah spoke up: “Testifying, the man testified into us, saying, ‘Ye shall not see my faces without your brother with you!’” Then Judah bluntly stated, “If thou art sending our brother with us, we will descend. And we will break food to thee. And if thou art not sending, we will not descend. For the man said unto us, ‘Ye shall not see my faces without your brother with you!’”

Now Jacob finally asked, “Why bad-did ye to me to tell to the man yet a brother is to you?” They replied, “Asking, the man asked to us and to our kindred, saying, ‘Is your father yet alive? Is there a brother to you?’ And we told him upon the mouth of these sayings. Knowing, will we know that he will say, ‘Descend ye your brother!’?”

Judah continued to try to convince his father: “Send the youth with me. And we have arisen. And we have walked. And we have lived. And we will not die—also we, also thou, also our little one. I, I will be his surety. Thou shalt seek him from my hand if I didn’t bring him unto thee. And I will present him to thy faces.”

Judah then said, “And I shall sin to thee all the days,” referring to what would happen if Judah didn’t return the child.

Judah continued, “For if we had not what?-what?ed ourselves… for now we returned this two-strokes!” In other words, we could have already been back.

Israel responded, “If established where, do ye this. Take ye from the prune (a plant cutting) of the land in your vessels. And descend ye a rest to the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts and almonds.”

He continued, “take ye silver repeated in your hand. And the silver brought in the mouth of your sacks—ye shall return in your hand. Perhaps he is an oversight.”

He then stated, “take ye your brother. And arise ye. Return ye unto the man. And El Shaddai shall give wombings to you to the faces of the man. And he shall send your other brother and Benjamin to you. And I—just as I have been bereaved, I have been bereaved.”

Questions

1. Why does Hebrew use heavy for things like famine?

2. Who is he in, “And he was just as they finished to eat…”?

3. How much time elapsed (went by) between their coming home with the grain and their running out of grain?

4. Did Jacob only desire a little food?

5. What does “testified into us” mean?

6. Why did Judah say, “Testifying, the man testified” using the word testify twice?

7. Why is faces plural in, “Ye shall not see my faces…”?

8. Did they have to see Zaphnat Paaneah’s faces in order to get grain?

9. Did Zaphnat Paaneah really say this about seeing his faces?

10. Judah said, “If thou art sending our brother with us, we will descend. And we will break food to thee.” What was Judah implying by adding, “to thee”?

11. What does “Why bad-did ye to me to tell to the man yet a brother is to you” mean?

12. Was this question above that Jacob asked a good question?

13. The brothers said that Zaphnat Paaneah had asked them about their kindred, saying, “Is your father yet alive.” Is this true?

14. Did Jacob know that these brothers, his sons, were lying to him?

15. The brothers claimed that Zaphnat Paaneah asked them, “Is there a brother to you?” Is this true?

16. What does “And we told him upon the mouth of these sayings” mean?

17. What is another way of wording this: “Knowing, will we know that he will say, ‘Descend ye your brother!’?”

18. What is Judah doing by saying, “Send the youth with me. And we have arisen. And we have walked. And we have lived. And we will not die—also we, also thou, also our little one”?

19. Explain “I, I will be his surety. Thou shalt seek him from my hand if I didn’t bring him unto thee. And I will present him to thy faces. And I shall sin to thee all the days”:

20. Verse 10 starts out, “For if we had not what?-what?ed ourselves…” What does this mean?

21. What did Judah mean by “for now we returned this two strokes”?

22. What is Judah trying to do with these words?

23. What did Jacob mean by, “If established where, do ye this”?

24. What is the prune of the land?

25. How did they keep bugs from eating their dried fruits in those days?

26. What kinds of fruits did they have at that time that they could dry into prunes?

27. Jacob told them to “descend ye a rest to the man.” What did he mean?

28. What is balm?

29. How is honey made?

30. What are spices?

31. What is myrrh?

32. The text separates nuts and almonds. Aren’t almonds nuts?

33. What kind of nuts grow in the land where Jacob was?

34. If they needed food, why did they send food as a gift? Would Zaphnat Paaneah accept their meager gifts of food?

35. What did Jacob mean by, “take ye silver repeated in your hand”?

36. Why does the text twice mention “in your hand” when your is plural and hand is singular?

37. Why did Jacob tell them to return the silver found in their sacks by carrying it in their hand?

38. What is an oversight?

39. Jacob finally said, “And take ye your brother.” Why did he change his mind?

40. The text states, “Return ye unto the man.” How is that like modern slang?

41. Jacob next stated, “And El Shaddai shall give wombings to you to the faces of the man.” What was Jacob doing and saying when he said this? Wasn’t this a very great turn-around for Jacob?

42. Explain “And El Shaddai shall give wombings to you to the faces of the man.”

43. Jacob also prophesied, “And he shall send your other brother and Benjamin to you.” Identify the other brother, and explain how Jacob knew this.

44. Jacob continued, “And I—just as I have been bereaved, I have been bereaved.” About what was Jacob speaking?

XI. Finally! (verse 15)

The men took this rest—the gifts of the best of the land that they would rest in front of the Sultan. They also took the repeat of silver in their hand, and they took Benjamin. They arose and descended Egypt.

Questions

1. Did Jacob pray with them before they journeyed?

XII. Lunch at Pharaoh’s (verses 15-17)

They stood right in front of Joseph. Joseph saw Benjamin with them. He commanded the one over his house, “Bring the men to home. And slaughter a slaughter. And establish. For the men shall eat with me in noon.” The man did exactly what Joseph said.

Questions

1. What would Joseph’s reaction be to seeing Benjamin?

2. Why didn’t the Bible mention the name of the person who is over Joseph’s house?

3. What was to be slaughtered?

4. When Zaphnat Paaneah brought them to his home, what was he doing?

XIII. Fears Speak (verses 17-18)

The man brought the men to Joseph’s house. This caused the men fear. They tried to figure out why they were brought there: “We are brought concerning the speech of the silver returned in our sacks at the first to make-ourselves-roll (to make us give details) concerning us and to make-ourselves-fall upon us (to entrap us) and to take us to slaves, and our asses!”

Questions

1. Why did they fear being brought to Zaphnat Paaneah’s house?

2. What does “we are brought concerning the speech of the silver” mean?

3. What does “to make ourselves roll” mean?

4. What does “to make ourselves fall upon us” mean?

XIV. Confession (verses 19-23)

They approached the man who is over Joseph’s house to try to explain their situation. They spoke to him, the one who is the opening of the house. They explained, “Via me, my sir, descending, we descended at the beginning to break food. And he was. For we came unto the inn. And we opened our sacks. And behold, a man’s silver is in the mouth of his sack—our silver via his weight! And we returned him via our hand. And we descended other silver in our hand to break food. We didn’t know who put our silver in our sacks.”

This man’s response was very strange: “Peace to you. Fear ye not. Your Gods and the Gods of your father gave treasure to you in your sacks. Your silver came unto me.”

Questions

1. What does “they spoke unto him, the opening of the house” mean?

2. Why did they speak to the man at this location?

3. They started their discussion by saying “via me, my sir.” What does that mean?

4. What does “our silver via his weight” mean?

5. Zaphnat Paaneah’s slave told them, “Peace to you. Fear ye not.” What does this mean, and why did he say this?

6. Did the slave who spoke with the brothers know what Zaphnat Paaneah was planning to do?

7. The slave man said, “Your Gods and the Gods of your father gave treasure to you in your sacks.” Who are these Gods, and how did the man know that these Gods had done this?

8. Why did the slave say, “Your sliver came unto me”?

XV. Shimon and Preparations (verses 23-25)

The man then brought Shimon from prison to them. He brought the brothers to Joseph’s house. He gave water, and they washed their feet. He gave their provender to their asses.

The brothers fixed up the ‘rest’ that they would give to Joseph who would be coming at noon. They heard that they would be eating food there.

Questions

1. What does “he exited Shimon unto them” mean?

2. How did the slave know to bring Shimon from the prison to the brothers???

3. Verse 24 states that the man brought the men to Joseph’s house. Weren’t they already there?

4. Why did he give them water?

5. What is so important about washing their feet?

6. What again is provender?

7. What does “they established the rest unto the coming of Joseph at noon” mean?

8. From whom did they hear that they should eat bread there?

XVI. Joseph’s Joy (verses 26-30)

Joseph arrived home. They brought the ‘rest’ that they had in their hand to him, to the house. They prostrated themselves to him, to the land. Joseph asked to them for peace (he asked them if things were going well with them).

He said, “Is peace of your father the elder of whom ye said? Is there yet life to him?”

They answered, “Peace is to thy slave, to our father. There is yet life to him.” They then bowed, and then prostrated.

Joseph carried his eyes over to Benjamin who was his full brother, the son of his own mother. He then asked, “Is this your brother the little whom ye said unto me?” Before they had time to reply, he said, “Elohim will favour thee, my son.” This caused a great emotional reaction in Joseph. He hurried, since his wombs yearned unto his brother. He sought to weep. He came to the chamber where he could be alone, and he wept there.

Questions

1. What does prostrate mean?

2. Explain what “to the land” means in “they prostrated themselves to him to the land”:

3. What does “he asked to them for peace” mean?

4. What did Zaphnat Paaneah mean by, “Is peace of your father the elder of whom ye said?”

5. What did he mean by, “Is there yet life to him?”

6. Why didn’t Zaphnat Paaneah wait for them to respond to the question about their father’s peace before asking about whether there was life to him?

7. What does “he carried his eyes” mean?

8. Right after Zaphnat Paaneah asked, “Is this your brother the little whom ye said unto me?” he then said, “Elohim will favour thee, my son.” Why didn’t he give time for the brothers to answer?

9. What did he mean by “Elohim will favour thee”?

10. What did Joseph hasten to do (verse 30)?

11. How could Joseph be at the same time such a very tough man and a dictator of the land, and yet be so easily emotional over these things?

12. What does “his wombs yearned unto his brother” mean?

XVII. Restraint (verse 31)

Joseph washed his face, since he had been doing a great deal of weeping. He then went out, and he determined to restrain himself from weeping.

Questions

1. Why did he wash his faces, and how many faces does he have?

2. How long did he weep before he reentered the room?

3. How can one restrain from showing emotions when seeing someone or something will bring those emotions on so strongly?

XVIII. Lunch (verses 31-34)

Joseph commanded his slaves, “Set ye bread!” Other Egyptians were there who would also eat with Joseph. The slaves knew to set food for Joseph by himself. They also set food for these men by themselves, and set food for the Egyptians who ate in their own group. Egyptians could not eat food with Hebrews, since eating with them was considered an abomination.

The seating order was set with the firstborn first and the youngest at the far end.

Joseph’s brothers asked themselves many “What” questions to see if they could figure what was occurring. Joseph served them portions from the food in front of him. Benjamin, the youngest, was given a portion that was five hands wider than all of the rest.

They drank, and they became tipsy.

Questions

1. Why did Zaphnat Paaneah come into the room with the command, “Set he bread”?

2. Did Zaphnat Paaneah sit and eat with other Egyptians when he ate meals on a daily basis?

3. Why did Joseph sit with his brothers?

4. Was there a seating order assigned to the brothers?

5. Who seated them, and how did this person know whom to place where?

6. What does ‘what?’ed’ themselves mean?

7. Who served the food to the brothers, and why?

8. Why did Zaphnat Paaneah give Benjamin five hands more food?

9. What does tipsy mean?

10. They were tipsy with him. Who is him?

XIX. The Set-Up (chapter 44, verses 1-2)

Joseph gave orders privately to the man over his house: “Fill the men’s sacks of food just as they will be able to carry. And put silver of a man into his sack’s mouth. And thou wilt put my goblet—the silver goblet—in the mouth of the sack of the little, and the silver of his break.” The man did just what Joseph spoke.

Questions

1. What is a goblet?

2. What is the silver of his break?

3. Why didn’t Zaphnat Paaneah’s slave ask Zaphnat Paaneah what he was doing?

XX. The Chase (verses 3-5)

The morning now has light. The Egyptians sent the men along with their loaded asses. They exited the city, but didn’t get far when Joseph said to the man in charge of his house, “Arise! Pursue after the men and overtake them. And say unto them, ‘Why ‘peaced’ ye bad under good? Is not this in which my lord will drink? And he, divining, will divine via him! Ye bad-did what ye did!”

Questions

1. Who sent the men?

2. What does “Why ‘peaced’ ye bad under good” mean?

3. Did they pay back Zaphnat Paaneah’s kindness with bad? What does bad mean in the Bible?

4. What is this in, “Is not this in which my lord will drink”?

5. What does divine mean in “he, divining, wil divine via him”?

6. Did Zaphnat Paaneah really divine using that goblet?

7. What does “Ye bad-did what ye did” mean?

XXI. Accusation and Defense (verses 6-10)

He caught up to them and spoke exactly what Joseph told him to speak. They responded, “Why will my lord speak according to these words? Profanity to thy slaves from doing according to this speech! Behold, we returned unto thee the silver that we found in the mouth of our sacks from the land of Canaan. And how shall we steal silver or gold from thy lord’s house? With whom he will be found from thy servants, and he shall die! And we, we also shall be slaves to my lord!” Joseph’s slave responded, “And also now he is established according to your speeches! He with whom he shall be found will be a slave to me! And ye, ye shall be innocent.”

Questions

1. What does profanity mean in this text?

2. What does the expression, “profanity to thy slaves” mean?

3. When they said, “With whom he will be found from thy servants, and he shall die,” what were they saying?

4. What else did they add to the curse for the goblet being found?

5. The man replied, “And also now he is established according to your speeches!” What was he saying?

6. Did he truly agree to carry out their curses?

XXII. The Goblet (verses 11-13)

They hurried to descend from the asses, each one with his sack. They each opened their sacks. The slave dug. He began in the sack of the big (older brother) and finished in the sack of the little, the sack of Benjamin. He found the goblet in Benjamin’s sack. The brothers tore their clothes.

Questions

1. Who did the digging?

2. If he knew in which sack it was located, why did the man start with the eldest and work his way down to the youngest?

3. Why did they tear their clothes? What did this mean?

4. After they tore their clothes, did anyone sew them back together again?

XXIII. Facing Angry Joseph (verses 13-17)

Each one loaded his ass. They returned to the city. Judah and his brethren came to Joseph’s house where Joseph remained. They fell to his faces toward the land.

Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that ye did? Did ye not know that, divining, a man who is as I will divine?”

Judah didn’t know what to say: “What will we say unto my lord? What will we speak? And what will we justify ourselves? The Elohim found the iniquity of thy slaves. Behold, we are slaves to my lord, also we and also whom the goblet is found in his hand.”

Joseph’s response was, “Profanity to me from doing this! The man in whose hand the goblet is found—he shall be a slave to me! And ye—ascend ye to peace unto your father!”

Questions

1. The text states, “a man loaded upon his ass.” Did just one man do this?

2. The text states, “And Judah came, and his brethren to Joseph’s house.” Why is Judah mentioned who isn’t the firstborn, and isn’t even likely the strongest instead of mentioning Reuben who is the firstborn, and who is supposedly the leader?

3. Why does the text mention, “And he, he is still there”?

4. Zaphnat Paaneah said, “Did ye not know that, divining, a man who is as I will divine?” Would a man in his position divine (that is, use demons and fortune telling to know what to do and how to deal with other folks)?

5. What did Judah mean by “And what will we justify ourselves?”

6. Judah continued, “The Elohim found the iniquity of thy slaves.” What is iniquity, and what iniquity did they have?

7. Judah seemed willing for all the brothers including Benjamin to become slaves to Zaphnat Paaneah. Why?

8. Zaphnat Paaneah responded, “Profanity to me from doing this!” Why did he react so strongly?

9. Who else said, “The man in whose hand the goblet is found—he shall be a slave to me”?

10. Would Joseph really have sent his brothers back to their father while keeping Benjamin?

XXIV. Confession (verses 18-34)

Judah came near to Joseph. He said, “Via me, my lord. Thy slave shall speak, na, a word in my lord’s ears. And thy nose shall not burn via thy slave. For like thee, like Pharaoh.”

Judah then brought up Joseph’s previous question. “My lord asked his slaves, saying, ‘Have ye a father or a brother?’ And we said unto my lord, ‘We have an old father and a little child of his old age. And his brother is dead. And he alone is left of his mother. And his father loved him.’”

This is when Joseph had said, “Ascend-ye him unto me and I have set my eyes upon him.”

Judah continued, “And we said unto my lord, ‘The youth will not be able to leave his father. And he shall leave his father, and he shall die.’”

Judah recalled the threat that this man had made: “And thou said unto thy slaves, ‘If your little brother will not descend with you, ye shall not gather to see my faces!’”

Judah told how his brothers and he ascended unto Jacob, calling him “thy slave my father.” They told him this man’s speeches.

Later, Jacob had said, “Return ye. Break for us a little food.” The brothers responded, “We will not be able to descend. If our little brother is with us, and will we descend. For we will not be able to see the man’s faces, and our little brother is not with us.”

Judah then gave details that readers of Genesis would not otherwise know: “And thy slave my father said unto us, ‘Ye know that my woman bare me two. And the one went out from with me. And I said, ‘But he was torn! He was torn!’ And I didn’t see him unto now. And ye shall take also this from with my faces? And harm will happen to him! And ye shall bring down my gray hairs via bad to Sheol!’”

Now Judah put a moral dilemma in front of this man (Joseph): “And now, as I come to thy slave my father, and the youth is not with us—and his being is bundled up in his being, and he shall be, as his seeing that the youth is not, and he will die. And thy slaves shall descend the gray hairs of thy slave our father via sorrow to Sheol. For thy slave is surety with the youth from with my father, saying, ‘If I don’t bring him unto thee, and I shall sin to my father all the days!’”

Judah had an idea that he proposed to this man: “And now, sit thy slave, na, under (in stead of) the youth, a slave to my lord. And the youth shall ascend with his brethren. For how shall I ascend to my father, and the youth is not with me?—lest I shall see via bad that shall find my father!”

Questions

1. What gave Judah the boldness to approach a man as great, powerful, dangerous and high in rank as Zaphnat Paaneah?

2. What did Judah mean by “Via me, my lord”?

3. What does na mean in Hebrew?

4. What does “thy nose shall not burn via thy slave” mean?

5. What did Judah mean by “For like thee, like Pharaoh”?

6. According to Judah, “My lord asked his slaves, saying, ‘Have ye a father or a brother?’” Did that happen?

7. If it didn’t happen, why didn’t Zaphnat Paaneah interrupt him to tell him that he did no such thing?

8. Who is the second he in “And he shall leave his father, and he shall die”?

9. Judah said regarding Jacob, “his being is bundled up in his being.” Identify both pronouns his, and explain what this means.

10. What does “as his seeing that the youth is not, and he will die” mean?

11. Who will be responsible for the death of Jacob, according to verse 31?

12. What, again, is Sheol?

13. Judah continued, “For thy slave is surety with the youth from with my father.” What does this mean?

14. What does “If I don’t bring him unto thee… And I shall sin to my father all the days” mean?

15. Judah next said, “And now, sit thy slave, na, under the youth, a slave to my lord.” What did he mean?

16. In what way did Judah’s attitude greatly change regarding Benjamin from his attitude regarding Joseph?

17. What does “lest I shall see via bad that shall find my father” mean?

XXV. Unrestrained (chapter 45, verses 1-2)

Joseph could no longer keep himself from showing emotions. He called to all his slaves, “Exit-ye every man from by me!” No man remained while he made himself known unto his brothers. And he began to weep out loud. The Egyptians listened to this, and the house of Pharaoh also listened.

Questions

1. What does “Joseph was not able to restrain himself” mean?

2. When Zaphnat Paaneah commanded, “Exit-ye every man from by me,” why didn’t the brothers also obey and exit?

3. What does “he gave his voice via weeping” mean, and when did he do this?

4. What were Zaphnat Paaneah’s slaves doing during this time?

5. Why were all these folks listening in on Zaphnat Paaneah’s weeping?

XXVI. Revelation and Resolution (verses 3-15)

Joseph said unto his brethren, “I am Joseph! Does my father yet live?” His brothers were unable to answer him. They were so terrified of him that they quaked—they shook where they stood. Joseph then said unto his brothers, “Draw-ye near to me, na.” They came near. He said, “I am Joseph your brother whom ye sold me Egyptward.”

He then said, “And now, be ye not labour-pained. And he shall not be hot in your eyes (showing much anger) that ye sold me here. For Elohim sent me to your faces to keep-alive!”

Joseph kept speaking, knowing that this alone would finally remove their terror. He explained, “For this two-year the famine is in the midst of the land. And further are five years that there is not plowing and harvest.”

Joseph again mentioned Elohim: “And Elohim sent me to your faces to put a remnant to you in the land and to keep-alive to you to a big escape! And now, ye did not send me here, but the Elohim! And He put me to a father to Pharaoh and to a lord to all his house, and a ruler in all the land of Egypt!”

Joseph now commanded them what to do: “Descend-thou unto me! Do not stand! 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 flock and thy herd and all that is to thee! And I will all-all-thee there—for further five years are famine—lest thou will be impoverished, and thy house and all that is to thee.”

Joseph truly wanted them to recognize him: “And behold, your eyes see—and the eyes of my brother Benjamin—that my mouth is the speaker unto you! And ye shall tell to my father all my glory in Egypt and all that ye saw.”

Joseph now began to hurry them: “And ye shall hurry. And ye shall descend my father here!”

Joseph now gave Benjamin a hug. He wept, and Benjamin also wept hugging Joseph. Joseph kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. His brothers finally spoke with him after this.

Questions

1. Joseph knew that his father was alive because Judah just described how returning home without him would kill his father. Why did Zaphnat Paaneah now as Joseph ask, “Does my father yet live?”

2. Why weren’t his brothers able to answer him at first?

3. Why did Joseph tell them to draw near to him?

4. Why did Joseph say, “I am Joseph your brother whom ye sold me Egyptward”? Wouldn’t this blame cause them to fear him more?

5. Did Joseph speak the truth when he said, “Ye sold me Egyptward”?

6. What did Joseph mean by “be ye not labour-pained”?

7. What did Joseph mean by “he shall not be hot in your eyes that ye sold me here”?

8. What does “to your faces” mean in, “Elohim sent me to your faces to keep alive”?

9. What was Elohim’s part in all these things according to verse 5?

10. If Elohim sent Joseph there, are the brothers a lot less guilty of selling him to Egypt?

11. Does this mean that Yehovah can use sin and sinning to bring good things?

12. What did this famine stop from occurring during the seven years, according to verse 6?

13. What does “to put a remnant to you” mean?

14. Joseph continued, “and to keep alive to you to a big escape.” What did he mean by “to a big escape”?

15. Joseph said, “ye did not send me here, but the Elohim.” Was Joseph removing all responsibility for his being there from off them, again making them innocent of any wrongdoing?

16. What three positions did Elohim give to Joseph, according to verse 8?

17. What did Joseph mean when he said that he was “a father to Pharaoh”? How different were their ages?

18. What did Joseph mean when he said to tell his father, “Do not stand”?

19. Why was Joseph suddenly in such a hurry to get his father to come?

20. Joseph mentioned the Land of Goshen. Was that land in Egypt special?

21. What is a lord in the Bible?

22. Joseph said in Hebrew, “I will all-all thee there.” What does the verb to all-all in Hebrew mean?

23. Why did Joseph say, “And behold, your eyes see—and the eyes of my brother Benjamin—that my mouth is the speaker unto you”?

24. Did the other slaves listening at the opening of the door understand what Zaphnat Paaneah was saying?

25. Wasn’t Joseph bragging about telling his father all his glory?

26. What does “he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s necks” mean?

27. What does Benjamin’s weeping show regarding Benjamin?

28. The text tells us that Joseph kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. It doesn’t say that they kissed him and wept upon him. Why?

29. The text shows that something is missing—something that the brothers never said to Joseph. What is missing, and why is it missing?

30. If the brothers spoke afterward, about what did they speak, and what does that tell about the brothers?

XXVII. Pharaoh’s Joy (verses 16-21)

A voice was heard in Pharaoh’s house: “Joseph’s brothers came!” This was very good news in the eyes of Pharaoh and his slaves.

Pharaoh told Joseph what to say to his brothers: “This do ye. Saddle up your stupid-beasts. And walk-ye—come ye to the land of Canaan! And take-ye your father and your houses. And come unto me. And I gave her to you—the good of the land of Egypt. And ye shall eat the fat of the land! And thou, thou art commanded!”

Pharaoh then had an additional idea: “Do ye this! Take-ye oxcarts to you from the land of Egypt to your little one and to your women. And ye shall carry your father. And ye shall come! And your eye shall not spare concerning your utensils. For the good of all the land of Egypt—he is to you!”

The children of Israel did as Pharaoh commanded Joseph to tell them.

Questions

1. Why were Pharaoh and his slaves pleased about the arrival of Joseph’s brothers?

2. Why did Pharaoh refer to the asses as stupid beasts?

3. Pharaoh told Joseph to tell his brothers to take their father and their houses. How can they take houses?

4. Why did the Pharaoh embrace Joseph’s father’s entire set of houses?

5. What is the good of the land of Egypt?

6. What is the fat of the land?

7. Does the fat of the land mean that there was some production in the fields of farmers during this famine?

8. Why did Pharaoh speak so strongly to Zaphnat Paaneah when he said, “And thou, thou art commanded”?

9. Pharaoh continued with, “Do ye this!” What was happening to Pharaoh that caused him to say this?

10. Why did Pharaoh command him to take oxcarts? What are special about them?

11. Why is only one little one mentioned in verse 19?

12. Where in the United States is the expression carry used in the very same way as it is used in verse 19?

13. Why did the pharaoh say, “your eye shall not spare concerning your utensils”?

14. What is so significant about the statement, “And the children of Israel did so”?

XXVIII. Road Goods (verses 21-24)

Joseph gave oxcarts to them according to the mouth (command) of Pharaoh. He also gave provision to them to be used on the way. He gave each one a change of clothing, and he gave five changes of clothing and three hundred silver coins.

Joseph sent to his father

ten asses carrying from the good of Egypt,
ten she-asses carrying grain and food and nourishment to his father and to be used on the way
his brothers.

They walked. Joseph warned them, “Do not be violently-angry in the way!”

Questions

1. Why did Joseph give them changes of raiment?

2. Why did he give Benjamin that much silver and those many changes of raiment?

3. Didn’t Joseph fear that the brothers would again become jealous of all the favour being shown to Benjamin?

4. Why did Joseph send so much on ten asses and ten she asses when he looked to their traveling soon?

5. What is the difference in the carrying capacity (how much they can carry) between an ass and a she ass?

6. The text says, “And he sent his brethren.” How does that differ from the times when they left before?

7. Why did Joseph command, “Do not be violently-angry in the way”?

8. Did they do what Joseph said?

XXIX. Frozen (verses 25-28)

They ascended from Egypt. They came unto Jacob their father who was in the land of Canaan.

They told him, “Joseph is yet alive,” and that “he is governor in all the land of Egypt!”

This news was shocking. Jacob’s heart (mind) froze. He didn’t believe them.

They then spoke all the words of Joseph that he spoke unto them unto him. Jacob saw the oxcarts that Joseph had sent to carry him. Now, Jacob believed them. The spirit of Jacob lived.

Israel said, “Much! Joseph my son is yet alive!”

He also said, “I will walk! And I have seen him before I will die!”

Questions

1. The brothers told their father, “Joseph is yet alive,” and that “he is governor in all the land of Egypt!” How were they acting and what were they doing by wording it this way?

2. What does “Jacob’s heart froze” mean?

3. Did their speaking all the words that Joseph told them to say help Jacob to see that Joseph really was alive?

4. What made it so that Jacob did believe them?

5. The text states, “And the spirit of Jacob their father lived.” What does that mean?

6. Why did Israel say, “Much”?

7. When Jacob said, “I have seen him before I will die,” was he saying that he would die right after seeing him?

XXX. Yehovah Speaks (chapter 46, verses 1-4)

Israel journeyed; he brought everyone and everything that he had.

He sacrificed sacrifices to the Gods of his father, Isaac.

Elohim spoke to him using visions of the night. He called Jacob’s name twice, and Jacob responded.

Elohim told him, “I am the Mighty-[One] Gods of thy father. Fear thou not from descending Egyptward. For I will put thee there to a big race.”

He then said, “I, I will descend with thee Egyptward. And I, I will also ascend thee ascending. And Joseph will put his hand upon thine eyes.”

Questions

1. Why is the name Israel being used in these texts?

2. Where was Jacob living at this time?

3. Why specify in the text that he sacrificed sacrifices to the Gods of his father, Isaac?

4. Why was a sacrifice needed at all? Why did Israel do a sacrifice?

5. Does this text declare that Isaac’s Gods and Israel’s Gods are the same Gods?

6. What are visions of the night?

7. How many visions did Israel see?

8. Why doesn’t this first statement say what Elohim said?

9. Why did He call him Jacob when He spoke to him?

10. Why did He call Jacob’s name twice?

11. Why did Elohim identify Himself as the Mighty One, Gods of His father?

12. Why is this a vision when nothing seen is described, but only words are used?

13. Why would Jacob have feared to descend to Egypt?

14. What does “For I will put thee there to a big race” mean?

15. Why did Elohim bring Jacob and his house to Egypt, according to this promise?

16. What was Elohim promising when He said, “I, I will descend with thee Egyptward,” and why did He say that? Isn’t He everywhere?

17. Why did Elohim add, “I, I will also ascend thee, ascending”?

18. When will Mighty One, Gods of Isaac ascend Jacob (to Israel)?

19. What does “Joseph will put his hand upon thine eyes” mean?

XXXI. Wagon Train (verses 5-7)

Jacob left Beersheva. His sons carried (transported) Jacob, their little one (their children), and their women in Pharaoh’s oxcarts that Pharaoh had sent to carry Jacob.

The brothers took their cattle and their possessions (their stuff) that they had gathered (stuffed) in the land of Canaan.

They traveled toward Egypt. All of Jacob’s seed were with him including his sons and his sons’ sons, his daughters and his sons’ daughters—all his progeny.

Questions

1. What does stuff that they stuffed mean?

2. How many of Jacob’s relatives came with him?

3. How many daughters did Jacob have?

4. What seed are beyond his sons, his grandsons, his daughters and his granddaughters through his sons?

XXXII. Genealogy (verses 8-27)

The names of Jacob’s children and grandchildren are listed next in a table. In some cases, information about the mother of a grandchild is also given. For example, Simeon made a baby with a Canaanite woman (verse 10). In other cases, daughters were born who were not named. I placed a ‘0’ in front of names of persons who did not go with Jacob (either because they died or because he was already in Egypt). Jacob’s sons’ women (wives) are not counted on this table.

Number

Number into Egypt

Name Meaning

Hebrew Name

Father

Mother/ Grandmother

Other

0 (Jacob is not included in the list of those who came with Jacob)

They-Saw-A-Son

Reuben

Jacob

Leah

Jacob’s firstborn

Dedicated

Hanoch

Reuben

Leah

Miracled

Phallu

Reuben

Leah

Trumpet-Sounding

Hezron

Reuben

Leah

My-Vineyard

Carmi

Reuben

Leah

Hearkening

Shimon

Jacob

Leah

Sea-And-Mighty-[one]

Yemuel

Shimon

Leah

Right

Yamin

Shimon

Leah

I-Will-Be-Majesty

Ohad

Shimon

Leah

He-Will-Establish

Yakhin

Shimon

Leah

He-Dazzled

Zohar

Shimon

Leah

He-Was-Asked

Shaul

Shimon

Leah

son of a Merchantess [Canaanitess]

My-Joined-[One]

Levi

Jacob

Leah

Exile

Gershon

Levi

Leah

Dullness-Of

Kohat

Levi

Leah

My-Bitter-[one]

Merari

Levi

Leah

He-Confessed-Yehovah

Judah

Jacob

Leah

Awake

Judah

Leah

Died in Canaan

Their-Lust

Onan

Judah

Leah

Died in Canaan

That-Is-To-Her

Shelah

Judah

Leah

Breach

Pharez

Judah

Leah

Sunrise

Zarah

Judah

Leah

Trumpet-Sounding

Hezron

Pharez

Leah

Compassioned

Hamul

Pharez

Leah

There-Is-A-Wage

Issachar

Jacob

Leah

Worm

Tola

Issachar

Leah

Corner

Phuvah

Issachar

Leah

He-Is-Shrilly-Crying

Job

Issachar

Leah

Guarding

Shimron

Issachar

Leah

They-Cohabited

Zebulun

Jacob

Leah

Sullenness-Descended

Sered

Zebulun

Leah

Might

Elon

Zebulun

Leah

A-Mighty-One-Shall-Whirl

Yahle-el

Zebulun

Leah

Her-Adjudicator

Dinah

Jacob

Leah

(Unknown Daughter)

Leah

34 (1)

Troop

Gad

Jacob

Zilpah

Lookout

Ziphion

Gad

Zilpah

My-Solemnities

Haggi

Gad

Zilpah

He-Sharpens-Me

Shuni

Gad

Zilpah

38 (5)

Without-Purpose

Ezbon

Gad

Zilpah

My-Wakefulness

Eri

Gad

Zilpah

I-Will-Descend-Me

Arodi

Gad

Zilpah

I-Will-See-To-Me

Areli

Gad

Zilpah

Happiness

Asher

Jacob

Zilpah

43 (10)

He-Will-Reckon

Yimnah

Asher

Zilpah

He-Will-Equal-Her

Ishuah

Asher

Zilpah

He-Will-Equal-Me

Isui

Asher

Zilpah

Via-Her-Shout

Beriah

Asher

Zilpah

Prince-Blew

Serah

Asher

Zilpah

their sister

Friend

Hever

Beriah

Zilpah

49 (16)

My-King-Is-Mighty-One

Malchiel

Beriah

Zilpah

50 (1)

He-Will-Gather

Joseph

Jacob

Raquel

Forgetter

Manasseh

Joseph

Raquel

I-Will-Be-Fruitful-There

Ephraim

Joseph

Raquel

Son-Of-My-Right

Benjamin

Jacob

Raquel

54 (5)

He-Swallowed

Belah

Benjamin

Raquel

Firstborn

Bekher

Benjamin

Raquel

I-Will-Cluster

Ashbel

Benjamin

Raquel

He-Saw-A-Sojourner

Gera

Benjamin

Raquel

Their-[fem]-Pleasant-[one]

Naaman

Benjamin

Raquel

59 (10)

My-Brother

Ekhi

Benjamin

Raquel

Head

Rosh

Benjamin

Raquel

Memphis-ites

Muppim

Benjamin

Raquel

Enveloped-[ones]

Huppim

Benjamin

Raquel

63 (14)

I-Will-Descend

Ard

Benjamin

Raquel

64 (1)

Adjudication

Dan

Jacob

Bilhah

Hastening-[ones]

Hushim

Dan

Bilhah

My-Wrestling

Naphtali

Jacob

Bilhah

Mighty-[one]-Shall-Divide-[in half]

Yahze-el

Naphtali

Bilhah

68 (5)

My-Defender

Guni

Naphtali

Bilhah

He-Will-Form

Yetzer

Naphtali

Bilhah

70 (7)

Vengeance-Peace

Shillem

Naphtali

Bilhah

Questions

1. Why did the Bible list the individual names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt?

2. Verse 15 states, “Every being of his sons and his daughters are thirty and three.” Yet in the table that I did, I came up with only 32 (see the table). How did the writer of Genesis get 33?

3. Why aren’t daughters normally listed in Biblical genealogies (in Biblical birth lines)? Is it because the Bible doesn’t consider women very important?

4. Look at the table to see how verse 26 arrived at 66 beings.

XXXIII. Directions and Emotions (verses 28-29)

Jacob sent Judah to his faces (on ahead, in this case) unto Joseph to teach to his faces (face to face) toward Goshen—how to get there and what to do.

They came to the land of Goshen. Joseph hitched his chariot and went down (ascended) to meet Israel his father toward Goshen.

Joseph was finally seen by Jacob. And Joseph fell upon Jacob’s necks. He wept upon his necks for quite a while.

Questions

1. Explain what “And he sent Judah to his faces unto Joseph to teach to his faces Goshenward” means:

2. In verse 29, the text states, “Joseph hitched his chariot.” Wasn’t Joseph too high in rank to be hitching his own chariot?

3. Who are he and him in, “And he was seen unto him”?

4. Who fell upon whose necks in verse 29?

5. Why did Joseph do so much weeping?

XXXIV. How to Tell Pharaoh (verses 30-34)

Israel told Joseph, “I shall die the stroke (this time) after my seeing thy faces! For thou art yet alive!”

Joseph then informed his brothers and his father’s house, “I will ascend! And I have told to Pharaoh! And I have said unto him, ‘My brethren and my father’s house who are in the land of Canaan came unto me!’”

After this, Joseph will say, “The men are shepherds of a flock. For they were cattlemen. And they brought their flock and their herd and all that they have.” Joseph knew that Pharaoh would call to them to ask them questions like this: “What is your doing?”—that is, “What is your occupation?”

He now explains to his brothers what they need to say: “Thy slaves were cattlemen from our youths and until now—also we, also our fathers” in order for them to dwell in the land of Goshen. For Joseph explained, “every shepherd of a flock is an abomination unto the Egyptians.”

Questions

1. Israel said to Joseph, “I shall die the stroke after my seeing thy faces! For thou art yet alive!” What did he mean?

2. What does “What is your doing” mean?

3. Joseph tells his brothers to tell Pharaoh, “Thy slaves were cattlemen from our youths and until now—also we, also our fathers.” He doesn’t tell them to say that they are shepherds even though Joseph will tell Pharaoh that they are shepherds. Why didn’t Joseph tell them about their being shepherds?

4. Why did Joseph want his brothers to describe themselves as cattlemen?

5. What does this text tell about the land of Goshen without directly stating it?

6. Why was every shepherd of a flock an abomination unto the Egyptians?

XXXV. Speaking to Pharaoh (chapter 47, verses 1-4)

Joseph came and told Pharaoh. He explained, “My father and my brethren and their flock and their herd, and all that they have have come from the land of Canaan. And behold, they are in the land of Goshen.” Joseph then picked five of his brothers from the fringe, and he presented them to Pharaoh.

Pharaoh asked them, “What is your doing?” They responded to Pharaoh, “Thy slaves are a shepherd of a flock—also we, also our fathers.” They continued, “We have come to sojourn in the land because thy slaves have no pasturage for the flock. For the famine is heavy in the land of Canaan. And now, na, thy slaves shall dwell in the land of Goshen.”

Questions

1. Verse 2 states, “And he took five men from the fringe of his brethren.” What does this mean?

2. Why didn’t Joseph take all his brethren to see Pharaoh?

3. In verse 3, the brothers answered exactly as Joseph did not tell them to answer; they answered that they are a shepherd of a flock—not only they, but their fathers. Why did they answer Pharaoh this way?

4. Joseph’s brothers basically asked to dwell in the land of Goshen. Wasn’t this being just too bold?

5. What does “na” mean in Hebrew?

XXXVI. Pharaoh speaks to Joseph (verses 5-6)

Pharaoh then spoke to Joseph: “Thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee! The land of Egypt is before thee! Make thy father and brethren to settle in the best of the land! They shall dwell in the land of Goshen!”

Pharaoh then had another idea: “And if thou hast known, and if there are among them men of valiance, and set them princes of my cattle!”

Questions

1. Pharaoh said, “Thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee! 6The land of Egypt is before thee! Make thy father and brethren to settle in the best of the land! They shall dwell in the land of Goshen!” What was Pharaoh showing about how he felt toward Joseph’s brothers?

2. What does verse 6 tell about the land of Goshen?

3. Why did Pharaoh desire for them to dwell in the very best of the land of Egypt?

4. For what was Pharaoh asking when he said, “And if thou hast known, and if there are among them men of valiance, and set them princes of my cattle”?

5. What is a man of valiance?

6. How can a person become a prince of cattle?

XXXVII. Blessing (verses 7-10)

Joseph next brought his father Jacob, and he stood him to the faces of Pharaoh (in front of him).

Jacob blessed Pharaoh.

Pharaoh asked Jacob, “How many are the days of the years of thy lives?” Jacob replied, “The days of the years of my sojournings are a hundred and thirty years.”

Jacob then explained, “The days of the years of my lives were few and bad. And they didn’t reach the days of the years of the lives of my fathers in the days of their sojournings.”

Jacob blessed Pharaoh.

He then exited from being in front of him.

Questions

1. What does “he stood him to the faces of Pharaoh” mean?

2. How could Jacob bless Pharaoh?

3. What was very strange about Jacob blessing Pharaoh?

4. Why did Pharaoh ask, “How many are the days of the years of thy lives,” instead of something simpler like, “How old art thou,” or, “How many years hast thou lived?”

5. Pharaoh asked about the days of the years of Jacob’s lives, but Jacob answered, “The days of the years of my sojournings.” Why did he answer Pharaoh that way?

6. Jacob next declared, “The days of the years of my lives were few and bad.” Yet, he just blessed Pharaoh. How can one whose life had been bad bless another??

7. Jacob continued, “And they (the days of the years of Jacob’s lives) didn’t reach the days of the years of the lives of my fathers in the days of their sojournings.” How could Jacob know this, since Jacob hadn’t died yet?

8. In what ways were the days of Jacob’s lives bad?

9. Why does the text again state that Jacob blessed Pharaoh?

10. What does “And he exited from to the faces of Pharaoh” mean?

XXXVIII. Joseph the Father (verses 11-12)

Joseph sat with his father and with his brethren; he had business to discuss. He gave them a possession in the land of Egypt by means of the best of the land; it was in the land of Pharaoh Raamses. This is as Pharaoh had commanded.

Joseph ‘all-alled’—that is, he provided everything for his father and his brethren, including all his father’s house right down to the bread (food) to the mouth of the little one.

Questions

1. What is the significance of Joseph sitting with his father and his brothers?

2. Who is Raamses?

3. What does “Joseph ‘all-alled’ his father and his brethren and all his father’s house” mean?

4. What does “bread to the mouth of the little one” mean?

5. Why did Joseph do all this?

XXXIX. The Silver (verses 13-14)

There is no bread in all the land. The famine is very heavy. The lands of Egypt and Canaan hung from the faces of the famine—that is, they drooped, like a person who has no energy and is terribly thirsty.

Joseph collected all the silver found in the lands of Egypt and Canaan by the means of the Egyptians breaking grain and food stocks to folks who came. Joseph then brought the silver to Pharaoh’s house.

Questions

1. If there is no bread in all the land, what are folks eating?

2. The text states that the land of Egypt hung. What does that mean?

3. How can a famine have faces?

4. Why did Joseph collect silver?

5. What did Joseph do with the silver?

XL. The Cattle (verses 15-17)

The silver finally ran out in Egypt and Canaan. The Egyptians came to Joseph saying, “Render bread to us!” and “Why shall we die straight in front of thee? For silver doesn’t exist!” Joseph’s reply was, “Render your cattle. And I gave her to you via your cattle if silver doesn’t exist.” They did what he said and brought their cattle unto Joseph. Joseph gave bread to them by means of (by exchanging) horses and cattle of the flock and herd, and asses. Joseph led the people by means of the bread (food), by means of their cattle during that year.

Questions

1. Why did the Egyptians need to say, “Why shall we die straight in front of thee”? Did Zaphnat Paaneah drive a very hard bargain?

2. Why did Joseph charge for the food? Why didn’t he just distribute the food for free?

3. What did Joseph plan to do with all this cattle (verse 16), seeing that takes grazing lands, workers, and much care?

4. What farm animals did they bring to sell to obtain food?

5. What does “he led them via bread via all their cattle in that year” mean?

XLI. The Soil (verses 18-22)

That year finished. They came unto him in the second year. They said unto him, “We will not hide from my lord, but rather the silver finished. And livestock of the beast is unto my lord. No remainder is to the faces of my lord except if our body and our soil.”

They then asked, “Why shall we die to thine eyes—also we, also our soil? Buy us and our soil via bread. And we, we were, and our soil, slaves to Pharaoh.”

They then had another good idea to add: “And give seed. And we lived. And we will not die. And the soil will not be desolate.”

Joseph did this. He purchased all the soil of Egypt so that Pharaoh owned it all. The Egyptians were willing, since the famine gripped upon them. The entire land of Egypt (except for the land of the priests) became the property of Pharaoh.

Joseph also moved the people of Egypt to the cities; this took place from one side of Egypt to the other.

The reason why Joseph didn’t touch the soil of the priests was because Pharaoh had made a food statute to the priests; they always got their food supplied by Pharaoh. Thus, the priests didn’t sell their soil.

Questions

1. What does “We will not hide from my lord” show about their feelings toward Zaphnat Paaneah (compared with the way they spoke to him before)?

2. What did they mean by “No remainder is to the faces of my lord except if our bodies and our soil”?

3. What were they selling when they said, “Buy us and our soil via bread”?

4. What did they expect Zaphnat Paaneah to do with their bodies and their soil?

5. What is wrong with the soil being desolate?

6. Did Zaphnat Paaneah purchase the Egyptians as slaves?

7. What was Zaphnat Paaneah doing when “he caused him to cross over to cities from the end of the border of Egypt and unto his end”?

8. If Egyptian priests were pagan priests (priests of false gods), why did Joseph treat them so well?

9. What does “they will eat their statute” mean?

XLII. Distribution (verses 23-25)

Joseph had acquired the people of Egypt and Canaan. Since they were slaves, now, they received the food they needed. Joseph now gave them an assignment as slaves: “Seed is to you! And ye shall seed the soil! And he shall be via bringings (that is, by means of whatever you are able to bring). And ye shall give a fifth to Pharaoh. And four of the hands (out of five hands) will be to you to seed the field and to your eating and to whomever is in your houses and to the eating to your Top (little-one). They agreed to this, for they realized, “Thou caused-us-to-live. We will find favour in the eyes of my lord. And we will be slaves to Pharaoh.”

Questions

1. Does this text state that Joseph purchased the Egyptians?

2. What again is important about seeding the soil?

3. Zaphnat Paaneah said, “And he shall be via bringings.” What did he mean?

4. What did Joseph mean by, “And four of the hands will be to you to seed the field and to your eating and to whomever is in your houses and to the eating to your Top”?

5. They responded to Zaphnat Paaneah, “We will find favour in the eyes of my lord.” Explain the strange wording, and how they will find favour.

6. The Egyptians responded to Zaphnat Paaneah, “And we will be slaves to Pharaoh.” This sounds like they are excited. What is occurring?

XLIII. The Statute (verse 26)

Joseph put her to a statute to this very day upon the soil of Egypt: “To Pharaoh, to a fifth!” Only the soil of the priests alone did not become Pharaoh’s property.

Questions

1. What does “To Pharaoh, to a fifth!” mean?

XLIV. Prosperity (verses 27-28)

Israel dwelt in the land of Goshen, Egypt. The Israelis clung and inherited in Goshen. They were fruitful. They greatly multiplied.

Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. His days measured in years were 147 years.

Questions

1. What does “they grasped in her” mean?

2. What does “And they were fruitful” mean?

3. What does “they multiplied very much” mean?

4. How old was Jacob when he died?

5. How long did Jacob live in the land of Egypt?

XLV. Grace and Truth (verses 29-31)

Israel’s days to die approached. He called to his son Joseph. He said to him, “If, na, I found favour in thine eyes, put, na, thy hand under my side. And thou shalt do grace and truth with me.” Israel was asking Joseph to vow.

Israel explained, “Do not, na, entomb me in Egypt. And I will lie with my fathers. And thou wilt carry me from Egypt. And thou wilt entomb me in their tomb.” Joseph said, “I, I will do as thy speech.” Israel responded, “Swear to me.” Joseph vowed.

Israel then prostrated (lay flat) upon the head of the bed.

Questions

1. Why did Jacob call Joseph when he was about to die instead of Reuben his firstborn?

2. Jacob twice used the Hebrew word na in the sentence, “If, na, I found favour in thine eyes, put, na, thy hand under my side.” What does this word mean, and why would Jacob use it twice since he was speaking to his own son?

3. Why did Jacob tell Joseph to put his hand under Jacob’s side?

4. What is grace in the Bible?

5. How did Jacob desire that Joseph express this grace?

6. What is truth in the Bible?

7. Jacob also told Joseph to do truth with him. He didn’t tell him to tell him the truth, but instead to do truth with him. What does that mean?

8. Grace and Truth often go together in the Bible. What is so important about their being connected?

9. Why didn’t Jacob desire to be entombed in Egypt? If he had been, his tomb might be preserved to this very day! Why didn’t he want this to occur?

10. Joseph replied, “I, I will do as thy speech.” How did Joseph know that he would be able to keep this vow?

11. Why did Jacob add, “Swear to me”? Wasn’t Joseph vowing by placing his hand under Jacob’s side?

12. What is the difference between swearing (as in a vow) and swearing (as in cussing and using violent words)?

13. What does “Israel prostrated upon the head of the bed” mean?

14. Was Jacob dead yet?