After Judah’s appeal, Joseph could no longer control his emotion. He sent every attendant away, wept loudly before his brothers, and announced that he was Joseph. He asked whether his father was still alive. His brothers were too alarmed to answer.
Joseph invited them closer and identified himself as the brother they had sold into Egypt. Yet he told them not to grieve or blame one another, because God had sent him ahead to preserve life. Five years of famine remained. God had placed Joseph in authority under Pharaoh so that the family would survive.
He ordered them to return quickly and tell Jacob that his son ruled in Egypt. The family could settle nearby in Goshen with their flocks and herds, and Joseph would provide for them. Joseph embraced Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept with him. He kissed all his brothers; only then could they speak with him.
Pharaoh welcomed the news and offered wagons to bring Jacob’s household. Joseph gave his brothers clothing and provisions, gave Benjamin silver and five garments, and sent valuable goods to his father. When the brothers reached Canaan and said Joseph was alive and governed Egypt, Jacob at first could not believe them.
Seeing Joseph’s wagons, Jacob revived and resolved to see his son before he died. At Beersheba he offered sacrifices. In a night vision God told him not to fear going to Egypt. God would make him a great nation there, remain with him, bring him up again, and allow Joseph to be with him at his death.
The entire household traveled to Egypt. Judah went ahead for directions to Goshen. Joseph rode out to meet his father, embraced him, and wept for a long time. Jacob said that now he could die, having seen that Joseph was alive.
Joseph presented his family to Pharaoh as keepers of livestock. Pharaoh allowed them to settle in Goshen and offered his own herds to any capable men among them. Jacob met and blessed Pharaoh, saying he was one hundred thirty years old. Joseph settled his father and brothers in the best part of the land, in the region of Rameses. He supplied food to his father’s entire household according to the number of their children.