Genesis 46:28-34

New International Reader's Version

²⁸ Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph. He sent him to get directions to Goshen. And so they arrived in the area of Goshen. ²⁹ Then Joseph had his servants get his chariot ready. He went to Goshen to meet his father Israel. As soon as he came to his father, Joseph threw his arms around him. Then Joseph wept for a long time.

³⁰ Israel said to Joseph, “I have seen for myself that you are still alive. Now I’m ready to die.”

³¹ Then Joseph spoke to his brothers and to the rest of his father’s family. He said, “I will go up and speak to Pharaoh. I’ll say to him, ‘My brothers and the rest of my father’s family have come to me. They were living in the land of Canaan. ³² The men are shepherds. They take care of livestock. They’ve brought along their flocks and herds and everything they own.’ ³³ Pharaoh will send for you. He’ll ask, ‘What do you do for a living?’ ³⁴ You should answer, ‘We’ve taken care of livestock from the time we were boys. We’ve done just as our fathers did.’ It’s the practice of the people of Egypt not to mix with shepherds. So Pharaoh will let you settle in the area of Goshen.”