Isn’t Ephraim a precious son to me, a delightful child? Whenever I speak against him, I certainly still think about him. Therefore, my inner being yearns for him; I will truly have compassion on him. This is the Lord’s declaration.
How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I surrender you, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? I have had a change of heart; my compassion is stirred!
The woman whose son was alive spoke to the king because she felt great compassion , for her son. ‘My lord, give her the living baby,’ she said, ‘but please don’t have him killed! ’ But the other one said, ‘He will not be mine or yours. Cut him in two! ’
Joseph hitched the horses to his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel. Joseph presented himself to him, threw his arms round him, and wept for a long time.