KJV ORIGINAL
And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What is your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and also our fathers.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Pharaoh asked Joseph's brothers, 'What kind of work do you do?' They answered Pharaoh, 'We are shepherds, just like our fathers were before us.'
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
The writer is showing how Joseph's brothers honestly told Pharaoh their family profession when asked about their work.
📚 Historical Context
This conversation takes place during a severe famine when Joseph, now second-in-command in Egypt, has brought his family from Canaan to Egypt for survival. Joseph had prepared his brothers for this moment, knowing that shepherds were often looked down upon by Egyptians, but honesty was crucial for securing land in Goshen where they could continue their livelihood.
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