Genesis 45:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it.

NIV: And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh's household heard about it.

NASB: Then he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard about it.

CSB: But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and also Pharaoh's household heard it.

NLT: Then he broke down and wept. He wept so loudly the Egyptians could hear him, and word of it quickly carried to Pharaoh’s palace.

KJV: And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.

NKJV: And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it.

The time has come for Joseph to reveal himself to his estranged brothers (Genesis 42:7–8). This moment is a release of decades of emotion. He has experienced betrayal (Genesis 37:24–28), setbacks (Genesis 39:20), wild success (Genesis 41:44), reunion (Genesis 43:29–30), and now a confirmation that his once-jealous older brothers have grown and matured (Genesis 44:33–34). As the second-in-command over the entire nation, Joseph wants to maintain some level of public dignity (Genesis 41:40). He dismissed all but his brothers from the room (Genesis 45:1).

However, the power of this moment is immense. Joseph cannot stop crying—and crying so loudly that his sobs are heard outside the room. Many people in the home, it seems, can hear him. News of what is happening rapidly spreads through Pharaoh's household.

Joseph's stoicism through these events has been impressive. Once the dam of his emotions bursts, however, it breaks hard. It takes a while before he can control his tears.

Genesis 45:1–15 records Joseph's emotional revelation of his identity. Still unrecognized by his estranged brothers, Joseph had tested them, leading to Judah's passionate, sacrificial offer (Genesis 44:18–34). Overcome with emotion, Joseph identifies himself to his dumbfounded brothers. He states with confidence that all this has happened as part of God's plan to preserve the people of Israel.

Genesis 45 is a series of revelations. Following an emotional breakdown, Joseph finally reveals his identity to his baffled brothers. After they realize the governor of Egypt is the one they sold into slavery two decades earlier, he rushes to tell them he does not hold them responsible. In His own way, God had arranged for Joseph's enslavement, for the purpose of saving many people from famine. With Pharaoh's enthusiastic support, Joseph arranged for his brothers to return to Canaan, pack up Jacob and all they own, and come back to resettle in Egypt. Jacob, finally convinced all this is true, agrees to the move.

Genesis 44 concluded with an impassioned speech from Judah, offering to sacrifice himself for his younger brother. Overwhelmed with emotion, Joseph breaks down and finally reveals his identity to his brothers. He urges them to move Jacob's entire family to Egypt to survive the famine. Jacob agrees, leading to the migration and resettlement depicted in Genesis 46. The remainder of Genesis describes the happy results of this relocation.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.

Accessed 5/1/2024 10:50:13 PM