because they had too many possessions to be able to stay together and the land where they had settled was not able to support them because of their livestock.

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated Joseph and were not able to speak to him kindly.

Then they brought the special tunic to their father and said, “We found this. Determine now whether it is your son’s tunic or not.”

So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Because God has enabled you to know all this, there is no one as wise and discerning as you are!

But you must bring your youngest brother to me. Then your words will be verified and you will not die.” They did as he said.

When they finished eating the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Return, buy us a little more food.”

Now, do not be upset and do not be angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me ahead of you to preserve life!

Joseph said to the people, “Since I have bought you and your land today for Pharaoh, here is seed for you. Cultivate the land.

Now Israel’s eyes were failing because of his age; he was not able to see well. So Joseph brought his sons near to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them.

You are destructive like water and will not excel, for you got on your father’s bed, then you defiled it – he got on my couch!

Judah, your brothers will praise you. Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies, your father’s sons will bow down before you.

When Jacob finished giving these instructions to his sons, he pulled his feet up onto the bed, breathed his last breath, and went to his people.

They took forty days, for that is the full time needed for embalming. The Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.

So Joseph went up to bury his father; all Pharaoh’s officials went with him – the senior courtiers of his household, all the senior officials of the land of Egypt,

So now, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your little children.” Then he consoled them and spoke kindly to them.

So they put foremen over the Israelites to oppress them with hard labor. As a result they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.

Moses answered again, “And if they do not believe me or pay attention to me, but say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you’?”

I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name ‘the Lord’ I was not known to them.

But Moses replied to the Lord, “If the Israelites did not listen to me, then how will Pharaoh listen to me, since I speak with difficulty?”

and the Lord did as Moses asked – he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. Not one remained!