Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife

39 Now Joseph was brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there.

² The Lord was with Joseph, so that he became a prosperous man. He was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. ³ His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper. ⁴ Joseph found favor in his sight and served him. So he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put under his charge. ⁵ From the time that he had made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house on account of Joseph. So the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field. ⁶ So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and he had no concerns regarding anything except the food he ate.

Now Joseph was handsome and well-built. ⁷ After a time, his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Lie with me.”

⁸ But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “My master does not concern himself with anything concerning me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my charge. ⁹ There is none greater in this house than I. He has kept nothing back from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” ¹⁰ She spoke to Joseph every day, but he did not listen to her about lying with her or being with her.

¹¹ But it happened one day that Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was there. ¹² She caught him by his clothing, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his clothing in her hand and fled and got outside.

¹³ When she saw that he had left his clothing in her hand and had fled outside, ¹⁴ she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, “See, he has brought in a Hebrew among us to humiliate us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. ¹⁵ When he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his clothing with me, fled, and got outside.”

¹⁶ She laid up his clothing next to her until his master came home. ¹⁷ She spoke to him using these words, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought to us, came in to me to mock me. ¹⁸ When I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his clothing with me and fled outside.”

¹⁹ When his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke to him, saying, “This is what your servant did to me,” he became enraged. ²⁰ Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined.

So he was there in the prison. ²¹ But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. ²² The keeper of the prison committed all the prisoners that were in the prison to the charge of Joseph. So whatever they did there, he was the one responsible for it. ²³ The keeper of the prison did not concern himself with anything that was under Joseph’s charge because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it to prosper.

Pharaoh’s Dreams

41 After two whole years, Pharaoh had a dream that he was standing by the Nile. ² Seven fine-looking and fattened cows suddenly came up out of the river, and they grazed in the meadow. ³ Then seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ugly and gaunt, and stood by the other cows on the riverbank. ⁴ The ugly and gaunt cows ate up the seven fine-looking and fattened cows. Then Pharaoh awoke.

⁵ He slept and dreamed a second time. Seven ears of grain suddenly came up on one stalk, plump and good. ⁶ Then seven thin ears, scorched by the east wind, sprang up after them. ⁷ The seven thin ears devoured the seven plump and full ears. Then Pharaoh awoke and realized it was a dream.

⁸ In the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh.

⁹ Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying, “Today I remember my offenses. ¹⁰ Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me in confinement in the captain of the guard’s house, both me and the chief baker. ¹¹ And we had a dream in the same night, he and I. We, each of us, dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream. ¹² A young Hebrew man was with us there, a servant to the captain of the guard. We told him and he interpreted our dreams for us. To each man he interpreted according to his own dream. ¹³ It happened just as he interpreted. He restored me to my position, and the baker was hanged.”

¹⁴ So Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon. He shaved himself, changed his clothes, and came to Pharaoh.

¹⁵ Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream to interpret it.”

¹⁶ Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me. God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”

¹⁷ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream, I stood on the bank of the Nile. ¹⁸ And suddenly there came up out of the river seven cows, fattened and fine-looking, and they grazed in the reeds. ¹⁹ Then seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and gaunt. I have never seen such ugliness in all the land of Egypt. ²⁰ And the gaunt and ugly cows ate up the first seven fat cows. ²¹ And when they had eaten them up, no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were still as ugly as before. Then I awoke.

²² “I also saw in my dreams seven ears of grain, full and good, suddenly come up on one stalk. ²³ Then seven ears, thin and scorched by the east wind, sprang up after them. ²⁴ And the thin ears swallowed the seven good ears. So I told this to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”

²⁵ Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. ²⁶ The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years. The dreams are one. ²⁷ The seven gaunt and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears scorched by the east wind will be seven years of famine.

²⁸ “It is as I have spoken to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. ²⁹ Seven years of great abundance will come throughout all the land of Egypt. ³⁰ However, there will arise after them seven years of famine. All the abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt, and the famine will consume the land. ³¹ The abundance will be unknown in the land because of the famine following, for it will be very severe. ³² The reason the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice is because the matter is established by God, and God will soon bring it to pass.

³³ “Now, therefore, let Pharaoh seek out a man who is discerning and wise and set him over the land of Egypt. ³⁴ Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officials over the land and collect the fifth part of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven abundant years. ³⁵ Let them gather all the food from those good years that come and lay up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. ³⁶ This food will be for a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which will be in the land of Egypt, so that the land does not perish during the famine.”

Joseph Rises to Power

³⁷ The counsel seemed good to Pharaoh and to all of his servants. ³⁸ Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find anyone like this man, in whom is the Spirit of God?”

³⁹ And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. ⁴⁰ You will be over my house, and according to your word all my people will be ruled. Only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”

⁴¹ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” ⁴² Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand and arrayed him in clothes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. ⁴³ Then he had him ride in the second chariot which was his, and they cried out before him, “Bow the knee!” So he set him over all the land of Egypt.

⁴⁴ Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man will lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” ⁴⁵ Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphenath-Paneah, and he gave him a wife, Asenath the daughter of Potiphera priest of On.^[a] And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.

⁴⁶ Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went throughout all the land of Egypt. ⁴⁷ In the seven abundant years the earth brought forth plentifully. ⁴⁸ So he gathered up all the food of the seven years which was in the land of Egypt and laid up the food in the cities. He put in every city the food of the fields which surrounded the city. ⁴⁹ Joseph gathered great quantities of grain as the sand of the sea until he stopped measuring it, for it was beyond measure.

⁵⁰ Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore to him. ⁵¹ Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh, “For God,” he said, “has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s house.” ⁵² The name of the second he called Ephraim, saying, “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

⁵³ The seven years of abundance that were in the land of Egypt ended. ⁵⁴ The seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said. The famine was in all lands, but there was food in all the land of Egypt. ⁵⁵ When all the land of Egypt was hungry, the people cried to Pharaoh for food, and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. Do whatever he says to you.”

⁵⁶ The famine was over all the face of the earth, so Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians, and the famine was severe throughout the land of Egypt. ⁵⁷ Moreover, all countries came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was so severe in all the lands.

Joseph’s Brothers Return With Benjamin

43 Now the famine was severe in the land. ² When they had eaten up the grain which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back and buy us a little food.”

³ Judah spoke to him, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ ⁴ If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy food for you. ⁵ But if you will not send him, we will not go down. For the man said to us, ‘You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ ”

⁶ Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?”

⁷ And they said, “The man asked us directly about ourselves and our family, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ So we answered his questions. How could we even know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?”

⁸ And Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, so that we may live and not die, both we and you, and also our little ones. ⁹ I will be a surety for him. You may hold me personally responsible for him. If I fail to bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. ¹⁰ For if we had not delayed, we could have returned twice.”

¹¹ Their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, do this. Take some of the best fruits in the land in your bags, and carry down a present for the man: a little balm and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. ¹² Take double the money with you, along with the money that was brought back in the mouths of your sacks. Carry it with you again. Perhaps it was a mistake. ¹³ Also, take your brother and arise, return to the man. ¹⁴ And may God Almighty give you mercy before the man, so that he may send away your other brother, along with Benjamin. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”

¹⁵ The men took the gift, and they took double the money with them, along with Benjamin. Then they went on their way down to Egypt and stood before Joseph. ¹⁶ When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the house steward, “Bring these men home, slaughter an animal and prepare it, for these men will dine with me at noon.”

¹⁷ The man did as Joseph ordered, so the man brought the men into Joseph’s house. ¹⁸ The men were afraid because they were brought into Joseph’s house. They said, “We have been brought in because of the money that was returned in our sacks the first time, so that he may seek occasion against us and fall upon us and take us for slaves with our donkeys.”

The Feast With Joseph

¹⁹ They approached the steward of Joseph’s house, and they spoke with him at the entrance of the house. ²⁰ They said, “My lord, we indeed came down the first time to buy food. ²¹ When we came to the lodging place, we opened our sacks and realized every man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight. So we have brought it again with us. ²² We have also brought additional money with us to buy food. We cannot tell who put our money in our sacks.”

²³ He said, “Be at peace; do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks. I had your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.

²⁴ The man brought the men into Joseph’s house and gave them water to wash their feet and gave feed to their donkeys. ²⁵ Then they made ready the gift for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they would be eating a meal there.

²⁶ When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present that they had with them and bowed themselves to him to the ground. ²⁷ He asked them about their well-being and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?”

²⁸ And they answered, “Your servant our father is in good health. He is still alive.” And they bowed down their heads and prostrated themselves.

²⁹ He lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your younger brother of whom you spoke to me?” And he said, “God be gracious to you, my son.” ³⁰ Joseph hurried out, for he was deeply moved over his brother and sought a place to weep. So he entered into his chamber and wept there.

³¹ Then he washed his face and came out. Controlling himself, he said, “Serve the food.”

³² They served him by himself and them by themselves and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat a meal with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians. ³³ They sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth, and the men looked at one another in astonishment. ³⁴ He gave them portions from his own table, but Benjamin’s serving was five times more than any of theirs. So they drank and feasted with him.

Joseph Reveals His Identity

45 Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all who stood by him, and he cried out, “Make every man go out from me.” So no man stood with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. ² He wept so loudly that the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard about it.

³ Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence.

⁴ Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me,” and they came near. Then he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. ⁵ Now do not be upset or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. ⁶ For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. ⁷ God sent me ahead of you to preserve you as a remnant on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

⁸ “So now it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of his entire household and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. ⁹ Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says, “God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not delay. ¹⁰ And you will dwell in the land of Goshen, and you will be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, along with your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. ¹¹ I will provide for you there, for there are still five years of famine to come, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty.” ’

¹² “Your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth that is speaking to you. ¹³ You must tell my father of all my glory in Egypt and of all that you have seen, and you must hurry and bring my father down here.”

¹⁴ Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. ¹⁵ Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept on them. After that his brothers talked with him.

¹⁶ When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come, it pleased Pharaoh and his servants. ¹⁷ Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this. Load your animals and go to the land of Canaan. ¹⁸ Get your father and your households and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land.’

¹⁹ “You are also commanded to say, ‘Do this: Take your wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and get your father and come. ²⁰ Also do not concern yourself with your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ ”

²¹ So the sons of Israel did so, and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey. ²² To each of them he gave a change of clothes, but he gave to Benjamin three hundred shekels of silver^[a] and five changes of clothes. ²³ To his father he sent the following: ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and provisions for his father on the journey. ²⁴ So he sent his brothers away, and they departed. He said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way.”

²⁵ They went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan to Jacob their father. ²⁶ They told him, “Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt.” And Jacob’s heart stood still because he could not believe them. ²⁷ They told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. ²⁸ Then Israel said, “Enough! Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”