Changes

Joseph then had two vivid and prophetic dreams which, out of either arrogance or simple tactlessness, he told to his brothers and to his father and mother, causing further resentment. In one, Joseph and his brothers were binding sheaves of [[grain]] (probably [[wheat]]), and suddenly Joseph's sheaf stood upright and the other sheaves bowed low to it. The brothers quite reasonably interpreted that to mean that Joseph would reign over them.

Joseph then had two vivid and prophetic dreams which, out of either arrogance or simple tactlessness, he told to his brothers and to his father and mother, causing further resentment. In one, Joseph and his brothers were binding sheaves of [[grain]] (probably [[wheat]]), and suddenly Joseph's sheaf stood upright and the other sheaves bowed low to it. The brothers quite reasonably interpreted that to mean that Joseph would reign over them.

In another, Joseph dreamed that the sun, the moon, and eleven stars bowed low to him. Even Jacob found that an arrogant thing to say--though he remembered it, perhaps finding it significant and possibly [[prophet]]ic.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=37|verses=5-11}}</ref>

In another, Joseph dreamed that the sun, the moon, and eleven stars bowed low to him. Even Jacob found that an arrogant thing to say—though he remembered it, perhaps finding it significant and possibly [[prophet]]ic.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=37|verses=5-11}}</ref>

[[Image:Hippjose.jpg|150px|right]]

[[Image:Hippjose.jpg|150px|right]]

The baker's dream was far more dire: he had three baskets of baked goods balanced on his head, and the birds ate them all. Joseph told him that within three days he would be executed, and birds would eat his flesh afterward.<ref>This was a dreadful humiliation in [[Egypt]]ian culture, because it meant that the baker would be denied even the enjoyment of the next life.</ref>

The baker's dream was far more dire: he had three baskets of baked goods balanced on his head, and the birds ate them all. Joseph told him that within three days he would be executed, and birds would eat his flesh afterward.<ref>This was a dreadful humiliation in [[Egypt]]ian culture, because it meant that the baker would be denied even the enjoyment of the next life.</ref>

The third day happened to be the Pharaoh's birthday--and on that day, the butler ''was'' reinstaed, and the baker ''was'' executed.

The third day happened to be the Pharaoh's birthday—and on that day, the butler ''was'' reinstaed, and the baker ''was'' executed.

The butler did not, however, remember to speak to Pharaoh about Joseph's case. But the butler would not forget Joseph forever--for within two years he would have occasion to remember him again.

The butler did not, however, remember to speak to Pharaoh about Joseph's case. But the butler would not forget Joseph forever—for within two years he would have occasion to remember him again.

==Pharaoh's Adviser==

==Pharaoh's Adviser==

Joseph was married at this time to [[Asenath]], daughter of [[Potipherah Priest of On]]. By her he had two sons, [[Manasseh]] and [[Ephraim]].<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=41|verses=45-52}}</ref>

Joseph was married at this time to [[Asenath]], daughter of [[Potipherah Priest of On]]. By her he had two sons, [[Manasseh]] and [[Ephraim]].<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=41|verses=45-52}}</ref>

During the next seven years, Egypt saw some of the most abundant harvests in that nation's history. Joseph did exactly as he said he would: he reserved one-fifth of the harvest in granaries in every major city. Then the famine struck. This famine affected not only Egypt but also all the surrounding lands--but Joseph now had granaries full of grain to dole out to anyone who asked, Egyptian or foreign.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=41|verses=53-57}}</ref>

During the next seven years, Egypt saw some of the most abundant harvests in that nation's history. Joseph did exactly as he said he would: he reserved one-fifth of the harvest in granaries in every major city. Then the famine struck. This famine affected not only Egypt but also all the surrounding lands—but Joseph now had granaries full of grain to dole out to anyone who asked, Egyptian or foreign.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=41|verses=53-57}}</ref>

===Joseph tests his brothers===

===Joseph tests his brothers===

Two years into the famine, Jacob sent ten of his eleven remaining sons to Egypt to buy grain. Joseph now remembered his original dreams of reigning over his brothers and decided to test them.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=42-44}}</ref> He at first accused them of being on a spy mission for a warring foreign power--not an entirely unreasonable assumption, except that Joseph knew who his brothers were, even if they did not recognize him. (They knew him by his Egyptian name Zaphnathpaaneah, not by his Hebrew name Joseph.) The brothers told him their history, except that they said that one of their number (Joseph) was dead, which of course was untrue, and that another brother ([[Benjamin]]) was staying with their father. Joseph ordered them to bring Benjamin back to him, and held [[Simeon]] as a hostage against their return. But Joseph also gave them a full ration of grain to take back to Jacob in [[Canaan]]--and also returned the money they had used to buy it, by placing it in their grain sacks for them to find on the return journey.

Two years into the famine, Jacob sent ten of his eleven remaining sons to Egypt to buy grain. Joseph now remembered his original dreams of reigning over his brothers and decided to test them.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=42-44}}</ref> He at first accused them of being on a spy mission for a warring foreign power—not an entirely unreasonable assumption, except that Joseph knew who his brothers were, even if they did not recognize him. (They knew him by his Egyptian name Zaphnathpaaneah, not by his Hebrew name Joseph.) The brothers told him their history, except that they said that one of their number (Joseph) was dead, which of course was untrue, and that another brother ([[Benjamin]]) was staying with their father. Joseph ordered them to bring Benjamin back to him, and held [[Simeon]] as a hostage against their return. But Joseph also gave them a full ration of grain to take back to Jacob in [[Canaan]]—and also returned the money they had used to buy it, by placing it in their grain sacks for them to find on the return journey.

Eventually the brothers had to return, after the grain ration ran out. This time they brought Benjamin with them. Again Joseph sent them back with a full load of grain, and again Joseph put back their money into their sacks--but this time Joseph hid a silver cup in Benjamin's sack. He then had the brothers arrested, ostentatiously searched them, and "found" the cup in Benjamin's sack. Whereupon [[Judah]], who by now had acceded to the headship of the family in place of Reuben, confessed all to Joseph, including the complete truth of Joseph's disappearance. Judah also offered himself as a hostage in place of Benjamin.

Eventually the brothers had to return, after the grain ration ran out. This time they brought Benjamin with them. Again Joseph sent them back with a full load of grain, and again Joseph put back their money into their sacks—but this time Joseph hid a silver cup in Benjamin's sack. He then had the brothers arrested, ostentatiously searched them, and "found" the cup in Benjamin's sack. Whereupon [[Judah]], who by now had acceded to the headship of the family in place of Reuben, confessed all to Joseph, including the complete truth of Joseph's disappearance. Judah also offered himself as a hostage in place of Benjamin.

===Revelation and Reunion===

===Revelation and Reunion===

===Policy During the Famine===

===Policy During the Famine===

The famine was so sore in Egypt that very quickly the Egyptian people ran out of money to buy grain. So Joseph allowed them to pay him in cattle, and thus acquired for Pharaoh all of the livestock of Egypt. Eventually even livestock gave out, and so Joseph ended up buying all the land that everyone held--so that from that day forward, the Pharaoh owned all the land directly. (This did not apply to the priestly class, because they always received a portion of whatever grain Pharaoh himself had.) Joseph also set this permanent policy for all farmers in Egypt: that every year, when they had a plentiful harvest, they would give twenty percent to Pharaoh as a store against a repeat of the famine.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=47|verses=13-26}}</ref>

The famine was so sore in Egypt that very quickly the Egyptian people ran out of money to buy grain. So Joseph allowed them to pay him in cattle, and thus acquired for Pharaoh all of the livestock of Egypt. Eventually even livestock gave out, and so Joseph ended up buying all the land that everyone held—so that from that day forward, the Pharaoh owned all the land directly. (This did not apply to the priestly class, because they always received a portion of whatever grain Pharaoh himself had.) Joseph also set this permanent policy for all farmers in Egypt: that every year, when they had a plentiful harvest, they would give twenty percent to Pharaoh as a store against a repeat of the famine.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=47|verses=13-26}}</ref>

==The Dutiful Son==

==The Dutiful Son==

When Jacob was buried, Joseph's brothers were afraid that Joseph would take the occasion to retaliate against them for their earlier treatment of him. Joseph took pains to reassure them, saying,{{Bible quote|Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.|book=Genesis|chap=50|verses=15-21|version=KJV}}

When Jacob was buried, Joseph's brothers were afraid that Joseph would take the occasion to retaliate against them for their earlier treatment of him. Joseph took pains to reassure them, saying,{{Bible quote|Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.|book=Genesis|chap=50|verses=15-21|version=KJV}}

Joseph lived for one hundred ten years, and reigned as viceroy in Egypt for eighty years. In 2369 AM,<ref name=Ussher5>[[James Ussher|Ussher]], ''[[The Annals of the World|op. cit.'']], pgh. 149</ref> Joseph died. Before he died, he gave an order--or perhaps simply uttered a prophecy--that his descendants were to carry his bones out of Egypt when they left.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=50|verses=22-26}}</ref>

Joseph lived for one hundred ten years, and reigned as viceroy in Egypt for eighty years. In 2369 AM,<ref name=Ussher5>[[James Ussher|Ussher]], ''[[The Annals of the World|op. cit.'']], pgh. 149</ref> Joseph died. Before he died, he gave an order—or perhaps simply uttered a prophecy—that his descendants were to carry his bones out of Egypt when they left.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=50|verses=22-26}}</ref>

==Synchrony with Egypt==

==Synchrony with Egypt==

{{reflist|3}}

{{reflist|3}}

==See Also==

==See also==

* [[Jacob]]

* [[Jacob]]

* [[Famine in Egypt]]

* [[Famine in Egypt]]