וְעַתָּ֗ה לֹֽא־אַתֶּ֞ם שְׁלַחְתֶּ֤ם אֹתִי֙ הֵ֔נָּה כִּ֖י הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיְשִׂימֵ֨נִֽי לְאָ֜ב לְפַרְעֹ֗ה וּלְאָדוֹן֙ לְכָל־בֵּית֔וֹ וּמֹשֵׁ֖ל בְּכָל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃

Joseph continues to placate his brothers: Now, you should know that it was not you who sent me here, but God, as you were simply the intermediaries for this great mission. He made me into a father to Pharaoh, a guardian of his kingdom, and into a lord for all his house, and ruler over the entire land of Egypt.

מַהֲרוּ֮ וַעֲל֣וּ אֶל־אָבִי֒ וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֣ם אֵלָ֗יו כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ בִּנְךָ֣ יוֹסֵ֔ף שָׂמַ֧נִי אֱלֹהִ֛ים לְאָד֖וֹן לְכָל־מִצְרָ֑יִם רְדָ֥ה אֵלַ֖י אַֽל־תַּעֲמֹֽד׃

Hurry and go up to my father and say to him: So said your son Joseph: God has made me lord for all Egypt. Now, come down to me to Egypt; do not tarry.

וְיָשַׁבְתָּ֣ בְאֶֽרֶץ־גֹּ֗שֶׁן וְהָיִ֤יתָ קָרוֹב֙ אֵלַ֔י אַתָּ֕ה וּבָנֶ֖יךָ וּבְנֵ֣י בָנֶ֑יךָ וְצֹאנְךָ֥ וּבְקָרְךָ֖ וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר־לָֽךְ׃

You will live in the land of Goshen, which is on the eastern border of Egypt, near the land of Canaan, and you will be near to me, you, and your children, and your children’s children, and your flocks, and your cattle, and everything that you have.

וְכִלְכַּלְתִּ֤י אֹֽתְךָ֙ שָׁ֔ם כִּי־ע֛וֹד חָמֵ֥שׁ שָׁנִ֖ים רָעָ֑ב פֶּן־תִּוָּרֵ֛שׁ אַתָּ֥ה וּבֵֽיתְךָ֖ וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר־לָֽךְ׃

I will sustain you there, as the Egyptian harvest was more stable than that of Canaan. Even if the produce of this harvest does not suffice, I will make sure to provide you with all of your needs. For there are an additional five years of famine; lest you become impoverished, you, and your household, and everything that you have. If you have to continue to purchase food from Egypt, you will eventually be forced to sell all your property.

וְהִנֵּ֤ה עֵֽינֵיכֶם֙ רֹא֔וֹת וְעֵינֵ֖י אָחִ֣י בִנְיָמִ֑ין כִּי־פִ֖י הַֽמְדַבֵּ֥ר אֲלֵיכֶֽם׃

Behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that is speaking to you in your language. Prior to this point, Joseph had spoken in Egyptian, and the dialogue with the brothers had proceeded with the assistance of an interpreter. In addition to his change of language, here he soothes his brothers by equating them to Benjamin, his maternal brother, who did not participate in the plot against him.

וְהִגַּדְתֶּ֣ם לְאָבִ֗י אֶת־כָּל־כְּבוֹדִי֙ בְּמִצְרַ֔יִם וְאֵ֖ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר רְאִיתֶ֑ם וּמִֽהַרְתֶּ֛ם וְהוֹרַדְתֶּ֥ם אֶת־אָבִ֖י הֵֽנָּה׃

You shall tell my father all my glory in Egypt, and all that you have seen with regard to my capabilities as a ruler; hurry and bring my father down here.

וַיִּפֹּ֛ל עַל־צַוְּארֵ֥י בִנְיָמִֽן־אָחִ֖יו וַיֵּ֑בְךְּ וּבִנְיָמִ֔ן בָּכָ֖ה עַל־צַוָּארָֽיו׃

He fell upon the neck of his brother Benjamin, which he was finally able to do freely, and wept over his reuniting with his maternal brother; and Benjamin wept upon his neck, following his elder brother’s example.

וַיְנַשֵּׁ֥ק לְכָל־אֶחָ֖יו וַיֵּ֣בְךְּ עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם וְאַ֣חֲרֵי כֵ֔ן דִּבְּר֥וּ אֶחָ֖יו אִתּֽוֹ׃

He then kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. As mentioned previously, although Joseph was a powerful ruler he could quickly become emotional. The brothers’ shock at the discovery that the ruler of the land was none other than Joseph was replaced by their concern that he might take revenge upon them, a worry that had not abated even many years after they had sold him. They knew that if he sought to punish them, justice would be on his side. And only afterward, upon hearing his statement and seeing his tears and emotion as he approached them, their fears were assuaged, and his brothers spoke with him.

וְהַקֹּ֣ל נִשְׁמַ֗ע בֵּ֤ית פַּרְעֹה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בָּ֖אוּ אֲחֵ֣י יוֹסֵ֑ף וַיִּיטַב֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔ה וּבְעֵינֵ֖י עֲבָדָֽיו׃

The news was heard in Pharaoh’s house. The men who had been sent outside and were now stationed in the courtyard could hear Joseph crying. Presumably, some had listened through the window or in some similar manner. Consequently, the members of Pharaoh’s household heard the news, saying: Joseph’s brothers have come. Although they could not understand the language that was spoken, they grasped the essence of what had transpired. And it was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and the eyes of his servants. Until now, Pharaoh and the Egyptians had considered Joseph no more than a slave, who presumably came from a family of slaves. Despite his proficiency and success, it was still a disgrace for them to have a slave as their ruler. Therefore, they were pleased to hear that Joseph in fact came from a distinguished family and had originally been a free man.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר פַּרְעֹה֙ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֔ף אֱמֹ֥ר אֶל־אַחֶ֖יךָ זֹ֣את עֲשׂ֑וּ טַֽעֲנוּ֙ אֶת־בְּעִ֣ירְכֶ֔ם וּלְכוּ־בֹ֖אוּ אַ֥רְצָה כְּנָֽעַן׃

Pharaoh said to Joseph: Say to your brothers: Do this: Load your animals, and go, and come to the land of Canaan . This suggestion is similar to Joseph’s. Pharaoh might have thought of it independently or heard about the idea from Joseph; either way, he agreed to the plan.

וּקְח֧וּ אֶת־אֲבִיכֶ֛ם וְאֶת־בָּתֵּיכֶ֖ם וּבֹ֣אוּ אֵלָ֑י וְאֶתְּנָ֣ה לָכֶ֗ם אֶת־טוּב֙ אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם וְאִכְל֖וּ אֶת־חֵ֥לֶב הָאָֽרֶץ׃

Take your father and the members of your households from Canaan, and come to me and remain in my care in Egypt; I will give you the finest of the land of Egypt, and eat the fat of the land. As Joseph’s brothers and family, you will enjoy all of the benefits that I can offer to those with connections to the royal palace.

וְאַתָּ֥ה צֻוֵּ֖יתָה זֹ֣את עֲשׂ֑וּ קְחוּ־לָכֶם֩ מֵאֶ֨רֶץ מִצְרַ֜יִם עֲגָל֗וֹת לְטַפְּכֶם֙ וְלִנְשֵׁיכֶ֔ם וּנְשָׂאתֶ֥ם אֶת־אֲבִיכֶ֖ם וּבָאתֶֽם׃

To Joseph, Pharaoh said: You are commanded, do this: Take wagons from the land of Egypt. Wagons were rare in Canaan, as they were generally used in cultures more developed than that of shepherds such as the family of Jacob. Use these wagons for your children and for your wives, so that they not experience discomfort on their journey to Egypt. As for the males, they can ride on animals. And in this manner, convey your father and come.

וְעֵ֣ינְכֶ֔ם אַל־תָּחֹ֖ס עַל־כְּלֵיכֶ֑ם כִּי־ט֛וּב כָּל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם לָכֶ֥ם הֽוּא׃

Your eye should not spare your vessels. Do not be concerned about any possessions that might be damaged on your journey, or about items that you are forced to leave at home. In addition, do not travel slowly due to worry over losing your property, for the bounty of the entire land of Egypt is yours, and all your requirements will be met at my expense.

וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־כֵן֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּתֵּ֨ן לָהֶ֥ם יוֹסֵ֛ף עֲגָל֖וֹת עַל־פִּ֣י פַרְעֹ֑ה וַיִּתֵּ֥ן לָהֶ֛ם צֵדָ֖ה לַדָּֽרֶךְ׃

The sons of Israel did so and prepared to return home. Joseph gave them wagons by Pharaoh’s order, and he gave them provisions for the journey. The use of wagons together with strong animals allowed them to take plenty of food, as well as other items.

לְכֻלָּ֥ם נָתַ֛ן לָאִ֖ישׁ חֲלִפ֣וֹת שְׂמָלֹ֑ת וּלְבִנְיָמִ֤ן נָתַן֙ שְׁלֹ֣שׁ מֵא֣וֹת כֶּ֔סֶף וְחָמֵ֖שׁ חֲלִפֹ֥ת שְׂמָלֹֽת׃

To all of them he gave each man changes of garments for the journey, and to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, as a special gift to his beloved brother, and five changes of garments.

וּלְאָבִ֞יו שָׁלַ֤ח כְּזֹאת֙ עֲשָׂרָ֣ה חֲמֹרִ֔ים נֹשְׂאִ֖ים מִטּ֣וּב מִצְרָ֑יִם וְעֶ֣שֶׂר אֲתֹנֹ֡ת נֹֽ֠שְׂאֹת בָּ֣ר וָלֶ֧חֶם וּמָז֛וֹן לְאָבִ֖יו לַדָּֽרֶךְ׃

To his father he sent a gift as follows: Ten donkeys laden with the bounty of Egypt, including clothing, vessels, and preserved foods, and ten female donkeys laden with grain, and bread, and food for his father for the journey. During their trip to Canaan, the brothers would certainly endeavor to minimize the amount of food they consumed and to reach their destination as fast as possible. In contrast, the family’s journey to Egypt with the elderly Jacob, their wives, children, and all of their possessions would take significantly longer. Therefore, that journey required far more provisions.

וַיְשַׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־אֶחָ֖יו וַיֵּלֵ֑כוּ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם אַֽל־תִּרְגְּז֖וּ בַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃

He sent his brothers back to their home, and they went. Following their shocking experience in Egypt, the brothers were liable to blame each other for the selling of Joseph during the trip home. Reuben and Judah both had a certain amount of mercy on their brother and attempted to delay or foil the attempt to kill him, but it is unclear how many of the other brothers, aside from Judah (see 37:26), were active participants in the sale and how many merely refrained from preventing it. Apparently, until now they considered themselves active participants. Now, when it became evident that Joseph was alive and his status was more powerful than theirs, they might use the journey to rehash past events. Consequently, he said to them: Do not quarrel on the way.

וַֽיַּעֲל֖וּ מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ אֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן אֶֽל־יַעֲקֹ֖ב אֲבִיהֶֽם׃

They went up from Egypt, and they came to the land of Canaan, to Jacob their father.

וַיַּגִּ֨דוּ ל֜וֹ לֵאמֹ֗ר ע֚וֹד יוֹסֵ֣ף חַ֔י וְכִֽי־ה֥וּא מֹשֵׁ֖ל בְּכָל־אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וַיָּ֣פָג לִבּ֔וֹ כִּ֥י לֹא־הֶאֱמִ֖ין לָהֶֽם׃

They told him, saying: Joseph still lives, and he is ruler over the entire land of Egypt. It is difficult to ascertain whether they presented their father with all the details of the story, or whether they preferred not to mention the events for which they themselves were responsible. It is also unknown whether Jacob ever discovered what had actually happened to Joseph. His heart was faint; it ceased to beat, and perhaps he fainted out of shock, because he did not believe them, as he was not prepared for this astonishing news. Alternatively, he did not trust them and suspected that they had invented the story for some personal benefit.

וַיְדַבְּר֣וּ אֵלָ֗יו אֵ֣ת כָּל־דִּבְרֵ֤י יוֹסֵף֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֶּ֣ר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם וַיַּרְא֙ אֶת־הָ֣עֲגָל֔וֹת אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַ֥ח יוֹסֵ֖ף לָשֵׂ֣את אֹת֑וֹ וַתְּחִ֕י ר֖וּחַ יַעֲקֹ֥ב אֲבִיהֶֽם׃

Due to Jacob’s reaction, they spoke to him in detail all the words of Joseph that he had said to them, and he saw the wagons that Joseph sent to convey him. The presence of the Egyptian wagons, which generally were used for military functions and were not easily transported out of Egypt, corroborated their story. And the spirit of Jacob their father was revived from his faintness, as he gradually became convinced that the report was indeed true. The knowledge that Joseph was alive shocked him, but also revived him.