Genesis 46:31-47:10
And Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s entire family,“ I will go to Pharaoh and tell him,‘ My brothers and my father’s entire family have come to me from the land of Canaan.These men are shepherds, and they raise livestock. They have brought with them their flocks and herds and everything they own.’”Then he said,“ When Pharaoh calls for you and asks you about your occupation,you must tell him,‘ We, your servants, have raised livestock all our lives, as our ancestors have always done.’ When you tell him this, he will let you live here in the region of Goshen, for the Egyptians despise shepherds.”Then Joseph went to see Pharaoh and told him,“ My father and my brothers have arrived from the land of Canaan. They have come with all their flocks and herds and possessions, and they are now in the region of Goshen.”Joseph took five of his brothers with him and presented them to Pharaoh.And Pharaoh asked the brothers,“ What is your occupation?” They replied,“ We, your servants, are shepherds, just like our ancestors.We have come to live here in Egypt for a while, for there is no pasture for our flocks in Canaan. The famine is very severe there. So please, we request permission to live in the region of Goshen.”Then Pharaoh said to Joseph,“ Now that your father and brothers have joined you here,choose any place in the entire land of Egypt for them to live. Give them the best land of Egypt. Let them live in the region of Goshen. And if any of them have special skills, put them in charge of my livestock, too.”Then Joseph brought in his father, Jacob, and presented him to Pharaoh. And Jacob blessed Pharaoh.“ How old are you?” Pharaoh asked him.Jacob replied,“ I have traveled this earth for 130 hard years. But my life has been short compared to the lives of my ancestors.”Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh again before leaving his court.
Genesis 45:1-18
Joseph could stand it no longer. There were many people in the room, and he said to his attendants,“ Out, all of you!” So he was alone with his brothers when he told them who he was.Then he broke down and wept. He wept so loudly the Egyptians could hear him, and word of it quickly carried to Pharaoh’s palace.“ I am Joseph!” he said to his brothers.“ Is my father still alive?” But his brothers were speechless! They were stunned to realize that Joseph was standing there in front of them.“ Please, come closer,” he said to them. So they came closer. And he said again,“ I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt.But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives.This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors.So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh— the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt.“ Now hurry back to my father and tell him,‘ This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me master over all the land of Egypt. So come down to me immediately!You can live in the region of Goshen, where you can be near me with all your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and everything you own.I will take care of you there, for there are still five years of famine ahead of us. Otherwise you, your household, and all your animals will starve.’”Then Joseph added,“ Look! You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that I really am Joseph!Go tell my father of my honored position here in Egypt. Describe for him everything you have seen, and then bring my father here quickly.”Weeping with joy, he embraced Benjamin, and Benjamin did the same.Then Joseph kissed each of his brothers and wept over them, and after that they began talking freely with him.The news soon reached Pharaoh’s palace:“ Joseph’s brothers have arrived!” Pharaoh and his officials were all delighted to hear this.Pharaoh said to Joseph,“ Tell your brothers,‘ This is what you must do: Load your pack animals, and hurry back to the land of Canaan.Then get your father and all of your families, and return here to me. I will give you the very best land in Egypt, and you will eat from the best that the land produces.’”