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Joseph

Joseph
  1. Jacobs Age at His Birth'. Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh ( Genesis 41:46 ). The seven plenteous years and two years of the famine had passed when Jacob went into Egypt (30+7+2=39) ( Genesis 41:46 Genesis 41:53 Genesis 41:54 ; Genesis 45:4-6 ; Genesis 47:1-9 ). Jacob was one hundred thirty years old when he entered Egypt ( Genesis 47:1-9 ). Jacob was, therefore, (130 - 39 = 91) ninety-one years old at the birth of Joseph.

  2. Early Life. Joseph was the son of Rachel, born to Jacob in his old age ( Genesis 30:1-24 ), and was therefore the favorite ( Genesis 37:3 ; Joseph had two remarkable dreams, resulting in the estrangement of his brothers and the suspicion of his father ( Genesis 37:5-11 ). His brothers sold him into slavery, and deceived their father by dipping the coat of many colors into the blood of a goat, assuring him that they had found it ( Genesis 37:15-35 ).

  3. Lessons from Jacobs Mourning'. Jacob mourned for Joseph, believing that he was dead ( Genesis 37:31-35 ). We may learn from this,
    1. to be careful about acting on the testimony of prejudiced witnesses,
    2. and that a lie conscientiously believed and acted upon will produce substantially the same effects as the truth.

  4. Early Life in Egypt. Joseph was sold to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh. ( Genesis 39:1 ; Acts 7:9 ). On a false charge he was thrown into prison. In prison he enjoyed the confidence of the keeper, and interpreted the dreams of the butler and baker ( Genesis 39:21-23 ; Genesis 40:1-23 ).

  5. Pharaohs Dreams'. The king had two dreams:
    1. He stood by the river and saw seven well-favored and fat-fleshed kine come up out of the river and feed in a meadow, and seven other kine that were ill-favored and lean-fleshed followed and devoured them.
    2. He beheld seven ears of corn upon one stalk, rank and good, and they were followed by seven thin and blasted ears by which they were devoured ( Genesis 41:1-7 ).

  6. Josephs Interpretation'. The wise men failed to give the king's mind any relief, and Pharaoh, on the suggestion of the chief butler, called for Joseph, who declared that the dreams were one, and predicted that there would immediately follow seven years of plenty, succeeded by seven years of famine ( Genesis 41:8-32 ).

  7. His Elevation. Pharaoh immediately clothed Joseph in royal vestures, made him ride in the second chariot, and required the people to prostrate themselves before him ( Genesis 41:33-45 ).

  8. His Marriage. Pharaoh gave him the name Zaphnathpaaneah (preserver of the age, or revealer of secrets), and also gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potipherah, priest of On, to wife. By this union were two sons ( Genesis 41:44-52 ).

  9. Preparation for the Famine. Joseph immediately began to make preparations for the famine. He gathered corn "as the sands of the sea" and stored it in the cities ( Genesis 41:47-52 ).

  10. Famine in Egypt. The famine began as Joseph had predicted and covered the entire land of Egypt ( Genesis 41:53-57 ).

< Esau and Jacob Duration of the Sojourn in Egypt >
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