July 11, 2013, Reading

Genesis   44: 18-29 45: 1-5

44:18 Then Judah, approaching closer, said confidently: “I beg you, my lord, let your servant speak a word in your ears, and do not be angry with your servant. For you are next to Pharaoh.

44:19 My lord, you questioned your servants before: ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’

44:20 And we answered you, my lord: ‘There is our father, an old man, and a young boy, who was born in his old age. His brother of the same womb has died, and he alone is left to his mother and father, who truly love him tenderly.’

44:21 And you said to your servants, ‘Bring him to me, and I will set my eyes on him.’

44:22 We suggested to my lord: ‘The boy is not able to leave his father. For if he sends him away, he will die.’

44:23 And you said to your servants: ‘Unless your youngest brother arrives with you, you will not see my face any more.’

44:24 Therefore, when we had gone up to your servant our father, we explained to him all that my lord had spoken.

44:25 And our father said: ‘Return and buy us a little wheat.’

44:26 And we said to him: ‘We cannot go. If our youngest brother descends with us, we will set out together. Otherwise, in his absence, we do not dare to see the face of the man.’

44:27 To which he responded: ‘You know that my wife conceived twice by me

. 44:28 One went out, and you said, “A beast devoured him.” And since then, he has not appeared.

44:29 If you take this one also, and anything happens to him on the way, you will lead my grey hairs down with grief to the grave.’

45:1 Joseph was unable to restrain himself any longer, standing before so many. Therefore, he instructed that all should go outside, and that no stranger should be among them as they recognized one another.

45:2 And he lifted up his voice with weeping, which the Egyptians heard, along with the entire house of Pharaoh.

45:3 And he said to his brothers: “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?” His brothers were unable to respond, being terrified by a very great fear.

45:4 And he said to them mildly, “Approach toward me.” And when they had approached close by, he said: “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.

45:5 Do not be afraid, and let it not seem to you to be a hardship that you sold me into these regions. For God sent me before you into Egypt for your salvation. – See more at: https://2fish.co/bible/old-testament/genesis/#sthash.u7c3qwdA.dpuf