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}}</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}}</ref>