Joseph (Son of Jacob): Difference between revisions

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Joseph was the great-grandson of [[Abraham]]. Abraham’s son [[Isaac]] married Rebekah at the age of forty,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+25%3A20&version=NIV |title=Genesis 25:20 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> but for twenty years she remained childless until she conceived twins.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+25%3A24-26&version=NIV |title=Genesis 25:24–26 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> God chose Jacob, the younger of [[Isaac]]’s twin sons, to inherit the [[Firstborn|birthright]] and the blessing in place of his brother [[Esau]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+25%3A23&version=NIV |title=Genesis 25:23 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> When Esau realized that Jacob had received the blessing meant for him, he became furious and plotted to kill his brother. Learning of this, Rebekah urged Jacob to flee to her family in Paddan Aram, in Haran, until Esau’s anger subsided.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2027%3A41-46&version=NIV|title=Genesis 27:41-46|언어=|확인date=}}</ref> Jacob obeyed and went to live with his uncle Laban, where he married, built a family, and tended Laban’s flocks for about twenty years before returning to his homeland, Canaan. Jacob eventually had twelve sons and one daughter, and Joseph was his eleventh son—the firstborn of Rachel, the wife he loved most.

When Joseph was seventeen years old, he had a dream in which his brothers’ sheaves of grain bowed down to his own sheaf. When he told the dream to his brothers, they became even more resentful of him. Later, Joseph had another dream—this time the sun, moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to him—and he shared it with both his father and his brothers. Jacob rebuked him, saying, “Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bskorea.or.kr/bible/korbibReadpage.php?version=COG&book=gen&chap=37&sec=10&range=all&keyword1=#focus |title=Genesis 37:10 |publisher=공동번역 |quote= }}</ref> Yet, while his brothers’ hatred toward Joseph grew even stronger, Jacob kept the matter in mind, pondering its meaning.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+37%3A2-11&version=NIV |title=Genesis 37:2–11 |publisher= }}</ref>

Even in prison, God was with Joseph. He found favor in the eyes of the warden,<ref>典獄, 감옥에서 근무하는 관리. 개역개정 성경에는 간수장으로 번역됨.</ref> who placed him in charge of all the prisoners and made him responsible for everything done there. The warden trusted Joseph completely and did not concern himself with anything under Joseph’s care.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+39%3A21-23&version=NIV |title=Genesis 39:21–23 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> During this time, Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer and chief baker were also imprisoned. One night, both men had dreams that troubled them deeply. Joseph noticed their distress and offered to interpret their dreams, explaining that interpretations belong to God. He revealed that the cupbearer would be restored to his position, while the baker would be executed. Joseph asked the cupbearer to remember him and speak to Pharaoh on his behalf once the interpretation came true. Three days later, during Pharaoh’s birthday feast, Joseph’s interpretations were fulfilled exactly as he had said—the cupbearer was restored, and the baker was executed. Yet, the cupbearer forgot about Joseph and said nothing to Pharaoh.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2040&version=NIV|title=Genesis 40|언어=|확인date=}}</ref>

He then advised Pharaoh to appoint a wise and discerning man to oversee the land of Egypt—to collect and store surplus grain during the seven years of abundance, so that the nation could survive the seven years of famine that would follow.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2041%3A1-36&version=NIV|title=Genesis 41:1-36|언어=|확인date=}}</ref>

Pharaoh was pleased with Joseph’s interpretation and appointed him governor over all Egypt. Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his finger and placed it on Joseph’s hand. He dressed him in robes of fine linen, put a gold chain around his neck, and had him ride in his second chariot as his second-in-command. Joseph was thirty years old when he began his service as governor. During the seven years of abundance, he gathered and stored grain in every city throughout Egypt, in such great quantities that it could no longer be measured. When the seven years of famine came, just as Joseph had predicted, he opened the storehouses and sold grain to the people. The famine spread across the entire world, and people from many nations came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2041%3A37-57&version=NIV|title=Genesis 41:37-57|언어=|확인date=}}</ref>

The famine extended to Canaan, and Jacob’s household also faced great hardship. Hearing that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob sent ten of his sons to buy food, keeping Benjamin at home for fear of losing him, just as he had lost Joseph. When Joseph’s brothers arrived in Egypt, they bowed down before him, fulfilling the dream he had once shared with them. Now serving as governor over the land, Joseph recognized his brothers immediately, though they did not recognize him. Concealing his identity, he spoke to them harshly and accused them of being spies. Through persistent questioning, Joseph learned more about their family and claimed he would test their honesty by demanding that they bring their youngest brother to him. He kept Simeon in custody and sent the others home with grain. When the brothers returned and reported everything, Jacob refused to send Benjamin, fearing harm might befall him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2042&version=NIV|title=Genesis 42|언어=|확인date=}}</ref>

However, as the famine grew worse and their supplies ran out, [[Judah (Son of Jacob)|Judah]], Jacob’s fourth son, pledged to take full responsibility for Benjamin’s safety. Reluctantly, Jacob allowed Benjamin to go.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2043%3A1-17&version=NIV|title=Genesis 43:1-17|언어=|확인date=}}</ref> Upon their return to Egypt, Joseph secretly placed a silver cup in Benjamin’s sack and accused him of theft, declaring that Benjamin would remain as his slave. Judah pleaded earnestly to take Benjamin’s place, explaining that their father would die of grief if Benjamin did not return.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2044&version=NIV|title=Genesis 44|언어=|확인date=}}</ref> Moved by Judah’s heartfelt appeal, Joseph could no longer restrain himself. He revealed his identity to his astonished brothers and reassured them, saying they should not be distressed or remorseful for having sold him, for '''God had sent him ahead to preserve life'''. Overcome with emotion, Joseph embraced his brothers in tears. He then invited his entire family to come and live in Goshen, the most fertile region of Egypt.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2045&version=NIV|title=Genesis 45|언어=|확인date=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2047&version=NIV|title=Genesis 47|언어=|확인date=}}</ref> At that time, Jacob’s household that migrated to Egypt numbered seventy persons in all.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+46%3A26-27&version=NIV |title=Genesis 46:26–27 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref>