Joseph was the son of Jacob (called Israel) and Rachel, see Jacob, the Son of Isaac. (In this article the name Jacob is used instead of the name Israel).
Joseph, a young man seventeen years old, tended the flocks with his brothers.
Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, and he made a robe just for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them,
they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. (Gen 37:2–4).
Favoritism creates many problems, isn't wise and must be avoided. God doesn't show favoritism as men do (Jas 1:9–10). When we receive Jesus into our lives, we become children of God (John 1:12). We are all God's children equally, whether we are popular or not popular, male or female, rich or poor (Proverbs 22:2).
We shouldn't show partiality (Jas 2:1–8). It's sin (Jas 2:9).
It seems that Jacob was unaware about this, and Joseph made matters worse by telling them his dreams, which made his brothers hate him even more. The dreams came true and came from the Lord, but the timing to tell them wasn't the best:
Joseph dreamt that he and his brothers were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly his sheaf rose up and stood upright, while his brothers' sheaves gathered around his and bowed to it. His brothers hated him all the more because of his dream. Then he had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars bowed down to him (Rev 12:1). His father rebuked him for this, but kept the matter in mind. His brothers were jealous of him. (Gen 37:5–11).
Joseph's brothers had gone to graze their father’s flocks when Jacob sent Joseph to them to see if all was well. When his brothers saw him from a distance, they plotted to kill him. When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands, and proposed to throw him into a cistern. He wanted to rescue him from them and take him back to his father. They stripped him of his robe and threw him into the cistern. It was empty, there was no water in it. As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Midianites on their way to Egypt. Judah convinced his brothers to sell Joseph to the Midianites. They pulled Joseph out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Midianites, who took him to Egypt. They sinned against Joseph (Gen 42:21). When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph wasn't there, he tore his clothes and asked his brothers what they should do. They then took Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood and brought it back to their father. He recognized it as Joseph's robe. He thought some animal had devoured him. He tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son for many days.
All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. Meanwhile, Joseph was sold in Egypt to Potiphar, who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard. (Gen 37:12–36, Acts 7:9a).
The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master Potiphar. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to him all that he owned. The Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian for Joseph's sake. (Gen 39:1–6a).
After a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and told him to go and lie with her. But he refused. He said that his master had withheld nothing from him except her, because she was his wife. He also said that he couldn't do such an evil thing and sin against God. He refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. One day he entered the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants were inside. She grabbed him by his cloak and told him to go lie down with her. But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. She called her household servants and told them that Joseph came to lie with her, but she screamed for help. And that he then left his cloak beside her and ran out of the house. She also told this story to Potiphar. He became very angry and put Joseph in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were. But while Joseph was there, the Lord was with him and gave him favor in the eyes of the jailer. He put Joseph in charge of all those kept in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. (Gen 39:6b–23).
Joseph gave two explanations for his rejection of Potiphar's wife. He raises the issue of loyalty to Potiphar himself. It had been a betrayal of the trust he had given Joseph. It would also have been a sin against God. It would have been evil to do so. Adultery is evil. Joseph even refused to be with her. It's wise to keep your distance. One key to staying away from temptations is to avoid being around environments that can lead to temptations. (Rom 13:13–14). See Sanctification.
See also time 0:20–1:11 in DAVID GUZIK SERMON ON GENESIS 40 . . ..
Some time later, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt. Pharaoh became angry with them and put them in the same prison where Joseph was confined. The captain of the guard gave them to Joseph, and he took care of them. After they were in custody for some time, each of them had a dream the same night, and each dream had its own meaning. Joseph told them that interpretations belong to God, and that they should tell him their dreams. The chief cupbearer told him his dream: He saw a vine in front of him, and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed and its clusters ripened into grapes. He had Pharaoh's cup in his hand, and he took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and put the cup in his hand. Joseph told him what the dream meant: The three branches were three days. Within three days Pharaoh would raise his head and restore him to his position, and he would put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as he used to do when he was his cupbearer.
Joseph then asked him, when all goes well for him, to mention about Joseph to Pharaoh to get him out of prison. He said that he had done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon. When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given a favorable interpretation, he told Joseph his dream: On his head stood three baskets of bread. In the topmost basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds ate them out of the basket on his head. Joseph told him what the dream meant: The three baskets were three days. Within three days, Pharaoh would lift off his head and impale his body on a pole, and the birds would eat his flesh.
On the third day it was Pharaoh’s birthday, and he held a feast for all his officials.
He raised the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker in the presence of his officials. He restored the chief cupbearer to his position so that he again placed the cup into Pharaoh’s hand, but he impaled the chief baker, just as Joseph had told them in his interpretations. But the chief cupbearer forgot Joseph.
(Gen 40:1–23).
Joseph had spent some time in prison before giving his interpretations, and another two years afterward (Gen 41:1) even though he did the right thing. He had done what God wanted him to do. The man he had helped didn't care about him.
Joseph needed to maintain his patience and perseverance during his time in prison. He received no bitterness or unforgiveness for being wronged in so many ways. He didn't give up his faith. God had a plan and a purpose for
Joseph's life, which probably involved spending time in prison (James 1:3–4).
Prison had a profound effect on him and made him more humble. There was a true and sincere brokenness of pride in his life, to be compared with the latter part of The Apostle Peter. He never sought revenge for all the wrongs he had suffered when he was later given the power to do so, see
Forgive and You will Be Forgiven. As Christian believers, we are called to live as followers of Christ (2 Thess 3:5). Doing the right thing can bring all kinds of persecution just for being a Christian (Rev 1:9, 13:10, 14:12).
When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile, when seven cows came up from the river, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds. After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out from the Nile and stood beside them on the riverbank. And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up. He fell asleep again and dreamed
a second dream: Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, grew on a single stalk. After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted, thin and scorched by the east wind. The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh awoke; it had been a dream. In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him. (Gen 41:1–8).
Then the chief cupbearer told Pharaoh about Joseph, and Pharaoh sent for Joseph. When he came before him, Pharaoh told Joseph that he had heard that Joseph could interpret dreams. Joseph answered him that he couldn't, but God would give Pharaoh the answer he desired. Then Pharaoh told Joseph about his dreams. Joseph told Pharaoh that Pharaoh's two dreams were one and the same. God had revealed to Pharaoh what he was to do. The seven good cows were seven years, and the seven good heads of grain were seven years; it was one and the same dream. The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward were seven years, and so were the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They were seven years of famine. Seven years of great abundance would come over all the land of Egypt, but seven years of famine would follow them. Then all the abundance of Egypt would be forgotten, and famine would ravage the land. The abundance of the land wouldn't be remembered, because the famine that would follow it would be so severe. The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms was that the matter was decided by God, and God would do it soon.
(Gen 41:9–32).
Joseph gave Pharaoh knowledge of the dream; about what would happen, see
9. Interpretation of tongues and 2. The word of knowledge in Spiritual Gifts.
Joseph said that Pharaoh needed to look for a discerning and wise man
and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. Pharaoh needed to appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of Egypt's harvest during the seven years of abundance. They would collect all the food from these good years to come and store up the grain under Pharaoh's authority to store in the cities to eat. This food should be kept in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that would come upon Egypt, so that the land won't be ruined by the famine. The plan worked well for Pharaoh and for all his officials. Then Pharaoh told Joseph that there was no one so discerning and wise as he, because God had made all these things known to him. Joseph was to be in charge of the palace, and all the people must submit to his orders. Only in regard to the throne would Pharaoh be greater than him. Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all the land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He made him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command. Pharaoh named Joseph Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath as his wife. Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.
(Gen 41:33–46a, Acts 7:9b–10, Psalm 105:16–22).
Joseph applied wisdom to this knowledge; what to do about what would happen,
see 1. The word of wisdom in Spiritual Gifts. Even Pharaoh understood that the Spirit of God was upon Joseph (Gen 41:37–38) in a very practical way (Gen 41:39).
Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled through Egypt. During the seven years of abundance, the land produced plentifully. Joseph collected all the food produced during those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure. Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by his wife. Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh, and the second son Ephraim. The seven years of abundance in Egypt ended, and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all other lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was food. When all Egypt began to feel famine, the people cried out to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians to go to Joseph and do as he told them. When the famine had spread throughout the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. And people came from all over the world to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere. (Gen 41:46b–57).
There is a fine line between what we are taught about trusting the Lord for our daily bread and preparing ourselves for bad days through hard work. We aren't to be lazy (Proverbs 6:6–8, 10–11). The Bible has nothing bad to say about hard work. It doesn't take away godliness, the fear of God, where we trust God (Proverbs 3:5–6).
There was also famine in the land of Canaan. When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he told his sons to go to Egypt and buy some grain for them. Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. But Jacob didn't send Benjamin (Joseph’s brother) with the others, because he was afraid that he would be hurt. Joseph was governor of the land, the one who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers came, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they didn't recognize him. Then he remembered his dreams about them and accused them of being spies. They denied it and answered that they were twelve brothers, sons of one man, who lived in the land of Canaan. The youngest was with his father, and one was no more. Joseph told them that they wouldn't leave that place unless their youngest brother came to Egypt. They should send one of them to fetch their brother; the rest of them would be kept in prison, that their words might be tried to see if they spoke the truth. If they weren't, then they were spies. And he put them all in custody for three days. On the third day Joseph told them that if they were honest men, they would let one of their brothers remain in prison, while the rest of them would go and bring back grain to their starving households. But they must bring their youngest brother to him, that their words may be confirmed, and that they shouldn't die. And they did so.
(Gen 42:1–20, Acts 7:11–12).
They thought that they were being punished for what they had done to Joseph. They remembered how distressed Joseph had been when he pleaded with them for his life, but they wouldn't listen. They believed that was the reason why this distress had come on them. Reuben replied that he had told them not to sin against the boy, but they didn’t listen, and now they must account for his blood. They didn't realize that Joseph could understand them, because he used an interpreter. He turned away from them and began to weep, but then came back and spoke to them again.
(Gen 42:21–24a).
Joseph had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes. Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to put each man’s silver back into his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. After this was done for them, they loaded their grain on their donkeys and left. At the place where they stopped for the night, one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey, and he saw his silver in the mouth of his sack. He told his brothers, and they were afraid. When they came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them. They said that the man who was lord of the land spoke harshly to them and treated them as if they were spying on the land. He had told them to bring their youngest brother to him so that he would know that they weren't spies but honest men. Then he would give their brother back to them, and they could trade in the land. When they emptied their sacks, in each man's sack was his pouch of silver. When they and their father saw the money pouches, they were frightened. Reuben told his father that he could kill both of his sons if he didn't bring Benjamin back to them. But Jacob didn't allow them to take him with them to Egypt.
(Gen 42:24b–38).
The famine was still severe in the land of Canaan. When they had eaten all the grain they had brought with them from Egypt, Jacob told his sons to go back and buy more food. But Judah told him that they must take Benjamin with them. His father Jacob could hold him personally responsible for his safety. If he didn't take him back, he would carry the guilt before him for the rest of his life. Jacob agreed and told them to put some of the best produce of the land in their bags and to bring them down to the man as gifts. And to take the double amount of silver with them, for they must return the silver that was put back in their sacks. The men took the gifts and doubled the amount of silver, and they also brought Benjamin with them. They hurried down to Egypt and introduced themselves to Joseph. When Joseph saw Benjamin with them he told the steward of his house that he would take them
to his house to slaughter an animal and prepare a meal; they would eat with him. The men were frightened when they were taken to his house. They thought that he wanted to attack them, overpower them, seize them as slaves, and take their donkeys. Joseph then brought Simeon out to them. The steward brought the men into Joseph’s house, gave them water to wash their feet, and fed their donkeys. They prepared their gifts for Joseph’s arrival at noon, because they had heard that they would eat there. When Joseph came home, they presented him the gifts they had brought into the house, and they bowed down before him to the ground.
They didn't have to return the money. Deeply moved at the sight of his brother
Benjamin, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there. After he had washed his face, he came out and ordered the food to be served. They served him for himself, the brothers for themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him for themselves, because Egyptians couldn't eat with the Hebrews, for it was detestable to the Egyptians. The men had been set before him in order of age, from the firstborn to the youngest; and they looked at each other in astonishment. When portions were served to them from Joseph’s table,
Benjamin’s portion was five times as large as anyone else’s. So they feasted and drank freely with him. (Gen 43:1–34).
It's been roughly 22 years since all the brothers were together at once.
See how Joseph points on Jesus the Messiah at time 18:25–19:18 in DAVID GUZIK SERMON ON GENESIS 43 JOSEPH MEETS HIS BROTHERS A SECOND TIME.
See also at time 33:58–37:23 in the same link how Joseph tested his brothers.
Joseph wasn't pouring out more favors on Benjamin simply because he liked him best. The reason was also that he was still testing his brothers. His brothers hated him when Jacob poured out extra favors on him. Joseph wanted to see if that bad behavior was still there towards his brother Benjamin.
Joseph told his steward of his house to fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they could carry, and to put each man’s silver in his sack. Then the steward should put his silver cup in the sack of the youngest, together with the silver for his grain. He did as Joseph said. The men hadn't gone far from the city when Joseph told his steward to go after them and ask them why they had taken his cup. When he caught up with them, he repeated these words to them. They replied that if he could find the cup, whoever had it would die, and the rest of them would become slaves. The steward replied that whoever was found to have it would become slave, but the rest of them would be free from guilt. Each of them quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it. The cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. They then tore their clothes, loaded their donkeys, and returned back to the city. Joseph was still in the house when Judah and his brothers entered, and they threw themselves to the ground before him. Judah said that God had revealed their guilt and that they were now their slaves. But Joseph said that only the man found with the cup would be his slave. The rest of them could go back to their father in peace. Judah then appealed to Joseph for Benjamin. He asked Joseph to be taken as slave in Benjamin's place. (Gen 44:1–34).
It was a very compelling speech by Judah (Gen 44:18–31, 32–34). It showed a sign of brokenness from pride in his life, a change of heart. This can be compared with the last part of The Apostle Peter, who also needed to be broken from pride in order to act as leader among God's children. Judah begged for Benjamin. He was willing to be taken as a slave instead of Benjamin. He was a changed man. This is what Joseph wanted to find out if they were willing to sacrifice Benjamin in the same way as they had sacrificed him. See this also explained at time 3:46–4:27 in
DAVID GUZIK SERMON ON GENESIS 44 JOSEPH TESTS HIS BROTHERS.
Then Joseph could no longer control himself in front of all his attendants, and he wept. He told his brothers that he was Joseph they had sold into Egypt and asked if his father was still alive. He then told them that they shouldn't be distressed or angry with themselves for selling him into Egypt, because it was to save lives that God had sent him before them. For two years there had been famine in the land, and for the next five years there would be no plowing and no reaping. But God had sent him before them to preserve them. It wasn't they who had sent him to Egypt, but God. He made him the father of Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. They would hurry back to his father and tell him that God had made Joseph lord of all Egypt, and that he would come down to him. They would live in the land of Goshen and be near him, they, their children and grandchildren, their flocks and herds and all that they had. Joseph would provide for them, as five years of famine were still to come. Otherwise they, their households and all who belonged to them would be destitute. Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him. And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterwards his brothers talked with him.
(Gen 45:1–15, Acts 7:13–14).
There wasn't brokenness of pride only in the lives of Joseph's brothers. Also
Joseph had gone through a life of roughly 22 years of broken pride.
It started when he was thrown into a dry cistern. Then sold as a slave in Egypt. Faulty accused of adultery. Thrown into prison and forgotten. Left alone.
Joseph had forgiven them, and also wanted them to forgive themselves.
It's an act of self-centeredness to focus on my own sin to not be able to forgive myself. If I have been forgiven by God or man, I must also be able to forgive myself. Failure to do so is an obstacle to moving forward. Jesus bore the sin of the world on the cross.
When news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had arrived, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased. Pharaoh told Joseph to tell his brothers to load their animals and return to the land of Canaan and to bring their father and families back to him. Pharaoh would give them the best of the land of Egypt. They could take some carts from Egypt for their children and wives, and get their father and come. They shouldn't care about their belongings, for the best of all Egypt would be theirs. Joseph gave them carts as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey. To each of them he gave new clothes, but to Benjamin
he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five sets of clothes. He sent to his father ten donkeys loaded with the best of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey. Then he sent his brothers away, telling them not to quarrel on the way. So they left Egypt and came to their father
Jacob in the land of Canaan. They told him that Joseph was still alive and that he was the ruler of all Egypt. Jacob was stunned; he didn't believe them. But when they told him all that Joseph had told them, and when he saw the carts that Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. He said that he was convinced that his son Joseph was still alive and that he wanted to go and see him before he died. (Gen 45:16–28).
Jacob set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to God. God spoke to him in a vision at night (probably in a dream)
and said that he shouldn't be afraid to go down into Egypt, for he would make him a great nation there. God would go down to Egypt with him, and he would surely bring them back again. And Joseph’s own hand would close his eyes. Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt, taking with them their livestock and possessions they had acquired in Canaan. Jacob brought with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons and his daughters and granddaughters, all his offspring.
(Gen 46:1–7, Exo 1:1–5, Acts 7:15a, Psalm 105:23).
It was a real threat to be assimilated in the land of Canaan. Therefore, it was important to move to Egypt, because Jesus would come from their offspring.
Note that the number of Jacob's descendants who came to Egypt was 75 and not 70 (Acts 7:14, Exo 1:5, Gen 46:27b), see time 26:50–28:24 in
Were the Pyramids Built Before the Flood? There were also a number of other people belonging to Jacob's household, such as the wives to his sons
(Gen 46:26b). See also Which Version of the Old Testament did Jesus Use?
As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his father and wept for a long time. Jacob told Joseph that he was now ready to die, because he had seen for himself that he was still alive. Then Joseph told his brothers and to his father’s household, that he would speak to Pharaoh and tell him that they had arrived. And that they were shepherds; they tend livestock, and that they had brought with them their flocks and herds and all that they owned. When Pharaoh asked them about their occupation, they would reply that they had tended livestock from their boyhood on, just as their fathers did. Then they would be allowed to settle in the land of Goshen, because all shepherds were detestable to the Egyptians.
Joseph went and told Pharaoh that they had arrived and were now in the
land of Goshen. Pharaoh asked his brothers what their occupations were. They replied that they were shepherds, just as their fathers were. They also asked him to be allowed to settle in the land of Goshen. Pharaoh told Joseph that the land of Egypt lay before him; and that they could settle in the best part of the land, and that they were allowed to live in the land of Goshen. Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob
and presented him before Pharaoh. Jacob blessed Pharaoh and said he was
130 years old. (Gen 46:28–47:10).
They told Pharaoh that they were shepherds. This allowed them to settle in the
land of Goshen, for all shepherds were detestable to the Egyptians, and this was a place where the Egyptians hadn't settled at this time. It was a place where they wouldn't assimilate. They would also be hated by the Egyptians, not first when Joseph was alive but later, which also prevented them from assimilating. From the people of Israel Jesus would come, and therefore it was important to maintain the separation from other people. (2 Cor 6:14–18, Isaiah 52:11).
The main reason for not marrying people from other nations was to keep them from being led away from the Lord and worshiping other gods.
They were given property in the best part of the land, the district of Ramesses, as Pharaoh directed. Joseph also provided food for his father, his brothers, and all his father’s household, according to the number of their children. (Gen 47:11–12).
Joseph gave the food according to the needs of the people.
anachronism. In ancient times it was called Avaris. This Avaris is the city located below the capital of Ramesses, found during archeological excavations.
Avaris was a place where Semitic people lived for hundred of years. The Hebrews lived in the land of Goshen. It's the place known as Avaris and later as
Pi-Ramesses = the biblical Ramesses.
land of Goshen. They acquired property there and became fruitful and greatly increased in number. Jacob lived in Egypt for seventeen years, and he lived to be 147 years. When the time drew near for him to die, he called his son Joseph and told him to not bury him in Egypt, but to bring him out of Egypt and bury him where his fathers were buried. Joseph promised to do so. (Gen 47:13–31).
Manasseh was the firstborn. Manasseh would become a people and become great. But Ephraim would be greater than he, and his descendants would become a group of nations. Jacob put Ephraim before Manasseh. The word "firstborn" is many times more of a position, a role of preeminence (Jer 31:9b). King David was called the firstborn (Psalm 89:27 (28 in some translations)). Jesus is called the firstborn over all creation (Col 1:15b), see The Order between Jesus and the Father in the Trinity. Then Jacob told Joseph that God would be with him and bring him back to the land of his fathers. Jacob gave Joseph one more ridge of land than to his brothers, the ridge he took from the Amorites. Then Jacob gathered his sons and prophesied over them. He compared Judah to a lion’s cub. Jacob prophesied that the scepter wouldn't depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belonged should come and the obedience of the nations should be his. When Jacob had finished giving instructions, he breathed his last and was gathered to his people. (Gen 48:1–49:33, Acts 7:15b–16).
Jesus is called the Son of David. See Prophecies that Jesus Fulfilled.
see the last paragraph in Jacob, the Son of Isaac. It was given to Manasseh and
Ephraim the sons of Joseph (1 Chron 5:1–3), who then together inherited a double portion of the inheritance of Jacob. Since Jacob adopted Joseph's sons Manasseh
and Ephraim (Gen 48:5), these sons received the inheritance to be given to Joseph, they represented Joseph. This led to Joseph receiving a double portion of the Promised Land through his two sons. They are counted among the twelve landowners of the Promised Land, instead of Joseph and also instead of Levi. The tribe of Levi wouldn't be allowed to be landowners because they would serve particular religious duties, but they received cities, see The Book of Malachi.
- (the tribe of Manasseh and the tribe of Ephraim) =
the twelve tribes of Israel (Gen 49:3–28). The number 12 is often associated
with government or administration in God's eyes, see time 7:40–9:06 in
DAVID GUZIK SERMON ON GENESIS 48 JACOB BLESSES JOSEPH’S SONS.
he made no mention of Simeon. The tribe of Simeon was to be absorbed by the surrounding tribe of Judah (Gen 49:5–7, Joshua 19:1–9). The tribe of Dan stands out negatively, see The 144,000 in the Book of Revelation. So did the tribe of Benjamin which was almost wiped out, see Israel's Version of Sodom and Gomorrah. However, these tribes will have their names at the twelve gates of the wall at the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:12–13), see A New Heaven and a New Earth, showing the magnitude of God's grace and mercy, see God's Attributes.
Canaan and buried him in the cave on the field that Abraham had bought for a burial place. After burying his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all the others who had gone with him to bury his father. When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they were afraid that Joseph would hold a grudge against them and repay them back for all the wrongdoings they had done to him. They therefore sent word to Joseph, saying that Jacob had told them before he died that they should tell Joseph to forgive his brothers their sins and wrongdoings they committed in treating him so badly. When their message came to Joseph, he wept. His brothers then came and fell down before him, saying that they were his slaves. But Joseph told them not to be afraid. He wasn't in in God's place. They intended to harm him, but God intended it for good to accomplish what was now done, to save many lives. They shouldn't be afraid. He would provide for them and their children. And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. Joseph stayed in Egypt with all his father's family. Joseph lived 110 years and saw the third generation of Ephraim’s children. Also the children of Makir, son of Manasseh, were placed at birth on Joseph’s knees. Then Joseph told his brothers that he was going to die. But God would surely come to them and bring them up up from this land to the land that he promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with an oath. And Joseph made them swear an oath to bring up his bones from Egypt. Joseph died at the age of 110. And after they embalmed him, he was put in a coffin in Egypt. (Gen 50:1–26).
Joseph also believed that his presence in Egypt was ordained and planned by God. It was an act of obedience on his part to be there and fulfill his ministry, given by God.
and Do not judge others in The Sermon on the Mount. Joseph did that to his brothers. It's up to God to judge, it's not up to us (Rom 12:19, Heb 10:30).
