Joseph Reveals Himself to His Brothers
Twenty-two years after they sold him, Joseph's brothers stood before the ruler of Egypt and heard him say, "I am Joseph."
After testing his brothers through two journeys to Egypt, and hearing Judah offer to remain as a bondman in Benjamin's place, Joseph could no longer refrain himself. He sent every Egyptian out of the room and wept so loudly that the house of Pharaoh heard, and then he said, 'I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.' His brothers were too troubled to answer, but Joseph told them not to be grieved or angry with themselves, 'for God did send me before you to preserve life.' Two years of famine had passed and five more were coming, so he urged them to hurry home and bring their father Jacob down to dwell near him in the land of Goshen. It is one of Scripture's great scenes of forgiveness, showing God's providence at work even through a brother's betrayal.
Did You Know?
Joseph was about thirty-nine: thirty when he stood before Pharaoh, plus seven years of plenty and two of famine.
Three times Joseph told his brothers that it was God who had sent him to Egypt.
Judah, who once proposed selling Joseph, was the brother who offered to stay as a bondman in Benjamin's place.
Key Passage
Joseph Reveals Himself to His Brothers
Genesis 45:1-15
1hen Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.
Meanwhile in the World
Egypt's Old Kingdom builds the pyramids (c. 2600-2100 BC). Mesopotamia is dominated by Akkad and then Ur III. The Indus Valley civilization flourishes. Stonehenge is being constructed in Britain. This is the era of the great ziggurats and the first law codes (Ur-Nammu).