Moses slew an Egyptian man for abusing one of his Hebrew brothers and after the matter became known he flees from Egypt. Pharaoh intended to kill Moses for the crime. Moses meets the daugthers of Jethro at the well in Midian and after helping them water their flock, he is made part of the family through marriage to Sepphora

After Joseph and his generation died, a new king of Egypt arose who was unfamiliar with Joseph. He observed that the Hebrew nation grew larger than his own and so decreed they were to be enslaved and controlled. He put taskmasters over them and commanded the midwives to slay male children.

At the beginning of the chapter, Jacob died and was buried in the double cave of Ephrom the Chettite. Afterwards his brothers came to him and told him it was their father's dying wish that Joseph forgive his brothers their sins against him. He comforted them and provided for them and their families until he died himself at one hundred ten.

Jacob called his sons together to give them a blessing. After prophesying to their future and blessing them, he pulled up his feet on the bed and died.

Jacob became ill and called for Joseph so that he could bless his sons, Ephraim and Manasse. He blesses them both abundantly, but the younger he blesses to be greater than the older.

Joseph's family arrived in Egypt and settled in Gesem (Goshen).

The famine prevailed in Egypt. After spending all their money, the Egyptians traded all their cattle and possessions. When that was spent, they sold themselves and their land to be servants to Pharao in exchange for seed and food to live. Joseph accepts and requires one fifth of their productivity allowing them to keep four-fifths for themselves and their families to survive.

After learning that Joseph, his son is alive, Jacob and his whole family, all seventy-three of them pack their belongings to move to Goshen for five more years of famine are coming.

Joseph was moved by Judah's offer to become his servant on behalf of Benjamin and wept openly and sent away his servants leaving only himself and his brothers. He then explained to his brothers that God put him in this position to save many lives and to spare a remanant of Jacob and even grow his household in the midst of a terrible famine. They were speechless, but were sent away with chariots and waggons to collect Jacob and his belongings and transport them to the land of Goshen.

Joseph commanded his servants to plant his silver cup in the sack of Benjamin and then to intercept his brothers on there way home and discover the cup in Benjamin's possession and to bring him back as a servant. He did and all of Joseph's brothers return prepared to be servants. Joseph offers to let the other ten go, but Judah requests to himself remain as Pharaoh's servant so Benjamin can return to his father.

Having run out of food again, Jacob was finally willing to send Benjamin to Egypt with his brothers to trade for more food and collect Symeon and bring him home. He sent them with gifts for Pharaoh's second and strict instructions to return with Benjamin. Upon arriving they were brought to Joseph's home for lunch. Benjamin was given a portion of food five times larger than everyone else's