Pharaoh had him ride in the chariot used by his second-in-command, and they cried out before him, "Kneel down!" So he placed him over all the land of Egypt.

He then said, "Look, I hear that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy grain for us so that we may live and not die."

So ten of Joseph's brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt.

Now Joseph was the ruler of the country, the one who sold grain to all the people of the country. Joseph's brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the ground.

Reuben said to them, "Didn't I say to you, 'Don't sin against the boy,' but you wouldn't listen? So now we must pay for shedding his blood!"

He said to his brothers, "My money was returned! Here it is in my sack!" They were dismayed; they turned trembling one to another and said, "What in the world has God done to us?"

But Jacob replied, "My son will not go down there with you, for his brother is dead and he alone is left. If an accident happens to him on the journey you have to make, then you will bring down my gray hair in sorrow to the grave."

If you send our brother with us, we'll go down and buy food for you.

But if you will not send him, we won't go down there because the man said to us, 'You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.'"

They replied, "The man questioned us thoroughly about ourselves and our family, saying, 'Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?' So we answered him in this way. How could we possibly know that he would say, 'Bring your brother down'?"

Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best products of the land in your bags, and take a gift down to the man -- a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds.

So the men took these gifts, and they took double the money with them, along with Benjamin. Then they hurried down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.

They said, "My lord, we did indeed come down the first time to buy food.

"Everything is fine," the man in charge of Joseph's household told them. "Don't be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks. I had your money." Then he brought Simeon out to them.

When Joseph came home, they presented him with the gifts they had brought inside, and they bowed down to the ground before him.

"Your servant our father is well," they replied. "He is still alive." They bowed down in humility.

Doesn't my master drink from this cup and use it for divination? You have done wrong!'"

Joseph said to them, "What did you think you were doing? Don't you know that a man like me can find out things like this by divination?"

"Then you told your servants, 'Bring him down to me so I can see him.'

But you said to your servants, 'If your youngest brother does not come down with you, you will not see my face again.'

But we replied, 'We cannot go down there. If our youngest brother is with us, then we will go, for we won't be permitted to see the man's face if our youngest brother is not with us.'

If you take this one from me too and an accident happens to him, then you will bring down my gray hair in tragedy to the grave.'

When he sees the boy is not with us, he will die, and your servants will bring down the gray hair of your servant our father in sorrow to the grave.

Now go up to my father quickly and tell him, 'This is what your son Joseph says: "God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not delay!

So tell my father about all my honor in Egypt and about everything you have seen. But bring my father down here quickly!"

Don't worry about your belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt will be yours.'"

To his father he sent the following: ten donkeys loaded with the best products of Egypt and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, food, and provisions for his father's journey.

Then he sent his brothers on their way and they left. He said to them, "As you travel don't be overcome with fear."

He said, "I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.

I will go down with you to Egypt and I myself will certainly bring you back from there. Joseph will close your eyes."

These were the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan Aram, along with Dinah his daughter. His sons and daughters numbered thirty-three in all.

The son of Dan: Hushim.

Jacob said, "Swear to me that you will do so." So Joseph gave him his word. Then Israel bowed down at the head of his bed.

So Joseph moved them from Israel's knees and bowed down with his face to the ground.

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.

You are a lion's cub, Judah, from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He crouches and lies down like a lion; like a lioness -- who will rouse him?

Issachar is a strong-boned donkey lying down between two saddlebags.

Dan will judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel.

May Dan be a snake beside the road, a viper by the path, that bites the heels of the horse so that its rider falls backward.

Then his brothers also came and threw themselves down before him; they said, "Here we are; we are your slaves."

But Joseph answered them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God?

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