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Genesis 44-49
The Voice
Genesis 44-49
The Voice
44 After the meal was over, Joseph commanded the steward of his house.
Joseph: Fill the men’s sacks with food—as much as they can carry. Put each man’s money back into the top of his sack. 2 One more thing: I want you to put my personal cup, my silver cup, into the top of the sack of the youngest, along with his money for the grain.
The steward did everything Joseph told him to do.
3 The next morning, as soon as it was light, the men were sent off with their donkeys toward home. 4 But when they had gone only a short distance from the city, Joseph spoke to his steward.
Joseph: Go now, and follow them. When you catch up to them, say to them, “Why have you repaid kindness with evil? My master’s silver cup is missing, and you have it. 5 Isn’t this the cup from which he drinks? Doesn’t he use it for divination, to discover secrets hidden from most men? You have committed evil in doing this.”
6 So the steward went after them. And when he caught up to them, he repeated the words Joseph told him to say.
Joseph’s Brothers: 7 Why would my lord accuse us of something like this? We, your servants, would never do such a thing! 8 Remember the money we found at the top of our sacks after our first trip? We brought it back to you from the land of Canaan. Why then would we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house this time? 9 If you find his cup with any one of us, let that man be put to death, and the rest of us will become my lord’s servants.
Steward: 10 Let it be as you say, but I’ll be more lenient: whoever is found to possess the cup will become my servant. The rest of you will be considered innocent and may go free.
11 Then they all moved quickly, retrieved their sacks, lowered them to the ground, and opened them so the steward could see what was inside them. 12 He searched each sack, beginning with the eldest son and ending with the youngest; at last, the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. 13 When the brothers saw this, they tore their clothes in anguish. They knew what had to happen. They had no choice but to load their donkeys and return to the city.
14 Judah and his brothers all came to Joseph’s house while he was still there, and they fell to the ground in front of him.
Joseph: 15 What have you done? Don’t you know that someone in my position practices divination and can discover secrets hidden from most men?
Judah (speaking for the rest): 16 What can we possibly say to you, my lord? How can we explain this? How can we clear ourselves of this mistake? God has found your servants to be guilty. Here we are then, slaves to you, my lord, all of us and also the one in whose possession the cup has been found.
Judah speaks the truth. God has uncovered their guilt and exposed it for all to see. Not that someone in their party has stolen Joseph’s cup—that’s not what he means—but years ago they conspired and stole Joseph’s freedom. Ironically they could now lose their freedom to Joseph.
Joseph: 17 Far be it from me that I should do something like that! Only the one in possession of the cup will be my slave. As for the rest of you, go in peace to your father!
18 But then Judah stepped up to Joseph and begged him for mercy.
Judah: O, my lord, let your servant please speak a private word to you. Please don’t be angry with me, for you are just like Pharaoh himself. 19 You asked us once if we had a father or a brother, 20 and we told you, “Yes. We have a father, an old man, and a young brother, the child of his old age. His brother is dead, so he alone is left of his mother’s children, and his father loves him dearly.” 21 Then you told us to bring the boy down to you, so that you could see him. 22 At first we said to you, “The boy cannot leave his father because his father would die without him,” 23 but you told us that unless he came with us, you wouldn’t agree to see us again.
24 When we went back to your servant, our father, we told him what you said, my lord. 25 And when our father asked us to go again to buy more food, 26 we told him, “We cannot go without our youngest brother, or we won’t be able to get in to see him.” So our youngest brother came with us. 27 Then your servant, my father, responded, “You know that my wife Rachel bore me two sons: 28 one went off and never came back, and I know he was without a doubt torn to pieces. I haven’t seen him since he left. 29 But now if you take my youngest also from me and any harm should come to him, the sorrow would kill me. I can’t allow you to condemn this old, gray head to the grave.”
30-31 So now if I go back to your servant, my father, without the boy, he will die because his life depends completely on the welfare of his boy. As soon as he sees that Benjamin is not with us, the sorrow will kill him and we, your servants, will condemn the old, gray head of our father, your servant, to the grave. 32 I gave my father my word that I would take care of the boy and return him safely home. I told him, “If I don’t bring him back to you in one piece, then I am perfectly willing to bear the blame forever.” 33 So please let me, your servant, remain as your slave in place of the boy; and let him go back with his brothers. 34 For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I couldn’t stand to see the terrible suffering this would put him through.
Judah has come a long way. He is no longer the selfish young man who conspired with his brothers to sell Joseph into slavery (37:26–27). Though he knew that decision would have a devastating effect on his father, Judah did not seem to care. Nor is he the lustful man who propositioned the prostitute who happened to be his daughter-in-law (38:1–30). Now he is different. His priorities have changed. He is willing to sacrifice his freedom and future to save his father the grief of losing Benjamin. Judah’s transformation is not immediate; it takes years to accomplish. But his place in the family and his selfless example impact the children of Israel for generations to come.
45 Then Joseph could no longer keep his composure. The room was crowded with people so he ordered his attendants:
Joseph: Send everyone out of the room!
Joseph didn’t want anyone else in the room when he finally told his brothers his true identity. 2 But he began to cry so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the Pharaoh’s household heard it too! Joseph turned and addressed his brothers:
Joseph: 3 I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?
But his brothers were too shocked to speak. They couldn’t answer, for they were so overwhelmed that they were standing in Joseph’s presence.
Joseph (to his brothers): 4 Come closer to me.
His brothers approached him cautiously.
Joseph: I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 Don’t be upset or angry with yourselves any longer because of what you did. You see God sent me here ahead of you to preserve life. 6 For famine struck this land two years ago, and there are five more years in which there will be no plowing or harvesting. 7 God sent me here ahead of you to make sure you and your families survive this terrible ordeal and have a remnant left on earth. 8 So it wasn’t really you who sent me here, but God; the same God who made me an advisor to Pharaoh, master of his household, and ruler over everyone in the land of Egypt.
9 Hurry now, go to my father, and relay this message: “Here is what your son Joseph says: ‘God has made me master over all Egypt. Come to me and don’t delay. 10 I’ll arrange for all of you to settle in the land of Goshen where you can be near me—you and all of your children and grandchildren, as well as your flocks and herds and everything you have. 11 I will provide for you there. Since five more years of famine are still to come, I will make sure your household and everything you have will not descend into poverty.’”
12 Now you see with your own eyes, and even my brother Benjamin sees, that it is really I who speak to you even without an interpreter. 13 You must tell my father how honored I am here in Egypt. Tell him everything you’ve seen here. Hurry. Bring my father here.
14 With that he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck. They embraced, and both wept. 15 Then he kissed all of his brothers one by one, cried on their shoulders as well, and after that they talked for a time together.
16 The news spread to Pharaoh’s house that Joseph’s brothers had come. When Pharaoh and his other advisors heard, they were pleased.
Pharaoh (to Joseph): 17 Tell your brothers, “Do this: Load your animals, and go back to the land called Canaan. 18 Get your father and your families; come here to me, and I will give you the prime properties of Egypt. You will enjoy the very best Egypt has to offer.” 19 Now, Joseph, I command you to tell them also, “Do this: Take wagons from the land of Egypt so that your little children, your wives, and your father can make the journey. Come quickly. 20 Don’t worry about bringing all your things, for once you get here, the best of Egypt will be spread out at your feet.”
21-22 The sons of Israel did exactly as Pharaoh ordered. Joseph followed Pharaoh’s directive and made sure they had enough wagons. He gave them food and other supplies for their journey including an extra change of clothes. But to Benjamin he gave about seven and a half pounds of silver and five sets of clothes. 23 To his father, he sent even more: 10 donkeys loaded with the best Egyptian gifts and 10 female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provisions for his father for the journey. 24 Then he sent his brothers on their way. As they were leaving, he gave them one last piece of advice.
Joseph: Don’t argue along the way!
Once again Joseph and his brothers are parting company. But this time is much different: they know where he is and who he has become. Although Joseph has been separated from his brothers for many years, he remembers how they were; and he is counting on the fact that they are a quarrelsome bunch. He has intentionally given Benjamin more money and clothes than the others. That in itself is enough to cause bickering and squabbling among the crew. In addition, he knows they are worried. They have just received quite a shock. To learn after all these years that the brother they sold into slavery has become one of the most powerful men in the world takes time to process. The famine, the journey from Canaan, and the shock of seeing him again have taken a toll on them. Now they have to go back, get their families, and return. The road home leaves plenty of time to worry about what might become of them, plenty of time for nerves to fray and anger to stir. Joseph knows they have a hard journey ahead, and they need to pull together and not apart.
25 The brothers traveled east out of Egypt and eventually turned north to return to their father, Jacob, in the land of Canaan. 26 They couldn’t wait to tell him the good news.
Joseph’s Brothers: Father, Joseph is still alive! But more than that, he is ruler over all of the land of Egypt.
Their father was stunned; he couldn’t believe his ears. 27 But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him to Egypt, his spirits soared, and he resolved to make the trip.
Israel: 28 I have seen enough. My son Joseph is alive! I must go and see him before I die.
46 Israel set out on his journey to Egypt with all of his belongings, and when he came to Beersheba, he offered sacrificial gifts to the God of his father, Isaac. 2 God spoke there to Israel in visions during the night.
God: Jacob, Jacob!
Jacob: I’m here. I’m listening!
God: 3 I am the True God, the God of your father. Don’t be afraid to go down to Egypt and leave the land I promised you, for I am going to make you into a great nation there. 4 I will go down with you to Egypt, and one day I will be the One to bring you back again. And something else—Joseph’s own hands will be the ones to close your eyes at the time of your death.
5 Then Jacob got up and continued on from Beersheba toward Egypt, and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob, their little children, and their wives in the wagons Pharaoh sent with them. 6-7 They also brought their livestock and the goods they had acquired in the land of Canaan. And at last, Jacob and his family arrived in Egypt. His sons, his grandsons, his daughters, and his granddaughters—all of his descendants came with him to Egypt.
8 Here are the names of the descendants of Israel—that is, Jacob and his family—who settled in Egypt. Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn son) 9 and his sons: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. 10 Simeon and his sons: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul (the son of a Canaanite woman). 11 Levi and his sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 12 Judah and his sons: Er and Onan (who both died in the land of Canaan), Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; Perez and his sons (Judah’s grandchildren): Hezron and Hamul. 13 Issachar and his sons: Tola, Puvvah, Iob, and Shimron. 14 Zebulun and his sons: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. 15 These sons, along with his daughter Dinah, are the 33 sons and daughters born to Jacob by Leah in Paddan-aram.
16 Gad and his sons: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. 17 Asher and his sons: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah; Beriah and his sons (Gad’s grandchildren): Heber and Malchiel. 18 These are the 16 children born to Jacob by Zilpah. (Zilpah was the servant Laban gave to his daughter, Leah, when she married Jacob.)
19 Jacob’s sons by Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin. 20 Joseph had Manasseh and Ephraim in the land of Egypt with his wife Asenath (daughter of Potiphera, priest of On). 21 Benjamin and his sons: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. 22 These are the 14 children born to Jacob by Rachel.
23 Dan had only one son: Hushim. 24 Naphtali and his sons: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. 25 These are the 7 children born to Jacob by Bilhah. (Bilhah was the servant Laban gave to his daughter, Rachel, when she married Jacob.)
26 So all of Jacob’s children and grandchildren who came to Egypt—those who were in some way his offspring, but not the wives of his sons—were 66 in all. 27 Joseph had two sons who were born in Egypt. All of the people directly related to Jacob who now lived in Egypt numbered 70 people.
28 Now Israel decided to send Judah ahead to Joseph in order to learn the way into Goshen. When they came to the land of Goshen, they stopped. 29 Joseph got into his chariot and went out to meet his father, Israel. When he saw him, he fell on his neck and wept for a long time.
Jacob (to Joseph): 30 I can die now in peace, because I’ve seen your face and I know you are alive.
31 Joseph gathered his brothers and his father’s household and told them his plans.
Joseph: I’m going now to let Pharaoh know you are here. I will tell him, “My brothers and my father’s household have arrived from Canaan. 32 The men are shepherds. They make their living by keeping livestock, and they’ve brought their flocks and herds and all of their belongings.” 33 When Pharaoh calls you to the court and asks your occupation, 34 tell him, “Your servants keep livestock. We start in the family business when we are just boys. That is what we and our ancestors have always done.” That way, you’ll be allowed to settle in the land of Goshen because Egyptians can’t stand to be around shepherds.
47 So Joseph went to Pharaoh.
Joseph (to Pharaoh): My father and brothers have arrived from the land of Canaan with their flocks and herds and the rest of their belongings. They are now waiting in the land of Goshen.
2 Now Joseph had chosen five of his brothers and brought them along to present to Pharaoh.
Pharaoh (to Joseph’s brothers): 3 What is your occupation?
Joseph’s Brothers: Your servants are shepherds. We tend sheep and goats as our ancestors did before us.
4 We’ve come to reside in this land as foreigners for a time because there is no place in the land of Canaan for us to pasture our flocks on account of the severity of the famine. Now please, allow your servants to settle in the land of Goshen until this famine is over.
Pharaoh (to Joseph): 5 Your father and brothers have come to you for help. 6 You have the entire land of Egypt at your disposal. Settle your family in the best areas of the land. Let them live in Goshen, and if you know of any who are particularly good at what they do, then put them in charge of my livestock.
7 Then Joseph brought his father, Jacob, and presented him to Pharaoh, and Jacob gave Pharaoh a blessing.
Jacob blesses Pharaoh. As we have seen, words spoken as a blessing have great meaning at this time. It may be no more than a greeting spoken, such as “shalom,” which means “peace.” However the story of Genesis prompts us to consider another possibility. In God’s plan to redeem and reclaim His creation, He chooses Abraham and his descendants to be a blessing to all the families on earth. Jacob, Abraham’s grandson and God’s covenant partner, speaks a blessing over Pharaoh that creates a new reality for Egypt and its king. Little does Pharaoh know that this humble nomadic family in need of his help will one day change the course of history.
Pharaoh (to Jacob): 8 How old are you now?
Jacob: 9 I have journeyed through life for 130 years. My life has been short and hard. But they don’t compare with the many years my ancestors traveled this earth.
10 Jacob gave Pharaoh a blessing for a second time and left his presence. 11 So Joseph settled his father and brothers on some of the best land in Egypt—granting them property of their own in a region known as Rameses, as Pharaoh had instructed. 12 And Joseph also provided them with food, according to the number of all of their dependents.
13 As time went on, the famine became more severe, and food became scarce in the lands of Egypt and Canaan. The people were starving. 14 Everyone from the lands of Egypt and Canaan spent all the money they had to buy grain. Joseph collected all the money and stored it in Pharaoh’s palace. 15 But when the people of Egypt and Canaan ran out of money, the Egyptians came to Joseph to plead with him.
Egyptians: Please, give us food! Why should we all die here in front of you? Our money is gone.
Joseph: 16 You can pay with livestock then. I will give you food in exchange for your livestock, if your money is gone.
17 So the people brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food in exchange for horses, flocks, herds, and donkeys. That year, he supplied them with food in exchange for livestock. 18 But when that year was over, they came to him the next year.
Egyptians: My lord, we cannot hide the fact that our money is all spent, and now the herds of livestock all belong to you. We have nothing left to exchange for food except our bodies and our lands. 19 Why should we and our land perish now right before your eyes? Buy us and our land in exchange for food. We will become slaves to Pharaoh. We will work the land for him. Just please give us seed, so that we can live and avoid dying of hunger and so that the land doesn’t become wild and deserted.
20 So Joseph agreed. He bought up all of the land of Egypt for Pharaoh. The Egyptians sold their fields because the famine was too severe for them to get by on their own, and so all of the land became the property of Pharaoh. 21 As for the people, he made slaves of them, from one end of Egypt to the other. 22 But he did not purchase the land belonging to the priests because they received an allowance from Pharaoh and were able to live off of it. So they didn’t have to sell their land.
Joseph (to the people): 23 See I have done what you asked. I have bought you and your lands for Pharaoh. Now here is the seed you need to sow the land. 24 When the harvest arrives, you will be required to give one-fifth of what you produce to Pharaoh; and four-fifths will be your own to plant the fields and feed your families, households, and children.
Egyptians: 25 You have saved our lives. If it pleases my lord, we are honored to serve as slaves to Pharaoh under these terms.
26 So Joseph made a law regarding the land of Egypt—which stands to this day—declaring Pharaoh is due one-fifth of all the land produces. Only the land of the priests remained personal property.
27 So this was how Israel and his descendants came to live in the land of Egypt, in the region known as Goshen. They acquired property in the area, had children, and their number increased rapidly. 28 Jacob lived another 17 years in the land of Egypt; he lived to be 147. 29 And when Israel was close to death, he called his son Joseph to his side.
Jacob (to Joseph): If I have found favor with you, I need a favor from you. Put your hand here under my thigh. Swear to deal kindly and faithfully with me by honoring my dying wish: please do not bury me in Egypt. 30 When I die let me lie with my ancestors. Take my body away from Egypt, and bury me where they are buried.
Joseph: I will do as you ask, Father.
Jacob: 31 Swear to me.
And Joseph took the oath. Then, Israel bowed down at the head of his bed.
Jacob bows his final bow—perhaps in the weakness of old age or in thankfulness for Joseph’s promise, or maybe in prayer to the Lord.
In the days of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, custom demands that the firstborn son become the next head of the family and inherit the name, status, and wealth of his father. But as we have seen throughout Genesis, God makes a habit of ignoring human customs, subverting tradition, and privileging the younger over the older. When it comes to the covenant, God typically chooses to pass its blessings and duties to the younger. The trend continues throughout Scripture as God selects David and then Solomon, both younger sons, as the two greatest kings over Israel. It is almost humorous the way Joseph tries to engineer the situation placing Manasseh, his firstborn, at his father’s right hand to receive the greater blessing. But Israel has none of it. He crosses his hands and extends the right hand to Ephraim, the second-born. Joseph is sure his ailing father has made a mistake. But Jacob knows exactly what he is doing.
48 Soon after this, Joseph was brought word that his father was gravely ill; so he took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to see Jacob. 2 When Jacob was told that his son Joseph had come to see him, he gathered his strength and sat up in bed.
Jacob (to Joseph): 3 The All-Powerful God[a] appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan many years ago and spoke His blessing over me, 4 telling me, “I am going to make you fruitful and multiply your descendants so that you will give rise to nation after nation. I will give this land to them after you to have as their possession forever.” 5 So Joseph, your two sons who were born to you in Egypt before I came here are mine. I claim Ephraim and Manasseh as my own, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine. 6 As for any children you father after them, you may regard them as your own. When it comes time for your other children to gain their inheritances, they will be given land within the regions granted to their brothers, Ephraim and Manasseh. 7 When I left Paddan, your mother Rachel died on our journey in the land of Canaan. We were not far from Ephrath, so I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (which is also known as Bethlehem).
8 Just then Israel noticed Joseph’s sons.
Jacob: And who are these?
Joseph: 9 These are my sons, Father, whom God has given to me here in Egypt.
Jacob: Please bring them here to me, so I can lay my hands on them and bless them.
10 Israel’s eyes were dim because of his old age, so he couldn’t see well. Joseph brought the boys near to him, and Israel kissed them and hugged them warmly.
Jacob (to Joseph): 11 I didn’t know if I would ever see your face again, but now God has given me more than I hoped: He has let me see your children too.
12 Then Joseph moved the boys aside—they had been at his father’s knees—and he bowed down low with his face to the ground. 13 Then Joseph took his sons and brought them near to his father. He took his younger son Ephraim in his right hand and put him to the left hand of Israel, and he took Manasseh in his left hand and put him to the right hand of Israel. 14 But Israel stretched out his hands and crossed his arms, laying his right hand on the head of Ephraim, the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, the firstborn. 15 And he spoke this blessing over Joseph.
Jacob: May the God before whom my ancestors Abraham and Isaac walked,
the God who has been my shepherd all of my life and still to this day,
16 The messenger who has rescued me from all harm,
bless these boys.
And let my name be perpetuated through them,
as well as the name of my ancestors Abraham and Isaac,
And let them grow into a great multitude of people
throughout the world.
17 When Joseph saw that his father had laid his right hand on Ephraim’s head, he was troubled, and so he took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s.
Joseph: 18 No, Father! Since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.
19 But Israel refused.
Jacob: I know, my son, I know. Manasseh will also become a people, and he will be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his children will give rise to many nations.
20 So it was that Israel blessed Joseph and his sons that day.
Jacob: When the people of Israel speak blessings, they’ll remember you: “May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.”
So this is how Israel ranked Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.
Jacob (to Joseph): 21 Look, I am about to die; but I know that God will be with you, and He will bring you back to the land of your ancestors someday. 22 I am going to hand down to you more land than I give to your brothers. You will inherit a mountain ridge that I seized from the Amorites with my sword and my bow.
The Children of Jacob
| Leah | Zilpah | Bilhah | Rachel |
| 1 Reuben | 7 Gad | 5 Dan | 11 Joseph |
| 2 Simeon | 8 Asher | 6 Naphtali | 12 Benjamin |
| 3 Levi | |||
| 4 Judah | |||
| 9 Issachar | |||
| 10 Zebulun | |||
| Dinah |
The Children of Joseph
| Asenath |
| 1 Manasseh |
| 2 Ephraim |
49 After this, Jacob called all of his sons to him.
Jacob: 2 Gather near to me, so I can let you know what to expect in the days to come.
Gather around and pay attention, you sons of Jacob.
Listen carefully, my sons, to Israel, your father.
3 Reuben, you are my firstborn son,
my power and the vigor of my youth,
first in rank and first in power.
4 But you are out of control, like floodwaters; you have forfeited your place
because you have lain with your father’s wife
and defiled his bed—you climbed onto my couch!
5 Simeon and Levi are indeed brothers, kindred spirits
who use their swords[b] for cruelty and violence.
6 May I never enter their confidence;
from the two of them I must part company to retain my honor.
Because in their anger, they’ve killed men,
and they’ve hamstrung oxen on a whim.
7 Their anger be cursed, for they have fierce tempers.
Their wrath be cursed, for they can be cruel.
I will scatter their children among Jacob’s descendants
and spread them throughout the land of Israel.
8 But Judah, your brothers will praise you.
Your hand will firmly grasp the neck of your enemy,
and your brothers will bow down before you in respect.
9 Judah is a lion cub;
my son, who rises from the prey,
Who crouches down and stretches out like a lion,
and like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?
10 The scepter will not depart from Judah;
the ruler’s staff will rest securely between his feet.
Until the One comes to whom true royalty belongs,
all people will honor and obey him.
11 He ties his foal to the vine
and his donkey’s colt to the choicest vine.
He washes his clothing in wine
and dips his robe in the blood of grapes.
12 His eyes are darker than wine,
and his teeth are whiter than milk.
Israel’s blessing speaks not only what is but what will be. His words establish Judah as the father to the royal line from which King David and his dynasty will one day come. They anticipate God’s eternal covenant with David that brings peace and prosperity to the entire world. It is little wonder that early Christians referred to the risen Jesus as “the lion of the tribe of Judah,” for they found in Him the fulfillment of Israel’s blessing.
13 Jacob: Zebulun will settle near the shores of the sea,
and he will be a safe harbor for ships.
His border will extend to Sidon.
14 Issachar is a strong donkey,
lying down between its saddlebags.[c]
15 He saw a good place to rest
and a land that seemed pleasant,
So he bent down to shoulder another load
and embraced a life of hard labor.
16 Dan will judge his people,
as one of the tribes of Israel.
17 Yet Dan will also be a snake by the road,
a viper along the path
That strikes at the horse’s heels as it goes by
so that its rider falls backward.
18 I wait patiently for Your salvation, Eternal One!
19 Gad will be raided by thieves,
but he will raid them in return.
20 Asher’s food will be rich and delicious,
and he will produce royal delicacies.
21 Naphtali is a beautiful doe, wild and free,
that bears lovely fawns.[d]
22 Joseph is a fruitful plant[e] that grows beside a spring,
its fruitful branches reaching over the wall.
23 The archers fiercely attacked him,
shot at him, and pressed hard against him.
24 But his bow remained taut and strong,
his arms firm and agile.
They were made so by the strong hands of God—
by the Mighty One of Jacob, by the Shepherd of the Rock of Israel,
25 By the God of your father, who will come to your aid,
by the All-Powerful One[f] who will bless you
With the blessings from heaven above,
blessings of the deep that lie beneath,
and blessings of the breasts and womb.
26 May the blessings of your father be more potent
than the blessings of the ancient mountains.
May they extend to the heights of the everlasting hills,
and may these blessings now rest on the head of Joseph,
on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers.
27 Benjamin is a ravenous wolf,
devouring prey by morning
and dividing spoil in the evening.
28 Now all these are the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel. This is how their father described them when he blessed them—blessing each one with a blessing that suited each son.
When Israel’s inheritance of the land is divided, Levi is not included; but Joseph’s two sons become the leaders of two tribes descended from Joseph. Manasseh and Ephraim take Joseph’s and Levi’s places, filling out the twelve tribes.
Jacob (charging his sons): 29-30 I am about to join my ancestors in death. Please do as I ask, and bury me with my ancestors in the cave at Machpelah, near Mamre in the land of Canaan. It is located at the edge of a field owned by Ephron the Hittite. Abraham acquired the field from Ephron as a burial site for his family. 31 This is where Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried, also Isaac and his wife Rebekah. I buried Leah there myself. 32 The field and cave were purchased from the Hittites long ago.
33 After Jacob finished with these instructions to his sons, he pulled his feet up onto the bed, breathed his last breath, and joined his ancestors in death.
Genesis 44-49
New International Version
Genesis 44-49
New International Version
A Silver Cup in a Sack
44 Now Joseph gave these instructions to the steward of his house:(A) “Fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they can carry, and put each man’s silver in the mouth of his sack.(B) 2 Then put my cup,(C) the silver one,(D) in the mouth of the youngest one’s sack, along with the silver for his grain.” And he did as Joseph said.
3 As morning dawned, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys.(E) 4 They had not gone far from the city when Joseph said to his steward,(F) “Go after those men at once, and when you catch up with them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid good with evil?(G) 5 Isn’t this the cup(H) my master drinks from and also uses for divination?(I) This is a wicked thing you have done.’”
6 When he caught up with them, he repeated these words to them. 7 But they said to him, “Why does my lord say such things? Far be it from your servants(J) to do anything like that!(K) 8 We even brought back to you from the land of Canaan(L) the silver(M) we found inside the mouths of our sacks.(N) So why would we steal(O) silver or gold from your master’s house? 9 If any of your servants(P) is found to have it, he will die;(Q) and the rest of us will become my lord’s slaves.(R)”
10 “Very well, then,” he said, “let it be as you say. Whoever is found to have it(S) will become my slave;(T) the rest of you will be free from blame.”(U)
11 Each of them quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it. 12 Then the steward(V) proceeded to search,(W) beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest.(X) And the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.(Y) 13 At this, they tore their clothes.(Z) Then they all loaded their donkeys(AA) and returned to the city.
14 Joseph was still in the house(AB) when Judah(AC) and his brothers came in, and they threw themselves to the ground before him.(AD) 15 Joseph said to them, “What is this you have done?(AE) Don’t you know that a man like me can find things out by divination?(AF)”
16 “What can we say to my lord?(AG)” Judah(AH) replied. “What can we say? How can we prove our innocence?(AI) God has uncovered your servants’(AJ) guilt. We are now my lord’s slaves(AK)—we ourselves and the one who was found to have the cup.(AL)”
17 But Joseph said, “Far be it from me to do such a thing!(AM) Only the man who was found to have the cup will become my slave.(AN) The rest of you, go back to your father in peace.”(AO)
18 Then Judah(AP) went up to him and said: “Pardon your servant, my lord,(AQ) let me speak a word to my lord. Do not be angry(AR) with your servant, though you are equal to Pharaoh himself. 19 My lord asked his servants,(AS) ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’(AT) 20 And we answered, ‘We have an aged father, and there is a young son born to him in his old age.(AU) His brother is dead,(AV) and he is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves him.’(AW)
21 “Then you said to your servants,(AX) ‘Bring him down to me so I can see him for myself.’(AY) 22 And we said to my lord,(AZ) ‘The boy cannot leave his father; if he leaves him, his father will die.’(BA) 23 But you told your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.’(BB) 24 When we went back to your servant my father,(BC) we told him what my lord(BD) had said.(BE)
25 “Then our father said, ‘Go back and buy a little more food.’(BF) 26 But we said, ‘We cannot go down. Only if our youngest brother is with us will we go. We cannot see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’(BG)
27 “Your servant my father(BH) said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons.(BI) 28 One of them went away from me, and I said, “He has surely been torn to pieces.”(BJ) And I have not seen him since.(BK) 29 If you take this one from me too and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray head down to the grave(BL) in misery.’(BM)
30 “So now, if the boy is not with us when I go back to your servant my father,(BN) and if my father, whose life is closely bound up with the boy’s life,(BO) 31 sees that the boy isn’t there, he will die.(BP) Your servants(BQ) will bring the gray head of our father down to the grave(BR) in sorrow. 32 Your servant guaranteed the boy’s safety to my father. I said, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, I will bear the blame before you, my father, all my life!’(BS)
33 “Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord’s slave(BT) in place of the boy,(BU) and let the boy return with his brothers. 34 How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery(BV) that would come on my father.”(BW)
Joseph Makes Himself Known
45 Then Joseph could no longer control himself(BX) before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!”(BY) So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept(BZ) so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.(CA)
3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?”(CB) But his brothers were not able to answer him,(CC) because they were terrified at his presence.(CD)
4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.”(CE) When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!(CF) 5 And now, do not be distressed(CG) and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here,(CH) because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.(CI) 6 For two years now there has been famine(CJ) in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant(CK) on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.[a](CL)
8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.(CM) He made me father(CN) to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.(CO) 9 Now hurry(CP) back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay.(CQ) 10 You shall live in the region of Goshen(CR) and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have.(CS) 11 I will provide for you there,(CT) because five years of famine(CU) are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’(CV)
12 “You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin,(CW) that it is really I who am speaking to you.(CX) 13 Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt(CY) and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.(CZ)”
14 Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin(DA) embraced him,(DB) weeping. 15 And he kissed(DC) all his brothers and wept over them.(DD) Afterward his brothers talked with him.(DE)
16 When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come,(DF) Pharaoh and all his officials(DG) were pleased.(DH) 17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals(DI) and return to the land of Canaan,(DJ) 18 and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt(DK) and you can enjoy the fat of the land.’(DL)
19 “You are also directed to tell them, ‘Do this: Take some carts(DM) from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. 20 Never mind about your belongings,(DN) because the best of all Egypt(DO) will be yours.’”
21 So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts,(DP) as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey.(DQ) 22 To each of them he gave new clothing,(DR) but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels[b] of silver and five sets of clothes.(DS) 23 And this is what he sent to his father: ten donkeys(DT) loaded with the best things(DU) of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey.(DV) 24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way!”(DW)
25 So they went up out of Egypt(DX) and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan.(DY) 26 They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.”(DZ) Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them.(EA) 27 But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts(EB) Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 And Israel said, “I’m convinced!(EC) My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”(ED)
Jacob Goes to Egypt
46 So Israel(EE) set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba,(EF) he offered sacrifices(EG) to the God of his father Isaac.(EH)
2 And God spoke to Israel(EI) in a vision at night(EJ) and said, “Jacob! Jacob!”
“Here I am,”(EK) he replied.
3 “I am God, the God of your father,”(EL) he said. “Do not be afraid(EM) to go down to Egypt,(EN) for I will make you into a great nation(EO) there.(EP) 4 I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again.(EQ) And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.(ER)”
5 Then Jacob left Beersheba,(ES) and Israel’s(ET) sons took their father Jacob and their children and their wives in the carts(EU) that Pharaoh had sent to transport him. 6 So Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt,(EV) taking with them their livestock and the possessions(EW) they had acquired(EX) in Canaan. 7 Jacob brought with him to Egypt(EY) his sons and grandsons and his daughters and granddaughters—all his offspring.(EZ)
8 These are the names of the sons of Israel(FA) (Jacob and his descendants) who went to Egypt:
Reuben the firstborn(FB) of Jacob.
9 The sons of Reuben:(FC)
Hanok, Pallu,(FD) Hezron and Karmi.(FE)
10 The sons of Simeon:(FF)
Jemuel,(FG) Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar(FH) and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman.
11 The sons of Levi:(FI)
Gershon,(FJ) Kohath(FK) and Merari.(FL)
12 The sons of Judah:(FM)
Er,(FN) Onan,(FO) Shelah, Perez(FP) and Zerah(FQ) (but Er and Onan had died in the land of Canaan).(FR)
The sons of Perez:(FS)
Hezron and Hamul.(FT)
13 The sons of Issachar:(FU)
Tola, Puah,[c](FV) Jashub[d](FW) and Shimron.
14 The sons of Zebulun:(FX)
Sered, Elon and Jahleel.
15 These were the sons Leah bore to Jacob in Paddan Aram,[e](FY) besides his daughter Dinah.(FZ) These sons and daughters of his were thirty-three in all.
16 The sons of Gad:(GA)
Zephon,[f](GB) Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi and Areli.
17 The sons of Asher:(GC)
Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi and Beriah.
Their sister was Serah.
The sons of Beriah:
Heber and Malkiel.
18 These were the children born to Jacob by Zilpah,(GD) whom Laban had given to his daughter Leah(GE)—sixteen in all.
19 The sons of Jacob’s wife Rachel:(GF)
Joseph and Benjamin.(GG) 20 In Egypt, Manasseh(GH) and Ephraim(GI) were born to Joseph(GJ) by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.[g](GK)
21 The sons of Benjamin:(GL)
Bela, Beker, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim and Ard.(GM)
22 These were the sons of Rachel(GN) who were born to Jacob—fourteen in all.
25 These were the sons born to Jacob by Bilhah,(GR) whom Laban had given to his daughter Rachel(GS)—seven in all.
26 All those who went to Egypt with Jacob—those who were his direct descendants, not counting his sons’ wives—numbered sixty-six persons.(GT) 27 With the two sons[h] who had been born to Joseph in Egypt,(GU) the members of Jacob’s family, which went to Egypt, were seventy[i] in all.(GV)
28 Now Jacob sent Judah(GW) ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen.(GX) When they arrived in the region of Goshen, 29 Joseph had his chariot(GY) made ready and went to Goshen to meet his father Israel.(GZ) As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his father[j] and wept(HA) for a long time.(HB)
30 Israel(HC) said to Joseph, “Now I am ready to die, since I have seen for myself that you are still alive.”(HD)
31 Then Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and speak to Pharaoh and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were living in the land of Canaan,(HE) have come to me.(HF) 32 The men are shepherds;(HG) they tend livestock,(HH) and they have brought along their flocks and herds and everything they own.’(HI) 33 When Pharaoh calls you in and asks, ‘What is your occupation?’(HJ) 34 you should answer, ‘Your servants(HK) have tended livestock from our boyhood on, just as our fathers did.’(HL) Then you will be allowed to settle(HM) in the region of Goshen,(HN) for all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.(HO)”
47 Joseph went and told Pharaoh, “My father and brothers, with their flocks and herds and everything they own, have come from the land of Canaan(HP) and are now in Goshen.”(HQ) 2 He chose five of his brothers and presented them(HR) before Pharaoh.
3 Pharaoh asked the brothers, “What is your occupation?”(HS)
“Your servants(HT) are shepherds,(HU)” they replied to Pharaoh, “just as our fathers were.” 4 They also said to him, “We have come to live here for a while,(HV) because the famine is severe in Canaan(HW) and your servants’ flocks have no pasture.(HX) So now, please let your servants settle in Goshen.”(HY)
5 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you, 6 and the land of Egypt is before you; settle(HZ) your father and your brothers in the best part of the land.(IA) Let them live in Goshen. And if you know of any among them with special ability,(IB) put them in charge of my own livestock.(IC)”
7 Then Joseph brought his father Jacob in and presented him(ID) before Pharaoh. After Jacob blessed[k] Pharaoh,(IE) 8 Pharaoh asked him, “How old are you?”
9 And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty.(IF) My years have been few and difficult,(IG) and they do not equal the years of the pilgrimage of my fathers.(IH)” 10 Then Jacob blessed[l] Pharaoh(II) and went out from his presence.
11 So Joseph settled his father and his brothers in Egypt and gave them property in the best part of the land,(IJ) the district of Rameses,(IK) as Pharaoh directed. 12 Joseph also provided his father and his brothers and all his father’s household with food, according to the number of their children.(IL)
Joseph and the Famine
13 There was no food, however, in the whole region because the famine was severe; both Egypt and Canaan wasted away because of the famine.(IM) 14 Joseph collected all the money that was to be found in Egypt and Canaan in payment for the grain they were buying,(IN) and he brought it to Pharaoh’s palace.(IO) 15 When the money of the people of Egypt and Canaan was gone,(IP) all Egypt came to Joseph(IQ) and said, “Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes?(IR) Our money is all gone.”
16 “Then bring your livestock,(IS)” said Joseph. “I will sell you food in exchange for your livestock, since your money is gone.(IT)” 17 So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for their horses,(IU) their sheep and goats, their cattle and donkeys.(IV) And he brought them through that year with food in exchange for all their livestock.
18 When that year was over, they came to him the following year and said, “We cannot hide from our lord the fact that since our money is gone(IW) and our livestock belongs to you,(IX) there is nothing left for our lord except our bodies and our land. 19 Why should we perish before your eyes(IY)—we and our land as well? Buy us and our land in exchange for food,(IZ) and we with our land will be in bondage to Pharaoh.(JA) Give us seed so that we may live and not die,(JB) and that the land may not become desolate.”
20 So Joseph bought all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh. The Egyptians, one and all, sold their fields, because the famine was too severe(JC) for them. The land became Pharaoh’s, 21 and Joseph reduced the people to servitude,[m](JD) from one end of Egypt to the other. 22 However, he did not buy the land of the priests,(JE) because they received a regular allotment from Pharaoh and had food enough from the allotment(JF) Pharaoh gave them. That is why they did not sell their land.
23 Joseph said to the people, “Now that I have bought you and your land today for Pharaoh, here is seed(JG) for you so you can plant the ground.(JH) 24 But when the crop comes in, give a fifth(JI) of it to Pharaoh. The other four-fifths you may keep as seed for the fields and as food for yourselves and your households and your children.”
25 “You have saved our lives,” they said. “May we find favor in the eyes of our lord;(JJ) we will be in bondage to Pharaoh.”(JK)
26 So Joseph established it as a law concerning land in Egypt—still in force today—that a fifth(JL) of the produce belongs to Pharaoh. It was only the land of the priests that did not become Pharaoh’s.(JM)
27 Now the Israelites settled in Egypt in the region of Goshen.(JN) They acquired property there(JO) and were fruitful and increased greatly in number.(JP)
28 Jacob lived in Egypt(JQ) seventeen years, and the years of his life were a hundred and forty-seven.(JR) 29 When the time drew near for Israel(JS) to die,(JT) he called for his son Joseph and said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes,(JU) put your hand under my thigh(JV) and promise that you will show me kindness(JW) and faithfulness.(JX) Do not bury me in Egypt, 30 but when I rest with my fathers,(JY) carry me out of Egypt and bury me where they are buried.”(JZ)
“I will do as you say,” he said.
31 “Swear to me,”(KA) he said. Then Joseph swore to him,(KB) and Israel(KC) worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.[n](KD)
Manasseh and Ephraim
48 Some time later Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim(KE) along with him. 2 When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel(KF) rallied his strength and sat up on the bed.
3 Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty[o](KG) appeared to me at Luz(KH) in the land of Canaan, and there he blessed me(KI) 4 and said to me, ‘I am going to make you fruitful and increase your numbers.(KJ) I will make you a community of peoples, and I will give this land(KK) as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.’(KL)
5 “Now then, your two sons born to you in Egypt(KM) before I came to you here will be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine,(KN) just as Reuben(KO) and Simeon(KP) are mine. 6 Any children born to you after them will be yours; in the territory they inherit they will be reckoned under the names of their brothers. 7 As I was returning from Paddan,[p](KQ) to my sorrow(KR) Rachel died in the land of Canaan while we were still on the way, a little distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath” (that is, Bethlehem).(KS)
8 When Israel(KT) saw the sons of Joseph,(KU) he asked, “Who are these?”
9 “They are the sons God has given me here,”(KV) Joseph said to his father.
Then Israel said, “Bring them to me so I may bless(KW) them.”
10 Now Israel’s eyes were failing because of old age, and he could hardly see.(KX) So Joseph brought his sons close to him, and his father kissed them(KY) and embraced them.(KZ)
11 Israel(LA) said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face again,(LB) and now God has allowed me to see your children too.”(LC)
12 Then Joseph removed them from Israel’s knees(LD) and bowed down with his face to the ground.(LE) 13 And Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right toward Israel’s left hand and Manasseh on his left toward Israel’s right hand,(LF) and brought them close to him. 14 But Israel(LG) reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head,(LH) though he was the younger,(LI) and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.(LJ)
15 Then he blessed(LK) Joseph and said,
“May the God before whom my fathers
Abraham and Isaac walked faithfully,(LL)
the God who has been my shepherd(LM)
all my life to this day,
16 the Angel(LN) who has delivered me from all harm(LO)
—may he bless(LP) these boys.(LQ)
May they be called by my name
and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac,(LR)
and may they increase greatly
on the earth.”(LS)
17 When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand(LT) on Ephraim’s head(LU) he was displeased; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 Joseph said to him, “No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”(LV)
19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great.(LW) Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he,(LX) and his descendants will become a group of nations.(LY)” 20 He blessed(LZ) them that day(MA) and said,
“In your[q] name will Israel(MB) pronounce this blessing:(MC)
‘May God make you like Ephraim(MD) and Manasseh.(ME)’”
So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.
21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “I am about to die, but God will be with you[r](MF) and take you[s] back to the land of your[t] fathers.(MG) 22 And to you I give one more ridge of land[u](MH) than to your brothers,(MI) the ridge I took from the Amorites with my sword(MJ) and my bow.”
Jacob Blesses His Sons(MK)
49 Then Jacob called for his sons and said: “Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come.(ML)
3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn,(MO)
my might, the first sign of my strength,(MP)
excelling in honor,(MQ) excelling in power.
4 Turbulent as the waters,(MR) you will no longer excel,
for you went up onto your father’s bed,
onto my couch and defiled it.(MS)
5 “Simeon(MT) and Levi(MU) are brothers—
their swords[v] are weapons of violence.(MV)
6 Let me not enter their council,
let me not join their assembly,(MW)
for they have killed men in their anger(MX)
and hamstrung(MY) oxen as they pleased.
7 Cursed be their anger, so fierce,
and their fury,(MZ) so cruel!(NA)
I will scatter them in Jacob
and disperse them in Israel.(NB)
8 “Judah,[w](NC) your brothers will praise you;
your hand will be on the neck(ND) of your enemies;
your father’s sons will bow down to you.(NE)
9 You are a lion’s(NF) cub,(NG) Judah;(NH)
you return from the prey,(NI) my son.
Like a lion he crouches and lies down,
like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?
10 The scepter will not depart from Judah,(NJ)
nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,[x]
until he to whom it belongs[y] shall come(NK)
and the obedience of the nations shall be his.(NL)
11 He will tether his donkey(NM) to a vine,
his colt to the choicest branch;(NN)
he will wash his garments in wine,
his robes in the blood of grapes.(NO)
12 His eyes will be darker than wine,
his teeth whiter than milk.[z](NP)
13 “Zebulun(NQ) will live by the seashore
and become a haven for ships;
his border will extend toward Sidon.(NR)
14 “Issachar(NS) is a rawboned[aa] donkey
lying down among the sheep pens.[ab](NT)
15 When he sees how good is his resting place
and how pleasant is his land,(NU)
he will bend his shoulder to the burden(NV)
and submit to forced labor.(NW)
16 “Dan[ac](NX) will provide justice for his people
as one of the tribes of Israel.(NY)
17 Dan(NZ) will be a snake by the roadside,
a viper along the path,(OA)
that bites the horse’s heels(OB)
so that its rider tumbles backward.
22 “Joseph(OL) is a fruitful vine,(OM)
a fruitful vine near a spring,
whose branches(ON) climb over a wall.[af]
23 With bitterness archers attacked him;(OO)
they shot at him with hostility.(OP)
24 But his bow remained steady,(OQ)
his strong arms(OR) stayed[ag] limber,
because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob,(OS)
because of the Shepherd,(OT) the Rock of Israel,(OU)
25 because of your father’s God,(OV) who helps(OW) you,
because of the Almighty,[ah](OX) who blesses you
with blessings of the skies above,
blessings of the deep springs below,(OY)
blessings of the breast(OZ) and womb.(PA)
26 Your father’s blessings are greater
than the blessings of the ancient mountains,
than[ai] the bounty of the age-old hills.(PB)
Let all these rest on the head of Joseph,(PC)
on the brow of the prince among[aj] his brothers.(PD)
27 “Benjamin(PE) is a ravenous wolf;(PF)
in the morning he devours the prey,(PG)
in the evening he divides the plunder.”(PH)
28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel,(PI) and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them, giving each the blessing(PJ) appropriate to him.
The Death of Jacob
29 Then he gave them these instructions:(PK) “I am about to be gathered to my people.(PL) Bury me with my fathers(PM) in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite,(PN) 30 the cave in the field of Machpelah,(PO) near Mamre(PP) in Canaan, which Abraham bought along with the field(PQ) as a burial place(PR) from Ephron the Hittite. 31 There Abraham(PS) and his wife Sarah(PT) were buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah(PU) were buried, and there I buried Leah.(PV) 32 The field and the cave in it were bought from the Hittites.[ak](PW)”
33 When Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last and was gathered to his people.(PX)
Footnotes
- Genesis 45:7 Or save you as a great band of survivors
- Genesis 45:22 That is, about 7 1/2 pounds or about 3.5 kilograms
- Genesis 46:13 Samaritan Pentateuch and Syriac (see also 1 Chron. 7:1); Masoretic Text Puvah
- Genesis 46:13 Samaritan Pentateuch and some Septuagint manuscripts (see also Num. 26:24 and 1 Chron. 7:1); Masoretic Text Iob
- Genesis 46:15 That is, Northwest Mesopotamia
- Genesis 46:16 Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint (see also Num. 26:15); Masoretic Text Ziphion
- Genesis 46:20 That is, Heliopolis
- Genesis 46:27 Hebrew; Septuagint the nine children
- Genesis 46:27 Hebrew (see also Exodus 1:5 and note); Septuagint (see also Acts 7:14) seventy-five
- Genesis 46:29 Hebrew around him
- Genesis 47:7 Or greeted
- Genesis 47:10 Or said farewell to
- Genesis 47:21 Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint (see also Vulgate); Masoretic Text and he moved the people into the cities
- Genesis 47:31 Or Israel bowed down at the head of his bed
- Genesis 48:3 Hebrew El-Shaddai
- Genesis 48:7 That is, Northwest Mesopotamia
- Genesis 48:20 The Hebrew is singular.
- Genesis 48:21 The Hebrew is plural.
- Genesis 48:21 The Hebrew is plural.
- Genesis 48:21 The Hebrew is plural.
- Genesis 48:22 The Hebrew for ridge of land is identical with the place name Shechem.
- Genesis 49:5 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
- Genesis 49:8 Judah sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for praise.
- Genesis 49:10 Or from his descendants
- Genesis 49:10 Or to whom tribute belongs; the meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
- Genesis 49:12 Or will be dull from wine, / his teeth white from milk
- Genesis 49:14 Or strong
- Genesis 49:14 Or the campfires; or the saddlebags
- Genesis 49:16 Dan here means he provides justice.
- Genesis 49:19 Gad sounds like the Hebrew for attack and also for band of raiders.
- Genesis 49:21 Or free; / he utters beautiful words
- Genesis 49:22 Or Joseph is a wild colt, / a wild colt near a spring, / a wild donkey on a terraced hill
- Genesis 49:24 Or archers will attack … will shoot … will remain … will stay
- Genesis 49:25 Hebrew Shaddai
- Genesis 49:26 Or of my progenitors, / as great as
- Genesis 49:26 Or of the one separated from
- Genesis 49:32 Or the descendants of Heth
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