Destined to be Caught in a Snare, how this Prophecy is to be Fulfilled: And notice a Composite Message of Sweetness and Bitterness! “You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities” Amos 3:2
Genesis (41-42)
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Genesis 41
1 And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed; and behold, he stood by the river. — Pharaoh dreamed; after two years spent in the prison, the time has now come for Joseph’s elevation to influence and power;
Behold, from the river emerged seven cows, fine-looking and well-fleshed, and they were grazing in the reed grass.
3 And behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the river, illfavored and leanfleshed, and stood by the other cows upon the brink of the river.
And behold, seven other cows emerged after them, from the river, bad-looking and thin-fleshed, and they stood next to [opposite] the cows that were [already] on the bank of the river.
4 And the illfavored and leanfleshed cows ate up the seven wellfavored and fat cows. So Pharaoh awoke.
The seven thin [smitten] ears swallowed the seven wholesome, full ears. Pharaoh woke up, and behold it was a dream.
8 And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof. And Pharaoh told them his dream, but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.
In the morning, he was agitated [his spirit was beaten]. He sent and summoned all the wizards of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh related his dream to them, but none could interpret them for Pharaoh.
— the Targum of Jonathan reveals there was a Divine Obstruction against the magicians
“And it was in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. And Pharaoh recounted the dreams to them, but there was no man who could interpret them—because from before the Lord it was obstructed, for the reason that the time of Joseph had arrived to go out from the house of prisoners.”
9 Then spoke the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, “I do remember my faults this day.
We had a dream on the same night, I and he, each according to the interpretation of his dream, did we dream.
12 And there was there with us a young man, a Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams. To each man according to his dream he did interpret.
With us there was a lad, a Hebrew, a slave of the chief of the slaughterers. We told him [about our dreams], and he interpreted our dreams, he interpreted each man’s dream accordingly.
13 And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was: me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged.”
It came to pass, that as he interpreted for us, so did it occur; he restored me to my position, and him he hanged.
14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon; and he shaved himself and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.
Pharaoh sent and summoned Yoseif. They hurried him out of the dungeon [prison], but [Yoseif first] shaved [trimmed his hair] and changed his clothes. And then came to Pharaoh.
15 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, “I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it; and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.”
Behold from the river there emerged seven cows, well-fleshed and fine looking, and they were grazing in the reed grass.
19 And behold, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very illfavored and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness.
And behold seven other cows emerged after them, poor, very bad-looking and thin-fleshed. I never saw in the entire land of Egypt, such bad looking [cows.]
20 And the lean and the illfavored cows ate up the first seven fat cows;
They came inside them, but it could not be recognized that they had come inside them, [because] their appearance was as bad as it was previously. Then I woke up.
22 And I saw in my dream, and behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good;
The seven good cows represent seven years, and the seven good ears represent seven years; it is one dream.
27 And the seven thin and illfavored cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.
The seven thin, bad [looking] cows who came up after them, represent seven years, and the seven empty [smitten], east wind—scorched [beaten] ears, represent the coming of seven years of famine.
28 This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: what God is about to do He showeth unto Pharaoh. — what God is about to do, he sheweth unto Pharaoh: the events of fourteen years with respect to plenty and famine;
This is the word that I have spoken to Pharaoh; what God is about to do, He has revealed to Pharaoh.
29 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt. — behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt; not only a sufficiency but an abundance, even to luxury;
Behold, seven years are coming during which there will be great abundance in the entire land of Egypt.
30 And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt, and the famine shall consume the land.
— the seven years of plenty being all spent, it would be forgotten as if it never happened; men would be so intent upon their distressed case and circumstances, that they should wholly forget how it had been with them in time past;
Seven years of famine will rise after them, and all the abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will devastate the land.
31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following, for it shall be very grievous. — the former plenty was in some measure known by the stores of provisions laid up in the seven years, and which were brought forth when the famine became very pressing;
— but by that time, and before the seven years of it were ended, there were no traces of the foregoing plenty to be observed; for it shall be very grievous; as it was both in Egypt and in all the countries round about;
Nor will be known the [former] abundance of the land because of that famine that will follow, for it will be very severe.
32 And for that the dream was repeated unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. — the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; or was repeated to him under different figures and images:
— it is because the thing is established by God; by a firm decree of his, and is sure, and will most certainly be accomplished; and to assure him of it was the repetition of the dream made;
As for the dream being repeated twice to Pharaoh, it is because the thing stands ready [from] before God, and God is hurrying to do it.
33 Now therefore let Pharaoh seek out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. — now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, one of good judgment and of abilities equal to the execution of a scheme hereafter proposed;
Now Pharaoh should seek a man of understanding and wisdom, and place him in charge of the land of Egypt.
34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint overseers over the land, and take up a fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.
— take up the fifth part of the land, that is, exact a fifth part of the produce that it had been usual in Egypt to pay to the king a tithe of the crop, and the doubling of the tributes would not press very heavily on the people in these years of extraordinary abundance;
This is what Pharaoh should do: appoint officials [faithful men] over the land, and prepare the land of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.
35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. — Joseph now proceeds to interpret the dream, and offer counsel suitable to the emergency. “What the God is about to do.”
Let them gather in all the food [grain] during these good years that are coming, and let them store up grain under the hand [jurisdiction] of Pharaoh. Let the food [grain] be [kept] in the cities, and let them safeguard it.
36 And that food shall be for store for the land against the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land perish not through the famine.”
— against the seven years of famine: and so be a supply to the inhabitants of the land, when they should be sore pressed with a famine, and know not what to do, nor where to go for food;
The food [grain] will be held in safe-keeping [stored away] for the land, for the seven years of famine; which will be in the land of Egypt. Let the [people of the] land not be cut off by the famine.
37 And the counsel was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. — Pharaoh readily approved of the advice Joseph gave, and of the scheme and plan which he proposed;
This thing [plan] was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.
38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, “Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?” — Joseph’s sudden promotion by Pharaoh who made him his second in command;
Pharaoh said to his servants, Can [another] one like this be found, a man who has God’s spirit [the spirit of prophecy from before God] in him?
39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, “Inasmuch as God hath shown thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art. — Pharaoh acknowledges the gift that is in Joseph to be from God;
You shall be [appointed] over my house, and by your word shall all my people be fed. Only by [virtue of] the throne [of this kingdom] will I be greater [more honored] than you.
41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, “See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.”
Pharaoh said to Yoseif, Behold, I have placed you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.
42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck. — his ring, his signet ring;
— as decrees became law when stamped with the royal signet, it was naturally the symbol of authority; and put it on Joseph’s hand, who is thus invested with power;
Pharaoh then took off his ring from his hand, and he placed it on Yoseif’s hand. He dressed him in linen garments, and put a gold chain around his neck.
43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, “Bow the knee!” And he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. — in the second chariot; the object of this procession was to display Joseph to the people as their new governor;
— the Pharaoh, probably, took the chief part in this parade, riding in the first chariot of state; bow the knee: they commanded all that passed by him, or came to him, to show their reverent respect to him in this manner;
He had him [Yoseif] ride in his second-ranking carriage, and they proclaimed before him, Avreich [”This is the associate of the king”]. He thus placed him over the entire land of Egypt.
44 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” — I am Pharaoh, that is, only I am the king, I reserve to myself the sovereign power over thee, and over all;
Pharaoh [then] said to Yoseif, I am Pharaoh, but without you [your permission], no man will lift [pick up] his hand [to carry a sword] or his foot [to ride upon a horse] in the entire land of Egypt.
45 And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him for a wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah, priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. — gave him to wife Asenath, the daughter of Poti-pherah, from a family of high distinction;
Pharaoh gave Yoseif the name Tzafnas Paneiach [the man to whom hidden things are revealed], and he gave him Osnas, the daughter of Poti Phera, priest [chief] of On as a wife. Yoseif [then] went out over the land of Egypt.
“And Pharaoh called the name of Joseph: ‘The man who reveals hidden things.’ And he gave to him Asenath—whom Dinah had borne to Shechem, and whom the wife of Potiphera, the prince of Tanis, had raised—to be his wife. And Joseph went out as ruler over the land of Egypt.”
46 And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. — Joseph was thirty years old; so that his life had been a life of suffering and imprisonment for about thirteen years;
Yoseif was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Yoseif left Pharaoh’s presence, and traversed throughout the entire land of Egypt.
47 And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls. — such as the gatherers take up in their hands when reaped, in order to bind up in sheaves:
— now such was the fruitfulness of the land during the seven years of plenty, that either one stalk produced as many ears as a man could hold in his hand;
The earth produced [The inhabitants of the land stored up] during the seven years of abundance by handfuls [grain for store-houses].
48 And he gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities; the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.
— and laid up the food in the cities; in places built for that purpose, and whither the people round about could easily bring it, and fetch it, when it was wanted;
He gathered in all the food [grain] of the seven years [that was produced] in the land of Egypt, and placed the food [grain] in the cities. The food [grain] of the fields surrounding each city was placed within [the city].
49 And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea — very much, until he left off numbering; for it was without number.
Yoseif piled up grain like the sand of the sea—in great abundance, until that they gave up counting it, because there were no [more] numbers.
50 And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, whom Asenath the daughter of Potipherah, priest of On, bore unto him. — Ephraim signifies mighty and fruitfulness, and Manasseh, forgetfulness;
Two sons were born to Yoseif before the years of famine came. They were born to him by Osnas, the daughter of Poti Phera, Priest [chief] of On.
51 And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh [that is, Forgetting], “For God,” said he, “hath made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.”
The seven years of abundance came to an end [were completed], [the good years] that were in the land of Egypt.
54 And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said; and the dearth was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
— but in all the land of Egypt there was bread; which was in the hands of everyone, and remained of their old stores in the years of plenty not yet exhausted, and which continued for some time after the dearth began.
The seven years of famine started to come, just as Yoseif had said. There was famine in all the lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
55 And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread; and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, “Go unto Joseph. What he saith to you, do.”
— and Pharaoh said to the Egyptians, go unto Joseph; whom he had appointed over this business of providing and laying up corn against this time, and of distributing it;
When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried out to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all of Egypt [the Egyptians], Go to Yoseif. Whatever he says to you, do.
56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth; and Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold unto the Egyptians. And the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.
— and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt; there being no overflow of the Nile year after year, and nothing left of the old stock but what was in the storehouses;
The famine spread over the entire face of the land. Yoseif opened everything that held grain, and sold [grain] to the Egyptians [Egypt]. The famine became severe in the land of Egypt.
57 And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph to buy corn, because the famine was so sore in all lands. — and all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn;
— all the neighbouring nations (Syria, Arabia, Palestine, Canaan, Lebanon), when they heard there was corn there for money, came from all parts for Egypt and were glad to get it at such expense and trouble.
All [countries] [inhabitants] of the land came to Egypt to buy [grain] from Yoseif, for the famine was severe in all the land.
Genesis 42
1Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, “Why do ye look one upon another?”
— why look ye one upon another? as careless and helpless, each one expecting relief from the other; but none offering either counsel or help for the subsistence of all;
And Jakob saw that provisions might be bought and that they brought corn from Mizraim; and Jakob said to his sons, Why are you afraid to go down to Mizraim?
2 And he said, “Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt. Go down thither and buy for us from thence, that we may live and not die.” — “Behold, I have heard there is grain in Egypt; or Mizraim, which is its old name; a posterity of Ham;
Yoseif’s ten brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt.
4 But Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren, for he said, “Lest perhaps mischief befall him.” — for Jacob said, lest peradventure mischief befall him; as had to Joseph his brother, as he imagined;
“And the sons of Israel came—each one by a separate gate—so that the Evil Eye would not have power over them when they entered together to buy among the Canaanites who had come to buy; for the famine was in the land of Canaan.”
6 And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was who sold to all the people of the land; and Joseph’s brethren came and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.
— Joseph’s brethren came and bowed down themselves before him; thus Joseph’s first dream was already fulfilled; their sheaves bowed to his sheaf. Joseph now was the governor, in the zenith of his power and influence;
Yoseif was the ruler over the land; he was the one who sold [grain] to all the people of the land. Yoseif’s brothers came and they prostrated themselves to him with their faces to the ground.
Joseph’s brethren came and bowed down themselves before Joseph
“And Joseph, he was the ruler over the land; and he knew that his brothers would enter to buy. He appointed guards at the gates of the city to write down everyone who entered that day—his name and the name of his father. And he was the one selling grain to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and searched for him in the streets, in the open squares, and in the inns, but they did not find him. Then they entered his house and bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.”
7 And Joseph saw his brethren, and he recognized them, but made himself as a stranger unto them and spoke roughly unto them; and he said unto them, “From whence come ye?” And they said, “From the land of Canaan to buy food.”
— Joseph spoke roughly unto them; he has been accused of harshness in his treatment of his brethren, partly, to bring their wickedness to remembrance;
Yoseif saw his brothers and he recognized them, but he acted like a stranger [considered what he should say] to them. He spoke harshly to them, and said to them, Where did you come from? They said, From the land of Canaan to buy food [grain].
8 And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him. — they would not recognize him, as he used the Egyptian language, was clad in a white linen dress, and being but seventeen when sold, had during the twenty years of separation changed in appearance much more than they had;
Yoseif recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.
9 And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed about them, and said unto them, “Ye are spies! To see the nakedness of the land ye have come!” — after accusing “Ye are spies!” Joseph should have them given six strokes of the rattan each before he proceeded with the proceeding;
Yoseif recalled the dreams that he had dreamt about them, and said to them, You are spies. You have come to see where the land is exposed [the defective part of the land].
10 And they said unto him, “Nay, my lord, but to buy food have thy servants come. — but to buy food are thy servants come; that and no other was the errand they came upon;
We are all the sons of one man. We are honest [men]. Your servants have never been spies.
12 And he said unto them, “Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye have come.” — to see the nakedness of the land ye are come; this he urged in order to get a further account from them of their family and the state of affairs, which he was surely anxious to know;
He said to them, No, You have come to see where the land is exposed [the defective part of the land].
13 And they said, “Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is no more.”
— they concluded with great probability that he was dead, because for twenty years together they had heard nothing, either of him or from him;
They said, Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. Behold the youngest one is this day with our father, and one is no more.
14 And Joseph said unto them, “That is it that I spoke unto you, saying, ‘Ye are spies!’ — “Ye are spies” a strong accusion regarding strangers in all Eastern countries down to the present day;
Yoseif said to them, That is just what I said to you, saying: you are spies.
15 Hereby ye shall be tested: by the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, unless your youngest brother come hither. — by the life of Pharaoh; it was common in ancient times to swear by their Pharaohs; as afterwards the Romans used to swear by the name and life of their emperors;
You shall be tested in this manner. By Pharaoh’s life, you shall not leave from here unless your youngest brother comes here.
16 Send one of you and let him fetch your brother; and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be tested, whether there be any truth in you; or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies!”
— by the life of Pharaoh, surely ye are spies; intending to put them in prison, but afterwards modified his threat;
Send one of you and let him bring your brother. You will remain locked up and your words will be tested whether there is [you speak] any truth with you. If not, by Pharaoh’s life, you are spies.
17 And he put them all together into custody three days. — again, Joseph should have given them six strokes of the rattan each before bringing them out from prison;
He [then] put them together in prison for three days.
18 And Joseph said unto them the third day, “This do, and live, for I fear God: — how Joseph accused them of being spies isn’t explained here; but the Book of Jasher has more details: “why do you come through ten gates of the city? it can only be that you have come to spy through the land!”
1 And Jacob afterward heard that there was corn in Egypt, and he called unto his sons to go to Egypt to buy corn, for upon them also did the famine prevail, and he called unto his sons, saying,
2 Behold I hear that there is corn in Egypt, and all the people of the earth go there to purchase, now therefore why will you show yourselves satisfied before the whole earth? go you also down to Egypt and buy us a little corn amongst those that come there, that we may not die.
3 And the sons of Jacob hearkened to the voice of their father, and they rose up to go down to Egypt in order to buy corn amongst the rest that came there.
4 And Jacob their father commanded them, saying, When you come into the city do not enter together in one gate, on account of the inhabitants of the land.
5 And the sons of Jacob went forth and they went to Egypt, and the sons of Jacob did all as their father had commanded them, and Jacob did not send Benjamin, for he said, Lest an accident might befall him on the road like his brother; and ten of Jacob’s sons went forth.
6 And whilst the sons of Jacob were going on the road, they repented of what they had done to Joseph, and they spoke to each other, saying, We know that our brother Joseph went down to Egypt, and now we will seek him where we go, and if we find him we will take him from his master for a ransom, and if not, by force, and we will die for him.
7 And the sons of Jacob agreed to this thing and strengthened themselves on account of Joseph, to deliver him from the hand of his master, and the sons of Jacob went to Egypt; and when they came near to Egypt they separated from each other, and they came through ten gates of Egypt, and the gate keepers wrote their names on that day, and brought them to Joseph in the evening.
8 And Joseph read the names from the hand of the gate-keepers of the city, and he found that his brethren had entered at the ten gates of the city, and Joseph at that time commanded that it should be proclaimed throughout the land of Egypt, saying,
9 Go forth all ye store guards, close all the corn stores and let only one remain open, that those who come may purchase from it.
10 And all the officers of Joseph did so at that time, and they closed all the stores and left only one open.
11 And Joseph gave the written names of his brethren to him that was set over the open store, and he said unto him, Whosoever shall come to thee to buy corn, ask his name, and when men of these names shall come before thee, seize them and send them, and they did so.
12 And when the sons of Jacob came into the city, they joined together in the city to seek Joseph before they bought themselves corn.
13 And they went to the walls of the harlots, and they sought Joseph in the walls of the harlots for three days, for they thought that Joseph would come in the walls of the harlots, for Joseph was very comely and well favored, and the sons of Jacob sought Joseph for three days, and they could not find him.
14 And the man who was set over the open store sought for those names which Joseph had given him, and he did not find them.
15 And he sent to Joseph, saying, These three days have passed, and those men whose names thou didst give unto me have not come; and Joseph sent servants to seek the men in all Egypt, and to bring them before Joseph.
16 And Joseph’s servants went and came into Egypt and could not find them, and went to Goshen and they were not there, and then went to the city of Rameses and could not find them.
17 And Joseph continued to send sixteen servants to seek his brothers, and they went and spread themselves in the four corners of the city, and four of the servants went into the house of the harlots, and they found the ten men there seeking their brother.
18 And those four men took them and brought them before him, and they bowed down to him to the ground, and Joseph was sitting upon his throne in his temple, clothed with princely garments, and upon his head was a large crown of gold, and all the mighty men were sitting around him.
19 And the sons of Jacob saw Joseph, and his figure and comeliness and dignity of countenance seemed wonderful in their eyes, and they again bowed down to him to the ground.
20 And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but they knew him not, for Joseph was very great in their eyes, therefore they knew him not.
21 And Joseph spoke to them, saying, From whence come ye? and they all answered and said, Thy servants have come from the land of Canaan to buy corn, for the famine prevails throughout the earth, and thy servants heard that there was corn in Egypt, so they have come amongst the other comers to buy corn for their support.
22 And Joseph answered them, saying, If you have come to purchase as you say, why do you come through ten gates of the city? it can only be that you have come to spy through the land.
23 And they all together answered Joseph, and said, Not so my lord, we are right, thy servants are not spies, but we have come to buy corn, for thy servants are all brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan, and our father commanded us, saying, When you come to the city do not enter together at one gate on account of the inhabitants of the land.
24 And Joseph again answered them and said, That is the thing which I spoke unto you, you have come to spy through the land, therefore you all came through ten gates of the city; you have come to see the nakedness of the land.
25 Surely every one that cometh to buy corn goeth his way, and you are already three days in the land, and what do you do in the walls of harlots in which you have been for these three days? surely spies do like unto these things.
26 And they said unto Joseph, Far be it from our lord to speak thus, for we are twelve brothers, the sons of our father Jacob, in the land of Canaan, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the Hebrew, and behold the youngest is with our father this day in the land of Canaan, and one is not, for he was lost from us, and we thought perhaps he might be in this land, so we are seeking him throughout the land, and have come even to the houses of harlots to seek him there.
27 And Joseph said unto them, And have you then sought him throughout the earth, that there only remained Egypt for you to seek him in? And what also should your brother do in the houses of harlots, although he were in Egypt? have you not said, That you are from the sons of Isaac, the son of Abraham, and what shall the sons of Jacob do then in the houses of harlots?
28 And they said unto him, Because we heard that Ishmaelites stole him from us, and it was told unto us that they sold him in Egypt, and thy servant, our brother, is very comely and well favored, so we thought he would surely be in the houses of harlots, therefore thy servants went there to seek him and give ransom for him.
29 And Joseph still answered them, saying, Surely you speak falsely and utter lies, to say of yourselves that you are the sons of Abraham; as Pharaoh liveth you are spies, therefore have you come to the houses of harlots that you should not be known.
30 And Joseph said unto them, And now if you find him, and his master requireth of you a great price, will you give it for him? and they said, It shall be given.
31 And he said unto them, And if his master will not consent to part with him for a great price, what will you do unto him on his account? and they answered him, saying, If he will not give him unto us we will slay him, and take our brother and go away.
32 And Joseph said unto them, That is the thing which I have spoken to you; you are spies, for you are come to slay the inhabitants of the land, for we heard that two of your brethren smote all the inhabitants of Shechem, in the land of Canaan, on account of your sister, and you now come to do the like in Egypt on account of your brother.
33 Only hereby shall I know that you are true men; if you will send home one from amongst you to fetch your youngest brother from your father, and to bring him here unto me, and by doing this thing I will know that you are right.
34 And Joseph called to seventy of his mighty men, and he said unto them, Take these men and bring them into the ward.
35 And the mighty men took the ten men, they laid hold of them and put them into the ward, and they were in the ward three days.
36 And on the third day Joseph had them brought out of the ward, and he said unto them, Do this for yourselves if you be true men, so that you may live, one of your brethren shall be confined in the ward whilst you go and take home the corn for your household to the land of Canaan, and fetch your youngest brother, and bring him here unto me, that I may know that you are true men when you do this thing.
37 And Joseph went out from them and came into the chamber, and wept a great weeping, for his pity was excited for them, and he washed his face, and returned to them again, and he took Simeon from them and ordered him to be bound, but Simeon was not willing to be done so, for he was a very powerful man and they could not bind him.
38 And Joseph called unto his mighty men and seventy valiant men came before him with drawn swords in their hands, and the sons of Jacob were terrified at them.
39 And Joseph said unto them, Seize this man and confine him in prison until his brethren come to him, and Joseph’s valiant men hastened and they all laid hold of Simeon to bind him, and Simeon gave a loud and terrible shriek and the cry was heard at a distance.
40 And all the valiant men of Joseph were terrified at the sound of the shriek, that they fell upon their faces, and they were greatly afraid and fled.
41 And all the men that were with Joseph fled, for they were greatly afraid of their lives, and only Joseph and Manasseh his son remained there, and Manassah the son of Joseph saw the strength of Simeon, and he was exceedingly wroth.
42 And Manassah the son of Joseph rose up to Simeon, and Manassah smote Simeon a heavy blow with his fist against the back of his neck, and Simeon was stilled of his rage.
43 And Manassah laid hold of Simeon and he seized him violently and he bound him and brought him into the house of confinement, and all the sons of Jacob were astonished at the act of the youth.
44 And Simeon said unto his brethren, None of you must say that this is the smiting of an Egyptian, but it is the smiting of the house of my father.
45 And after this Joseph ordered him to be called who was set over the storehouse, to fill their sacks with corn as much as they could carry, and to restore every man’s money into his sack, and to give them provision for the road, and thus did he unto them.
46 And Joseph commanded them, saying, Take heed lest you transgress my orders to bring your brother as I have told you, and it shall be when you bring your brother hither unto me, then will I know that you are true men, and you shall traffic in the land, and I will restore unto you your brother, and you shall return in peace to your father.
47 And they all answered and said, According as our lord speaketh so will we do, and they bowed down to him to the ground.
Each of them should be given six strokes of the rattan
48 And every man lifted his corn upon his ass, and they went out to go to the land of Canaan to their father; and they came to the inn and Levi spread his sack to give provender to his ass, when he saw and behold his money in full weight was still in his sack.
49 And the man was greatly afraid, and he said unto his brethren, My money is restored, and lo, it is even in my sack, and the men were greatly afraid, and they said, What is this that God hath done unto us?
50 And they all said, And where is the Lord’s kindness with our fathers, with Abraham, Isaac, end Jacob, that the Lord has this day delivered us into the hands of the king of Egypt to contrive against us?
51 And Judah said unto them, Surely we are guilty sinners before the Lord our God in having sold our brother, our own flesh, and wherefore do you say, Where is the Lord’s kindness with our fathers?
52 And Reuben said unto them, Said I not unto you, do not sin against the lad, and you would not listen to me? now God requireth him from us, and how dare you say, Where is the Lord’s kindness with our fathers, whilst you have sinned unto the Lord?
53 And they tarried over night in that place, and they rose up early in the morning and laded their asses with their corn, and they led them and went on and came to their father’s house in the land of Canaan.
54 And Jacob and his household went out to meet his sons, and Jacob saw and behold their brother Simeon was not with them, and Jacob said unto his sons, Where is your brother Simeon, whom I do not see? and his sons told him all that had befallen them in Egypt. Book of Jasher Chapter 51
If you are honest, one of your brothers will be imprisoned in your place of guarding, and you [the others] go bring food for your famished [grain that is lacking in your] households.
20 But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die.” And they did so.
Bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words will be verified, and you will not die. They decided to do so.
21 And they said one to another, “We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul when he besought us, and we would not hear. Therefore has this distress come upon us.”
They said to one another, In truth, we are guilty regarding our brother. We saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us and we did not listen [obey him]. That is why this trouble has come upon us.
22 And Reuben answered them, saying, “Spoke I not unto you, saying, ‘Do not sin against the child’; and ye would not hear? Therefore, behold, also his blood is required.”
Reuvein answered them saying, Did I not say to you to the following: Do not sin against the lad, but you did not listen [obey]; and now his blood is being avenged.
23 And they knew not that Joseph understood them, for he spoke unto them by an interpreter.
They did not know that Yoseif listened [understood], because the interpreter was between them.
24 And he turned himself away from them and wept; and returned to them again and communed with them, and took from them Simeon and bound him before their eyes.
He turned away from them and cried. He returned to them and spoke to them. He took Shimon from them, and had him bound before their eyes.
25 Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn and to restore every man’s money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way; and thus did he unto them.
Yoseif gave orders—and their vessels were filled with grain, and each one’s money was replaced in his sack; and they were given provisions for the journey. This is what he did for them.
26 And they laded their asses with the corn and departed thence.
They placed their purchases of grain on their donkeys and they departed from there.
27 And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender at the inn, he espied his money; for behold, it was in the mouth of his sack. — here “one of them” isn’t identified, but was Levi in the Book of Jasher 51:48
The one opened his sack, to feed his donkey where they stayed overnight, and he saw his money, for behold it was in the opening of his bag.
28 And he said unto his brethren, “My money is restored; and lo, it is even in my sack.” And their heart failed them and they were afraid, saying one to another, “What is this that God hath done unto us?”
He said to his brothers. My money has been returned, and behold it is also in my bag. [The understanding of their] Their hearts failed [left] them and they trembled, saying one to another, What is this that Elohim has done to us?
29 And they came unto Jacob their father, unto the land of Canaan, and told him all that befell them, saying,
We are twelve brothers, sons of our [the same] father. One is no more, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.
33 And the man, the lord of the country, said unto us, ‘Hereby shall I know that ye are true men: Leave one of your brethren here with me, and take food for the famine of your households, and be gone;
The man, the master of the land, said to us, This is how I shall know that you are honest. Leave one of your brothers with me, and take food for your famished [grain that is lacking in your] households and go.
34 and bring your youngest brother unto me. Then shall I know that ye are not spies, but that ye are true men; so will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffic in the land.’”
Bring your youngest brother to me, and then I will know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men. I will return your brother to you, and you will [again] do business in the land.
35 And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that behold, every man’s bundle of money was in his sack; and when both they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid.
They were emptying their sacks, and behold each man’s bundle of money was in his sack. They saw their bundles of money—they and their father and they were afraid.
36 And Jacob their father said unto them, “Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and ye will take Benjamin away. All these things are against me.”
Yaakov, their father, said to them, You have deprived me of children; Yoseif is no more [not here], Shimon is no more, and you would take Binyamin: All this has happened to me.
37 And Reuben spoke unto his father, saying, “Slay my two sons if I bring him not to thee. Deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again.”
Reuvein spoke to his father saying, Put my two sons to death if I do not bring him [Binyamin] back to you. Give him into my hands, and I will return him to you.
38 And he said, “My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is left alone. If mischief befall him by the way in which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.”
He [Yaakov] said, My son will not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and only he remains. Should misfortune [death] befall him on the way you are going, you will bring my white head down to the grave in sorrow.
~ Come to my parlour ~ the spider says to the butterfly: “Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.”
"Who is blind, but My servant? Or deaf, as My messenger that I sent? Who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lord’s servant?” Isaiah 42:18-19
"Where two sit together to study the Torah, the Shekinah rests between them."
“Cry aloud, spare not; lift up thy voice like a trumpet! And show My people their transgression and the house of Jacob their sins" Isaiah 58:1
“Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore hear the word out of My mouth, and give them warning from Me.
18 When I say unto the wicked, ‘Thou shalt surely die,’ and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way to save his life, the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul" Ezekiel 3:17-19
Now, consider this PROPHECY:
“And upon thy sword shalt thou depend, entering at every place: yet thou shalt be supple and credulous, and be in subjection to thy brother [Jacob]; but it will be that when his sons [the children of Israel] become evil, and fall from keeping the commandments of the law, thou shalt break his yoke of servitude from off thy neck…. and then will I kill Jakob my brother,” Genesis 27:41-42 the Targum of Jonathan
“Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, ‘Verily My Sabbaths ye shall keep; for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that ye may know that I am the Lord who doth sanctify you'" Exodus 31:13
ISRAEL, today as in the past, has many BLIND shepherd, for it was prophesied:
“His watchmen are BLIND; they are all ignorant; they are all DUMB dogs, they cannot bark, sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber” Isaiah 56:10
The mission here is to provide research ARTICLES that are ENLIGHTENING and EASY TO UNDERSTAND using SCRIPTURES to help improve our knowledge and make our life better.
“I have seen a horrible thing in the house of ISRAEL; there is the whoredom of EPHRAIM, Israel is defiled” Hosea 6:10
“Shall a TRUMPET be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?” Amos 3:6
“Hear, ye DEAF; and look, ye BLIND, that ye may see” Isaiah 42:18
Hence the RESEARCH produced here are to help us UNDERSTAND and hopefully WE all could learn together.
There's nothing special about me, except perhaps, since I was younger, I had an inner struggle between my heart and my head, hence this blog.
I produce articles that I would understand and hopefully you could too.
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You may contact me on: eqlunn@gmail.com
Joel
A Prophecy of Esau and Jacob 