The news that Joseph's brothers
had arrived became known in Pharaoh's palace; and it pleased Pharaoh
and his servants greatly. Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Say to your
brothers, 'Do this: load your beasts, go to the land of Canaan, and
take your father and your families and come to me, and I will give
you the best there is in the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the
best that the land can give. Now you are commanded to do this: take
wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your
wives, and bring your father and come. Also do not pay any attention
to your household goods, for the best of all there is in the land of
Egypt is yours.'" And the sons of Jacob did as they were commanded.
So Joseph gave them wagons, as Pharaoh ordered, and what was needed
for the journey. To each of them he gave a change of clothing, but
to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes
of clothing. To his father he sent this gift: ten asses loaded with
the best products of Egypt and ten asses loaded with grain and bread
and provisions for his father on the journey.
So he sent his brothers away, and, as they went, he said to them,
"See that you do not quarrel on the journey!" So they went up out of
Egypt and came into the land of Canaan to Jacob their father, and
told him, "Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land
of Egypt!" Then Jacob's heart stood still, for he could not believe
them. But when they told him all that Joseph had said to them and
when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the
spirit of Jacob their father revived, and he said, "It is enough;
Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die."
Then Jacob set out on his journey with all that he had. He first
went to Beersheba and offered sacrifices to the God of his father
Isaac. God spoke to him in a vision by night and said, "Jacob,
Jacob." He answered, "Here am I." God said, "I am God, the God of
your father. Do not fear to go down into Egypt, for there I will
make of you a great nation. I myself will go down with you into
Egypt; I will surely bring you back again; and Joseph shall close
your dying eyes."
When Jacob left Beersheba, his sons carried him and their little
ones and their wives in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent. Jacob also
sent Judah before him to Joseph, that he might show him the way to
Goshen.
When they came into the land of Goshen, Joseph made ready his
chariot, and went up to Goshen to meet Jacob his father. When he met
him, Jacob fell on his neck and wept there a long time.
Then Jacob said to Joseph, "Now let me die, for I have seen your
face and know that you are still alive." But Joseph said to his
brothers and to his father's household, "I will go up and tell
Pharaoh and will say to him, 'My brothers and my father's family who
were in the land of Canaan have come to me. Now the men are
shepherds, for they have been keepers of cattle; and they have
brought their flocks and cattle and all that they have.' When
Pharaoh calls you, and asks, 'What is your business?' you shall say,
'Your servants have been keepers of cattle from our youth even until
now, both we and our fathers.' Say this that you may live in the
land of Goshen, for every shepherd is looked down upon by the
Egyptians."
Then Joseph went in and told Pharaoh and said, "My father and my
brothers with their sheep and cattle and all that they possess have
come from the land of Canaan; and now they are in the province of
Goshen." And he took five of his brothers and presented them to
Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to them, "What is your business?" They
answered, "Your servants are shepherds, both we and our fathers."
They also said to Pharaoh, "We have come to live in your country;
because the famine is severe in the land of Canaan, and there is no
pasture for your servants' flocks. Now, therefore, we beg of you,
let your servants stay in the land of Goshen." Then Pharaoh said to
Joseph, "Let them stay in the land of Goshen; and if you know any
able men among them, put them in charge of my cattle."
Joseph also brought in Jacob his father and presented him to
Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Then Pharaoh said to Jacob, "How
many years have you lived?" Jacob answered, "I have lived a hundred
and thirty years; few and evil have been the years of my life, and
they have not been as many as those that my forefathers lived on
earth." After Jacob had blessed Pharaoh, he went out from Pharaoh's
presence. So Joseph gave his father and his brothers a place to live
in and a home in the land of Goshen, in the best part of the land of
Egypt, as Pharaoh had commanded.
Joseph also provided food for his father and his brothers and all
his father's family according to the number of the little children.
So the Israelites lived in Egypt, in the land of Goshen, and there
they grew wealthy and had many children.