Joseph Makes Himself Known
1Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.
3Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.
4Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.45:7 Or save you as a great band of survivors
8“So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. 9Now hurry 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. 10You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. 11I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’
12“You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. 13Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.”
14Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. 15And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.
16When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased. 17Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan, 18and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.’
19“You are also directed to tell them, ‘Do this: Take some carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. 20Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.’ ”
21So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey. 22To each of them he gave new clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels45:22 That is, about 7 1/2 pounds or about 3.5 kilograms of silver and five sets of clothes. 23And this is what he sent to his father: ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey. 24Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way!”
25So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.” Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them. 27But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28And Israel said, “I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will 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.”
