People from all over Egypt and beyond came to buy grain from Joseph.  Even Joseph's brothers made the trip to buy grain.  Joseph recognized them immediately, but they did not recognize him. They had not seen Joseph since he was a boy, and he was dressed in Egyptian clothing and had an Egyptian name.  Just as Joseph's long ago dream had foretold, the brothers had to bow to him because Joseph was an important person in Egypt.

Joseph accused his brothers of being spies and threw them all in prison.  He spoke through an interpreter.  He wasn't afraid they would recognize his voice, but he didn't want them to know he understood when they spoke to each other.  Joseph was testing them to see if they had had a change of heart over the years.  After three days he told them that only one of them would have to remain in prison.  The youngest brother, Benjamin, had not come to Egypt with his brothers.  Joseph said that when Benjamin came to Egypt, he would know that they were honest men and let them all live freely in Egypt.  Before they left, Joseph filled their sacks with grain and returned their money to them. Simeon remained in Egypt, and the others returned to Jacob and their families in Canaan.

When the food ran out, Jacob told his sons they should again go to Egypt and get more grain.  They reminded their father that Joseph had said they must bring Benjamin along.  Jacob was very nervous about this, but he finally agreed.

When Joseph's brothers returned, Joseph immediately let Simeon out of prison, and invited them all to a banquet meal with him.  The brothers were surprised by this, but thankful that Joseph was a man of his word. 

Joseph told them he was their brother and asked if Jacob was still alive.  This frightened the brothers, for they expected Joseph to punish them for selling him.  Joseph didn't do that.  He told them God had brought him to Egypt to save people from starving, and so he was not angry with them for what they did. He asked them to return to Canaan and bring their father back. 

Jacob, all of Joseph's brothers, their children and their families moved to the land of Goshen, which was part of Egypt.  The family was reunited, and they had all the food they needed! 

Jacob (also known as Israel) was the grandson of Abraham and the son of Isaac. Jacob's twelve sons would live in comfort and die in Egypt. They would become the forefathers of the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel. It would be a long time before Moses would lead the Israelites out of Egypt to claim the lands God had promised Jacob.