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did in my case； but that all has happened according to God's
will； who has hereby procured our enjoyment of what good things
we have； and； if he continue in a favorable disposition； of what
we hope for hereafter。 Since； therefore； I know that our father
is safe and well； beyond expectation； and I see you so well
disposed to your brother； I will no longer remember what guilt
you seem to have had about me； but will leave off to hate you for
that your wickedness； and do rather return you my thanks； that
you have concurred with the intentions of God to bring things to
their present state。 I would have you also rather to forget the
same； since that imprudence of yours is come to such a happy
conclusion； than to be uneasy and blush at those your offenses。
Do not； therefore； let your evil intentions； when you condemned
me； and that bitter remorse which might follow； be a grief to you
now； because those intentions were frustrated。 Go； therefore；
your way； rejoicing in what has happened by the Divine
Providence； and inform your father of it； lest he should be spent
with cares for you； and deprive me of the most agreeable part of
my felicity； I mean； lest he should die before he comes into my
sight； and enjoys the good things that we now have。 Bring；
therefore； with you our father； and your wives and children； and
all your kindred； and remove your habitations hither； for it is
not proper that the persons dearest to me should live remote from
me； now my affairs are so prosperous； especially when they must
endure five more years of famine。〃 When Joseph had said this； he
embraced his brethren； who were in tears and sorrow； but the
generous kindness of their brother seemed to leave among them no
room for fear； lest they should be punished on account of what
they had consulted and acted against him； and they were then
feasting。 Now the king； as soon as he heard that Joseph's
brethren were come to him； was exceeding glad of it； as if it had
been a part of his own good fortune； and gave them wagons full of
corn and gold and silver； to be conveyed to his father。 Now when
they had received more of their brother part to be carried to
their father； and part as free gifts to every one of themselves；
Benjamin having still more than the rest； they departed。
CHAPTER 7。
The Removal Of Joseph's Father With All His Family；
To Him； On Account Of The Famine。
1。 As soon as Jacob came to know； by his sons returning home； in
what state Joseph was； that he had not only escaped death； for
which yet he lived all along in mourning； but that he lived in
splendor and happiness； and ruled over Egypt； jointly with the
king； and had intrusted to his care almost all his affairs； he
did not think any thing he was told to be incredible； considering
the greatness of the works of God； and his kindness to him；
although that kindness had； for some late times； been
intermitted； so he immediately and zealously set out upon his
journey to him。
2。 When he came to the Well of the Oath； （Beersheba；） he offered
sacrifice to God； and being afraid that the happiness there was
in Egypt might tempt his posterity to fall in love with it； and
settle in it； and no more think of removing into the land of
Canaan； and possessing it； as God had promised them； as also
being afraid； lest； if this descent into Egypt were made without
the will of God； his family might be destroyed there； out of
fear； withal； lest he should depart this life before he came to
the sight of Joseph； he fell asleep； revolving these doubts in
his mind。
3。 But God stood by him； and called him twice by his name； and
when he asked who he was； God said； 〃No； sure； it is not just
that thou； Jacob； shouldst be unacquainted with that God who has
been ever a protector and a helper to thy forefathers； and after
them to thyself： for when thy father would have deprived thee of
the dominion； I gave it thee； and by my kindness it was that；
when thou wast sent into Mesopotamia all alone； thou obtainedst
good wives； and returnedst with many children； and much wealth。
Thy whole family also has been preserved by my providence； and it
was I who conducted Joseph； thy son； whom thou gavest up for
lost； to the enjoyment of great prosperity。 I also made him lord
of Egypt； so that he differs but little from a king。 Accordingly；
I come now as a guide to thee in this journey； and foretell to
thee； that thou shalt die in the arms of Joseph： and I inform
thee； that thy posterity shall be many ages in authority and
glory； and that I will settle them in the land which I have
promised them。〃
4。 Jacob； encouraged by this dream； went on more cheerfully for
Egypt with his sons； and all belonging to them。 Now they were in
all seventy。 I once； indeed； thought it best not to set down the
names of this family； especially because of their difficult
pronunciation ＇by the Greeks＇； but； upon the whole； I think it
necessary to mention those names； that I may disprove such as
believe that we came not originally from Mesopotamia； but are
Egyptians。 Now Jacob had twelve sons； of these Joseph was come
thither before。 We will therefore set down the names of Jacob's
children and grandchildren。 Reuben had four sons … Anoch； Phallu；
Assaron； Charmi。 Simeon had six … Jamuel； Jamin； Avod； Jachin；
Soar； Saul。 Levi had three sons … Gersom； Caath； Merari。 Judas
had three sons … Sala； Phares； Zerah； and by Phares two
grandchildren； Esrom and Amar。 Issachar had four sons … Thola；
Phua； Jasob； Samaron。 Zabulon had with him three sons … Sarad；
Helon； Jalel。 So far is the posterity of Lea； with whom went her
daughter Dinah。 These are thirty…three。 Rachel had two sons； the
one of whom； Joseph； had two sons also； Manasses and Ephraim。 The
other； Benjamin； had ten sons … Bolau； Bacchar； Asabel； Geras；
Naaman； Jes； Ros； Momphis； Opphis； Arad。 These fourteen added to
the thirty…three before enumerated； amount to the number
forty…seven。 And this was the legitimate posterity of Jacob。 He
had besides by Bilhah； the handmaid of Rachel； Dan and
Nephtliali； which last had four sons that followed him … Jesel；
Guni； Issari； and Sellim。 Dan had an only begotten son； Usi。 If
these be added to those before mentioned； they complete the
number fifty…four。 Gad and Aser were the sons of Zilpha； who was
the handmaid of Lea。 These had with them； Gad seven … Saphoniah；
Augis； Sunis； Azabon； Aerin； Erocd； Ariel。 Aser had a daughter；
Sarah； and six male children； whose names were Jomne； Isus；
Isoui； Baris； Abar and Melchiel。 If we add these； which are
sixteen； to the fifty…four； the forementioned number ＇70＇ is
completed （11） Jacob not being himself included in that number。
5。 When Joseph understood that his father was coming； for Judas
his brother was come before him； and informed him of his
approach； he went out to meet him； and they met together at
Heroopolis。 But Jacob almost fainted away at this unexpected and
great joy； however； Joseph revived him； being yet not himself
able to contain from being affected in the same manner； at the
pleasure he now had； yet was he not wholly overcome with his
passion； as his father was。 After this； he desired Jacob to
travel on slowly； but he himself took five of his brethren with
him； and made haste to the king； to tell him that Jacob and his
family were come； which was a joyful hearing to him。 He also bid
Joseph tell him what sort of life his brethren loved to lead；
that he might give them leave to follow the same； who told him
they were good shepherds； and had been used to follow no other
employment but this alone。 Whereby he provided for them； that
they should not be separated； but live in the same place； and
take care of their father； as also hereby he provided； that they
might be acceptable to the Egyptians； by doing nothing that would
be common to them with the Egyptians； for the Egyptians are
prohibited to meddle with feeding of sheep。 （12）
6。 When Jacob was come to the king； and saluted him； and wished
all prosperity to his government； Pharaoh asked him how old he
now was； upon whose answer； that he was a hundred and thirty
years old； he admired Jacob on account of the length of his life。
And when he had added； that still he had not lived so long as his
forefathers； he gave him leave to live with his children in
Heliopolis； for in that city the king's shepherds had their
pasturage。
7。 However； the famine increased among the Egyptians； and this
heavy judgment grew more oppressive to them； because neither did
the river overflow the ground； for it did not rise to its former
height； nor did God send rain upon it； （13） nor did they indeed
make the least provision for themselves； so ignorant were they
what was to be done； but Joseph sold them corn for their money。
But when their money failed them； they bought corn with their
cattle and their slaves； and if any of them had a small piece of
land； they gave up that to purchase them food； by which means the
king became the owner of all their substance； and they were
removed； some to one place； and some to another； that so the
possession of their country might be firmly assured to the king；
excepting the lands of the priests； for their country continued
still in t