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José se da a conocer

45 No pudiendo ya contener la emoción ante los que estaban con él, José exclamó:

— Salgan todos de mi presencia.

Y no quedó nadie con él cuando José se dio a conocer a sus hermanos. Rompió a llorar tan fuerte que lo oyeron los egipcios, llegando la noticia hasta el palacio mismo del faraón. Entonces José dijo a sus hermanos:

— Yo soy José. ¿Vive todavía mi padre?

Sus hermanos quedaron tan pasmados que no atinaban a dar respuesta. Pero él les dijo:

— ¡Acérquense!

Ellos se acercaron, y José les repitió:

— Yo soy José, su hermano, el que vendieron y que llegó a Egipto. Pero no se aflijan ni se reprochen el haberme vendido, pues en realidad fue Dios quien me ha enviado aquí antes que a ustedes, para salvar vidas. Ya van dos años de hambre en el país y todavía faltan cinco años más en que no habrá labranza ni cosecha. Por eso Dios me envió por delante de ustedes para salvarlos de modo admirable y asegurar su supervivencia sobre la tierra. Así que no fueron ustedes quienes me enviaron aquí, sino Dios. Él me ha constituido consejero del faraón, señor de su casa y gobernador de todo el país de Egipto. Así que suban sin tardanza adonde está mi padre y díganle: “Así dice tu hijo José: Dios me ha hecho señor de todo Egipto; ven a verme cuanto antes. 10 Vivirás en la región de Gosen y estarás cerca de mí junto con tus hijos, tus nietos, tus ovejas, tus vacas y todas tus posesiones. 11 Esta hambre durará cinco años más, pero yo te proporcionaré lo necesario para que subsistan tú, tu familia y todo lo que posees”. 12 Mi hermano Benjamín y ustedes mismos son testigos de que soy yo en persona quien habla. 13 Cuéntenle a mi padre el prestigio que tengo en Egipto y todo lo que han visto, y traigan aquí a mi padre cuanto antes.

14 Entonces José rompió a llorar y se abrazó al cuello de su hermano Benjamín que, abrazado a José, se deshacía también en llanto. 15 Luego, anegado en lágrimas, José besó también a todos sus hermanos que, sólo entonces, se atrevieron a hablarle.

16 Cuando llegó a la corte del faraón la noticia de que habían venido los hermanos de José, tanto el faraón como sus cortesanos se alegraron. 17 Y el faraón dijo a José:

— Di a tus hermanos que carguen sus asnos, vayan a Canaán, 18 y regresen a mí con su padre y sus familias. Yo les daré lo mejor de la tierra de Egipto y podrán comer de lo más sabroso de este país. 19 Diles además: “Llévense carros de Egipto para que regresen trayendo a sus niños y mujeres, y también a su padre. 20 Que no se preocupen por las cosas que tengan que dejar, porque lo mejor de todo Egipto será para ellos”.

21 Así lo hicieron los hijos de Israel. José les proporcionó carros conforme al mandato del faraón y les entregó también víveres para el camino. 22 A cada uno le dio un vestido nuevo; a Benjamín le dio trescientos siclos de plata y cinco vestidos nuevos. 23 Para su padre cargó diez asnos con los mejores productos de Egipto y diez asnas más con cereales, pan y otras provisiones para su viaje. 24 Al despedirse José de sus hermanos, cuando estos ya partían, les dijo:

— No discutan por el camino.

25 Ellos salieron de Egipto y llegaron a la tierra de Canaán, donde se encontraba su padre Jacob, 26 y le comunicaron la noticia:

— José vive y es gobernador de todo Egipto.

Pero Jacob ni se inmutó, porque no les creía. 27 Sólo cuando ellos le repitieron palabra por palabra lo que les dijo José y vio los carros que José enviaba para llevarlo [a Egipto], recobró la ilusión. 28 Israel entonces exclamó:

— ¡Esto me basta! José, mi hijo, vive todavía. Iré y lo veré antes de morir.

Joseph Revealed to His Brothers

45 Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Make everyone go out from me!” So no one stood with him (A)while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he (B)wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it.

Then Joseph said to his brothers, (C)“I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, (D)whom you sold into Egypt. But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; (E)for God sent me before you to preserve life. For these two years the (F)famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. And God (G)sent me before you to preserve a [a]posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but (H)God; and He has made me (I)a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a (J)ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

“Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph: “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not [b]tarry. 10 (K)You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have. 11 There I will (L)provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine.” ’

12 “And behold, your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is (M)my mouth that speaks to you. 13 So you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen; and you shall hurry and (N)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 (O)kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and after that his brothers talked with him.

16 Now the report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come.” So it pleased Pharaoh and his servants well. 17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and depart; go to the land of Canaan. 18 Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat (P)the [c]fat of the land. 19 Now you are commanded—do this: Take carts out of the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives; bring your father and come. 20 Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ ”

21 Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them (Q)carts,[d] according to the command of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey. 22 He gave to all of them, to each man, (R)changes of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and (S)five changes of garments. 23 And he sent to his father these things: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and food for his father for the journey. 24 So he sent his brothers away, and they departed; and he said to them, “See that you do not become troubled along the way.”

25 Then they went up out of Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan to Jacob their father. 26 And they told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt.” (T)And Jacob’s heart stood still, because he did not believe them. 27 But when they told him all the words which Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit (U)of Jacob their father revived. 28 Then Israel said, “It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 45:7 remnant
  2. Genesis 45:9 delay
  3. Genesis 45:18 The choicest produce
  4. Genesis 45:21 wagons

Joseph Makes Himself Known

45 Then Joseph could no longer control himself(A) before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!”(B) So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. And he wept(C) so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.(D)

Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?”(E) But his brothers were not able to answer him,(F) because they were terrified at his presence.(G)

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.”(H) When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!(I) And now, do not be distressed(J) and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here,(K) because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.(L) For two years now there has been famine(M) in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant(N) on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.[a](O)

“So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.(P) He made me father(Q) to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.(R) Now hurry(S) 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.(T) 10 You shall live in the region of Goshen(U) and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have.(V) 11 I will provide for you there,(W) because five years of famine(X) are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’(Y)

12 “You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin,(Z) that it is really I who am speaking to you.(AA) 13 Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt(AB) and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.(AC)

14 Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin(AD) embraced him,(AE) weeping. 15 And he kissed(AF) all his brothers and wept over them.(AG) Afterward his brothers talked with him.(AH)

16 When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come,(AI) Pharaoh and all his officials(AJ) were pleased.(AK) 17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals(AL) and return to the land of Canaan,(AM) 18 and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt(AN) and you can enjoy the fat of the land.’(AO)

19 “You are also directed to tell them, ‘Do this: Take some carts(AP) from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. 20 Never mind about your belongings,(AQ) because the best of all Egypt(AR) will be yours.’”

21 So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts,(AS) as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey.(AT) 22 To each of them he gave new clothing,(AU) but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels[b] of silver and five sets of clothes.(AV) 23 And this is what he sent to his father: ten donkeys(AW) loaded with the best things(AX) of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey.(AY) 24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way!”(AZ)

25 So they went up out of Egypt(BA) and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan.(BB) 26 They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.”(BC) Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them.(BD) 27 But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts(BE) Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 And Israel said, “I’m convinced!(BF) My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”(BG)

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 45:7 Or save you as a great band of survivors
  2. Genesis 45:22 That is, about 7 1/2 pounds or about 3.5 kilograms