Reflection Of Vayigash

Jealousy and hate cause Joseph’s brothers to sell him into slavery. The explanation for the jealousy and hate are found in the book of Genesis in the Bible. The Bible explains that Joseph was loved more by their father (Israel) since he was the child of his father’s old age. Another reason is because God gave Joseph the ability to interpret dreams which caused his brothers’ jealousy to turn into hate. (The Norton Anthology World Literature, pg. 180) The jealousy and hate the brothers felt for Joseph would cause the brothers to sell him into slavery and deceive their father.

Joseph soon had another dream, which he presented to his brothers, saying “Listen, I had another dream. I saw the sun, moon, and eleven stars bowing down to me” (Genesis 37:9). Joseph’s brother immediately became

Jacob’s preferential treatment towards Joseph was destructive, and created dissension among Joseph’s brothers (fueled sibling rivalry –

Joseph began his life as the favorite son of Jacob who tended to the flocks as a shepherd.3 These humble beginnings foreshadow how one day Joseph will tend to the Seed of the Woman during times of famine in the land by giving food to this eleven brothers. Jacob, who was the son of Isaac, had eleven other sons who were jealous of the special attention that Joseph received. In fact, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.4 Joseph had a dream that predicted that Joseph would one day reign over his older brothers. This upset his brothers and they tricked Joseph by selling him into slavery. Joseph was then taken to Egypt where he was sold to Potiphar and became a servant in

So when Joseph came to them, they took off his beautiful robe and they threw him in an empty well. Then they sold him to people that were going to Egypt. The brothers took the robe and dipped it in animal’s blood and brought it to their father. They told Jacob that an animal killed him. Jacob was really upset. Joseph was now in Egypt working as a slave. He was Potiphar’s helper and made him mandated of everything he owned. Then the Pharaoh sent him to jail. After some time in jail a cupbearer and a baker’s Pharaoh had a dream that he was going to get out of jail soon. Joseph told them to tell the Pharaoh about him but the cupbearer forgot. Two years later the Pharaoh had a dream, but nobody could understand it. Then the cupbearer remembered what Joseph did for him, and Joseph was brought to Pharaoh. Joseph explained him and the Pharaoh believed all that he told him, and put him in charge of all the land of Egypt. People came from all over to buy grain from Joseph, including Joseph's brothers. When his brothers came, Joseph was able to recognize them, but they did not. Joseph told them that he was their brother and even thought they were afraid Joseph was not mad at them because he knew that God had a better plan for him. After it his entire family moved to Egypt

him into Egypt slavery. The reason begin, Joseph father, guided and love him more. This of

Joseph learned from his father, Elias’ mistakes in both his community leadership and personal life. This is why he became a more powerful leader, as well as a family member. In the beginning of the novel, Elias is introduced, he was the leader of Waknuk, the community that they lived in. He taught and inspired Joseph to lead the community, but he was also a good example for Joseph to learn how to alter his leadership styles to be more effective, this is why Joseph was a much more strict leader. In the beginning of the novel, there is a jump back in time to explain how Joseph was raised.“Elias had never a moment’s doubt of the proper pattern for his heart. My father’s [Joseph’s] faith was bred into his bones, his principles were his sinews, and both responded to a mind richly stored with examples for the Bible and from Nicholson’s Repentances. In faith father and son, were at one; the difference between them was only in approach, the evangelical flash did not appear in my fathers' eyes; his virtue was more legalistic" (16-17).

However, Joseph instanced that they where spies. They explain that there are actually 12 of them who are all brother from the same father. They all live in Canaan, but the youngest is back home, and the other was no longer with them. Joseph replies, “ This is how I will test your story. One you must go, and get your youngest brother while the rest of you stay here. If you do not return with your brother then I will know you are spies.” He put them in prison for three days. On the third day he said to them, “ I am a God fearing man. If you really are honest men then one of you stay in prison while the rest of you go back to your land with grain. But you must return with your youngest brother. This will show that you are telling the true, and you will not die.” They agreed to his terms. Joseph chose Simeon to stay behind while the rest return home. Secretly, Joseph told his servants that while they are filling up his brothers sack with grain to also return their money. On their way home, they stopped for the night to rest. One of the brothers opened his sack to feed his donkey, and found that his money was laying on the grain. They all looked at each other with

community of Waknuk, Joseph considers himself to be worth enough to choose the fate of

Joseph no longer wanted to manipulate people. and he had finally learned how to best tell his dreams without sounding boastful or rude. He let the people know that no one could interpret the dreams he saw besides God, and that he would only tell them what he saw, and not what it meant. Finally, after all the struggles that Joseph went through there was light at the end of the tunnel. The Pharaoh had heard of the man who could interpret dreams, and called upon him.

The story of Joseph in the Bible begins with explanations of Joseph’s youth and innocence and how his brothers were jealous of him because he was the “blessed son”. It involves a lot of specifics, like it mentions that Joseph was seventeen years

A story in the bible about a boy named Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and

The Joseph narrative can be found in the book of Genesis chapters 37-50. It is slightly interrupted “by the story of Judah and Tamar (Gen. 38) and by the so-called Blessing of Jacob (Gen. 49:1-28)” (Skinner, 438). The story of Joseph is seen as unique because it has different characteristics than its counterparts in Genesis. Other writings in Genesis seem to be short, brief incidents, about family and tribal affairs. The Joseph narrative, on the other hand, is lengthy in nature “comprising some 300 verses” (Barton & Muddiman, 60). In fact, Joseph is “second only to Moses in the attention given to him in the Torah” (Spring & Shapiro, 260). Some scholars consider the Joseph

Jacob knew this was a life or death decision. He did not send Benjamin for fear that something might happen to him and he could not stand to lose another son. When the brothers arrived, they bowed before Joseph asking for food. He recognized them right away, but they did not recognize him. Joseph thought about his dreams and then accused them of all being spies.

One of the inherent conflicts in the story of Joseph is the tension between Joseph and his brothers. The tension between them is caused by both Jacob and Joseph. First, Jacob shows favoritism toward Joseph, because he is the son of his favorite wife Rachel. Second, Joseph brings back bad reports when he is out pasturing with his brothers. However, what truly increased the hatred and jealousy was the Joseph’s dreams. The author notes that when Joseph recounts the dreams, “they hated him even more (Gen. 37:8).” Their jealousy for Joseph is strong enough that they are willing to murder him. However, they decide to instead sell him into slavery, and convince Jacob that he was killed.