Joseph Tells His Brothers Who He Is
1Joseph couldn’t control himself anymore in front of all his attendants. He cried out, “Have everyone leave me!” So there wasn’t anyone with Joseph when he told his brothers who he was. 2He wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him. Everyone in Pharaoh’s house heard about it.
3Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers weren’t able to answer him. They were too afraid of him.
4Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” So they did. Then he said, “I am your brother Joseph. I’m the one you sold into Egypt. 5But don’t be upset. And don’t be angry with yourselves because you sold me here. God sent me ahead of you to save many lives. 6For two years now, there hasn’t been enough food in the land. And for the next five years, people won’t be plowing or gathering crops. 7But God sent me ahead of you to keep some of you alive on earth. He sent me here to save your lives by an act of mighty power.
8“So then, it wasn’t you who sent me here. It was God. He made me like a father to Pharaoh. He made me master of Pharaoh’s entire house. God made me ruler of the whole land of Egypt. 9Now hurry back to my father. Say to him, ‘Your son Joseph says, “God has made me master of the whole land of Egypt. Come down to me. Don’t waste any time. 10You will live in the area of Goshen. You, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and everything you have will be near me. 11There I will provide everything you need. There are still five years to come when there won’t be enough food. If you don’t come down here, you and your family and everyone who belongs to you will lose everything.” ’
12“My brothers, I am Joseph. You can see for yourselves that I am the one speaking to you. My brother Benjamin can see it too. 13Tell my father about all the honor given to me in Egypt. Tell him about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.”
14Then Joseph threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept. Benjamin also hugged him and wept. 15Joseph kissed all his brothers and wept over them. After that, his brothers talked with him.
16The news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come. Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased. 17Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Here’s what I want you to tell your brothers. Say to them, ‘Load your animals. Return to the land of Canaan. 18Bring your father and your families back to me. I’ll give you the best land in Egypt. You can enjoy all the good things in the land.’
19“And here’s something else I want you to tell them. Say to them, ‘Take some carts from Egypt. Your children and your wives can use them. Get your father and come back. 20Don’t worry about the things you have back there. The best of everything in Egypt will belong to you.’ ”
21Then the sons of Israel did so. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded. He also gave them supplies for their journey. 22He gave new clothes to each of them. But he gave Benjamin more than seven pounds of silver. He also gave him five sets of clothes. 23He sent his father ten male donkeys loaded with the best things from Egypt. He also sent ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other supplies for his journey. 24Then Joseph sent his brothers away. As they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t argue on the way!”
25So they went up out of Egypt. They came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of the whole land of Egypt.” Jacob was shocked. He didn’t believe them. 27So they told him everything Joseph had said to them. Jacob saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back. That gave new life to their father Jacob. 28Israel said, “I believe it now! My son Joseph is still alive. I’ll go and see him before I die.”
Yosefu Anajitambulisha
145:1 2Sam 13:9Hapo Yosefu hakuweza kujizuia zaidi mbele ya wote waliokuwa wamesimama karibu naye, akapaza sauti, akasema, “Mwondoeni kila mtu mbele yangu!” Kwa hiyo hapakuwepo mtu yeyote pamoja na Yosefu alipojitambulisha kwa ndugu zake. 245:2 Mdo 7:13Naye akalia kwa sauti kubwa kiasi kwamba Wamisri walimsikia, hata watu wa nyumbani mwa Farao wakapata hizo habari.
345:3 Mwa 43:7Yosefu akawaambia ndugu zake, “Mimi ni Yosefu! Je, baba yangu angali hai bado?” Lakini ndugu zake hawakuweza kumjibu, kwa sababu walipatwa na hofu kuu mbele yake.
445:4 Mwa 37:28Ndipo Yosefu akawaambia ndugu zake, “Sogeeni karibu nami.” Waliposogea, akasema, “Mimi ni ndugu yenu Yosefu, yule ambaye mlimuuza Misri! 545:5 Mwa 50:20; Za 105:17Sasa, msihuzunike wala msijichukie wenyewe kwa kuniuza huku, kwa sababu ilikuwa ni ili kuokoa maisha ya watu ndiyo sababu Mungu alinituma niwatangulie ninyi. 6Kwa miaka miwili sasa imekuwepo njaa katika nchi, pia kwa miaka mitano ijayo hapatakuwepo kulima wala kuvuna. 7Lakini Mungu alinitanguliza mbele yenu ili kuhifadhi mabaki kwa ajili yenu katika nchi, na kuokoa maisha yenu kwa wokovu mkuu.
845:8 Amu 17:10; Mwa 41:41“Kwa hiyo basi, si ninyi mlionileta huku, bali ni Mungu. Alinifanya kuwa baba kwa Farao, bwana wa watu wa nyumbani mwake wote, na mtawala wa Misri yote. 9Sasa rudini haraka kwa baba yangu na mwambieni, ‘Hili ndilo mwanao Yosefu asemalo: Mungu amenifanya mimi kuwa bwana wa Misri yote. Shuka uje kwangu, wala usikawie. 1045:10 Mwa 47:1Nawe utaishi katika nchi ya Gosheni na kuwa karibu nami, wewe, watoto wako na wajukuu wako, makundi yako ya kondoo, mbuzi na ngʼombe, pamoja na vyote ulivyo navyo. 11Nitawatunza huko, kwa sababu bado iko miaka mingine mitano inayokuja ya njaa. La sivyo, wewe na nyumba yako na wote ulio nao mtakuwa fukara.’
12“Mnaweza kujionea wenyewe, hata ndugu yangu Benyamini, kwamba hakika ni mimi ninayezungumza nanyi. 1345:13 Mdo 7:14Mwambieni baba yangu juu ya heshima yote niliyopewa huku Misri, na kuhusu kila kitu mlichokiona. Mleteni baba yangu huku haraka.”
1445:14 Mwa 29:13Ndipo akamkumbatia Benyamini ndugu yake na kulia, naye Benyamini akamkumbatia akilia. 1545:15 Lk 15:20Pia akawabusu ndugu zake wote, huku akilia. Baada ya hayo ndugu zake wakazungumza naye.
1645:16 Mwa 41:37Habari zilipofika kwenye jumba la Farao kwamba ndugu zake Yosefu wamefika, Farao na maafisa wake wote wakafurahi. 1745:17 Mwa 42:5Farao akamwambia Yosefu, “Waambie ndugu zako, ‘Fanyeni hivi: Pakieni wanyama wenu mrudi mpaka nchi ya Kanaani, 1845:18 Mwa 46:34; 47:6, 11, 27mkamlete baba yenu na jamaa zenu kwangu. Nitawapa sehemu nzuri sana ya nchi ya Misri nanyi mtafurahia unono wa nchi.’
1945:19 Mwa 46:5“Mnaagizwa pia kuwaambia, ‘Fanyeni hivi: Chukueni magari ya kukokotwa kutoka Misri, kwa ajili ya watoto wenu na wake zenu, mkamchukue baba yenu mje. 20Msijali kamwe kuhusu mali zenu, kwa sababu mema yote ya Misri yatakuwa yenu.’ ”
21Hivyo wana wa Israeli wakafanya hivyo. Yosefu akawapa magari ya kukokotwa, kama Farao alivyoagiza, pia akawapa mahitaji kwa ajili ya safari yao. 22Kila mmoja mavazi mapya, lakini Benyamini akampa shekeli 30045:22 Shekeli 300 za fedha ni sawa na kilo 3.4. za fedha, na jozi tano za nguo. 23Hivi ndivyo vitu alivyotuma kwa baba yake: punda kumi waliochukua vitu vizuri vya Misri, punda wake kumi waliobeba nafaka, mikate na mahitaji mengine ya safari. 24Akaagana na ndugu zake walipokuwa wakiondoka, akawaambia, “Msigombane njiani!”
25Basi wakatoka Misri na kufika kwa baba yao Yakobo katika nchi ya Kanaani. 26Wakamwambia baba yao, “Yosefu angali hai! Ukweli ni kwamba yeye ndiye mtawala wa Misri yote.” Yakobo akapigwa na bumbuazi; hakuwasadiki. 2745:27 Mwa 45:19Lakini walipokwisha kumweleza kila kitu ambacho Yosefu alikuwa amewaambia, na alipoona magari ya kukokotwa Yosefu aliyokuwa amempelekea ya kumchukua aende Misri, roho ya baba yao Yakobo ikahuishwa. 28Ndipo Israeli akasema, “Nimesadiki! Mwanangu Yosefu bado yu hai. Nitakwenda nikamwone kabla sijafa.”
