Joseph's Brothers in Egypt

Joseph's Position

• Joseph could have taken revenge on his brothers.
• Joseph chose to forgive his brothers.
• Joseph worried and cared for his brothers.
• Joseph discovered his brothers loved each other and their father.
• Joseph revealed himself to his brothers and reunited his family in Egypt.

Joseph as a Type of Christ

• Joseph reminds one of Jesus Christ in several ways.
• Joseph was a person in the Old Testament who foreshadowed Christ in the New Testament.
• Joseph was rejected by his brothers, who hated him so much that they wanted to kill him.
• Joseph was brought to Egypt and sent there by God for an important reason.
• Joseph forgave his brothers, saving them from starvation and moving them to Egypt.
• As Joseph continued to care for his family, so Christ cares for all.
• Jesus was rejected by his people.
• God the Father sent Christ to save people from sins and to show how to live as persons created in God’s image.
• Jesus said that all who eat the bread which came from heaven would live forever and that the bread to be given for the life of the world is His flesh (John 6:51).
• Jesus feeds His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity to people in the Eucharist.
• Jesus loves people so much that He forgives mistakes.
• Jesus shows love and forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
• Joseph was a type of the Christ who was to come.

God's Merciful Love

• God showed Joseph His merciful love because God had made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
• The covenant was not to be passed on to Joseph.
• Judah, Joseph’s brother, would receive the blessing of the covenant from their father, Jacob.
• Joseph cooperated with God to save His Chosen people from a famine that covered the entire land.
• God sent Joseph to preserve a remnant on earth and keep alive many survivors (Genesis 45:7).
• God drew good out of Joseph’s tragic situation.
• By saving Joseph and prospering him in Egypt, God saved the Chosen People.
• God showed love to the Israelites in Goshen for 400 years.
• Joseph’s family grew from 70 to over 3 million.
• They lived under the protection of the pharaoh, and there were many destructive wars in Canaan.

Joseph Interprets Dreams

• Joseph interpreted dreams based on Genesis 40:1-41:1, 8-13.
• While in jail, Joseph met two of Pharaoh's officers: the chief butler and the chief baker.
• Both officers had dreams that they could not understand.
• Joseph asked them to tell him their dreams, stating that interpretations belong to God.
• Joseph told the chief butler that he would be restored to his position within three days.
• Joseph told the chief baker his dream meant he would be executed in three days.
• The chief butler remembered Joseph two years later when Pharaoh was troubled by his own dreams.
• Pharaoh called all the magicians of Egypt, but none could interpret them.
• The chief butler told Pharaoh of Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams (Genesis 41:8).

Joseph as an Interpreter of Dreams

• Dreams were taken seriously in Egyptian culture.
• Archaeologists found Egyptian dream manuals kept by magicians and wise men.
• These men were considered intelligent and capable of predicting the future and were paid to explain dreams.
• Interpreters used dream manuals as reference and aid books.
• Joseph did not rely on a dream manual and relied on God.
• Joseph’s brothers called him a "dreamer" (Genesis 37:19).

Joseph's Interpretation of Pharaoh's Dream

• Chapter 41, verses 1-32 describe Pharaoh's dreams and Joseph's interpretation.
• Joseph did not credit himself for his ability to interpret dreams.
• Joseph told Pharaoh that his dreams meant there would be seven years of good harvests.
• These seven years would be followed by seven years of famine.
• Joseph gave Pharaoh a plan of action so farmland wouldn't perish during the famine.

Joseph and His Family Are Reunited

• Egypt experienced the effects of the seven years famine as well as the land of Canaan.
• The surrounding countries also experienced famine.
• Archeologists found tablets writing from Egypt that record that the years of famine described in Genesis were severe.
• Joseph's brothers were sent of Egypt by Jacob to buy food.

Joseph and His Brothers

• Joseph and his brothers has basis on Genesis 42-45.
• Jacob learned that grain rations were available in Egypt and sent his ten sons to buy food.
• Benjamin stayed home with Jacob.
• Joseph immediately recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.
• Joseph was dressed in fine robes and displayed great power.
• The brothers bowed down in respect to Joseph, reminding him of dreams he had about them.
• Joseph did not tell his brothers who he was.
• Joseph accused the brothers of spying on Egypt.
• The brothers protested and told Joseph they were twelve brothers from Canaan with their youngest at their father's home (Genesis 42:13).
• Joseph told the brothers they could prove their story was true by bringing Benjamin.
• Joseph kept Simeon in jail until they returned with Benjamin.
• Joseph confused his brothers by hiding the money they paid for the grain in their bags.
• The brothers told their story to Jacob, who had already lost Joseph and was then afraid to send Benjamin to Egypt.
• Judah convinced Jacob that they would soon need to ask for more grain.
• Jacob agreed to let Benjamin go and told the brothers to take with them double the money they needed in case they were accused of not paying for the first ration of grain.
• The brothers brought gifts of balm, honey, gum, resin, pistachios, and almonds, to give to the powerful governor, Joseph.

Reunion of Joseph and His Family

• In the final part of Joseph's account, the brothers journeyed to Egypt to get food.
• The brothers did not realize the governor of Egypt was their brother.
• Joseph only revealed his true identity after putting them through several tests.
• Joseph discovered his brothers loved their father and were willing to sacrifice themselves for Benjamin.

Joseph's Character

• Joseph acted worthy as a person created in God's image.
• Joseph knew that he was loved by God and that God would care for him.
• Joseph was wise and prudent.
• Joseph was modest and virtuous.
• Joseph relied on God, although he was talented in analyzing dreams.
• Joseph was a handsome and likable fellow, well-spoken, and hardworking.
• He always made the best out of even the worst situations.
• Joseph was successful, noble, Egyptian, and an Israelite.
• Joseph was faithful and loyal to the God of his people.
• In the third and final part of the account, Joseph was a loving and forgiving person.
• Even after the hateful treatment given to him by his brothers, Joseph still loved them.

Joseph Becomes a Powerful Ruler

• Joseph was sold by Midianite traders to Potiphar.
• Potiphar was the chief officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard.
• The pharaoh was the ruler or king of Egypt.
• Potiphar attended the royal court and supervised Pharaoh's business.
• Potiphar's duties included managing accounts and provision/distribution of food + attending to the duties Pharaoh instructed him to do.
• Joseph began his new life as a slave in Potiphar’s household.

Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife

• It was difficult for Joseph to be a slave in a foreign land.
• He was seventeen when sold to Potiphar + missed his father and home.
• Joseph knew God was with him and worked hard.
• Joseph gained Potiphar's trust, becoming charge of Potiphar's household.
• Joseph made him overseer in his house; the blessing of the Lord was upon all.
• Joseph angered Potiphar’s wife by refusing her attempts.
• Potiphar's wife falsely told Potiphar that Joseph mistreated her, so Potiphar threw Joseph into jail.
• The Lord was with Joseph and He showed him mercy (Genesis 39:21).
• The keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners.
• God drew something good out of this situation, and the Lord made it prosper while Joseph spent years in the prison (Genesis 39:23).

Joseph's Rise in Power

• Pharaoh appointed Joseph to oversee the land of Egypt due to his wisdom (Genesis 41:33).
• Grain should be stored during the years of plenty to give to those who need it during the famine.
• Pharaoh was pleased with Joseph's interpretation of his dreams.
• Pharaoh gave Joseph a new level of power (Genesis 41:41).
• Pharaoh bestowed many benefits upon Joseph.
• Pharaoh honored him with a wonderful ceremony to celebrate Joseph's new position of power.
• Pharaoh took his signet ring and put it on Joseph’s hand (Genesis 41:42).
• Joseph's ring contained an engraved stamp or seal.
• The signet ring was pressed to hot wax that stamped official documents with the sign or signature of the pharaoh.
• Pharaoh arrayed Joseph "in garments of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck” (Genesis 41:42).
• Pharaoh gave Joseph a new Egyptian name.
• Pharaoh even arranged a marriage for Joseph and the daughter of Potiphera.
• Joseph received all these honors at 30 years old, rising from slavery to power in 13 years.
• Joseph worked hard during the years of plenty to store the abundance of grain described in Genesis 41:49.
• During this time of plenty, Joseph and his wife, Asenath, had two children, and Joseph remembered God.
• Joseph called the name of his firstborn Manas'seh, meaning ‘God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.’
• Joseph called the second son E'phraim, meaning ‘For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction’’ (Genesis 41:51-52).
• When the famine came, “all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth” (Genesis 41:57).
• Joseph was now ready to meet his brothers again.

Review Questions

• Why Jacob sent his sons to Egypt?
  • To get food.
• Why didn't Joseph's brothers recognize him?
  • He was dressed in fine robes and a man of great power.
• Of what crime did Joseph accuse his brothers on their first journey?
  • He accused them of spying on Egypt.
• What Joseph's brothers have to do in order to prove the truth of their story?
  • Bringing Benjamin to Joseph.
• Besides Benjamin, what else did Joseph's brothers bring on their second journey to Egypt?
  • Gifts of balm and honey, gum, resin, pistachios and almonds.

This quiz explores the biblical narrative of Joseph and his brothers' journey to Egypt during a famine. Questions cover key events, including who sent them, the items they carried, and the challenges they faced in their interactions with Joseph, whom they did not initially recognize.