Joseph Reveals Himself

Joseph could no longer restrain himself before his attendants and commanded that everyone leave his presence. While he stood alone with his brothers, he wept so loudly that the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard him. He identified himself to his brothers, asking if his father was still alive, but they were unable to answer because they were terrified (Genesis 45:1-3). Joseph instructed his brothers to come closer and explained that although they had sold him into Egypt, it was actually God who had sent him there ahead of them to preserve life during the famine. He stated that two years of famine had passed, with five more years remaining in which there would be no plowing or reaping (Genesis 45:4-6).

Joseph directed his brothers to return to their father and bring him down to Egypt. He promised they would dwell in the land of Goshen so they would be near him and provided for during the remaining years of famine (Genesis 45:9-11). After speaking, Joseph threw his arms around Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck likewise. Joseph then kissed all his brothers and wept over them, after which his brothers talked with him (Genesis 45:14-15).

When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had arrived, Pharaoh and his officials were pleased. Pharaoh commanded Joseph to tell his brothers to load their animals and return to the land of Canaan to collect their father and their households. He offered them the best of the land of Egypt and told them not to worry about their belongings, as the best of all Egypt would be theirs (Genesis 45:16-20). Joseph provided them with wagons, as Pharaoh had commanded, and gave them provisions for their journey. The brothers departed, and when they reached their father, they told him that Joseph was alive and was ruler over all Egypt (Genesis 45:21-26).