Jacob, Joseph & Egypt

And hee gathered vp all the foode of the seuen plenteous yeeres, which were in the lande of Egypt, and layde vp foode in the cities: the foode of the fielde, that was round about euery citie, layde he vp in the same.

So Ioseph gathered wheate, like vnto the sand of the sea in multitude out of measure, vntill he left numbring: for it was without number.

Now vnto Ioseph were borne two sonnes (before the yeeres of famine came) which Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah prince of On bare vnto him.

And Ioseph called the name of the first borne Manasseh: for God, said he, hath made me forget all my labour and al my fathers houshold.

Also hee called the name of the second, Ephraim: For God, sayde he hath made me fruitfull in the land of mine affliction.

So the seuen yeeres of the plentie that was in the land of Egypt were ended.

Then began the seuen yeeres of famine to come, according as Ioseph had saide: and the famine was in all landes, but in all the land of Egypt was bread.

At the length all the lande of Egypt was affamished, and the people cryed to Pharaoh for bread. And Pharaoh said vnto all the Egyptians, Goe to Ioseph: what he sayth to you, doe ye.

When the famine was vpon all the land, Ioseph opened all places, wherein the store was, and solde vnto the Egyptians: for the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.

And all countries came to Egypt to bye corne of Ioseph, because the famine was sore in all landes.

Then Iaakob saw that there was foode in Egypt, and Iaakob said vnto his sonnes, Why gaze ye one vpon an other?

And he said, Behold, I haue heard that there is foode in Egypt, Get you downe thither, and bie vs foode thence, that we may liue and not die.

So went Iosephs ten brethren downe to bye corne of the Egyptians.

But Beniamin Iosephs brother woulde not Iaakob send with his brethren: for he saide, Least death should befall him.

And the sonnes of Israel came to bye foode among them that came: for there was famine in the land of Canaan.

Now Ioseph was gouerner of the land, who solde to all the people of the lande: then Iosephs brethren came, and bowed their face to the groud before him.

And when Ioseph sawe his brethren, hee knewe them, and made himselfe straunge toward them, and spake to them roughly, and saide vnto them, Whence come yee? Who answered, Out of the land of Canaan, to bye vitaile.

(Now Ioseph knewe his brethren, but they knew not him.

And Ioseph remembred the dreames, which he dreamed of them) and he sayde vnto them, Ye are spies, and are come to see the weaknesse of the land.

But they sayde vnto him, Nay, my lorde, but to bye vitayle thy seruants are come.

Wee are all one mans sonnes: wee meane truely, and thy seruants are no spies.

But he saide vnto them, Nay, but yee are come to see the weakenes of the land.

And they said, We thy seruants are twelue brethren, the sonnes of one man in the lande of Canaan: and beholde, the yongest is this day with our father, and one is not.

Againe Ioseph sayde vnto them, This is it that I spake vnto you, saying, Ye are spies.

Hereby ye shall be proued: by the life of Pharaoh, ye shall not goe hence, except your yongest brother come hither.