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Joseph embraces his brothers

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Genesis 45:14-15

Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.

Full bible text

Genesis 45 verse 14 and 15
14 Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping.
15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.

About this painting

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When Joseph has made himself known to his brothers he addresses a few words to them. Joseph appears to hold no bitterness at all towards his brothers, who had sold him as a slave to Egypt. But Joseph points to the fact that God let it all happen to save their family from famine.
So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.
Genesis 45 verse 8.

Then Joseph tells his brothers to bring their father Jacob to Egypt, and bring with him all his possessions and offspring. Jacob and his sons will be allowed to live in the Goshen region, close to Joseph.
After his speech Joseph embraces his brother Benjamin and weeps. Benjamin, like Joseph, was also a son of Rachel. Then Joseph also embraces his other brothers.

The table on the left of the painting is a symbol of the restored communion.

Parallel with the life of Jesus:
Jesus too will be recognized by His people, when He will turn out to be their Messiah.
Zechariah 12 verse 10:
And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on Me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son. See: Zechariah 13 verse 1.

Romans 11 verse 26:
And in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written:
“The deliverer will come from Zion;
He will turn godlessness away from Jacob.”


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