Jacob, Joseph & Egypt

Then Joseph said to the people: Behold, as you see, both you and your lands belong to Pharao; take seed and sow the fields,

That you may have corn. The fifth part you shall give to the king; the other four you shall have for seed, and for food for your families and children.

And they answered: our life is in thy hand; only let my lord look favourably upon us, and we will gladly serve the king.

From that time unto this day, in the whole land of Egypt, the fifth part is paid to the kings, and it is become as a law, except the land of the priests, which was free from this covenant.

So Israel dwelt in Egypt, that is, in the land of Gessen, and possessed it; and grew, and was multiplied exceedingly.

And he lived in it seventeen years: and all the days of his life came to a hundred and forty-seven years.

And when he saw that the day of his death drew nigh, he called his son Joseph, and said to him: If I have found favour in thy sight, put thy hand under my thigh; and thou shalt shew me this kindness and truth, not to bury me in Egypt.

But I will sleep with my fathers, and thou shalt take me away out of this land, and bury me in the burying place of my ancestors. And Joseph answered him: I will do what thou hast commanded.

And he said: Swear then to me. And as he was swearing, Israel adored God, turning to the bed's head.

After these things, it was told Joseph that his father was sick; and he set out to go to him, taking his two sons Manasses and Ephraim.

And it was told the old man: Behold thy son Joseph cometh to thee. And being strengthened, he sat on his bed.

And when Joseph was come in to him, he said: God almighty appeared to me at Luza, which is in the land of Chanaan, and he blessed me,

And said: I will cause thee to increase and multiply, and I will make of thee a multitude of people: and I will give this land to thee, and to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.

So thy two sons, who were born to thee in the land of Egypt before I came hither to thee, shall be mine: Ephraim and Manasses shall be reputed to me as Ruben and Simeon.

But the rest whom thou shalt have after them, shall be thine, and shall be called by the name of their brethren in their possessions.

For, when I came out of Mesopotamia, Rachel died from me in the land of Chanaan in the very journey, and it was spring time: and I was going to Ephrata, and I buried her near the way of Ephrata, which by another name is called Bethlehem.

Then seeing his sons, he said to him: Who are these?

He answered: They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said: Bring them to me, that I may bless them.

For Israel's eyes were dim by reason of his great age, and he could not see clearly. And when they were brought to him, he kissed and embraced them,

And said to his son: I am not deprived of seeing thee; moreover God hath shewn me thy seed.

And when Joseph had taken them from his father's lap, he bowed down with his face to the ground.

And he set Ephraim on his right hand, that is, towards the left hand of Israel; but Manasses on his left hand, to wit, towards his father's right hand, and brought them near to him.

But he, stretching forth his right hand, put it upon the head of Ephraim, the younger brother; and the left upon the head of Manasses, who was the elder, changing his hands.

And Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph, and said: God, in whose sight my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, God that feedeth me from my youth until this day:

The angel that delivereth me from all evils, bless these boys: and let my name be called upon them, and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and may they grow into a multitude upon the earth.