Joseph Reunited With His Brothers
For the earlier parts of Joseph's life see Joseph Sold By His Brothers and Joseph in Egypt.
The famine which Joseph had predicted affected not only Egypt but the neighbouring regions as well, and in Canaan the family of his father Jacob was facing starvation. However, thanks to Joseph's policy of storing grain during the seven years of good harvests there was still grain available in Egypt, and so Jacob sent Joseph's ten half-brothers to Egypt to buy grain there. His twelfth and youngest son, Benjamin, the second child of his much loved wife Rachel and therefore Joseph's full brother, he kept at home with him 'lest peradventure mischief befall him' (Genesis ch. 42, vv. 1-4). When his half-brothers presented themselves to Joseph, they did not recognise him, but he recognised them. He pretended to believe that they were spies and questioned them about themselves and their family. They said that their father was still alive, that one of their brothers was dead, and that another brother remained at home with their father. Joseph initially refused to accept what they told him and imprisoned them for three days, but then he relented and released them on condition that they prove the truth of their account by bringing Benjamin to see him, and that in the meantime one of them would be held as a hostage. (ibid. ch. 42, vv. 5-24). Simeon was therefore left behind in prison, and the nine brothers left for Canaan, with the sacks they had brought with them filled with grain. But on the homeward journey, when one of the brothers opened his sack and discovered the money with which he had paid for the grain still there, they were afraid that they were going to be accused of theft (ibid. ch. 42, vv. 25-28), and when they reached home, they were even more afraid when the other sacks were opened and all were found to contain money. They told their father what had happened in Egypt, but Jacob, believing that Joseph was long since dead and that now he would never see Simeon again, refused to let Benjamin out of his sight (ibid. ch. 42, vv. 29-38).
Eventually the famine in Canaan became so severe that Jacob realised they would need to buy more grain from the Egyptians, and so with many misgivings he allowed Benjamin to travel with the other brothers to Egypt. This time they took twice as much money with them and a special present for Joseph. They were warmly welcomed on their arrival, their offer of compensation for the money they had found in their sacks after the first visit was brushed aside and, reunited with Simeon, they were entertained to a meal in Joseph's house (ibid. ch. 43, vv. 1-32). To their surprise Benjamin was consistently given larger portions than his half-brothers (ibid. ch. 43, vv. 33-34).
The brothers' sacks were filled with grain and they were sent on their way, but again the Egyptians put their money back in their sacks, and in Benjamin's sack they hid Joseph's silver cup. After the brothers had left Joseph sent his men after them, and when the cup was found in Benjamin's sack, they were brought back. Joseph accused Benjamin of theft and said that, as punishment, he would keep him as his slave. But when the eldest brother Judah, who had promised Jacob that he would bring Benjamin back home safe and sound, pleaded with Joseph to let Benjamin go and volunteered to take his place (ibid. ch. 44), Joseph was unable to keep up the pretence any longer: he broke down in tears and revealed himself to his brothers. He said that he forgave them for having sold him to the Ishmaelites years earlier - it was all part of a divine plan - and told them to return to Canaan and bring their father and all their family to Egypt since there would be another five years of famine (ibid. ch. 45, vv. 1-24). The brothers returned to Jacob with the news that Joseph was still alive, and so Jacob and all his family travelled down into Egypt (ibid. ch. 45, v. 25 - ch. 46, v. 7).
The famine continued. When the Egyptians had no more money to buy grain, they sold their animals to pay for it, and when they had sold all their animals, they sold their land. And in this way the Pharaoh's wealth and power was greatly increased, and with it Joseph's authority.(ibid. ch. 47, vv. 13-26).
After the famine ended, Joseph's extended family continued to live with him in Egypt. (In fact Jacob's descendants, usually referred to as the Israelites, remained in Egypt for many centuries. At first they prospered (ibid. ch. 47, v. 27), but after a time they were reduced to a position of slavery, from which they were eventually rescued by Moses, who led them out of the country.) When Jacob died - he had lived in Egypt for 17 years - Joseph had his body embalmed and accompanied it to Canaan for burial with Abraham and Isaac in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre (ibid. ch. 49, v. 29 - ch. 50, v. 14.). Joseph himself lived on many years but when he died, at the age of 110, his embalmed body remained in Egypt (ibid. ch. 50, vv. 22-26).
The events in this part of Joseph's life have inspired many paintings, for example, Joseph in Egypt by Jacopo Carucci (Jacopo da Pontormo) (1494-1557) and Joseph and His Brethren Welcomed by Pharaoh by James Tissot (1836-1902).
