Genesis 45:9-19

9 "So leave quickly and go to my father. Tell him, 'Your son Joseph says: God has made me master over all Egypt. Come down to me quickly.
10 Live in the land of Goshen where you will be near me. Your children, your grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all that you have will also be near me.
11 I will care for you during the next five years of hunger so that you and your family and all that you have will not starve.'
12 "Now you can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that the one speaking to you is really Joseph.
13 So tell my father about how powerful I have become in Egypt. Tell him about everything you have seen. Now hurry and bring him back to me."
14 Then Joseph hugged his brother Benjamin and cried, and Benjamin cried also.
15 And Joseph kissed all his brothers and cried as he hugged them. After this, his brothers talked with him.
16 When the king of Egypt and his officers learned that Joseph's brothers had come, they were very happy.
17 So the king said to Joseph, "Tell your brothers to load their animals and go back to the land of Canaan
18 and bring their father and their families back here to me. I will give them the best land in Egypt, and they will eat the best food we have here.
19 Tell them to take some wagons from Egypt for their children and their wives and to bring their father back also.

Genesis 45:9-19 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 45

This chapter contains an account of Joseph's making himself known to his brethren, which was done when they were alone, Ge 45:1-4; when he encouraged them not to distress themselves on account of their selling him into Egypt, for God in his providence had sent him there for their good, Ge 45:5-8; and he ordered them to go forthwith to Canaan, and acquaint his father with all the honour and glory they saw him in, and to desire him to come thither to him, where he should be provided for during the five years of famine yet to come, in the best part of the land of Egypt, Ge 45:9-13; upon which he expressed the strongest affection to Benjamin, and to all his brethren, Ge 45:14,15; the fame of this was soon spread in the house of Pharaoh, which gave the king great pleasure, who immediately expressed his earnest desire that his father might come and settle in Egypt, and ordered provisions to be sent him, and carriages to bring him down, and all that belonged to him, Ge 45:16-20; and Joseph accordingly delivered to his brethren wagons and provisions for the way, and gave gifts to them, and sent a present to his father, and dismissed his brethren with an exhortation not to fall out by the way, Ge 45:21-24; and when they came to Canaan, they acquainted their father with all these things, who at first could not believe them; but when he saw the wagons, his spirit revived, and determined to go and see his son, Ge 45:25-28.

Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.