And it fortuned at .ij. yeres end/ that Pharao dreamed/ and thought
that he stode by a ryuers syde/ and that there came out of the ryver
.vij. goodly kyne and fatt fleshed/ and fedd in a medowe. And him
though that .vij. other kyne came vp after them out of the ryver
evelfauored and leane fleshed and stode by the other vpon the brynke
of the ryuer. And the evill favored and lenefleshed kyne ate vp the
.vij. welfauoured and fatt kyne: and he awoke their with.
And he slepte agayne and dreamed the second tyme/ that .vij. eares of
corne grewe apon one stalke rancke and goodly. And that .vij. thynne
eares blasted with the wynde/ spronge vp after them: and that the
.vij. thynne eares deuowrerd the .vij. rancke and full eares. And than
Pharao awaked: and se/ here is his dreame. When the mornynge came/ his
sprete was troubled And he sent and called for all the soythsayers of
Egypte and all the wyse men there of/ and told them his dreame: but
there was none of them that coude interpretate it vnto Pharao.
Than spake the chefe buttelar vnto Pharao saynge. I do remembre my
fawte this daye. Pharao was angrie with his servauntes/ and put in
warde in the chefe marshals house both me and the chefe baker. And we
dreamed both of vs in one nyght and ech mannes dreame of a sondrye
interpretation.
And there was with vs a yonge man/ an Hebrue borne/ servaunte vnto the
chefe marshall. And we told him/ and he declared oure dreames to vs
acordynge to ether of oure dreames. And as he declared them vnto vs/
euen so it came to passe. I was restored to myne office agayne/ and he
was hanged.
Than Pharao sent and called Ioseph. And they made him haste out of
preson. And he shaued him self and chaunged his rayment/ & went in to
Pharao. And Pharao sayde vnto Ioseph: I haue dreamed a dreame and no
man ca interpretate it/ but I haue herde saye of the y^t as soone as
thou hearest a dreame/ thou dost interpretate it. And Ioseph answered
Pharao saynge: God shall geue Pharao an answere of peace without me.
Pharao sayde vnto Ioseph: in my dreame me thought I stode by a ryvers
syde/ and there came out of the ryver vij fatt fleshed ad well fauored
kyne/ and fedd in the medowe. And then .vij. other kyne came vp after
them/ poore and very euell fauored ad leane fleshed: so that I neuer
sawe their lyke in all the lande of Egipte in euell fauordnesse. And
the .vij. leane and euell fauored kyne ate vpp the first .vij. fatt
kyne And when they had eaten them vp/ a man cowde not perceaue that
they had eat[~e] them: for they were still as evyll fauored as they
were at the begynnynge. And I awoke.
And I sawe agayne in my dreame .vij. eares sprynge out of one stalk
full and good/ and .vij. other eares wytherd/ thinne and blasted with
wynde/ sprynge vp after them. And the thynne eares deuowred the .vij.
good eares. And I haue tolde it vnto the sothsayers/ but no man can
tell me what it meaneth.
Then Ioseph sayde vnto Pharao: both Pharaos dreames are one. And god
doth shewe Pharao what he is aboute to do. The vij. good kyne are .vij
yeres: & the .vij. good eares are .vij. yere also/ and is but one
dreame. Lykewyse/ the .vij. thynne and euell fauored kyne that came
out after them/ are .vij. yeares: and the .vij. emptie and blasted
eares shalbe vij. yeares of hunger. This is that which I sayde vnto
Pharao/ that God doth shewe Pharao what he is aboute to doo.
Beholde there shall come .vij. yere of great plenteousnes through out
all the lande of Egypte. And there shall aryse after them vij. yeres
of hunger. So that all the plenteousnes shalbe forgeten in the lande
of Egipte. And the hunger shall consume the lande: so that the
plenteousnes shall not be once agene in the land by reason of that
hunger that shall come after/ for it shalbe exceading great And as
concernynge that the dreame was dubled vnto Pharao the second tyme/ it
betokeneth that the thynge is certanly prepared of God/ ad that God
will shortly brynge it to passe.
Now therfore let Pharao provyde for a man of vnderstondynge and
wysdome/ and sett him over the lande of Egipte. And let Pharao make
officers ouer the lande/ and take vp the fyfte parte of the land of
Egipte in the vij. plenteous yeres and let them gather all the foode
of these good yeres that come/ ad lay vp corne vnder the power of
Pharo: that there may be foode in the cities/ and there let them kepte
it: that there may be foode in stoore in the lande/ agaynst the .vij.
yeres of hunger which shall come in the lande of Egipte/ and that the
lande perishe not thorow hunger.
And the saynge pleased Pharao ad all his seruauntes. Than sayde Pharao
vnto his seruavauntes: where shall we fynde soch a ma as this is/ that
hath the sprete of God in him? wherfore Pharao sayde vnto Ioseph:
for as moch as God hath shewed the all this/ there is no man of
vnderstondyng nor of wysdome lyke vnto the Thou therfore shalt be ouer
my house/ and acordinge to thy worde shall all my people obey: only in
the kynges seate will I be aboue the. And he sayde vnto Ioseph:
beholde/ I haue sett the ouer all the lande of Egipte. And he toke off
his rynge from his fyngre/ and put it vpon Iosephs fingre/ and arayed
him in raym[~e]t of bisse/ and put a golden cheyne aboute his necke
and set him vpon the best charett that he had saue one. And they cryed
before him Abrech/ ad that Pharao had made him ruelar ouer all the
lande of Egipte.
And Pharao sayde vnto Ioseph: I am Pharao/ without thi will/ shall no
man lifte vp ether his hande or fote in all the lande of Egipte. And
he called Iosephs name Zaphnath Paenea. And he gaue him to wyfe Asnath
the doughter of Potiphara preast of On. Than went Ioseph abrode in the
lade of Egipte. And he was .xxx. yere olde wh[~e] he stode before
Pharao kynge of Egipte. And than Ioseph departed from Pharao/ and went
thorow out all the lande of Egipte.
And in the .vij. pl[~e]teous yeres they made sheves and gathered vp
all the fode of the .vij. plenteous yeres which were in the lande of
Egipte and put it in to the cities. And he put the food of the feldes
that grewe rounde aboute euery cyte: euen in the same. And Ioseph
layde vp corne in stoore/ lyke vnto the sande of the see in multitude
out of mesure/ vntyll he left nombrynge: For it was with out nombre.
And vnto Ioseph were borne .ij. sonnes before the yeres of hunger
came/ which Asnath the doughter of Potiphara preast of On/ bare vnto
him. And he called the name of the first sonne Manasse/ for God (sayde
he) hath made me forgett all my laboure & all my fathers husholde. The
seconde called he Ephraim/ for God (sayde he) hath caused me to growe
in the lande of my trouble.
And when the .vij. yeres of plenteousnes that was in the lande of
Egypte were ended/ than came the .vij. yeres of derth/ acordynge as
Ioseph had sayde. And the derth was in all landes: but in the lade of
Egipte was there yet foode. When now all the lande of Egipte began to
hunger/ than cried the people to Pharao for bread. And Pharao sayde
vnto all Egipte: goo vnto Ioseph/ and what he sayth to you that doo
And when the derth was thorow out all the lande/ Ioseph opened all
that was in the cities and solde vnto the Egiptias And hunger waxed
sore in the land of Egipte. And all countrees came to Egipte to Ioseph
for to bye corne: because that the hunger was so sore in all landes.
¶ The .xlij. Chapter.
When Iacob sawe that there was corne to be solde in Egipte/ he sayde
vnto his sones: why are ye negligent? beholde/ I haue hearde that
there is corne to be solde in Egipte. Gete you thither and bye vs
corne fro th[~e]ce/ that we maye lyue and not dye. So went Iosephs ten
brethern doune to bye corne in Egipte/ for Ben Iamin Iosephs brother
wold not Iacob sende with his other brethren: for he sayde: some
mysfortune myght happen him
And the sonnes of Israell came to bye corne amonge other that came/
for there was derth also in the lande of Canaan. And Ioseph was
gouerner in the londe/ and solde corne to all the people of the londe.
And his brethren came/ and fell flatt on the grounde before him. When
Ioseph sawe his brethern/ he knewe them: But made straunge vnto them/
and spake rughly vnto them saynge: Whence come ye? and they sayde: out
of the lande of Canaan/ to bye vitayle. Ioseph knewe his brethern/ but
they knewe not him.
And Ioseph remembred his dreames which he dreamed of them/ and sayde
vnto them: ye are spies/ and to se where the lande is weake is youre
comynge. And they sayde vnto him: nay my lorde: but to bye vitayle thy
seruauntes are come. We are all one mans sonnes/ and meane truely/ and
thy seruauntes are no spies. And he sayde vnto them: nay verely/ but
euen to se where the land is weake is youre comynge. And they sayde:
we thi seruauntes are .xij. brethern/ the sonnes of one man in the
lande of Canaan. The yongest is yet with oure father/ and one no man
woteth where he is.
Ioseph sayde vnto them/ that is it that I sayde vnto you/ that ye are
surelye spies. Here by ye shall be proued. For by the lyfe of Pharao/
ye shall not goo hence/ vntyll youre yongest brother be come hither.
Sende therfore one off you and lett him fett youre brother/ and ye
shalbe in preason in the meane season. And thereby shall youre wordes
be proued/ whether there be any trueth in you: or els by the lyfe of
Pharao/ ye are but spies. And he put them in warde thre dayes.
And Ioseph sayde vnto th[~e] the thyrd daye: This doo and lyue/ for I
feare Gode Yf ye meane no hurte/ let one of youre brethern be bounde
in the preason/ and goo ye and brynge the necessarie foode vnto youre
housholdes/ and brynge youre yongest brother vnto me: that youre
wordes maye be beleved/ ad that ye dye not And they did so.
Than they sayde one to a nother: we haue verely synned agaynst oure
brother/ in that we sawe the anguysh of his soull when he besought us/
& wold not heare him: therfore is this troubyll come apon us. Ruben
answered th[~e] saynge: sayde I not vnto you that ye shulde not synne
agaynst the lad? but ye wolde not heare And now verely see/ his bloude
is requyred.
They were not aware that Ioseph vnderstode them/ for he spake vnto
them by an interpreter. And he turned from them and wepte/ and than
turned to them agayne ad comened with them/ and toke out Simeon from
amonge th[~e] and bownde him before their eyes/ ad commaunded to fyll
their sackes wyth corne/ and to put euery mans money in his sacke/ and
to geue them vitayle to spende by the waye. And so it was done to
them.
And they laded their asses with the corne and departed thence. And as
one of them opened his sacke/ for to geue his asse prauender in the
Inne/ he spied his money in his sacks mouth And he sayde vnto his
brethren: my money is restored me agayne/ & is eu[~e] in my sackes
mouth Than their hartes fayled them/ and were astoynyed and sayde one
to a nother: how cometh it that God dealeth thus with us?
And they came vnto Iacob their father vnto the lande of Canaan/ and
tolde him all that had happened them saynge. The lorde of the lade
spake rughly to us/ and toke us for spyes to serche the countre. And
we sayde vnto him: we meane truely and are no spies. We be .xij.
brethren sones of oure father/ one is awaye/ and the yongest is now
with oure father in the lande of Canaan.
And the lorde of the countre sayde vnto us: hereby shall I knowe yf ye
meane truely: leaue one of youre brethern here with me/ and take foode
necessary for youre housholdes and get you awaye/ and brynge youre
yongest brother vnto me And thereby shall I knowe that ye are no
spyes/ but meane truely: So will I delyuer you youre brother agayne/
and ye shall occupie in the lande.
And as they emptied their sackes/ beholde: euerymans bundell of money
was in his sacke And when both they and their father sawe the bundells
of money/ they were afrayde.
And Iacob their father sayde vnto them: Me haue ye robbed of my
childern: Ioseph is away/ and Simeon is awaye/ and ye will take Ben
Iamin awaye. All these thinges fall vpon me. Ruben answered his father
saynge: Slee my two sonnes/ yf I bringe him not to the agayne. Delyuer
him therfore to my honde/ and I will brynge him to the agayne: And he
sayde: my sonne shall not go downe with you. For his brother is dead/
and he is left alone Moreouer some mysfortune myght happen vpon him by
the waye which ye goo. And so shuld ye brynge my gray head with sorowe
vnto the graue.
¶ The .xliij. Chapter.
And the derth waxed sore in the lande. And when they had eate vp that
corne which they brought out of the lande of Egipte/ their father
sayde vnto them: goo agayne and by vs a litle food. Than sayde Iuda
vnto him: the man dyd testifie vnto vs saynge: loke that ye see not my
face excepte youre brother be with you. Therfore yf thou wilt sende
oure brother with vs/ we wyll goo and bye the food. But yf thou wylt
not sende him/ we wyll not goo: for the man sayde vnto vs: loke that
ye see not my face/ excepte youre brother be with you.
And Israell sayde: wherfore delt ye so cruelly with me/ as to tell the
man that ye had yet another brother? And they sayde: The man asked vs
of oure kynred saynge: is youre father yet alyue? haue ye not another
brother? And we tolde him acordynge to these wordes. How cowd we knowe
that he wolde byd vs brynge oure brother downe with vs? Than sayde
Iuda vnto Israell his father: Send the lad with me/ and we wyll ryse
and goo/ that we maye lyue and not dye: both we/ thou and also oure
childern. I wilbe suertie for him/ and of my handes requyre him. Yf I
brynge him not to the and sett him before thine eyes/ than let me bere
the blame for euer. For except we had made this tari[~e]g: by this we
had bene there twyse and come agayne.
Than their father Israel sayde vnto th[~e]: Yf it must nedes be so
now: than do thus/ take of the best frutes of the lande in youre
vesselles/ and brynge the man a present/ a curtesie bawlme/ and a
curtesie of hony/ spyces and myrre/ dates and almondes. And take as
moch money more with you. And the money that was brought agayne in
youre sackes/ take it agayne with you in youre handes/ peraduenture it
was some ouersyghte.
Take also youre brother with you/ and aryse and goo agayne to the man.
And God almightie geue you mercie in the sighte of the man and send
you youre other brother and also B[~e] Iamin/ and I wilbe as a ma
robbed of his childern.
Thus toke they the present and twise so moch more money with them/ and
Ben Iamim. And rose vp/ went downe to Egipte/ and presented them selfe
to Ioseph. When Ioseph sawe Ben Iamin with them/ he sayde to the
ruelar of his house: brynge these men home/ and sley and make redie:
for they shall dyne with me at none. And the man dyd as Ioseph bad/
and brought them in to Iosephs house.
When they were brought to Iosephs house/ they were afrayde ad sayde:
be cause of the money y^t came in oure sackes mouthes at the first
tyme/ are we brought/ to pyke a quarell with vs & to laye some thinge
to oure charge: to brynge us in bondage and oure asses also. Therfore
came they to the man that was the ruelar ouer Iosephs house/ and
comened with him at the doore and sayde:
Sir/ we came hither at the first tyme to bye foode/ and as we came to
an Inne and opened oure sackes: beholde/ euery mannes money was in his
sacke with full weghte: But we haue broght it agene with us/ & other
mony haue we brought also in oure handes/ to bye foode/ but we can not
tell who put oure money in oure sackes.
And he sayde: be of good chere/ feare not: Youre God and the God of
youre fathers hath put you that treasure in youre sackes/ for I had
youre money. And he brought Simeon out to them ad led th[~e] in to
Iosephs house/ and gaue th[~e] water to washe their fete/ and gaue
their asses prauender: And they made redie their present agaynst
Ioseph came at none/ for they herde saye that they shulde dyne there.
When Ioseph came home/ they brought the present in to the house to
him/ which they had in their handes/ ad fell flat on the grounde befor
him. And he welcomed th[~e] curteously sainge: is youre father that
old man which ye tolde me of/ in good health? and is he yet alyue?
they answered: thy servaunte oure father is in good health/ ad is yet
alyue. And they bowed them selues and fell to the grounde.
And he lyfte vp his eyes & behelde his brother Ben Iamin his mothers
sonne/ & sayde: is this youre yongest brother of whome ye sayde vnto
me? And sayde: God be mercyfull vnto y^e my sonne. And Ioseph made
hast (for his hert dyd melt apon his brother) and soughte for to wepe/
& entred in to his chambre/ for to wepe there. And he wasshed his face
and came out & refrayned himselfe/ & had sett bread on the table
And they prepared for him by himselfe/ and for them by them selues/
and for the Egiptians which ate with him by them selues/ because the
Egyptians may not eate bread with the Hebrues/ for that is an
abhomynacyon vnto the Egiptians. And they satt before him: the eldest
acordynge vnto his age/ and the yongest acordyng vnto his youth. And
the men marveled amonge them selves. And they broughte rewardes vnto
them from before him: but Ben Iamins parte was fyue tymes so moch as
any of theirs. And they ate and they dronke/ and were dronke wyth him.
The .xliiij. Chapter.
And he commaunded the rueler of his house saynge: fyll the mens sackes
with food/ as moch as they can carie/ and put euery mans money in his
bagge mouth/ and put my syluer cuppe in the sackes mouth of the
yongest and his corne money also. And he dyd as Ioseph had sayde. And
in y^e mornynge as soone as it was lighte/ the m[~e] were let goo with
their asses.
And when they were out of the cytie and not yet ferre awaye/ Ioseph
sayde vnto the ruelar of his house: vp and folowe after the men and
ouertake them/ and saye vnto them: wherfore haue ye rewarded euell for
good? is that not the cuppe of which my lorde drynketh/ ad doth he not
prophesie therin? ye haue euell done that ye haue done.
And he ouertoke them and sayde the same wordes vnto them. And they
answered him: wherfore sayth my lorde soch wordes? God forbydd that
thy servauntes shulde doo so. Beholde/ the money which we founde in
oure sackes mouthes/ we brought agayne vnto the/ out of the lande of
Canaa: how then shulde we steale out of my lordes house/ ether syluer
or golde: with whosoeuer of thy seruauntes it be founde let him dye/
and let vs also be my lordes bondmen. And he sayde: Now therfore
acordynge vnto youre woordes/ he with whom it is found/ shalbe my
seruaunte: but ye/ shalbe harmelesse.
And attonce euery man toke downe his sacke to the grounde/ ad every
man opened his sacke. And he serched/ and began at the eldest & left
at the yongest. And the cuppe was founde in Ben Iamins sacke. Then
they rent their clothes/ and laded euery man his asse and went agayne
vnto the cytie. And Iuda and his brethr[~e] came to Iosephs house/ for
he was yet there/ ad they fell before him on the grounde. And Ioseph
sayde vnto th[~e]: what dede is this which ye haue done? wist ye not
that soch a man as I can prophesie?
Then sayde Iuda: what shall we saye vnto my lorde/ what shall we
speake or what excuse can we make? God hath founde out y^e wekednesse
of thy seruauntes. Beholde/ both we and he with whom the cuppe is
founde/ are thy seruauntes. And he answered: God forbyd y^t I shulde
do so/ the man with whom the cuppe is founde/ he shalbe my seruaunte:
but goo ye in peace vn to youre father.
Then Iuda went vnto him and sayde: oh my lorde/ let thy servante
speake a worde in my lordes audyence/ and be not wrooth with thi
servaunte: for thou art euen as Pharao. My lorde axed his seruaunte
sainge: haue ye a father or a brother? And we answered my lord/ we
haue a father that is old/ and a yonge lad which he begat in his age:
ad the brother of the sayde lad is dead/ & he is all that is left of
that mother. And his father loueth him.
Then sayde my lorde vnto his seruauntes brynge him vnto me/ that I
maye sett myne eyes apon him. And we answered my lorde/ that the lad
coude not goo from his father/ for if he shulde leaue his father/ he
were but a deed man. Than saydest thou vnto thy servauntes: excepte
youre yongest brother come with you/ loke that ye se my face no moare.
And when we came vnto thy servaunt oure father/ we shewed him what my
lorde had sayde. And when oure father sayde vnto vs/ goo agayne and
bye vs a litle fode: we sayd/ y^t we coude not goo. Neverthelesse if
oure youngeste brother go with vs then will we goo/ for we maye not
see the mannes face/ excepte oure yongest brother be with vs. Then
sayde thy servaunt oure father vnto vs. Ye knowe that my wyfe bare me
.ij. sonnes. And the one went out from me and it is sayde of a suertie
that he is torne in peaces of wyld beastes/ and I sawe him not sence.
Yf ye shall take this also awaye fro me and some mysfortune happen
apon him/ then shall ye brynge my gray heed with sorow vnto the grave.
Now therfore wh[~e] I come to thy servaunt my father/ yf the lad be
not with me: seinge that his lyfe hageth by the laddes lyfe/ then as
soone as he seeth that the lad is not come/ he will dye. So shall we
thy serva[~u]tes brynge the gray hedde of thy servaunt oure father
with sorow vnto the grave. For I thy servaunt became suertie for the
lad vnto my father & sayde: yf I bringe him not vnto the agayne. I
will bere the blame all my life loge. Now therfore let me thy servaunt
byde here for y^e lad/ & be my lordes bondman: & let the lad goo home
with his brethern. For how can I goo vnto my father/ and the lad not
wyth me: lest I shulde see the wretchednes that shall come on my
father.
The .xlv. Chapter.
And Ioseph coude no longer refrayne before all them that stode aboute
him/ but commaunded that they shuld goo all out from him/ and that
there shuld be no man with him/ whyle he vttred him selfe vnto his
brethern. And he wepte alowde/ so that the Egiptians and the house of
Pharao herde it. And he sayde vnto his brethern: I am Ioseph: doth my
father yet lyue? But his brethern coude not answere him/ for they were
abasshed at his presence.
And Ioseph sayde vnto his brethern: come nere to me/ and they came
nere. And he sayde: I am Ioseph youre brother whom ye sold in to
Egipte. And now be not greued therwith/ nether let it seme a cruel
thinge in youre eyes/ that ye solde me hither. For God dyd send me
before you to saue lyfe. For this is the seconde yere of derth in the
lande/ and fyue moo are behynde in which there shall nether be earynge
nor hervest.
Wherfore God sent me before you to make prouision/ that ye myghte
continue in the erth and to save youre lyues by a greate delyuerance.
So now it was not ye that sent me hither/ but God: and he hath made me
father vnto Pharao and lorde ouer all his house/ and rueler in all the
land of Egipte. Hast you ad goo to my father and tell him/ this sayeth
thy sonne Ioseph: God hath made me lorde ouer all Egipte. Come downe
vnto me and tarye not/ And thou shalt dwell in the londe of Gosan & be
by me: both thou and thi childern/ and thi childerns childern: and thy
shepe/ and beestes and all that thou hast. There will I make provision
for the: for there remayne yet v yeres of derth/ lest thou and thi
houshold and all that thou hast perish.
Beholde/ youre eyes do se/ and the eyes also of my brother Ben Iamin/
that I speake to you by mouth. Therfore tell my father of all my
honoure which I haue in Egipte and of all that ye haue sene/ ad make
hast and brynge my father hither.
¶ And he fell on his brother Ben Iam[~i]s necke & wepte/ & Ben Iamin
wepte on his necke. Moreouer he kyssed all his brethern and wepte apon
them. And after that/ his brethern talked with him. And when the
tidynges was come vnto Pharaos housse that Iosephes brethern were
come/ it pleased Pharao well and all his seruauntes.
And Pharao spake vnto Ioseph: saye vnto thy brethern/ this do ye: lade
youre beestes ad get you hence/ And when ye be come vnto the londe of
Canaan/ take youre father and youre housholdes and come vnto me/ and I
will geue you the beste of the lande of Egipte/ and ye shall eate the
fatt of the londe. And commaunded also. This do ye: take charettes
with you out of the lande of Egipte/ for youre childern and for youre
wyues: and brynge youre father and come. Also/ regarde not your stuff/
for the goodes of all the londe of Egipte shalbe youres.
And the childern of Israell dyd euen so/ and Ioseph gaue them
charettes at the commaundment of Pharao/ and gaue them vitayle also to
spende by the waye. And he gaue vnto eche of them chaunge of rayment:
but vnto Ben Iamin he gaue iij. hundred peces of syluer and .v.
chaunge of rayment. And vnto his father he sent after the same maner:
x. he asses laden with good out of Egipte/ and .x. she asses laden
with corne/ bred and meate: to serue his father by the waye. So sent
he his brethern awaye/ and they departed. And he sayde vnto them: se
that ye fall not out by the waye.
And they departed from Egipte and came in to the land of Canaan vnto
Iacob their father/ and told him saynge. Ioseph is yet a lyue and is
gouerner ouer all the land of Egipte. And Iacobs hert wauered/ for he
beleued th[~e] not. And they tolde him all the wordes of Ioseph which
he had sayde vnto them. But when he sawe the charettes which Ioseph
had sent to carie him/ then his sprites reviued. And Israel sayde. I
haue ynough/ yf Ioseph my sonne be yet alyue: I will goo and se him/
yer that I dye.
The .xlvi. Chapter.
Israel toke his iourney with all that he had/ and came vnto Berseba
and offred offrynges vnto the God of his father Isaac. And God sayde
vnto Israel in a vision by nyghte/ and called vnto him: Iacob Iacob.
And he answered: here am I. And he sayde: I am that mightie God of thy
father/ feare not to goo downe in to Egipte. For I will make of the
there a great people. I will go downe with y^e in to Egipte/ & I will
also bringe the vp agayne/ & Ioseph shall put his hand apon thine
eyes.
And Iacob rose vp from Berseba. And y^e sonnes of Israel caried Iacob
their father/ ad their childern and their wyues in the charettes
which Pharao had sent to carie him. And they toke their catell ad the
goodes which they had gotten in the land of Canaan/ and came in to
Egipte: both Iacob and all his seed with him/ his sonnes and his
sonnes sonnes with him: his doughters and his sonnes doughters and all
his seed brought he with him in to Egipte.
These are the names of the childern of Israel which came in to Egipte/
both Iacob and his sonnes: Rub[~e] Iacob's first sonne. The childern
of Ruben: Hanoch/ Pallu/ Hezron and Charmi. The childern of Simeon:
Iemuel/ Iamin/ Ohad/ Iachin/ Zohar and Saul the sonne of a Cananitish
woman The childern of Leui: Gerson/ Kahath and Merari. The childern of
Iuda: Er/ Onan/ Sela/ Pharez and Zerah/ but Er and Onan dyed in the
lande of Canaan. The childern of Pharez/ Hezro & Hamul. The childern
of Isachar: Tola/ Phuva Iob and Semiron. The childern of Sebulon:
Sered/ Elon and Iaheleel. These be the childern of Lea which she bare
vnto Iacob in Mesopotamia with his doughter Dina. All these soulles of
his sonnes and doughters make .xxx and .vi.
The childern of Gad: Ziphion/ Haggi/ Suni/ Ezbon/ Eri/ Arodi and
Areli. The childern of Asser: Iemna/ Iesua/ Iesui/ Brya and Serah
their sister: And the childern of Biya were Heber and Malchiel. These
are the childern of Silpha whom Laba gaue to Lea his doughter. And
these she bare vnto Iacob in nombre xvi. soules.
The childern of Rahel Iacobs wife: Ioseph and ben Iamin. And vnto
Ioseph in the lode of Egipte were borne: Manasses and Ephraim which
Asnath the doughter of Potiphara preast of On bare vnto him. The
childern of Ben Iamin: Bela/ Becher/ Asbel/ Gera/ Naeman/ Ehi Ros
Mupim/ Hupim and Ard. These are the childern of Rahel which were borne
vnto Iacob: xiiij. soules all to gether.
The childern of Dan: Husim. The childern of Nepthali: Iahezeel/ Guni/
Iezer and Sillem. These are the sonnes of Bilha which Laban gaue vnto
Rahel his doughter/ and she bare these vnto Iacob/ all together .vij.
soulles All the soulles that came with Iacob into Egipte which came
out of his loyns (besyde his sonnes wifes) were all togither .lx. and
.vi. soulles. And the sonnes of Ioseph/ which were borne him in egipte
were .ij. soules: So that all the soulles of the house of Iacob which
came in to Egipte are lxx.
And he sent Iuda before him vnto Ioseph that the waye myghte be shewed
him vnto Gosan/ and they came in to the lande of Gosan And Ioseph made
redie his charett and went agaynst Israell his father vnto Gosan/ ad
presented him selfe vnto him/ and fell on his necke and wepte vpon
his necke a goode whyle. And Israel sayd vnto Ioseph: Now I am
cot[~e]t to dye/ in somoch I haue sene the/ that thou art yet alyue.
And Ioseph sayde vnto his brethr[~e] and vnto his fathers house: I
will goo & shewe Pharao and tell him: that my brethern and my fathers
housse which were in the lade of Canaan are come vnto me/ and how they
are shepardes (for they were men of catell) and they haue brought
their shepe and their oxen and all that they haue with them. Yf Pharao
call you and axe you what youre occupation is/ saye: thi seruauntes
haue bene occupyed aboute catell/ fro oure chilhode vnto this tyme:
both we and oure fathers/ that ye maye dwell in the lande of Gosan.
For an abhominacyon vnto the Egiptians are all that feade shepe.
¶ The .xlvij. Chapter.
And Ioseph w[~e]t and tolde Pharao and sayde: my father and my
brethern their shepe and their beastes and all that they haue/ are
come out of the lade of Canaan and are in the lande of Gosan. And
Ioseph toke a parte of his brethern: euen fyue of them/ and presented
them vnto Pharao. And Pharao sayde vnto his brethern: what is youre
occupation? And they sayde vnto Pharao: feaders of shepe are thi
seruauntes/ both we ad also oure fathers. They sayde moreouer vnto
Pharao: for to sogeorne in the lande are we come/ for thy seruauntes
haue no pasture for their shepe so sore is the fameshment in the lande
of Canaan. Now therfore let thy seruauntes dwell in the lande of
Gosan.
And Pharao sayde vnto Ioseph: thy father and thy brethren are come
vnto the. The londe of Egipte is open before the: In the best place of
the lande make both thy father and thy brothren dwell: And even in the
lond of Gosan let them dwell. Moreouer yf thou knowe any men of
actiuyte amonge them/ make them ruelars ouer my catell. And Ioseph
brought in Iacob his father and sett him before Pharao And Iacob
blessed Pharao. And Pharao axed Iacob/ how old art thou? And Iacob
sayde vnto Pharao: the dayes of my pilgremage are an hundred and .xxx.
yeres. Few and euell haue the dayes of my lyfe bene/ and haue not
attayned vnto the yeres of the lyfe of my fathers in the dayes of
their pilgremages. And Iacob blessed Pharao and went out from him. And
Ioseph prepared dwellinges for his father and his brethern/ and gaue
them possessions in the londe of Egipte/ in the best of the londe:
eu[~e] in the lande of Raemses/ as Pharao commaunded. And Ioseph made
prouysion for his father/ his brethern and all his fathers housholde/
as yonge childern are fedd with bread.
There was no bread in all the londe/ for the derth was excead[~i]ge
sore: so y^t y^e lode of Egipte & y^e lode of Canaan/ were fameshyd by
y^e reason of y^e derth. And Ioseph brought together all y^e money
y^t was founde in y^e lade of Egipte and of Canaan/ for y^e corne
which they boughte: & he layde vp the money in Pharaos housse.
When money fayled in the lade of Egipte & of Canaan/ all the Egiptians
came vnto Ioseph and sayde: geue us sustenaunce: wherfore suffrest
thou vs to dye before the/ for oure money is spent. Then sayde Ioseph:
brynge youre catell/ and I will geue yow for youre catell/ yf ye be
without money. And they brought their catell vnto Ioseph. And he gaue
them bread for horses and shepe/ and oxen and asses: so he fed them
with bread for all their catell that yere.
When that yere was ended/ they came vnto him the nexte yere and sayde
vnto him: we will not hyde it from my lorde/ how that we haue nether
money nor catell for my lorde: there is no moare left for my lorde/
but euen oure bodies and oure londes. Wherfore letest thou us dye
before thyne eyes/ and the londe to goo to noughte? bye us and oure
landes for bread: and let both vs and oure londes be bonde to Pharao.
Geue vs feed/ that we may lyue & not dye/ & that the londe goo not to
wast.
[Sidenote: * The bl[~i]de gydes gott previleges fro bear[~i]ge with
their brethr[~e] contrarye to Christes lawe of love. And of these
prestes of idolles did oure copass[~i]ge yvetrees lerne to crepe vp by
litle & litle & to copasse y^e greate trees of y^e world with
hypocrisye/ ad to thrust y^e rodes of idolatrysse superstition in to
th[~e] & to sucke out y^e iuce of th[~e] with their poetrye/ till all
be seer bowes and no thinge grene save their awne com[~e]welth.]
And Ioseph boughte all the lande of Egipte for Pharao. For the
Egiptians solde euery man his londe because the derth was sore apo
them: and so the londe became Pharaos. And he appoynted the people
vnto the cities/ from one syde of Egipte vnto the other: only the
londe of the Prestes bought he not. For there was an ordina[~u]ce
made by Pharao for y^e * preastes/ that they shulde eate that which
was appoynted vnto them: which Pharao had geuen them wherfore they
solde not their londes.
Then Ioseph sayde vnto the folke: beholde I haue boughte you this daye
ad youre landes for Pharao. Take there seed and goo sowe the londe.
And of the encrease/ ye shall geue the fyfte parte vnto Pharao/ and
.iiij. partes shalbe youre awne/ for seed to sowe the feld: and for
you/ and them of youre housholdes/ and for youre childern/ to eate.
And they answered: Thou haste saued oure lyves Let vs fynde grace in
the syghte of my lorde/ and let us be Pharaos serva[~u]tes. And Ioseph
made it a lawe ouer the lade of Egipte vnto this daye: that men must
geue Pharao the fyfte parte/ excepte the londe of preastes only/ which
was not bond vnto Pharao.
And Israel dwelt in Egipte: euen in the countre of Gosan. And they had
their possessions therein/ and they grewe and multiplyed exceadingly.
Moreouer Iacob lyued in the lande of Egipte .xvij. yeres/ so that the
the hole age of Iacob was an hundred and .xlvij. yere.
When the tyme drewe nye/ that Israel must dye: he sent for his sonne
Ioseph and sayde vnto him: Yf I haue founde grace in thy syghte/ put
thy hande vnder my thye and deale mercifully ad truely with me/ that
thou burie me not in Egipte: but let me lye by my fathers/ and carie
me out of Egipte/ and burie me in their buryall. And he answered: I
will do as thou hast sayde. And he sayde: swere vnto me: ad he sware
vnto him. And than Israel bowed him vnto the beddes head.
The .xlviij. Chapter.
After these deades/ tyd[~i]ges were brought vnto Ioseph/ that his
father was seke. And he toke with him his ij. sones/ Manasses and
Ephraim. Then was it sayde vnto Iacob: beholde/ thy sonne Ioseph
commeth vnto the. And Israel toke his strength vnto him/ and satt vp
on the bedd/ and sayde vnto Ioseph: God all mightie appeared vnto me
at lus in the lande of Canaan/ ad blessed me/ and sayde vnto me:
beholde/ I will make the growe and will multiplye the/ and will make a
great nombre of people of the/ and will geue this lande vnto the and
vnto thy seed after y^e vnto an euerlastinge possession. Now therfore
thy .ij. sones Manasses ad Ephraim which were borne vnto the before I
came to the/ in to Egipte/ shalbe myne: euen as Ruben and Simeo shall
they be vnto me And the childern which thou getest after them/ shalbe
thyne awne: but shalbe called with the names of their brethern in
their enheritaunces.
And after I came from Mesopotamia/ Rahel dyed apon my hande in the
lande of Canaa/ by the waye: when I had but a feldes brede to goo
vnto Ephrat. And I buried her there in y^e waye to Ephrat which is now
called Bethlehem.
And Israel behelde Iosephes sonnes & sayde: what are these? And Ioseph
sayde vnto his father: they are my sonnes/ which God hath geuen me
here. And he sayde: brynge them to me/ and let me blesse them. And the
eyes of Israell were dymme for age/ so that he coude not see. And he
broughte them to him/ ad he kyssed th[~e] and embraced them. And
Israel sayde vnto Ioseph: I had not thoughte to haue sene thy face/
and yet loo/ God hath shewed it me and al so thy seed. And Ioseph toke
them awaye from his lappe/ and they fell on the grounde before him.
Than toke Ioseph them both: Ephraim in his ryghte hande towarde
Israels left hande ad Manasses in his left hande/ towarde Israels
ryghte hande/ and brought them vnto him. And Israel stretched out his
righte hande and layde it apon Ephraims head which was the yonger/ and
his lyft hade apon Manasses heed/ crossinge his handes/ for manasses
was the elder. And he blessed Ioseph saynge: God before whome my
fathers Abraham and Isaac dyd walke/ and the God which hath fedd me
all my life longe vnto this daye/ And the angell which hath delyuered
me fro all euyll/ blesse these laddes: y^t they maye be called after
my name/ and after my father Abraham and Isaac/ and that they maye
growe ad multiplie apo the erth.
When Ioseph sawe that his father layd his ryghte hande apon the heade
of Ephraim/ it displeased him. And he lifte vpp his fathers hade/ to
haue removed it from Ephraims head vnto Manasses head/ and sayde vnto
his father: Not so my father/ for this is the eldest. Put thy right
hande apon his head. And his father wold not/ but sayde: I knowe it
well my sonne/ I knowe it well. He shalbe also a people ad shalbe
great. But of a troth his yonger brother shalbe greater than he/ and
his seed shall be full of people. And he blessed them sainge. At the
ensample of these/ the Israelites shall blesse and saye: God make the
as Ephraim and as Manasses. Thus sett he Ephraim before Manasses.
And Israel sayde vnto Ioseph: beholde/ I dye. And god shalbe with you
and bringe you agayne vnto the land of youre fathers. Moreover I geue
vnto the/ a porcyon of lande aboue thy brethern/ which I gatt out of
the handes of the Amorites with my swerde and wyth my bowe.
The .xlix. Chapter.
And Iacob called for his sonnes ad sayde: come together/ that I maye
tell you what shall happ[~e] you in the last dayes. Gather you
together and heare ye sonnes of Iacob/ and herken vnto Israel youre
father.
Ruben/ thou art myne eldest sonne/ my myghte and the begynnynge of my
strength/ chefe in receauynge and chefe in power. As vnstable as water
wast thou: thou shalt therfore not be the chefest/ for thou wenst vp
vpo thy fathers bedd/ and than defyledest thou my couche with goynge
vppe.
The brethern Simeon and Leui/ weked instrumentes are their wepos. In
to their secrettes come not my soule/ and vnto their congregation be
my honoure not coupled: for in their wrath they slewe a man/ and in
their selfewill they houghed an oxe. Cursed be their wrath for it was
stronge/ and their fearsnes for it was cruell. I will therfore deuyde
them in Iacob/ & scater them in Israel.
Iuda/ thy brethern shall prayse the/ & thine hande shalbe in the necke
of thyne enimies/ & thy fathers childern shall stoupe vnto the. Iuda
is a lions whelpe. Fro spoyle my sonne thou art come an hye: he layde
him downe and couched himselfe as a lion/ and as a lionesse. Who dare
stere him vp? The sceptre shall not departe from Iuda/ nor a ruelar
from betwene his legges/ vntill Silo come/ vnto whome the people shall
herken. He shall bynde his fole vnto the vine/ and his asses colt vnto
the vyne braunche/ ad shall wash his garment in wyne and his mantell
in the bloud of grapes/ his eyes are roudier than wyne/ ad his teeth
whitter then mylke.
Zabulon shall dwell in the hauen of the see and in the port of
shippes/ & shall reache vnto Sidon.
Isachar is a stronge asse/ he couched him doune betwene .ij. borders/
and sawe that rest was good and the lande that it was pleasant/ and
bowed his shulder to beare/ and became a servaunte vnto trybute.
Dan shall iudge his people/ as one of the trybes of Israel. Dan shalbe
a serpent in the waye/ and an edder in the path/ and byte the horse
heles/ so y^t his ryder shall fall backwarde. After thy sauynge loke I
LORde.
Gad/ men of warre shall invade him. And he shall turne them to flyght.
Off Asser cometh fatt breed/ and he shall geue pleasures for a kynge.
Nepthali is a swyft hynde/ ad geueth goodly wordes.
That floryshynge childe Ioseph/ that florishing childe and goodly vn
to the eye: the doughters come forth to bere ruele. The shoters haue
envyed him and chyde with him ad hated him/ and yet his bowe bode
fast/ & his armes and his handes were stronge/ by the handes of the
myghtye God of Iacob: out of him shall come an herde ma a stone in
Israel. Thi fathers God shall helpe the/ & the almightie shall blesse
the with blessinges from heaven aboue/ and with blessinges of the
water that lieth vnder/ & with blessinges of the brestes & of the
wombe. The blessinges of thy father were stronge: euen as the
blessinges of my elders/ after the desyre of the hiest in the worlde/
and these blessinges shall fall on the head of Ioseph/ and on the
toppe of the head of him y^t was separat from his brethern.
Ben Iamin is a raueshynge wolfe. In the mornynge he shall deuoure his
praye/ ad at nyghte he shall deuyde his spoyle.
All these are the .xij. tribes of Israel/ & this is that which their
father spake vnto them wh[~e] he blessed them/ euery man with a
severall blessinge. And he charged them and sayde vnto them. I shall
be put vnto my people: se that ye burye me with my fathers/ in the
caue that is in the felde of Ephron the Hethyte/ in the double caue
that is in the felde before Mamre in the lande of Canaan. Which felde
Abraham boughte of Ephron the Hethite for a possessio to burye in.
There they buryed Abraha and Sara his wyfe/ there they buryed Isaac &
Rebecca his wyfe. And there I buried Lea: which felde & the caue that
is therin/ was bought of the childern of Heth.
When Iacob had commaunded all that he wold vnto his sonnes/ he plucked
vp his fete apon the bedd and dyed/ and was put vnto his people. And
Ioseph fell apon his fathers face/ and wepte apon him/ and kyssed him.
The .l. Chapter.
And Ioseph commaunded his seruauntes that were Phisicions/ to embawme
his father/ and the Physicios [~e]bawmed Israel .xl. dayes loge/ for
so loge doth y^e embawminge last/ & the Egiptians bewepte him .lxx.
dayes.
And when the dayes of wepynge were ended/ Ioseph spake vnto y^e house
of Pharao saynge: Yf I haue founde fauoure in youre eyes/ speake vnto
Pharao and tell him/ how that my father made me swere and sayde: loo/
I dye/ se that thou burye me in my graue which I haue made me in the
lande of Canaan. Now therfore let me goo and burye my father/ ad tha
will I come agayne. And Pharao sayde/ goo and burye thy father/
acordynge as he made the swere.
And Ioseph went vp to burie his father/ and with him went all the
seruauntes of Pharao that were the elders of his house/ ad all y^e
elders of Egipte/ and all the house of Ioseph ad his brethern & his
fathers house: only their childern & their shepe and their catell
lefte they behinde them in the lande of Gosan. And there went with him
also Charettes and horsemen: so that they were an exceadynge great
companye.
And when they came to y^e feld of Atad beyonde Iordane/ there they
made great & exceadinge sore lamentacio. And he morned for his father
.vij. dayes. When the enhabiters of the lande the Cananytes sawe the
moornynge in y^e felde of Atad/ they saide: this is a greate moornynge
which the Egiptians make. Wherfore y^e name of the place is called
Abel mizraim/ which place lyeth beyonde Iordane. And his sonnes dyd
vnto him acordynge as he had commaunded them.
And his sonnes caried him in to the land of Canaan and buryed him in
the double caue which Abraha had boughte with the felde to be a place
to burye in/ of Ephron the Hethite before Mamre. And Ioseph returned
to Egipte agayne and his brethern/ and all that went vp with him to
burye his father/ assone as he had buryed him.
Wh[~e] Iosephs brethern sawe that their father was deade/ they sayde:
Ioseph myghte fortune to hate us and rewarde us agayne all the euell
which we dyd vnto him. They dyd therfore a commaundment vnto Ioseph
saynge: thy father charged before his deth saynge. This wise say vnto
Ioseph/ forgeue I pray the the trespace of thy brethern & their synne/
for they rewarded the euell. Now therfore we praye the/ forgeue the
trespace of the servauntes of thy fathers God. And Ioseph wepte when
they spake vnto him.
And his brethern came ad fell before him and sayde: beholde we be thy
servauntes. And Ioseph sayde vnto them: feare not/ for am not I vnder
god? Ye thoughte euell vnto me: but God turned it vnto good to bringe
to passe/ as it is this daye/ euen to saue moch people a lyue Feare
not therfore/ for I will care for you and for youre childern/ and he
spake kyndly vnto them.
Ioseph dwelt in Egipte and his fathers house also/ ad lyved an hundred
& .x. yere. And Ioseph sawe Ephraims childern/ eu[~e] vnto the thyrde
generation. And vnto Machir the sonne of Manasses were childern borne/
& satt on Iosephs knees.
And Ioseph sayde vnto his brethern: I die
And God will suerlie vysett you and bringe you
out of this lande/ vnto the lande which he sware
vnto Abraham/ Isaac and Iacob. And Ioseph
toke an ooth of the childern of Israel ad
sayde: God will not fayle but vysett you/ se therfore
that ye carye my boones hence. And
so Ioseph dyed/ when he was an
hundred and .x. yere olde.
And they enbawmed him
and
put him in a chest in Egipte.
The end of the first boke of Moses.
¶ A table expoundinge certeyne wordes.
Abrech/ tender father/ or as some will/ bowe the knee.
Areke/ a shippe made flatte as it were a chest or cofer.
Bisse: fyne whyte/ whether it be silke or linen.
Blesse: godes blessinges are his giftes/ as in the firste chaptre he
blessed them saynge: growe & multiplye & haue dominion &c. And in the
.ix. chaptre he blessed Noe & his sonnes & gaue th[~e] dominio over
all beestes & authoryte to care th[~e] And God blessed Abraha with
catell ad other ryches. And Iacob desyred Esau to receaue y^e
blessinge which he brought him/ y^t is the preasent & gifte. God
blessed the .vij. daye/ y^t is/ gaue it a prehemynence y^t men shuld
rest therein from bodely laboure & lerne to know the will of god & his
lawes & how to worke their workes godly all the weke after. God also
blesseth all nations in Abrahams seed/ that is/ he turneth his loue &
favoure vnto th[~e] and geveth th[~e] his spirite and knowledge of the
true waye/ ad lust and power to walke therin/ and all for christes
sake Abrahams sonne.
Cain/ so is it writen in Hebrue. Notwithstodinge whether we coll him
Cain or caim it maketh no matter/ so we vnderstand the meaninge.
Euery lande hath his maner/ that we call Ihon the welchemen call Evan:
the douch hace. Soch differ[~e]ce is betwene the Ebrue/ greke and
laten: and that maketh them that translate out of the ebrue varye in
names from them that translate out of laten or greke.
Curse: Godes curse is the takynge awaye of his benefytes. As god
cursed the erth and made it baren. So now hunger/ derth/ warre/
pestilence and soch like are yet ryght curses and signes of the wrath
of God vnto the vnbeleuers: but vnto them that knowe Christ/ they are
very blessinges and that wholsome crosse & true purgatorye of oure
flesh/ thorow which all must go that will lyue godly ad be saued: as
thou readest Mat .v. Blessed are they that suffre persecution for
rightewesnes sake. &c. And hebrewes .xi. The lorde chastyseth whom he
loveth and scorgeth all the children that he receaveth.