Joseph Comforts His Brothers
With Jacob gone, the brothers fear Joseph’s revenge and send a plea for forgiveness in their father’s name. Joseph weeps, and they come before him in surrender.
W15hen Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge? Then he will surely repay us for all the evil that we did to him.” 16So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Before he died, your father commanded, 17‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I beg you, please forgive the transgression and sin of your brothers, for they did you wrong.’ So now, Joseph, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” 18When their message came to him, Joseph wept. His brothers also came to him, bowed down before him, and said, “We are your slaves!”
Joseph tells them not to fear, refuses to act as God, and says God turned their evil toward the saving of many lives. He then promises to provide for them and their children.
19But Joseph replied, “Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this— to preserve the lives of many people. 21Therefore do not be afraid. I will provide for you and your little ones.” So Joseph reassured his brothers and spoke kindly to them.