THE 1310 Lecture 11

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Jacob to Joseph

Jacob tricked by Laban into marrying twice:
- Meets Rachel, younger daughter, and has to work 7 years for her
- Given Leah to marry instead
  - Apparently Jacob doesn't notice until after marriage is consummated: it's done and now permanent!
- Works another 7 years for Rachel

Children of Jacob, who will be renamed to Israel: 12 sons and 1 daughter

Leah	Ruben ⁽¹⁾ · Simeon ⁽²⁾ · Levi ⁽³⁾ · Judah ⁽⁴⁾ · Isachar ⁽⁹⁾ · Zebulun ⁽¹⁰⁾ · Dinah
Bilhah (Rachel's servant)	Dan ⁽⁵⁾ · Naphtali ⁽⁶⁾
Zilpah (Leah's servant)	Gad ⁽⁷⁾ · Asher ⁽⁸⁾
Rachel	Joseph ⁽¹¹⁾ · Benjamin ⁽¹²⁾

Jacob loves Rachel and Joseph more than everyone else, which causes tension

Note: Benjamin is the "beloved", compare with John, the youngest and "beloved" disciple.

other tribes are bowing down before Joseph
brothers don't like Joseph even more
- they take him out to kill him (fratricide again)
- Ruben convinces them to throw him in a well instead
  - Intent was to come back later and get him out
- Judah sells Joseph into slavery instead

Joseph is treated relatively well
- works for a good master
- enjoys the work
Falsely accused of sexual assault by the woman who was trying to sexually assault him
Thrown in prison where he correctly interprets dreams of two men (3 vines, 3 baskets of bread)
- rightly attributes gift of interpretation to God
- One man was going to be released
- Joseph asks man to remember him... he forgets.

Man who was released finally remembers Joseph
Joseph interprets dream for pharaoh
- attributes interpretation to God again
- 7 years abundance followed by 7 years of famine
Joseph placed 2nd in command
Even pharaoh recognizes the Spirit of God in Joseph
Egypt does well in famine
- Gets riches and land of all the surrounding region

Jacob and family are hit by famine, too
Brothers come looking for food in Egypt
Joseph is so overwhelmed at seeing them; no hard feelings
- gives them food in abundance
- gives them their money back (won't let them pay for it)
Wants to test whether they've changed
- puts them in prison
- asks to see Benjamin, the "beloved"
  - years pass before Jacob allows Benjamin to go to Egypt with brothers
- Joseph treats them to a feast
  - Jacob favors Benjamin but plants his cup to accuse of theft
- Judah offers himself in place of Benjamin for punishment
- They have changed!
Joseph Reveals himself to his brothers first
- sends attendants out
- realizes everything happened in God's providence
Joseph invites everyone to move in

Note: Genesis 45 would be great for the writing/essay assignment