Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy grain and Joseph saw them, questioned them, and accused them of being spies. They denied the accusation and told them they are twelve brothers come to buy grain due to the famine. He imprisoned them for three days and then sent ten home keeping Simeon behind until they should bring their youngest brother Benajamin as truth they spoke honest words.

Pharaoh had two dreams he explained to his servants, but no one could interpret them. The chief cup-bearer remembered Joseph interpreted two dreams correctly. Pharaoh called for Joseph who indicated that God revealed to Pharaoh what he planned to do. A seven year famine was coming. He recommended that Pharaoh choose a wise man to store up crops during the seven years of plenty that would precede the seven years of famine and immediately received a promotion to Pharaoh's second.

The chief cup-bearer and baker were thrown into prison where Joseph was. They both had similar dreams. Joseph correctly interpreted both dreams and asked to be remembered and shown mercy for being wrongfully imprisoned.

Potipher's wife developed a crush on Joseph and tore his clothes off, which he left in her possession and ran. Because she feared being caught, she falsely accused him to her husband who through Joseph into the Pharao's prison.

Judah married a Chanaanite woman who gave birth to three sons. The first one was wicked and so God struck him dead. The second did a deed God viewed as evil, causing God to smite him also.

Because Jacob loved Joseph more than his other sons they became jealous, and when Joseph told them his dreams about them worshipping him, they hated him all the more. They plotted to kill him, but instead sold him to Ishmaelites on their way to trade in Egypt. Jacob mourned for his son and would not be comforted.

This chapter is a detailed account of the genealogy of Esau.

God commands Jacob to go to Bethlehem and blesses him there. Rachel dies in childbirth with Benjamin.

Dina went to the city to observe the girls and was raped by the king's son. Afterwards they approached Jacob willing to pay whatever price he set for his daughter. They enticed him and his sons to stay and trade and dwell together exchanging their daughters as wives for their sons. But Jacob's sons deceived the men of Sychem demanding they first be circumcised and then cutting them down and plundering them when they were too weak to defend themselves.

Jacob sends gifts ahead of himself and his family to placate his brother Esau who approached with four hundred men. Esau kisses his brother and offers to escort him to Seir. Jacob declines the offer so that his company can move slowly at a relaxed pace.