Genesis Part 058

In Genesis 37:2 we are told that Joseph “brought a bad report” of his brothers to his father. We are not told what kind of “bad report” he brought. There are a variety of ideas of what the brothers were doing that they should not have been, but either way, we can understand that it’s part of the reason Joseph and his brothers have tension. 

“Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age” (Genesis 37:3). 

We know Benjamin was born after Joseph, and Benjamin is described in a similar manner later in Genesis 44:20. Here, however, it seems it is simply a statement that Joseph was born to Jacob at an old age, Jacob being 91 years old when Joseph was born. This favoritism brings extra problems to Joseph and his brothers’ relationship. 

The Jamieson-Fausett-Brown Commentary says that Joseph’s tunic of many colors was “formed in those early days by sewing together patches of colored cloth and considered a dress of distinction.” In 2 Samuel 13:18, tunics of many colors are mentioned again, this time it being the virgin daughters of the king who wore them (this one specifically telling us that Tamar was wearing one when she was raped by Amnon). 

Chapter 37 of Genesis details the story of how Joseph’s brothers became jealous and sold him into slavery. Jacob’s favoritism of Joseph is the obvious cause of this jealousy, and the many-colored tunic he gives to Joseph is not well received by the others (verse 4). What seems to be the final straw for the brothers is Joseph’s recounting of his dreams, perhaps with some haughtiness. Not only are the brothers incensed at Joseph, but even his father rebukes him. 

As the narrative unfolds, the dreams come to fruition, and Joseph’s family is eventually subject to him. And since the dreams come true, we know that they are no ordinary dreams—they are inspired by God as prophecies. Yet they are not only significant for the specific events they foretell, but for their instigation of further circumstances leading to one of the most renowned events in history. These dreams of Joseph serve as a catalyst, setting in motion events that will not culminate until more than 400 years later with the Exodus from Egypt. 

Recall Genesis 15 when God conveyed a prophecy regarding the descendants of Abraham—still called Abram at the time. God told Abram that his descendants would be strangers in a land that was not theirs and, further, that for a time they would be made slaves and afflicted (verse 13). So not only will Joseph’s dreams set in motion events that will enable the family of Israel to survive a future famine, but these same events will provide the means for bringing Israel and his sons to Egypt, where their descendants will eventually be made slaves, become a large nation, and ultimately be delivered in great miraculous power. 

In Genesis 37, we get a glimpse of how God does His work and how He brings prophecy to pass. He takes an existing situation (Jacob’s favoritism and the resulting family jealousy) and then introduces a new element (Joseph’s dreams) to steer events toward His ultimate plan (Israel to Egypt and the Exodus). In this way, He brings prophecy about, all the while allowing those involved to make their own decisions along the way. It is truly amazing to see His power in action. 

Incidentally, though there appears to be some confusion in the chapter as to whether Joseph is sold to Midianites or Ishmaelites, a simple explanation is given in the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary’s note on verse 25: “a company of Ishmaelites—They are called Midianites (vs. 28), and Medanites, Hebrew (vs. 36), being a travelling caravan composed of a mixed association of Arabians.” 

Archaeological evidence challenges biblical skeptics’ assertion that the story of Joseph was invented centuries after it was supposed to have occurred. Notice this from a book titled Is the Bible True? by a writer for U.S. News & World Report, Jeffery Sheler: 

In Genesis 37:28...Joseph, a son of Jacob, is sold by his brothers into slavery for twenty silver shekels. That, notes [Professor Kenneth] Kitchen, matches precisely the going price of slaves in the region during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries BCE, as affirmed by documents recovered from ancient Mesopotamia and from Mari, in what is now modern Syria. Other documents show the price of slaves rising steadily during later centuries. By the eighth century BCE, the price of slaves, as attested in ancient Assyrian records, had risen to fifty or sixty shekels, and to ninety to 120 shekels during the Persian Empire in the fifth and fourth centuries BCE. If the story of Joseph had been dreamed up by a Jewish scribe in the sixth century, as some skeptics have suggested, argues Kitchen, “why isn’t the price in Genesis also ninety to one hundred shekels? It’s more reasonable to assume that the biblical data reflect reality.” (1999, pp. 73–74) 

There is much to the story that adds credibility to the story of Joseph, and more to come as we explore Potiphar’s background tomorrow. 

UYA Team | uya@ucg.org  

United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of the young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships, and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.