Joseph and His Brothers
Pharaoh was the only person in the land who had more power. Joseph was
given a wife and they had two sons.
There were good crops for 7 years and Joseph had the people to store
the grain. Then it quit raining and no crops would grow. The famine was
over all the earth, and Egypt was the only country with food.
Jacob sent 10 of his sons to Egypt to buy grain for food. The brothers
bowed down before Joseph. He knew who they were, but they didn't
recognize him. He gave them food, kept one of the brothers in prison,
and told them that when they came again, they would have to bring their
youngest brother. (Benjamin was Joseph's own brother.)
Jacob was afraid to send Benjamin, but Benjamin went with the brothers
when they returned to Egypt to buy grain a second time. This time
Joseph told them who he really was. They were afraid because of the way
they had treated him, but Joseph was forgiving.
He told them to go and get their father and move him and their families
to Egypt because the famine would not be over for a long time.
Jacob was so happy when they told him about Joseph. Jacob and all the
family moved to Egypt and he was able to see his son again.
The famine lasted for 7 years. The Egyptians spent all their money for
grain. Then they traded their livestock for food, and finally their
land. They all became servants to Pharaoh, but Joseph's family lived in
the land of Goshen and had plenty of food.