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11. Jacob
and his sons come to Egypt
Two years later the Pharaoh, the King of Egypt, had a dream.
He questioned all the wise men and dream interpreters in his land, but none
of them was able to interpret his dream. Then the cup-bearer remembered Joseph.
He said to Pharaoh: There is a young man in prison, an Israelite. He was able
to interpret my dream and also the baker’s. What he told us happened. The
Pharaoh summoned Joseph. He described his dream: Seven healthy, fat cows come
up out of the Nile. They are followed by seven lean and bony ones
who devour them. Again, seven full, ripe ears of corn are growing on a single
stalk. Then seven empty, withered ones come and thrust them aside. Joseph
explained to the Pharaoh: During the night God has shown you what is to come:
Seven good years, in which the cattle grow fat and the corn in the fields
yields abundantly. They will be followed by seven bad years in which no rain
falls. The animals will die of thirst, the corn will wither. I can give you
this advice: Build warehouses and purchase the surplus in the good years.
Build up a reserve for the years of famine. The Pharaoh trusted Joseph. He
made him his administrator. After seven good harvests came the time when no
rain fell, the cattle died of thirst and the crops withered. Then Joseph
opened the warehouses. Hungry people came from far away to buy grain.
Joseph and his sons also had nothing more
to eat. So Jacob sent his sons to Egypt. Joseph saw his
brothers and recognised them immediately. But they did not recognise him.
Joseph put his brothers to the test. He wanted to find out if they would
stand up for one another. He ordered his silver cup to be placed in
Benjamin’s sack. As the brothers were on their way home, Joseph sent his
steward after them. He halted them and accused them: Why have you repaid good
with evil? Why have you stolen my master’s silver cup? The brothers defended
themselves: We have stolen nothing! But when Benjamin’s sack was searched the
cup was found.
The brothers returned together to Joseph.
He said: You others can go! Only the one on whose person the cup was found
must stay. Judah answered him: Our
father loves his youngest son. He would die of grief if anything were to
happened to him. Let me stay in Benjamin’s place. Joseph could not longer
contain himself: I am Joseph, your brother, he said. You sold me. You
intended evil. But God has turned it into good. He allowed me to come to Egypt so that I can save you.
Return quickly to our father and come with him to Egypt. Here you will suffer
no want. Jacob rejoiced deeply when he heard that Joseph was alive. He and
his sons and their families moved to Egypt. There they lived in
the land of Goshen as shepherds. As long
as the famine lasted, Joseph looked after his brothers.
(Gen 41 – 47)
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