65: Joseph reveals his identity (45:1-15)

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Yosef reveals his identity

45

1 YOSEF wasn't comfortable any more in front of his servants and he ordered them all to leave him on his own. When there was no one with him, Yosef made himself known to his older brothers. 2 He wept so loudly all the Egyptians could hear him and even in Pharaoh's palace they heard him weeping. 3 Yosef said to his brothers:

—I'm Yosef!! Is my father still alive?

His brothers were dumbfounded and wordless with apprehension. 4 Yosef told his brothers:

—Come to me!

They approached him and he said to them:

—I am Yosef your little brother who you sold off to Egypt! 5 Now don't worry. Don't be sorry for what you did selling me and sending me here, because it was for our good that God had me go ahead of you. 6 Two years ago the famine started in the country and there will be another five years without ploughing or harvest. 7 God has sent me ahead of you in order for you not to perish on the land, so you can get away and survive. 8 In other words, it wasn't you who sent me here, but God. He made me like a father to Pharaoh, a lord of his entire household and a ruler over the land of Egypt! 9 Go quickly to my father to tell him, this is what your Yosef has said: God has made me like a boss of all Egypt: come here without delay, 10 and you can stay in the land of Goshen and be near me, and your children and your grandchildren, with your flocks of sheep and cattle and everything you own. 11 I'll look after you there, because there are still five years to go, so that you will be alright and your family and all your things. 12 Your eyes and Benyamin's eyes can see that it is my mouth speaking to you. 13 Tell my father how much I have in Egypt and everything that you have seen, and bring my father here as fast as you can!

14 He hugged his little brother Benyamin and cried, and Benyamin wept too. 15 He kissed all his brothers and wept with them all. Then they started talking.