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What does the story of Joseph illustrate?
The story of Joseph illustrates how problems provide us with opportunity, promote spiritual maturity in us, and most importantly prove our integrity. Reply
Who was Joseph in the Bible?
The Story of Joseph in the Bible. Joseph was one of the twelve tribes of Israel, a son of Jacob and his wife Rachel. Known as “the righteous one,” he was favored by his father (who gave him a special colored coat) and sold by his brothers to Egypt, where he ultimately became ruler of the land, second only to King Pharaoh.
How many sons did Asenath have?
Joseph and Asenath had two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, both born during the seven years of plenty. Before Jacob’s death, he gave Joseph a gift: his children would be the only ones from among Jacob’s grandsons to be treated as independent tribes. 5 Indeed, throughout the Jews’ journey in the desert, the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim received equal status to the other tribes, and they inherited individual portions of the Land of Israel.
What did Joseph dream of in the second book?
In the second, Joseph envisioned the sun, the moon, and eleven stars (symbolizing his parents and brothers) bowing to him. Read: Dreams to Cherish. Soon enough, when Joseph was seventeen, the tension came to a head.
What did Joseph dream about?
These ill feelings exacerbated when Joseph repeated two of his dreams to them, in which he was portrayed as ruling over his brethren. In the first, the brothers were gathering wheat in the field, and the brothers’ bundles bowed to Joseph’s bundle. In the second, Joseph envisioned the sun, the moon, and eleven stars ...
What did Jacob show to Joseph?
Jacob displayed extra affection to Joseph, who was born to his father’s old age, presenting him with a specially-crafted garment. This prompted feelings of jealousy within his brothers, especially the sons of Jacob’s other wife, Leah. These ill feelings exacerbated when Joseph repeated two of his dreams to them, ...
How long were the Jews slaves?
The Jews were enslaved for 210 years. That count began from when Jacob went down to Egypt. See chabad.org/617888.
What Does the Bible Say About Joseph
Joseph is one of the most important characters in the Bible. The life of Joseph describes how Jacob’s descendants became a nation in Egypt. His faithfulness and obedience took him to another level which was only in the mind of God that revealed by the Lord.
Who is Joseph in the Bible Summary
Joseph was the eleventh son of Jacob by Rachel. Jacob favored him and gifted him a tunic of many colors. That made the rest of his brothers envied him. God gave him a gift to interpret someone’s dream.
What is the Hebrew Meaning of Joseph?
The name Joseph is derived from the hebrew name Yosof which means “ He will add”.
Brothers of Joseph in the Bible
His brothers are Simeon, Levi, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher and Naphtali.
How Many Joseph in the Bible
There are many Josephs that can be seen in the Bible but out of them two are famous. In Genesis 37 we can find Joseph who was the son of Jacob by Rachel and Joseph of a Hebrew with whom Mary got married , the mother of Jesus.
Why was Joseph Sold by His Brothers?
Joseph’s brothers were always tried to avoid him as they hated him because of his dreams and Jacob’s affection upon him. Joseph was at home, while rest of his brothers went to feed their flock in Shechem, Jacob told him to visit his brothers to notice them. He left the home to search of his brothers who were feeding the flocks in Shechem.
Joseph in Egypt (Joseph in Prison)
As the ishmaelites delivered Joseph in the hands of Potiphar, he had taken him in his house. Joseph was put into a foreign land with different people. In his loneliness God accompanied him.
Who gave Joseph his freedom?
And very soon his master, Potiphar, found that this fair-haired, good-looking Hebrew boy was one to be trusted, and, as time went on, he not only gave him his freedom, but made him the chief servant of the house-hold. Then, just when happy days began to dawn for Joseph, misfortune once more overtook him.
How old was Joseph when he set out?
Joseph was now a lad of about seventeen, and this would be the first journey he had taken by himself, so he was eager to show that he was to be trusted, and he set out most cheerfully.
Why did Joseph say he did not believe Benjamin?
Even then Joseph pretended that he did not believe them. No, they must first prove their words by bringing their youngest brother to him. They might leave one of their number behind as a hostage, and take corn for their families, and return to fetch their brother. This he said because he longed to see Benjamin again.
What would they do instead of leaving Joseph to starve in the pit?
Instead of leaving Joseph to starve in the pit, they would fetch him out and sell him to these merchants. Most likely they would get a good price for such a strong young slave.
What happened to the boy when the brothers seized him?
But the rough hands held out to him were not held out in welcome. The brothers seized the boy and savagely tore off his beautiful coat, as if the very sight of it hurt their eyes, and then they hurried him towards the pit which Reuben had pointed out.
What did Joseph think when he heard the voices at the pit's mouth?
Perhaps when Joseph heard their voices at the pit's mouth, and when they drew him up and lifted him out into the sunshine again, he thought for a moment that they meant to be kind to him after all. But that thought soon vanished.
How many brothers did Joseph have?
Joseph knew them at once. They were his ten brothers -- those brothers whom he had last seen when, as a helpless boy, he had knelt and begged them for mercy. Now they came kneeling to the great ruler, little dreaming that this powerful prince was the young brother they had betrayed and sold into slavery.
Who was Joseph in the Bible?
Potiphar was an officer for the Pharaoh, the captain of his guard. In other words, Joseph landed in a pretty important house. Instead of acting bitter and intentionally doing a bad job, Joseph leaned into his relationship with God and worked to do his best. Good things happened, according to Genesis 39:3-4:
What happened to Joseph in the Bible?
They worked together to get rid of Joseph. Instead of murdering him, however, they sold him into slavery. His brothers enjoyed a nice payday, meanwhile Joseph became a slave in the house of a man named Potiphar.
What did Joseph do to get himself out of slavery?
There was nothing Joseph could do to get himself out of slavery or prison. He did a great job and rose to the top position in each setting, but no one was going to let him out. Even when the Cupbearer promised to help Joseph escape, he completely forgot. Joseph was still stuck.
How old is Joseph in Genesis?
You can get an overview of most of the Genesis story, including Joseph’s, in this great video from the Bible Project: Joseph’s story begins in Genesis 37, when he is seventeen years old. We learn that Joseph is his father’s favorite, and his many brothers are already jealous of him.
How long was Joseph a slave?
Despite being a man who consistently honored God, Joseph spent 16 years as a slave and then as a prisoner in Egypt.
What does the story of Joseph remind us?
The story of Joseph reminds me that the trials may not be finished. The story of Joseph also reminds me that, even if the trials aren’t over, we will be ok. Because here is the good news: Just as God was with Joseph during his time as a slave and a prisoner, God will be with you during your hard times.
Why did Joseph get thrown in jail?
Joseph refuses to betray Potiphar, and his wife gets jealous. She accuses Joseph of sexual assault, and so Joseph gets thrown in jail. With the quality of his work, I’m sure Joseph had hoped to escape slavery soon, but going to prison was probably not the path forward he would have chosen.
What is the story of Joseph in the Bible?
The story of Joseph in the Bible is one of my favorites because I feel like I can relate so well to him. Joseph had a dream from God as a youth and instead of beginning to walk out that dream as he imagined he would, he went through a bunch of what seemed like detours, and his life ended up looking a lot different than I’m sure he had imagined.
Why was Joseph the favorite son of Jacob?
Joseph’s pain was the key to his greatness. Joseph was the favorite son because he was the first son born to Jacob’s true love, Rachel. One day Jacob gave Joseph a special gift in the form of fancy robe, or tunic. This robe was beautiful, ornate, had long sleeves, and extended down to his ankles. In comparison, Joseph’s brothers likely had shorter, ...
What happened to Joseph in prison?
After being wrongfully charged for an offense he did not commit, Joseph found himself in prison. One day he received two new cell mates, Pharaoh’s chief baker and his chief cup-bearer. Since Joseph was responsible and skilled, he was ultimately placed in charge of these two prisoners.
Why was Joseph brought out of prison?
Finally Joseph was brought out of prison to be able to share one of his God-given gifts and help someone in authority. After Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dream about the forthcoming prosperity and famine, he told Pharaoh what he thought the best course of action would be.
What did Joseph see when he saw the cup bearer and baker?
When Joseph saw them the next morning, he noticed that they both looked upset.
Why did Joseph have to learn to work?
Joseph had to learn to work because daddy was no longer around to let him off the hook. The beauty is that Joseph did work, and he worked hard. We see Joseph’s gifts of administration and oversight start to bloom as “Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned” ( Genesis 39:6 ).
What did Joseph do after the baker's dream?
Joseph didn’t try to push his own agenda in his life. After Joseph interprets the baker’s and cup-be arer’s dreams, he asks the cup-bearer, whom he knew would soon be promoted back to his job, to remember him and hopefully aid in getting him freed from his wrongful imprisonment. Joseph reached out and helped someone despite his suffering, ...
What did Jospeh believe?
Jospeh had great faith in God. For example, just before his death he predicted that God would visit the children of Israel and lead them out of Egypt and into the promised land (Genesis 50:22-26). "By faith Joseph, when he was dying, said confidently that the children of Israel would leave Egypt.
Where did Joseph's family live when the famine came?
When the famine came which Pharoah had dreampt of, and Joseph had predicted, Joseph's father, brothers, and their families, settled in Egypt where there was food. So Joseph was reunited with his family (Genesis 42-50). Joseph lived to the age of 110, having known his sons’ children and even their children (Genesis 50:22-26).
How many sons did Jacob have?
Jacob’s Sons. The twelve sons of Jacob (Israel) from oldest to youngest were as follows. Leah was the mother of 1. Reuben, 2. Simeon, 3. Levi and 4. Judah (Genesis 29:31-35). Bilhah (Rachel’s maid) was the mother of 5. Dan and 6.
Why did Potiphar's wife put Joseph in jail?
Potiphar’s wife took a fancy to Joseph, but he refused to sin with her. She became angry and told lies about him, so he was put in jail (Genesis 39). Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams got him out of jail and into great favour with Pharoah. Joseph was made a ruler over Egypt second to Pharoah. (Genesis 41).
Where were Joseph's bones buried?
(Hebrews 11:22). "The bones of Joseph which the children of Israel had brought up from the land of Egypt, they buried at Shechem in the plot of ground that Jacob had purchased from the sons of Hamor...". (Joshua 24:32).
Who gave Joseph the name Zaphenath?
Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath‑Paneah and gave him Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife (Genesis 41:45). Jacob, before he died, gave his blessing to Joseph’s two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. However Jacob gave the greater blessing to the younger Ephraim (Genesis 48). Moses, before he died, gave a similar blessing ...
Where was Joseph sold?
Joseph was sold by his brothers into slavery in Egypt (Genesis 37).
What did Joseph's dreams mean?
These dreams symbolized Joseph's apparent supremacy and provoked his brothers to betray him.
What did Reuben say to Joseph?
Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father. 23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe he was wearing— 24 and they took him and threw him into the cistern.
What did the brothers do to Joseph's coat?
The brothers then soaked Joseph's coat in goat blood and presented it to their father, declaring that Joseph had been killed by wild beasts. Find out more about the entire Story of Joseph.
Where did Jacob live in Genesis 37?
Genesis 37. 1 Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan. 2 This is the account of Jacob’s family line.
Who sold Joseph to the merchants?
However, while Reuben was away, the others decided to sell him to a group of Ishmaelite traders. When the traveling Ishmaelites appeared, the brothers pulled Joseph up and sold him to the merchants for 20 pieces of silver.
What is the coat of many colors in the Bible?
The Bible Story of Joseph's Coat of Many Colors - Joseph, son of Jacob and Rachel, resided in the realm of Canaan with his family of at least twelve siblings. He was Rachel's firstborn and Jacob's eleventh son. Of all his sons, Joseph was the favorite of his father, signified by the gift of a "long coat of many colors". In addition to the coat of many colors, Joseph had two dreams that caused his brothers to resent him and plot his ruin. These dreams symbolized Joseph's apparent supremacy and provoked his brothers to betray him.
Joseph—The Beloved Son
Sold by His Brothers
- One day, Jacob instructed Joseph to visit his brothers in Shechem, where they were tending their sheep. Little did he know that this would be the last time he would see his dear son, until their reunion a long twenty-two years later. Seizing their chance, the brothers threw the unsuspecting Joseph into a pit. A short while later they spotted an Arab caravan passing the scene, and the br…
Steadfast Morality
- For a while, things started to look up for young Joseph. Divine success enabled him to find favor in his master’s eyes, and he was appointed head of Potiphar’s estate. However, this would not last for long. Attracted by his handsome looks, Potiphar’s wife desired to be intimate with him. To her consternation, Joseph continuously refused. One day, when no one was home other than the tw…
Joseph—Interpreter and Viceroy
- Joseph’s charisma followed him to prison as well, and the warden soon appointed him as his right-hand man. In time, his unique qualities expressed themselves in an additional area: when the king’s royal cupbearer and baker were imprisoned, Joseph successfully interpreted their dreams, correctly predicting that the cupbearer would be released and the baker, hanged. Two years later…
Climactic Reunion
- Meanwhile, the effects of the famine were felt in nearby Canaan. Hearing that there was grain in Egypt, Joseph’s brothers journeyed there to buy precious food from the viceroy, not realizing that he was their very own brother. Joseph decided to utilize this opportunity to observe whether his brothers truly regretted having sold him. Using a succession of dramatic maneuvers, Joseph tes…
Joseph’s Family
- After appointing Joseph as viceroy, Pharaoh gave him as a wife Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. Midrashic sources identify Potiphera as none other than Potiphar, Joseph’s previous master.4 Joseph and Asenath had two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, both born during the seven years of plenty. Before Jacob’s death, he gave Joseph a gift: his children would be the only ones …
Passing and Burial
- Joseph ruled Egypt for a total of eighty years, until his death at the age of 110. Before his passing, he made his brothers promise to take his coffin along with them when they would eventually leave Egypt for the Promised Land. After his death, he was embalmed and laid to rest in Egypt.6 Indeed, when the Jews left Egypt many years later, Moses made sure to locate Joseph’s tomb and carry …
Behind The Name
- Joseph was born to Rachel after many years of infertility. She named her son Joseph, Yosef in Hebrew, which means “increase,” expressing her wish that G‑d grant her an additional son.9 (Her prayers were indeed fulfilled, as she later begot Benjamin.) Additionally, Yosef is similar to asaf, to “bring in” and “conceal,” for with his birth, Rachel’s shame in being childless was obscured.10 In …
A Lesson in Forgiveness
- Joseph’s story highlights the proper attitude toward difficulty and misfortune. Upon discovering Joseph’s identity, his brothers were sure he would utilize his imperial powers to exact revenge against them for their evil conduct. However, the sentiments expressed by Joseph were quite the opposite: “But now do not be sad, and let it not trouble you that you sold me here, for it was to pr…
Integrity in Egypt
- Scripture states that when Joseph’s brothers first stood before him in Egypt, “Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.” The commentators explain that when Joseph left his brothers he had not yet grown a beard, and that is why they did not recognize their now-bearded brother. There is a deeper meaning to this passage. In the eyes of Joseph’s brothers, involveme…