He built an altar there and named the place El Bethel<n id="1" /> because there God had revealed himself<n id="2" /> to him when he was fleeing from his brother.

because they had too many possessions to be able to stay together and the land where they had settled<n id="1" /> was not able to support them because of their livestock.

So he asked Pharaoh&#8217;s officials, who were with him in custody in his master&#8217;s house, &#8220;Why do you look so sad today?&#8221;<n id="1" />

The previous abundance of the land will not be remembered<n id="1" /> because of the famine that follows, for the famine will be very severe.<n id="2" />

Pharaoh<n id="1" /> had him ride in the chariot used by his second-in-command,<n id="2" /> and they cried out before him, &#8220;Kneel down!&#8221;<n id="3" /> So he placed him over all the land of Egypt.

<p class="bodytext">While the famine was over all the earth,<n id="1" /> Joseph opened the storehouses<n id="2" /> and sold grain to the Egyptians. The famine was severe throughout the land of Egypt.

<p class="bodytext">But Judah said to him, &#8220;The man solemnly warned<n id="1" /> us, &#8216;You will not see my face<n id="2" /> unless your brother is with you.&#8217;

But if you will not send him, we won&#8217;t go down there because the man said to us, &#8216;You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.&#8217;&#8221;p>

I myself pledge security<n id="1" /> for him; you may hold me liable. If I do not bring him back to you and place him here before you, I will bear the blame before you all my life.<n id="2" />

May the sovereign God<n id="1" /> grant you mercy before the man so that he may release<n id="2" /> your other brother<n id="3" /> and Benjamin! As for me, if I lose my children I lose them.&#8221;<n id="4" />p>

<p class="bodytext">So the men took these gifts, and they took double the money with them, along with Benjamin. Then they hurried down to Egypt<n id="1" /> and stood before Joseph.

He gave them portions of the food set before him,<n id="1" /> but the portion for Benjamin was five times greater than the portions for any of the others. They drank with Joseph until they all became drunk.<n id="2" />p>

But you said to your servants, &#8216;If your youngest brother does not come down with you, you will not see my face again.&#8217;

If you take<n id="1" /> this one from me too and an accident happens to him, then you will bring down my gray hair<n id="2" /> in tragedy<n id="3" /> to the grave.&#8217;<n id="4" />p>

<p class="bodytext">Joseph said to his brothers, &#8220;I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?&#8221; His brothers could not answer him because they were dumbfounded before him.

Now, do not be upset and do not be angry with yourselves because you sold me here,<n id="1" /> for God sent me<n id="2" /> ahead of you to preserve life!

<p class="bodytext">Israel said to Joseph, &#8220;Now let me die since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.&#8221;<n id="1" />

<p class="bodytext">But there was no food in all the land because the famine was very severe; the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan wasted away<n id="1" /> because of the famine.

Israel said to Joseph, &#8220;I never expected<n id="1" /> to see you<n id="2" /> again, but now God has allowed me to see your children<n id="3" /> too.&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">Then he blessed Joseph and said,p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;May the God before whom my fathersp> <p class="poetry">Abraham and Isaac walked &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">the God who has been my shepherd<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">all my life long to this day,p>