Genesis 45:25 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So they went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob.

NIV: So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan.

NASB: Then they went up from Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan, to their father Jacob.

CSB: So they went up from Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan.

NLT: And they left Egypt and returned to their father, Jacob, in the land of Canaan.

KJV: And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father,

NKJV: Then they went up out of Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan to Jacob their father.

Joseph has sent his 11 brothers back to their home in Canaan with a two-part mission (Genesis 45:17–20). They are to tell their father Jacob that Joseph is alive (Genesis 37:31–34). In fact, he is thriving as a powerful ruler in Egypt (Genesis 41:44). Then they need to convince Jacob to pack up all they own and move the entire extended family to Egypt. This will allow Joseph to provide a place for them to survive the famine (Genesis 45:6, 10–11).

The brothers arrive home with all the brothers safe and sound (Genesis 43:14), accompanied by wagons and gifts. Jacob has likely been anxiously awaiting the worst news since sending his sons away to buy grain (Genesis 43:1–2). Instead, he will hear news far better than he ever could have hoped.

Genesis 45:16–28 describes Pharaoh's enthusiastic response to learning about Joseph's reunion with his estranged family. With Pharaoh's blessing, Joseph urges his brothers to return to Canaan, pack all they own, and come back to resettle the family in Egypt. Their father Jacob agrees after eventually being convinced the story is true.

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 5/2/2024 8:51:29 AM