t12papocrypha
Testament of Joseph 17
Joseph, having concealed his identity and returned his brothers' money without reproach, now discloses the interior law by which he governed that conduct: he absorbed his brothers' affliction as his own, counted their children as his own, held his land and counsel in common with them, and refused to exalt himself in his glory but remained as the least among them. The chapter frames this as the living pattern of covenant brotherhood — unity of heart, long-suffering, and shame-covering — anchored in God's delight in the unity of brethren, which is the same principle that will govern the remnant of Joseph in Zion.
1
Ye see, my children, what great things I endured that I should not put my brethren to shame.
2
Do ye also love one another, and with long-suffering hide ye one another's faults.
3
For God delighteth in the unity of brethren, and in the purpose of a heart approved unto love.
4
And when my brethren came into Egypt, and learnt that I returned their money unto them, and upbraided them not, yea, that I even comforted them,
5
and after the death of Jacob I loved them more abundantly, and all things whatsoever he commanded I did very abundantly, then they marvelled.
6
For I suffered them not to be afflicted even unto the smallest matter; and all that was in my hand I gave unto them.
7
Their children were my children, and my children were as their servants; their life was my life, and all their suffering was my suffering, and all their sickness was my infirmity. My land was their land, my counsel their counsel,
8
and I exalted not myself among them in arrogance because of my worldly glory, but I was among them as one of the least.
