Genesis-Joseph

Joseph’s Coat of many colors
Now Jacob and his family were dwelling in the land of Canaan. The history of Joseph begins when he was 17 years old. Jacob favored Joseph and Joseph would report how the feeding of the flocks were going and would give a bad report if his brothers were not doing a good job. Because Jacob was getting very old he gave his son Joseph’s a tunic of many colors. Joseph’s brothers hate grew stronger and stronger. One day Joseph told his brothers of a dream he had and this dream told Joseph that his brothers would someday bow down to him. Joseph even shared his dream with his father and this made his brothers envy him. Now Joseph’s brothers were in Shechem feeding the flocks when Israel (Jacob) sent Joseph out to check on him. Joseph met up with his brothers in Dothan. The brothers were plotting to kill Joseph but Rueben said lets not kill him but cast him in a pit. They stripped him of his tunic and threw him in the pit. Judah decided they should make a profit off him. But some Midianite traders found Joseph in the pit and they sold him to Potiphar, an officer of the Pharaoh and Captain of the Guard, for 20 shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt. The brothers killed a goat and soaked Joseph’s tunic in it and told their father that Joseph was devoured by a wild beast (Chapter 37).

Joseph’s Slavery
The Lord was with Joseph and made him prosperous. His master saw this and Joseph found favor with his master. Overtime Joseph became overseer of his Master’s house. One day the master’s wife asked Joseph to sleep with her. Joseph refused and fled so the master’s wife told her husband that Joseph slept with her to mock her. The master threw Joseph in prison (Chapter 39).

Joseph in Prison
The baker and butler offended the king of Egypt and they were imprisoned with Joseph. They had a dream and Joseph interpreted it. There were three vine branches which meant in three days your butler position will be restored. The baker’s dream was of three white baskets on his head full of baked goods. Birds would come and steal the goods from the baskets. Joseph said that the three white baskets meant that in three days the Pharaoh will hang you and birds will eat your flesh. What Joseph spoke did happen but the butler did not remember Joseph’s kindness (Chapter 40).

Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s Dream
Two years later the Pharaoh was having dreams but no one could interpret them. Soon the butler remembered the promise he had broken to Joseph. The Butler told Pharaoh about how Joseph interpreted his dream and the baker’s dream. So Pharaoh sent for Joseph. With the Lord’s help, Joseph told Pharaoh what his dream meant. The seven good cows are seven good years, and the seven ugly thin cows are seven years of famine. This concerned the Pharaoh and he appointed officers over the land. He had them collect one-fifth of the produce in the next seven years. Store up grain and other foods so that we will not perish during the years of famine the Pharaoh said. He appointed Joseph the overseer of all the land and named him Zaphnath-Paaneah. The Pharaoh also gave Joseph a wife, Asenath.

Joseph was 30 years old when he stood before the Pharaoh King of Egypt. Within the seven years Joseph stored much food for Egypt and Asenath bore him two sons, Manasseh and then Ephraim. Soon the famine hit and the people cried out for food. Pharaoh said, “Go to Joseph and do as he says.” Joseph sold food to the Egyptian people. The famine became so severe that the neighboring countries also came to buy food from Joseph in Egypt (Chapter 41).

Famine Alert

Joseph’s Brothers come to Egypt
The famine reached Canaan and Jacob’s family was forced to buy food in Egypt. Joseph recognized his brothers but they did not recognize him. He called them spies and told them to bring back the youngest brother. If they did this one of the brothers I put in prison will live. He took Simeon and bound him before his brothers. Joseph sent them back to Canaan with food and restored their money sacks. The brothers told Jacob what had happened and he was concerned. Reuben promised to bring Benjamin back to Jacob safely. If he failed Jacob could kill Reuben two sons. But Jacob would not let Benjamin go (Chapter 42).

Return to Egypt
Soon the food ran out and Jacob said, “Take my youngest son if you have to but also take a gift, our best fruits, balm, honey, spices, myrrh, and nuts. Take double the money and may God have mercy on you.” The brothers were scared because of the money in their sack when they left Egypt last time. They explained that they did not understand what had happened but Joseph said it was a gift from the Lord and he reunited Simeon with his brothers. They all went to Joseph’s house where their feet were washed, given water, and their donkeys were fed. When Joseph came home the brother’s gave him presents and bowed down to him. After he saw Benjamin he left the room and wept. Joseph washed his face and restrained himself. Joseph ate with his brothers and gave Benjamin five times more then the others (Chapter 43).

Joseph’s Cup
Joseph commanded his stewards to fill the brother’s money sack and food sacks but put my cup in the youngest son’s money sack. At morning the brothers left. They had not made it out of the city when Joseph stopped them and accused them of stealing from his home. The man with the stolen goods shall die. Joseph’s cup was found in Benjamin’s sack and Judah begged Joseph to release Benjamin and take him as a slave instead (Chapter 44).

Joseph reveals himself
Joseph could no longer restrain himself and he began to cry. He told them that he was Joseph and God had blessed him so he could save his brothers and family. He told them there would be five more years of famine. Joseph’s story spread throughout the land and Pharaoh welcomed Joseph’s family into Egypt giving them whatever they needed. Joseph gave them wagons for the move to Egypt and to his brother Benjamin he gave more (Chapter 45).

Israel’s (Jacob) Journey to Egypt
Israel’s journey to Egypt took him by Beersheba where he offered God a sacrifice. There God spoke to Israel saying, “Go to Egypt and I will make you a great nation.” So Israel took his entire family and his son’s families to dwell in the best of Egypt the land of Rameses. Joseph presented his father to the Pharaoh and Israel (Jacob) blessed the Pharaoh (Chapter 46 and 47).

Israel (Jacob) Blessing
Israel was sick and he could not see. Joseph brought his two sons to see Israel before he pasted away. Israel spoke to Joseph about how he talked to God in Beersheba and that God was going to make him a great nation. Israel blessed Ephraim and Manasseh naming them (into the twelve tribe of Israel) brethren of their inheritance. Israel (Jacob) lived 17 years in the Egypt and got to know Joseph’s family well. When he was 147 years old he called for his son Joseph. He spent his last moments with all his sons and he made Joseph promise to bury him with his father in a cave in the land of Canaan (Chapter 48).

Israel (Jacob) last moments (around 1660 B.C.)
Israel spoke to his sons: (Chapter 49)

Joseph Dies (around 1606 B.C.)
Joseph and his brothers buried Israel (Jacob) in Canaan as they promised. Now Joseph’s brothers feared that he would hate them now that their father was dead but Joseph forgave them of their sin and told them it was part of God’s plan so that he could save them. Joseph grew very old watching his family grow. Joseph lived to be 110 years old and his son’s buried him in a coffin in Egypt (Chapter 50).