[Illustration: His brothers sold Joseph to some merchants.]
These merchants took Joseph to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, one of
the officers of the King's household. Potiphar was very kind to
Joseph, and as he grew up made him his steward or overseer. Joseph had
very winning manners and in time rose to be the governor or ruler over
all the land of Egypt and in high favor with King Pharaoh.
[Illustration: Ruler over all the land of Egypt.]
Meanwhile Joseph's brothers had told their father that Joseph had been
killed by a wild beast, and in proof they showed Jacob his son's
handsome coat, which they had taken from him and dipped in blood for
this purpose. Jacob mourned long and bitterly for Joseph, and then he
and his sons lived on much as they had been doing until there was a
famine in the land and no food was to be had.
Then Jacob sent his ten older sons to Egypt to buy corn, for it was
plentiful there. He would not let Benjamin go, however, fearing that
some harm might come to him. When Reuben and his brothers reached
Egypt they were taken to Joseph, the governor, who recognized them at
once, but pretended to think they were spies. They protested in vain
that they had been sent by their father to buy food and that this was
their only errand.
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