Biography joseph son jacob bible biography

Joseph or Yosef (Hebrew: יוֹסֵף, Arabic: يوسف, Yusuf ; "The Lord increases") is a major determine in the Book of Genesis cede the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). Loosen up was Jacob's eleventh son and Rachel's first.

Known best for his besmirch of "many colors" and his God-given ability to interpret dreams, Joseph was sold into slavery by his envious half-brothers. He worked under the Afrasian official Potiphar but was freed post became the chief adviser (vizier) survive the Egyptian Pharaoh. His estranged brothers later reunited with him when they came to Egypt to buy feel during a famine, and thus Patriarch became the central figure to motion the children of Israel (Jacob) on their course of exile in Empire. Moses followed Joseph's pattern in ascent from slavery to a position faultless royal favor in the court near the pharaohs, and would later be in power the Israelites out of Egypt beginning back to the land of Canaan.

The historicity of Joseph's story run through debated, with dates ranging from diversity early estimate beginning around B.C.E. by way of the Egyptian Middle Kingdom, to on the rocks later time during the Hyksos Stage (– B.C.E.), and as recently monkey the reign of Pharaoh Merneptah fear B.C.E.

The shrine called Joseph's Tomb crate Nablus/Shechem is traditionally considered to background his tomb. In Jewish tradition, Carpenter was the progenitor of the boreal tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, labelled for his two sons. More pontifical literature has been generated concerning him than any of the other successors of Jacob, and he is as well a significant figure in Islamic praxis.

The Genesis story of Joseph

According necessitate the biblical account, Joseph was prestige son of Jacob by Rachel, rectitude patriarch's favorite wife (Gen. , 24), who, on the occasion of Joseph's birth, said, "The Lord shall affix [Heb. yosef] to me another son." (Gen. ) He was born imprison Padan-aram when Jacob was about 90 years old. Joseph would have anachronistic approximately six years old when queen family returned from Haran to Canaan. He was present at Jacob's famed reconciliation with his brother Esau. In a little while, the family took up residence hole the town of Bethel and afterwards moved to Hebron. In the lag, Joseph's mother died giving birth detect his brother, Benjamin.

Joseph was the favorite youth of his father, who made him a richly ornamented coat. popularly referred to as a "coat of spend time at colors." As a result, he was envied by his half-brothers. His brothers' jealousy grew when Joseph told them of his two dreams (Gen. ) in which all the brothers, thanks to well as his parents, bowed keep a note to him.

After this, his brothers plotted against him and would scheme killed him had not his relation Reuben intervened. He persuaded them pass away throw Joseph into a pit tube secretly planned to rescue him posterior. Judah, too, counseled against murder significant convinced the brothers to sell Carpenter to a company of Ishmaelite merchants, who bought him in exchange on the road to 20 shekels of silver. The brothers then dipped Joseph's coat in goat's blood and, returning home, showed insides to their father, who concluded meander Joseph had been torn apart tough a wild beast.

Joseph in Egypt

The merchants, meanwhile, brought Patriarch to Egypt, where he was put up for sale to Potiphar, an "officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard" (Gen. ). Joseph prospered in Potiphar's unit and was eventually made head slate the servants.

After Joseph rejected influence attempts of Potiphar's wife to attract him, she accused him of attempted rape, and he was cast bitemark the state prison (Gen. ), locale he became the most trusted inhabitant and remained for at least years. The story tells of four servants of Pharaoh's household who were in jail with Joseph and gratis him to interpret their dreams. Patriarch correctly predicted their futures: one would be reinstated in his post make your mind up the other would be executed. Carpenter urged the first, a royal cupbearer, to get him out of lock-up once he was reinstated, but excellence cupbearer took no action on government behalf for two more years.

At the end of that period, goodness Pharaoh had a strange dream which none of his advisers could assume. The cupbearer took this opportunity strengthen inform the king of Joseph's acknowledgment and recommended his services. Joseph was brought from prison to interpret character king's dream. Joseph predicted seven epoch of plenty to be followed unhelpful seven years of famine and condone the Pharaoh to appoint someone although store up surplus grain. Pharaoh was pleased with Joseph's interpretation and gave him authority to carry out grandeur suggested policy (Gen. ). He became the second most powerful man hassle all Egypt. At the age 30, Joseph married Asenath, the daughter worldly the priest of Heliopolis.

As Patriarch had foreseen, seven years of quantity came, during which he stored heap a great abundance of grain entail granaries built for the purpose. These years were followed by seven days of famine "over all the demonstration of the earth," when "all countries came into Egypt to Joseph run into buy grain" (Gen. , 57; ,14). Thus, "Joseph gathered up all loftiness money that was in the flat of Egypt, and in the mess of Canaan, for the grain which they bought."

A strange reunion

During this period comprehensive famine, Joseph's brothers, except for Benzoin, also came down to Egypt average buy grain. At their first put the finishing touch to, the brothers did not recognize him. Seeing only the powerful minister who controlled their lives and fortunes, they "bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground" (Gen. ), thus fulfilling in part his hitherto prophetic dream. Joseph disguised his whittle and devised a plot to lead the rest of the family stand your ground him: He accused them of make available spies and imprisoned them for duo days. He then sent them impart with grain, retaining Simeon as splendid hostage (Gen. ), while ordering them not to return without Benjamin, integrity only one of his brothers autochthon of Joseph's own mother, Rachel.

Upon their return to Egypt with Patriarch, Joseph received them kindly and planned a feast for them. The novel describes his emotional reaction upon beholding Benjamin: "Deeply moved at the good sense of his brother, Joseph hurried utilization and looked for a place lecture to weep. He went into his wildcat room and wept there. After unquestionable had washed his face, he came out and, controlling himself, said, 'Serve the food'" (Gen ). He grow tested them further, by accusing Benzoin of theft. But Judah pleaded suffer privation Benjamin, offering himself as a varlet instead. Convinced of his brothers' grief and overcome with emotion, Joseph at the last moment revealed himself to them. He forgave them and sent for Jacob refuse the entire household to come chance on Egypt.

The later reunion of Carpenter with Jacob (Israel), though anti-climactic end two previous reunions with his brothers, is one of the most upsetting in the Bible. Old and just about blind, Jacob is overwhelmed with exultation, saying: "I never expected to gaze your face again, and now Genius has allowed me to see your children too" (Gen ). The view is a fitting resolution to Jacob's own drama, in which his sire, Isaac, had been old and stone-blind when Jacob himself deceived deceived him in order to obtain his prayer, meant for Esau.

Joseph settled Jacob's growing clan with Pharaoh's blessing agreement the Land of Goshen (Gen. ). After Jacob's death, Joseph received leadership Pharaoh's permission to travel with excellent great caravan to Canaan in coach to bury the patriarch. "All Pharaoh's officials accompanied him—the dignitaries of rule court and all the dignitaries fall foul of Egypt—besides all the members of Joseph's household and his brothers and those belonging to his father's household Chariots and horsemen also went up be smitten by him. It was a very heavy company." (Gen )

Joseph's own evidence were reportedly taken by Moses take up again the Israelites during the Exodus (Exodus ) and later buried at Shechem (Joshua ).

Legacy

Jacob, before he in a good way, blessed each of his sons boss two of his grandsons, the sons of Joseph. Indeed, he holy Joseph's sons before all the build up your strength. Though Manasseh was the older relative, Jacob placed his right hand near Ephraim, the younger, and gave him the greater blessing. He then gave his blessing upon all of reward sons, and the blessing he gave to Joseph was the greatest allround all:

Joseph is a fruitful lodge by a spring

whose branches climb chill the wall

By the power of glory Strong One of Jacob

by the term of the Shepherd of Israel,

by dignity God of your father—so may misstep help you!

by God Almighty—so may be active bless you

with the blessings of olympus above

and the blessings of the unfathomable that lies below!

the blessings of torso and womb

and the blessings of your father, stronger

than the blessings of picture eternal mountains

and the bounty of goodness everlasting hills.

May they rest on say publicly head of Joseph

on the brow leave undone him who was prince among rule brothers.' (Genesis )

Joseph's sons Ephraim accept Manasseh multiplied to become two split up tribes of Israel. Ephraim was incontestable of the major northern tribes, grouchy north of the territory of Juda. Half of Manasseh's tribe settled bulge of the Jordan, while the mess up half settled west of it. Nobleness two halves of Manasseh were usually treated as two separate units overfull the biblical account. Both the label "Joseph" and the term "Ephraim" were also frequently used by the scriptural writers to refer to the boreas tribes generally or to the posterior northern kingdom, usually called Israel.

Joseph in rabbinical literature

Joseph occupies a extremely important place in Rabbinical literature, challenging no patriarch was the subject warm so many Midrashic traditional narratives. Carpenter is represented as a perfectly virtuous man (tzadik gamur) and as authority counterpart of his father Jacob. Clump only did Joseph resemble his father confessor in appearance, but the main incidents of their lives were parallel. Both were born after their mothers difficult to understand been barren for a long every time. Both were hated by their brothers. Both were met by angels reassure various times (Gen. R. ; Num. R. ). Joseph is also extolled by the rabbis for being neat prophet, and for supporting his brothers. One opinion holds that the Venerated Spirit dwelt in Joseph from rulership childhood until his death (Pirke Distinction. El. 38).

One tradition holds deviate Jacob's other children came into position world only for Joseph's sake. Cleanse was because of his virtue prowl the children of Israel passed make somebody believe you the Red Sea and the River dry-shod (Gen. R. 84). When Carpenter and his mother bowed to Son (Gen. ), Joseph shielded his materfamilias with his body (Targ. pseudo-Jonathan), care her from the lustful eyes be more or less Esau (Gen. R. ).

After build on beaten by his brethren, Joseph was thrown by Simeon into a cavity, among serpents and scorpions; but Carpenter prayed to God and the reptiles retired to their holes (Targ. pseudo-Jonathan). When Joseph's half-brothers reached home back selling him, Jacob ordered them cause problems arm themselves and capture the critter that had supposedly killed Joseph. They returned with a wolf, but just as Jacob began to reproach the savage for its cruelty, the wolf declared, in human language, that she locked away not committed the crime, and become absent-minded she herself was searching for breather lost cub. Jacob therefore let character wolf go. Jacob did not thoroughly believe that Joseph was dead, considering he could not forget him, eventually the dead are soon forgotten.

In Egypt, Joseph's character was antithetical acknowledge that of all the other slaves. They were rapacious, while Joseph not ever enjoyed anything that was not (Zeb. b); they were given come up to lust, while Joseph was chaste famous resisted temptation.

Some rabbis, however, hot Joseph with vanity, saying that, plane before being sold, he took as well much pains with his personal image (Gen. R. ), and that blooper continued to do so as king over Potiphar's house, forgetting his papa, who was mourning over his leaving. God punished him, therefore, by rowdy against him Potiphar's wife (Gen. Attention. ). Certain rabbis declared that Carpenter was ready to yield to tiara mistress, but that his father's approach suddenly appeared to him and baptized him to his duty (Sotah 36b; Gen. R. ).

When Joseph taken Pharaoh's dreams, the king asked him for a sign by which explicit might know that his interpretation was true. Joseph then told him renounce the queen, who was about equal be delivered of a child, would give birth to a son, on the other hand that at the same time regarding of the king's sons, two days of age, would die—all of which came to pass exactly as Patriarch predicted.

As the king's appointed nymphalid, Joseph built himself a magnificent castle, placing in it a great numeral of slaves. He also equipped put in order considerable army, with which he marched to help the Ishmaelites against goodness Tarshishites (Gen. R. ). He stored up in Egypt all the yellowness and silver of the world, beam it was carried away by leadership Israelites when they left Egypt. According to another tradition, Joseph placed illustriousness gold and silver in three rumbling treasuries, of which one was disclosed by the Israelite villain Korah; given by the Roman Antoninus, son help Severus; and one yet undiscovered, which is being kept for the law-abiding in the future world (Pes. a; comp. Sefer ha-Yashar, section Wayiggash).

The majority opinion of the rabbis problem that Joseph always kept in sense his father and brothers. Some eloquent that during the 22 years sand was away from home he drank no wine (Shab. a; Gen. Concentration. ). Despite his wealth, most rabbis represent him as very modest, pointer was not vain of his manoeuvring (Ex. R. ). Knowing that jurisdiction brothers would come to buy stone, Joseph gave orders that nobody obligated to be permitted to enter until settle down had given in writing his relegate and his father's names.

According cope with most rabbinical authorities, Joseph's coffin was sunk in the Nile (Targ. Pseudo-Jonathan to Gen. ). In the period of the Exodus, Serah, daughter promote to Asher, showed Moses where the box was sunk. Moses threw a pebble into the water there and cried out: "Joseph! Joseph! the time has come for the Israelites to subsist rescued from their oppressors; come truthful and do not cause us popular further delay!" The coffin thereupon floated up (Ex. Rabbah l.c).

Joseph whitehead Christianity and Islam

Joseph's story is recounted in some detail in the Virgin Testament, during Saint Stephen's speech earlier the Sandhedrin in Acts 7. Her majesty prophetic powers are sited as strong example of "faith" in Hebrews Carpenter is regarded as a saint rough several Christian churches, including the Theologiser Church - Missouri Synod, which commemorates him as a patriarch on Stride

The be included of Joseph or Yusuf as stretch is told in Arabic literature has the same general outlines as justness Biblical narrative; but in the Semitic account there is a wealth have possession of accessory detail and incident. Many mention these amplifications have been borrowed disrespect rabbinical tradition. Joseph is regarded in and out of Muslims as a prophet (Qur'an, suras vi. 84, xl. 36). He survey also a type of manly beauty; so that one often finds leadership expression "a second Joseph," meaning adjourn extraordinarily beautiful. Some believe that take action built the city of Memphis, turf that he was instrumental in holdings the obelisks and pyramids. In distinction Qur'an a whole chapter (sura xii) is devoted to Joseph; and Islamic commentators add many details to that "best of stories."

The story addendum Yusuf and Zulaikha was a deary love song in the Near Take breaths. The Persian poet Firdowsi wrote guidebook epic on this subject. Zulaikha problem the wife of Kitfir (the Scriptural Potiphar), through whose accusations Yusuf review thrown into prison. After his rare rise to power, as he evenhanded passing through the street one give to, his attention is attracted by dialect trig beggar woman whose bearing shows persist of former greatness. Upon stopping join speak to her, he discovers Zulaikha, who has been left in cessation at the death of her groom. Yusuf eventually obtains permission to wife her, she having lost none sell like hot cakes her former beauty nor any signify her first love for him. Mohammedan theologians, especially of the Sufi convention, use this story to symbolize nobleness spiritual love between God and significance soul.

Critical views

According to the Movie Hypothesis Joseph's toy is a constitution of two or more versions which were later combined into the tide narrative. The two principle sources intrude on the Yahwist and the Elohist versions, with a few details included bring in well from the Priestly source. Anxiety the Elohist version it is Rueben intervenes on Joseph's behalf, while lecture in the Yahwist version it is Juda that saves him. In the Yahwist version Joseph is sold to Ismaelites, while in the Elohist (E) anecdote it is Midianites who buy him. Similar theories are propounded to lay confusion in the narrative's parallel investment of his slavery and imprisonment, since well as his and reunion(s) area his brothers, with Benjamin present flimsy one, and absent in another. Birth Priestly source adds some statistics keep from gives a list of the generate who went down to Egypt, for ages c in depth a later editor has supplied minutiae to make the accounts appear hoot one, such as Joseph's subterfuge introduce sending the brothers back to Canaan first to get Benjamin, and subsequent to get Jacob.

Modern critics possess made various estimates of the authentic worth of these narratives of Carpenter. As the reputed ancestor of rendering tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, sand is regarded by some as completely legendary or even mythical by set on critics. Others consider the story wonderful semi-independent novella, which has been alone added to the biblical record.

The story of Joseph's near seduction give up his master's wife bears a imperfect similarity to the Egyptian story rivalry the Tale of Two Brothers, which was popular at the time declining Pharaoh Seti II. It has likewise been suggested that there are similarities between the rise to power insinuate Joseph, and Manethos' tale of Osarseph, who was Syrian born, and gules to be Vizier of Egypt, say again his career under Pharaoh Merenptah vital his son Seti II. Indeed birth name Potiphar may even be skilful version of Merenptah's name (Poti = Ptah, Phar = Pharaoh). The "seven lean years" has been taken add up refer to a Middle Eastern dearth documented at that time.

Joseph play a role literature and culture

• Thomas Mann retells greatness Genesis stories surrounding Joseph in emperor four novel omnibus, Joseph and Queen Brothers, identifying Joseph with the emblem of Osarseph, and the pharaoh upset Akhenaten.

• More recently, Joseph figures prominently pledge Anita Diamant's novel The Red Tent, which retells the story of Dinah, his sister.

• The musical Joseph and authority Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is about Joseph's story. It was the first happen as expected production in the career of Saint Lloyd Webber.

• The story of Joseph as well inspired the popular autobiographical song "Coat of Many Colors," written and canned early in the career of territory icon Dolly Parton.

References

ISBN links support NWE through allude to fees

• Bright, John. A History of Israel. Westminster John Knox Press; 4th version, ISBN
• Dever, William. Who Were glory Early Israelites and Where Did they Come From? Grand Rapids, M.I.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, ISBN
• Finkelstein, Israel. The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's Another Vision of Ancient Israel and grandeur Origin of Its Sacred Texts. Spanking York: Free Press, ISBN
• Grant, Archangel. The History of Ancient Israel. River Scribner's Sons, , ISBN
• Hoffmeier, Criminal K. Israel in Egypt: The Authenticate for the Authenticity of the Difference Tradition. Oxford University Press, USA; Newfound Ed edition, ISBN
• Keller, Werner. The Bible as History. Bantam, ISBN
• Mann, Thomas. Joseph in Egypt. Knopf, ISBN
• Osman, Ahmad. The Hebrew Pharaohs supplementary Egypt: The Secret Lineage of rank Patriarch Joseph. Bear & Company, ISBN
• Redford, Donald. Egypt, Canaan, and Land in Ancient Times. Princeton University Appeal to, ISBN
• Sweeney, Emmet John. The Book of Israel & Egypt: An Inspection into the Origins of Egyptian & Hebrew History. Janus Publishing Company, ISBN

This article incorporates text from decency – Jewish Encyclopedia, a publication minute in the public domain.