Joseph (“Multi-Colored Dream Coat”)
(Genesis chapters 37-50)
“Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other
sons…and he made a richly ornamented robe for him.” (37:3)
Joseph had several dreams where his brothers bowed down to him, this made
his brothers angry. As a result,
Joseph’s brothers sold him, as a slave, for 20 shekels (about 8 ounces) of
silver. He was sold “…in Egypt to
Potiphar, one of the Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard.”
(37:36) Potiphar placed Joseph in
charge of all he owned and the Lord gave him success in everything he did!
Joseph is placed in prison because of a false accusation by Potiphar’s
wife. (39:6-20) The prison warden
placed Joseph in charge of everything in the prison. (39:20-23)
Joseph interprets the dreams of two fellow inmates and the Pharaoh.
(chapters 40 & 41) “So
Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of
Egypt.’” (41:41)
Israelites move to Egypt
Joseph stores up grain during 7 years of abundance so there is food during
the following 7 years of famine. In chapter 42 ten of Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt and
bow down before Joseph as they ask to buy grain.
They make a second trip in chapters 43-45. Jacob, his sons and all of their families and possessions
move to Egypt and they settle in the region of Goshen. (47:27)
Jacob lived 147 years (47:28) and Joseph 110 years (50:22 & 26).
NOTE: This completes the book of Genesis in the Bible. Most of Genesis presents events in chronological order. Genesis is relatively easy to read. A fast reader can read the book of Genesis in three hours, a slower reader may take five hours or more.