PRESERVATION OF LIFE, sustenance — from CHAYAH, to live: literally 'a means of staying alive.' It is the first of the three salvation words Joseph piles up when he finally explains himself: 'God sent me before you LE-MICHYAH — to preserve life' (45:5). The same root closes the chapter, when the wagons are seen and 'the SPIRIT OF JACOB REVIVED' (vatechi ruach, 45:27) — the man who insisted he would go down to Sheol mourning comes back to life in a clause. KJV 'to preserve life'; ASV the same. → first discussed at Gen 45:5