# the patriarchs

"the founders of our tribes" or "our ancestors." A patriarch is a man who rules a family.

# sold him into Egypt

The Jews knew their ancestors sold Joseph to be a slave in Egypt. Alternate translation: "sold him as a slave in Egypt" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])

# was with him

This is an idiom for helping someone. Alternate translation: "helped him" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])