This brought them to the point where they must explain who the E'gyp-tian ruler really was. The officer who had kept Sim'e-on in prison as a spy at the time of their first visit, and who had insisted that Ben'ja-min be brought to E'gypt before the much-needed supplies could be bought, was none other than Ja'cob's beloved son Jo'seph. The son he had mourned as dead for nearly twenty-five years was not only alive and well, but was governor of all the land of E'gypt!
In telling their father this wonderful news they were obliged to go into the disgraceful story of how they had treated their brother so many years before. With tears of repentance, and with their heads bowed in shame, they admitted that they had sold Jo'seph to a band of slave-dealers, and had led Ja'cob to believe that his favorite son had been slain by a wild animal.
The tenderness with which Jo'seph had heard his brothers admit their sin, and the kindly spirit with which he had forgiven them and become friends with them again, was related to their father. They also told Ja'cob of his son's glory and power in E'gypt, of his wonderful way of seeing the hand of God in all that took place, and how he warned them that the terrible famine would continue for five more years. Nor did the brothers forget to tell their father of the gracious manner in which they had been entertained by Jo'seph, or of the request of both Jo'seph and the E'gyp-tian king that Ja'cob and all his family come at once to dwell in E'gypt.
The family of Ja'cob then sat in comfort within their tent, awaiting the word of the master concerning the great news which had just come to him. As the ten sons humbly confessed their guilt before their father, Ja'cob was moved by strong feelings; as they told him the wonderful news that Jo'seph was alive, and had sent for him to come at once into the land in which he was now a ruler, second only to the king, the old man was completely overcome. The news that his beloved son was alive seemed too much to believe, and the cruel behavior of his ten sons was too heavy a burden to bear. Ja'cob fainted, falling helpless at the feet of his sons.
When Ja'cob had recovered from the shock, and had seen the wagons which had been provided for his journey to E'gypt, he no longer doubted the good news which his sons had brought him concerning Jo'seph, but cried out with great joy, "It is enough; Jo'seph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die." So happy was he to know that his beloved son was alive and well, that he declared that he was willing to die if only he might see Jo'seph again.
